Luxembourg

Tiny yet packed full of history and grand architecture, Luxembourg, the only Grand Duchy in the World, is not to be missed. This BENELUX nation is sandwiched between Germany, France, and Belgium. The country is only 51 miles from top to bottom and has a population of about half a million. While there is much scenic beauty in the countryside, Luxembourg City is the capital.

Luxembourg City

Originally built as a fortress in the middle ages, the city has become known as the Gibraltar of the North. Today you can still see parts of the original walls and fortifications, which has become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city itself is perched high atop a rocky outcrop, overlooking the Petrusse & Alzette rivers and provides picturesque views from the city’s old battlements, both day and by night.

When you’re not sightseeing, soak up this lively city and experience the many outdoor café’s, gourmet restaurants, and the enjoy nightlife. As you take in Luxembourg City, you’ll notice many spectacular bridges that cross Petrusse Valley.

Sightseeing in Luxembourg City

Luxembourg Fortress

The fortress dates back to 936 and is built on a rock called Bock. The base of a stone tower and a belfry known as hollow tooth is all that remains today. There is a museum on site displaying the castle history.

Luxembourg Old Town

The old town has an exceptional appeal -- cobbled streets, historic buildings, museums & art galleries. Here the fashionable boutiques and café’s blend in nicely combined with parks and gardens. It’s a great place to ramble and take in the views of the Petrusse Valley.

Place d'Armes

A popular local gathering point; here you’ll find a peaceful, tree-lined square in the centre of the Old Town chock full of outdoor cafes. Kick back and have a beer or two or listen to one of the free summer concerts here. The square hosts a flea market every second Saturday.

Grand-Ducal Palace

Originally built in the 16th century, this spectacular property was adopted by the Luxembourg Royal Family in the 19th century. In the summer guided-tours of this grand property are available.

Musée National d'Histoire et d'Art

Built in a group of medieval houses, here you’ll find over 120 rooms of paintings, artefacts, sculptures, and other works of art. The collection ranges from the stone ages to the current day.

Sightseeing Luxembourg

There is a lot to see and do outside of Luxembourg City. There is the Moselle River which forms the border with Germany, but also makes up Luxembourg's wine country, Check out the small villages such as Remich, Grevenmacher, Stadtbredimus, Wormeldange and Bech-Kleinmacher in this region, but don't forget to see the castles and all of the other exciting cities packed into this small country. As the saying goes, good things come in small packages!

Vianden

An eye-catching medieval town on the German border; Vianden is about an hour north of Luxembourg City. It’s famous for it’s chateau-castle, restored to its original glory during the 1970s. Here you’ll find antique weapons, armour, furniture, drawings and gobelins. The city hosts many events including “sound and light” events, medieval fairs, and tournaments,

Echternach

A small, charismatic town that is located 20 miles northeast of Luxembourg City on the German border. Founded in 698, the medieval Abby dominates the city. If you think the medieval Abby is old, have a look at the Roman Villa that has been excavated near Echternach Lake. Last, Echternach is headquarters to the Little Switzerland area of Luxembourg – it’s known as Little Switzerland because of its rugged sand rock formations and numerous small streams that intersect the regions dense forest – an oasis for hikers!

Clervaux

Simply amazing and it’s just an hour from Luxembourg City. In Clervaux you’ll find a castle transformed to house the photography exhibit The Family of Man. The exhibition has over 500 pictures by 273 photographers from around the globe. The photos all show people – and their emotions!

Getting around Luxembourg

Luxembourg has a great public transportation network between busses and trains. If you have an automobile hire, the road system is modern. Overall, Luxembourg is an easy country to get around in.

Getting to Luxembourg

Luxembourg is a member of the Schengen open-boarder agreement. In fact, did you know Schengen is a city in Luxembourg where the agreement was founded?

There are direct train routes from Paris, Metz, Brussels, and Trier - by train is the best and cheapest way to get into the country from nearby countries. Limited international bus service is available. If you have an automobile hire (rental), you may simply drive into the country.

Luxembourg International Airport – Findel (LUX) is just 6km from Luxembourg City. It is well served by LuxAir, the national airline of Luxembourg. Additionally, Air France, British Airways, KLM, Swiss, and other European operators provide service to the airport. If you are arriving from Schengen member nation, there are no border controls because of the open-border agreement.