Luxembourg City: Things to See & Do on a Short Break or Stop Over.

Luxembourg City. The small but wonderful European capital that is perfectly located for a stop over on longer road trips through Europe, or a great short break option in its own right.

Even if you’re only in town for twenty-four hours, you can explore some amazing places, enjoy the unique Luxembourg culture and sample some delicious local food and drinks.

Ready to experience Luxembourg City for yourself ? Here’s the cheat-sheet guide to a short visit; a mini itinerary that doesn’t take you too far out of the centre and a couple of suggestions for things you could add on to your plans if you have a little more time.

If you need a place to stay, I’ve also added a personal recommendation at the end of this post. It’s a hotel we’ve stayed at more than once when using Luxembourg as a stopover to break up longer road trips between Luxembourg, Germany and Belgium.

If you want to skip to that section- or any other- I’ve included a linked breakdown to make it easy to do so. Let’s explore Luxembourg City!

Things to Do in Luxembourg City

I’ve visited and enjoyed all of these, and there’s a reason I’ve put them together. They’re all easy to combine into a short visit, so feel free to pick and choose a few or follow the list and make it your Luxembourg City itinerary.

Explore the Bock Casemates

Luxembourg City of old was a place that knew how to defend itself. So much so, it was once known as the “Gibraltar of the North”. This was due to the miles of tunnels and fortifications dug into the rocks that the city sits upon.

The Bock Casemates- one of the most fascinating and unique things to do in Luxembourg City- gives visitors the opportunity to explore a section of this extraordinary underground space. The casemates weren’t just designed to shelter soldiers, there’s also space for horses, kitchens, workshops and bakeries alongside the occasional dead end and stairs that lead no where. Presumably designed to confuse invaders, but still confusing tourists to this day!

The Bock Casemates are a great way to get into the history of the city, as well as enjoying some great views from the look out points carved into the rock face.

Adult tickets €11, children from €5.50. Entry by time slot, book ahead and get there a little early.

The Grand Ducal Palace & The Old Town

From the Casemates Bock, it’s a short but pleasant walk to the Ducal Palace through the old town, taking in the historic district of Luxembourg city, now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Fishmarket or Fëschmaart has a village feel, the narrow old streets now full of pretty corners, shops and cafes. The neighbourhood is also home to the one thousand year old St. Michael’s church and The National Museum of History and Art.

At the heart of the old town, the Grand Ducal Palace. The imposing palace has a beautiful façade, which can be viewed and enjoyed all year round. The interior is equally stunning, but can only be viewed by guided tour in the summer months ( July-September), so if you to see inside you’ll need to plan round this.

Free to view the exterior, guided tours of interior €18- adult/ €9- child.

Refuel at The Chocolate House of Luxembourg

After a few hours of solid exploring, you might be ready for a break. The Chocolate House of Luxembourg is one of my favourite places in Luxembourg to stop and indulge.

Located directly across from the Grand Ducal Palace in a medieval building, this chocolate house and cafe serves up a range of drinks, light bites and sweet treats. The central location is perfect for people watching, and if you’re lucky you might even spot a Luxembourg royal; they have been known to drop in!

The Chocolate House is a great place to pick up gifts to take home if you’re short on time. They sell a range of beautiful Luxembourg themed chocolate bars.

Pause in a Luxembourg City Green Space

One of the things to love about Luxembourg is how many parks and gardens there are. Around a quarter of the city is green space, meaning you’re never far from an outdoorsy place to spend some time.

A few suggestions of parks to visit in Luxembourg City:

Luxembourg Municipal Park: The largest historic park in the city, home to rolling lawns, winding paths and lots of water features. A great one to visit with kids as it has an awesome pirate themed play area, complete with a giant pirate ship and water features.

The Pétrusse Valley: A natural feature that has become one of Luxembourg’s most loved city parks. Unique views, remnants of the old city walls and historic bridges sit alongside hiking trails, play areas and picnic spots. One of the most unique city parks in Europe. Details here.

Reflect at the National Monument of Luxembourg Solidarity

The National Monument of Luxembourg Solidarity is a thought provoking memorial. A central point for commemorating all victims of WW2, it is also a tribute to the the solidarity that Luxembourgers showed during years of Nazi Occupation.

The inner courtyard represents concentration camps and barracks, the rough stone victims of war. In front of it all burns an eternal flame.

Free to visit and freely accessible, located at Plateau du Saint-Esprit.

If You Have A Little Longer in Luxembourg City

Luxembourg American Cemetery

If you have a little extra time, I’d really recommend a visit to the Luxembourg American Cemetery. It’s a beautiful place and one I found deeply moving.

The cemetery is a peaceful place with an impressive memorial chapel, acres of manicured lawn, woodland and fountains. Also keeper of the graves of some 5070 service members, including General Patton.

It’s located slightly out of the city centre, so you’ll need transport and a willingness to make the trip out, but if you want to pay your respects or have an interest in Second World War history, it really is worth the effort.

Find the details you need to plan a visit here including up-to-date public transport details. The cemetery is well signed from the bus routes.

Open daily to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except December 25 and January 1. Free tours available, must be arranged with 72 hours notice.

How to Get Around in Luxembourg City

It is so easy to navigate Luxembourg City! Much of it is walkable and if you need public transport-it’s free of charge!

• Free Public Transport: Luxembourg is blazing a trail by offering free nationwide public transport. Travellers no longer need to buy tickets for local or regional public transport ( trains, trams & buses). Only first class travel or international routes need to be paid for.
• Walk: Luxembourg City is clean, safe and very walkable. Ideal to explore on foot!
• A Walking Tour: A great way to get under the skin of a city on a short visit and a budget friendly way to explore; join an organised walking tour. Local knowledge, inside jokes and the chance to round off the tour with some authentic Luxembourgish snacks and a drink.

Luxembourg City Hotel: My Personal Recommendation

When based in Germany, we often used Luxembourg as an overnight stop to break up longer road trips. This family friendly hotel is easy to reach by car, offers wonderfully comfortable rooms and sets you up the following day with a fantastic buffet breakfast.

There’s parking near by (extra charge) and as the hotel is within walking distance of the city centre, you can park up for the night and not worry about needing the car again until it’s time to leave. We loved this hotel for its relaxed atmosphere and great walkable location.

You can view Novotel Luxembourg Centre and check availability for your dates here.

I hope I’ve inspired you to plan your own trip to Luxembourg, it really is a wonderful destination. If you’d like to read about one of the trips we took that included a stop over here, read this post next:

Exploring Saarburg & Trier, Germany.

Helen x