Luxembourg in a Day

Nestled between France, Belgium, and Germany is the country of Luxembourg. It might be one of the smallest countries in Europe, but is known for its strong economy and as a headquarters for many business and finance operations. It is also known for its rich culture and heritage, heavily influenced by its French and German neighbors and the melting pot of immigrants who have relocated here for business.

Its capital, Luxembourg City, is a marvel. The Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage site, sits fortified on the rocky cliffs of the south end of the Luxembourg Plateau, overlooking the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse Rivers. The landscape is complete with picturesque bridges and viaducts.

The historic center of Luxembourg can be experienced in a day, and I did this as a day trip from Brussels. It was a long day of travel, with a 3-hour train ride in each direction. I was on the earliest train out around 7:30am and one of the latest trains back to Brussels, arriving back around 10:30pm. It was so worth every bit, as I really enjoyed my time in Luxembourg.

When I arrived, I took a tram from the train station towards the center of town. I got off the tram just before Pont Adolphe so that I could walk across and take in the scenery. The city was blanketed by a thick fog, making the hilly landscape and medieval spires all the more mystical.

Aside from the natural beauty of Luxembourg, let me just say that my first impression of Luxembourg was that they are doing everything right from a tourism perspective. All of their public transit to get around the city is completely free, and throughout the historic downtown you can access free public WiFi. It made it so painless and stress-free to navigate.

I picked up a map in the visitor center upon arriving into town, which had a self-guided walking tour of all of the points of interest. One of the first spots I stopped by was the Palais Grand-Ducal, the official residence of the grand duke of Luxembourg. The building dates back to 1572 when it was first used as a city hall, and today houses the offices of the Grand Duke and Duchess and hosts foreign diplomats. It is guarded by a member of the Army of Luxembourg.

I next walked down along the promontory that houses the Bock Casemates. This tunnel system built under the fortress dating back to 1644 and utilized during World War II is one of the top attractions in Luxembourg. Unfortunately they were closed to tours during my time there, but I was still able to take in what parts are visible and accessible from the street, and this walk offered some of the best views of Luxembourg.

I next ventured down a very steep street Mnt du Grund to the lower town, when my stomach decided it was time for some lunch. I grabbed an outdoor table at Updown Bar (the sun was finally coming out!) and had a grillwurst and a Bofferding pilsner, a Luxembourg beer.

After sustenance, I wandered back up the cliffside to continue my walk along Chemin de la Corniche, “the most beautiful balcony of Europe,” atop the ramparts.

My walk took me to the Place de la Constitution, where they were busy setting up one of Luxembourg’s Christmas markets.

Eventually I went back down to the lower town and wandered along the River Alzette, a beautiful walk where I encountered the Melusina mermaid statue, situated across from the Église Saint-Jean-du-Grund (Church of Saint John in Grund) and Neumünster Abbey.

Further up the Alzette I got a better view of the Bock Casemates built into the side of the cliff. I crossed over the river to the abbey side and wandered for a bit, with the hilly streets on this side of the river offering amazing views of the fortified city.

I stopped into Restaurant-Brasserie Bosso for a dinner of Schnitzel Cordon Bleu and a Battin lager, another Luxembourg-brewed beer. This was such a great meal.

When I finished dinner and exited the restaurant, the mystical fog was setting back in over Luxembourg, making it appear fairytale-esque once again. I retraced my steps to some of my favorite scenic locations around town to snap some beautiful pictures as the town started to become illuminated for the night.

Luxembourg was so unbelievably beautiful and was such a unique blend of culture. One day was enough to experience the city, but at the same time I could wander endlessly taking in the scenery of this place.