Yes, You Can Spend Two Days In Luxembourg And Have A Really Good Time: A 2-Days Luxembourg Itinerary
Tucked inconspicuously between Belgium, France and Germany,
Luxembourg is one country that is often overlooked by travelers to Europe. I
probably would have overlooked it myself if not for wanting to complete a visit
to the Benelux region (BElgium, NEtherlands, LUXembourg).
Constantly cited as one of the richest countries in the world by GDP per capita, I was a little worried about how badly the trip would hurt our pockets but it turned out to be comparable to most European countries in the West. Which is to say rather expensive but manageable. Currency used is Euros.
Within Luxembourg - the country, we spent a large chunk of our time within Luxembourg - the Capital, also known as Luxembourg City. The two days we spent in this country were sufficient to charm us. Luxembourg is truly worth a visit even if it is just for a couple of days.
To be exact, we only had about a day and a half in Luxembourg so you could probably fit more into your own itinerary. Here I will detail our Luxembourg itinerary which we undertook at the end of June 2019. I hope it will be useful for you in your own planning...
Day 1 - Luxembourg City and its Various Attractions
With only two days on hand, we chose to stay within Luxembourg City itself. It is a convenient point from which to visit all the attractions we wish to. The only issue was that accommodations within the city are rather costly.
We ended up booking an Airbnb for two nights, a really cozy, well-furnished and dare I say, pretty room. It was just a one-room apartment but more than enough for the two of us.
If you are interested (and I really would book this Airbnb again if I ever go back to Luxembourg), it is hosted by Tim.
If you have more days to explore the country, maybe look into staying at a further out town. Though I am not sure if the price difference would be too much. Luxembourg, after all is a relatively expensive travel destination. But wherever you choose to base yourselves in, I am positive it will still be a delightful experience.
Getting around Luxembourg City
There wasn't really a need to travel around the city by transport. We spent most of the day strolling. It is easy enough to get around by bus if you require. We had to purchase a ticket while we were there in 2019 but since 1st March 2020, all public transport has been made free in Luxembourg (except first class train rides). So take advantage of it!
Our first stop after dumping all our baggage was the Luxembourg city tourist office near Place Guillaume II. There, we got a map of the city. It is not necessary at all but I love collecting maps of the countries I visit where possible!
*I will indicate the number of each of the sites so you could locate them easily on the map below.
Place Guillaume II (18, 60 on Map)
We ended up booking an Airbnb for two nights, a really cozy, well-furnished and dare I say, pretty room. It was just a one-room apartment but more than enough for the two of us.
If you are interested (and I really would book this Airbnb again if I ever go back to Luxembourg), it is hosted by Tim.
If you have more days to explore the country, maybe look into staying at a further out town. Though I am not sure if the price difference would be too much. Luxembourg, after all is a relatively expensive travel destination. But wherever you choose to base yourselves in, I am positive it will still be a delightful experience.
Getting around Luxembourg City
There wasn't really a need to travel around the city by transport. We spent most of the day strolling. It is easy enough to get around by bus if you require. We had to purchase a ticket while we were there in 2019 but since 1st March 2020, all public transport has been made free in Luxembourg (except first class train rides). So take advantage of it!
Our first stop after dumping all our baggage was the Luxembourg city tourist office near Place Guillaume II. There, we got a map of the city. It is not necessary at all but I love collecting maps of the countries I visit where possible!
*I will indicate the number of each of the sites so you could locate them easily on the map below.
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| Portion of the Map of Luxembourg (Credit: Luxembourg City Tourism Office) |
Place Guillaume II (18, 60 on Map)
Kickstart your day by exploring the town square of Place Guillaume II where you will find the prominent Town Hall building and the equestrian statue of William II, King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg. There are many cafes and restaurants within the area with outdoor seating, perfect for a morning of people-watching.
