Planning a trip to Luxembourg City and wondering what to see and do? This charming European capital may be small, but it has plenty to offer, from its historic old town and picturesque riverside neighbourhoods to impressive fortifications and beautiful viewpoints.
Whether you’re visiting for a day or planning a longer stay, here are nine of the best things to do in Luxembourg City, along with a few practical tips to help you plan your visit.
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The Best Things to Do in Luxembourg City
Despite its small size, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Luxembourg City. From exploring the historic Old Town to admiring panoramic views across the valleys. Here are some of the best things to see and do during your visit.
Explore the Old Town
Luxembourg City’s Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its historic architecture, cobbled streets and beautiful viewpoints. Take some time to wander through its charming squares and narrow streets, where you’ll find pastel-coloured buildings and lovely views across the city.
One of the highlights is the Chemin de la Corniche, a scenic walkway often described as Europe’s most beautiful balcony. It offers impressive views over the Grund district and the Alzette Valley, making it a great spot to stop for photographs.
You’ll also find plenty of cafés and restaurants in and around the Old Town, so it’s easy to combine sightseeing with a coffee break or a meal.
The view of Luxembourg City from Chemin de la Corniche.
See The Grand Ducal Palace
Right in the city centre, the Grand Ducal Palace is one of Luxembourg’s most striking landmarks and the official residence of the Grand Duke. Its beautiful architecture makes it a must-see, and in the summer months, you can even go inside for a tour of the lavish interiors and learn about Luxembourg’s royal family.
If you would like to go inside, tickets currently cost €18.00 for adults, €9 for children, and under-4s are free. Check current opening times and availability here.
View of the Grand Ducal Palace.
Look Around the Notre Dame Cathedral
Not to be confused with the famous cathedral in Paris, Notre-Dame Cathedral is one of Luxembourg City’s most important religious landmarks. Its architecture combines Gothic features with Renaissance elements, making it well worth a visit while exploring the city centre.
Step inside to admire the stained-glass windows, ornate columns and peaceful interior. The cathedral also contains the crypt where members of Luxembourg’s Grand Ducal family are buried.
The Notre Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg is free to visit, and no advance booking is required.
Stroll Through The Grund
The Grund is one of Luxembourg City’s most picturesque neighbourhoods, tucked away in the valley below the Old Town. It’s a lovely area to explore on foot, with colourful houses, quaint bridges and leafy walking paths along the Alzette River. You’ll also find several bars and restaurants if you fancy stopping for a drink or something to eat.
I’d heard that the Grund was usually buzzing with activity, so I was surprised by how quiet it felt when we first visited during the day. We returned on a Saturday evening and found the main street surprisingly peaceful, although many of the surrounding pubs seemed much busier. It just goes to show that the atmosphere can vary depending on where you go and when you visit!
View of the pretty Grund area of Luxembourg.
Ride the Glass Elevator
For one of the best views in Luxembourg, take a ride on the Pfaffenthal Panoramic Elevator. This free glass lift connects the upper and lower parts of the city, offering incredible views of the Pétrusse Valley and the old fortifications as you glide up or down. It’s a quick stop but a highlight for photographers.
This is an ideal way to get up and down when your legs are in need of a break!
Riding in the glass elevator.
Explore the Bock Casemates
The Bock Casemates are one of the best things to do in Luxembourg City, and were a highlight from our trip. Especially for my history-loving husband. You can get lost in an underground maze of tunnels carved into the cliffs overlooking the city. The Bock Casemates were originally built as part of Luxembourg’s defence system but have now become a fascinating place to explore.
As you walk through the dimly lit passages, you can look out from openings for incredible, panoramic views of the Grund below.
This is great for history lovers and another way to see the views of Luxembourg City. In some places, it is quite dark (at one point, we had to use our phone torches) and not very well signposted, so watch your step!
Tickets for the Bock Casemates can be booked here. They currently cost €11 for adults, €5.50 for children, with under-4s visiting for free.
Views from the Bock Casemates.
Visit Fort Thüngen
Located in the Kirchberg district, Fort Thüngen is a historic fortress dedicated to Luxembourg’s military past. It also houses the Musée Dräi Eechelen, a museum where you can learn about the country’s history and how its impressive fortifications developed over the centuries.
Even if you’re not planning to visit the museum, the fort is worth considering as part of a visit to the Kirchberg district, particularly if you’re interested in history and architecture.