If you are lucky and happen to be in the city on a Wednesday or Saturday, be sure to check out the Weekly Market selling fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers, fresh goat cheese and homemade jam, etc. The market operates from 7.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.
We grabbed an early lunch here before strolling along to...
Cathédrale Notre-Dame (73 on Map)
This Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin was built in the 17th century by the Jesuits. Its splendid architecture is of the late Gothic style. It contains a crypt which is the resting place of John the Blind, King of Bohemia and Count of Luxembourg among other members of the Grand Ducal family.
The inside of the cathedral is really beautiful with exquisite stained-glass windows, pillars and roof. To get to the crypt, do take the stairs to the lower level where you find a chapel as well.
Opening hours is 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. Entrance is free.
Palais Grand Ducal (1 on Map)
A short walk from the Notre-Dame Cathedral, you will happen upon the impressive facade of the Grand Ducal Palace. Definitely a beautiful photo opportunity!
This is the official place of residence of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg and his family. Entry into the Grand Ducal Palace is possible via guided tours but only between middle of July to end August. Ticket prices for adults is 14€ and 7€ for children aged 4 to 12. Unfortunately our trip wasn't during that period.
Saint Michael's Church (75 on Map)
Head over to St. Michael Church, the oldest church in Luxembourg though a less popular tourist attraction than Notre-Dame Cathedral. It is said to have its origin traced all the way back to 987 when it was erected as a castle chapel for Count Siegfried, the first Count of Luxembourg.
We hadn't originally intended to visit this site but since it was on the way to the Bock Casemates, we decided to pop in. Turns out to be a pretty little church, which has apparently been rebuilt, renovated upon and restored many times over the centuries given that it has been destroyed several times.
Opening hours is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with free entrance.
Bock Promontory and Bock Casemates (27, 28 on Map)
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| Statue of William II (Photo Credit: Luxembourg City Tourism Office) |
If you are lucky and happen to be in the city on a Wednesday or Saturday, be sure to check out the Weekly Market selling fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers, fresh goat cheese and homemade jam, etc. The market operates from 7.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.
We grabbed an early lunch here before strolling along to...
Cathédrale Notre-Dame (73 on Map)
This Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin was built in the 17th century by the Jesuits. Its splendid architecture is of the late Gothic style. It contains a crypt which is the resting place of John the Blind, King of Bohemia and Count of Luxembourg among other members of the Grand Ducal family.
The inside of the cathedral is really beautiful with exquisite stained-glass windows, pillars and roof. To get to the crypt, do take the stairs to the lower level where you find a chapel as well.
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| Beautiful columns and ceiling! |
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| The balcony and stage areas |
Opening hours is 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. Entrance is free.
Palais Grand Ducal (1 on Map)
A short walk from the Notre-Dame Cathedral, you will happen upon the impressive facade of the Grand Ducal Palace. Definitely a beautiful photo opportunity!
This is the official place of residence of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg and his family. Entry into the Grand Ducal Palace is possible via guided tours but only between middle of July to end August. Ticket prices for adults is 14€ and 7€ for children aged 4 to 12. Unfortunately our trip wasn't during that period.
Saint Michael's Church (75 on Map)
Head over to St. Michael Church, the oldest church in Luxembourg though a less popular tourist attraction than Notre-Dame Cathedral. It is said to have its origin traced all the way back to 987 when it was erected as a castle chapel for Count Siegfried, the first Count of Luxembourg.
We hadn't originally intended to visit this site but since it was on the way to the Bock Casemates, we decided to pop in. Turns out to be a pretty little church, which has apparently been rebuilt, renovated upon and restored many times over the centuries given that it has been destroyed several times.
Opening hours is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with free entrance.
Bock Promontory and Bock Casemates (27, 28 on Map)
Next, spend an hour or so immersed within the Bock Casements, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a series of underground tunnels that constituted Luxembourg's extensive military defense system during the two world wars. In fact, the Bock Casemates together with the Pétrusse Casemates (a smaller version), served as the defensive shelter for 35 000 people in the event of bombardments.