The grounds and the area surrounding the fort are free to visit, but the museum charges an admission fee. This is currently €7 and is also closed on Mondays, so check the official Musée Dräi Eechelen website for current opening times and ticket prices before visiting.
My husband outside Fort Thüngen.
Take a Day Trip to Echternach
If you have a spare day in Luxembourg, there are plenty of options for day trips. We found it difficult to choose between Vianden and Echternach, two towns we were keen to explore. We eventually opted for Echternach, as it looked like there was a little more to see and do, and it was also closer to Luxembourg City.
Echternach is Luxembourg’s oldest town and makes a lovely day trip. You can wander through its historic streets, visit the beautiful Abbey of Echternach and explore the surrounding Müllerthal region, often known as Little Switzerland thanks to its forest trails and dramatic rock formations.
One of our highlights was walking around Echternach Lake. We enjoyed a lovely walk through the surrounding scenery, and I’d recommend allowing some time for it if the weather is good. The lake area also has walking trails, playgrounds and other outdoor activities, making it worth considering if you’re visiting with children.
You can travel from Luxembourg City to Echternach by bus, and public transport within Luxembourg is free, including standard bus services. Check the official Luxembourg public transport website for current routes and timetables before setting off.
Echternach is also right on the German border, with a bridge connecting the town to Germany across the River Sûre.
Exploring Echternach.
How Long to Spend in Luxembourg City
Luxembourg City is the capital of Luxembourg, and it’s a very small city! It is only around 50 km², making it easy to explore in a short amount of time. While you can see the highlights in a day, I feel like two days in Luxembourg is the perfect amount of time.
We actually had 3 days in Luxembourg, and we used the third day to take a day trip to Echternach. This was a really lovely trip, and I would recommend it if you have time. There are a few other day trip options as well that may be worth considering if you do have additional time.
How To Get Around Luxembourg City
As I mentioned, Luxembourg City is relatively small, making it easy to explore on foot. However, it is quite hilly, so be prepared for plenty of slopes and steps!
If you’d rather give your legs a break, don’t worry. Public transport throughout Luxembourg is free, including buses, trams and trains. This applies to visitors as well as residents, so you don’t need to buy a ticket for standard journeys. First-class train travel is the exception and requires a paid ticket.
Buses are the most common way to get around the city, while the tram can be convenient for certain routes. You can check official Luxembourg City bus timetables and live departures to plan your journey here.
Luxembourg City also has a free City Shuttle, which connects key sights around the centre. What makes it especially interesting is that it is autonomous, meaning it has no driver! It’s also electrically powered, so brilliant for the environment! We didnt ride the City Shuttle during our visit, but I think it would be a fun thing to do, especially if you have a transport-loving toddler!
Where to Stay in Luxembourg
If you’re planning a visit to Luxembourg City, staying in or near the city centre is a convenient option, particularly if you want to explore the Old Town and reach many of the main attractions on foot. You’ll also find plenty of cafés, restaurants and public transport connections nearby.
If you’re looking for a luxury stay, my choice would be Hotel Le Royal Luxembourg. Or, for a more moderately priced stay, Hotel Parc Belair is another option to consider.
We visited Luxembourg pre-kids, but now, as a mum of two, I would likely book Novotel Suites Luxembourg as the rooms have useful kitchen areas. Or Novotel Luxembourg Centre is a slightly better location, but the rooms don’t have a kitchen area. You can see more Luxembourg accommodation availability and compare current prices here.
Final Thoughts on Visiting Luxembourg City
Luxembourg City may be small, but it has plenty to offer, from exploring the historic Old Town and wandering through the picturesque Grund to discovering its fascinating fortifications and beautiful viewpoints.
If you have a little longer to spend, I’d also recommend considering a day trip to Echternach to experience another side of the country. With free public transport making it easy to get around, Luxembourg is a lovely destination for a European city break without needing to spend a fortune on getting from place to place.
Whether you’re visiting for a day or planning a longer stay, I hope this guide has given you plenty of ideas for things to see and do in Luxembourg City!
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Planning more European adventures? Explore our travel guides about these destinations:
The United Kingdom – Czechia – Croatia – France – Italy – Montenegro – Switzerland
We hope this guide about the best things to do in Luxembourg City has helped you plan your trip!
Happy Exploring,
A London mum sharing stylish, family-friendly travel guides.
I In our travel guides, I show you that you can still travel as a family and create beautiful memories, even when trips aren’t full of kid-centric activities.
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