Its origin could be traced all the way back to the 10th century and Count Siegfried, who built a fortified castle atop the Bock Promontory. Over time, the fortifications were extended and expanded by many other owners, among whom are the Spanish, French and Austrians.
In 1867, demolition of the casemates started and continued on for 16 years. It would have been impossible to destroy the casemates completely without demolishing the city as well so today, about 17 kilometres of the tunnel still remains and is open to visitors.
The entrance to the casemates might be a little hard to find. Just note that it is at Montée de Clausen. From the entrance, you will first happen upon the archaeological crypt, the antechamber to the casemates. Excavations here have uncovered parts of the castle belonging to Count Siegfried, one of the earliest buildings of the city.
In the underground tunnels...
Amongst the tunnel, you will find windows carved out of the stone at regular intervals. Where they were used for the cannons before, now they provide great views of the Grund below!
Loopholes such as this is frequently encountered as well.
There are different sections within the labyrinth of the underground tunnels. Some of these lead to spiral staircases that takes to a passage on a lower level.
Opening Hours is 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in April - September while in March and October - November, it closes at 5.30 p.m. Do take note though that the Bock Casemates are closed during winter.
Adult Entrance Fee is 7€ with discounts for students, seniors and children. Guided tours in various languages are available at extra charge (14€) if you wish for it.
We didn't do the tour and felt it was fine. Just knowing a bit of the history beforehand (mostly whatever I have written above) should pique you enough during your exploration.
Exiting from the Bock Casemates is via the castle bridge, erected by the Austrians in 1735.
Once you exit, you will find yourselves at the next stop...
Le Chemin de la Corniche (30 on Map)
Also called The Walls of the Corniche is known to be one of the most beautiful balconies of Europe. And it truly felt that way while we gazed upon the city spread out below at our feet.
Built in the 17th century by the Spanish, this pedestrian promenade offers you stunning views of the Neimënster and Alzette River, some of the more prominent aspects of the town below (Grund).
Truly, the pictures doesn't really do the view justice. Don't miss it even if the Bock Casemates are not in your plans. In fact, the Corniche is really just a short walk away from Saint Michael's Church so you could get right to it from the city center.
Its origin could be traced all the way back to the 10th century and Count Siegfried, who built a fortified castle atop the Bock Promontory. Over time, the fortifications were extended and expanded by many other owners, among whom are the Spanish, French and Austrians.
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| Bock Promontory |
In 1867, demolition of the casemates started and continued on for 16 years. It would have been impossible to destroy the casemates completely without demolishing the city as well so today, about 17 kilometres of the tunnel still remains and is open to visitors.
The entrance to the casemates might be a little hard to find. Just note that it is at Montée de Clausen. From the entrance, you will first happen upon the archaeological crypt, the antechamber to the casemates. Excavations here have uncovered parts of the castle belonging to Count Siegfried, one of the earliest buildings of the city.
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| The Archaeological Crypt - Just inside the entrance |
In the underground tunnels...
Amongst the tunnel, you will find windows carved out of the stone at regular intervals. Where they were used for the cannons before, now they provide great views of the Grund below!
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| View of Neumunster Abbey (Neimënster) from one of the windows |
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| The cannons placed near the windows |
Loopholes such as this is frequently encountered as well.
There are different sections within the labyrinth of the underground tunnels. Some of these lead to spiral staircases that takes to a passage on a lower level.
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| Entrance to another section of the tunnels |
Opening Hours is 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in April - September while in March and October - November, it closes at 5.30 p.m. Do take note though that the Bock Casemates are closed during winter.
Adult Entrance Fee is 7€ with discounts for students, seniors and children. Guided tours in various languages are available at extra charge (14€) if you wish for it.
We didn't do the tour and felt it was fine. Just knowing a bit of the history beforehand (mostly whatever I have written above) should pique you enough during your exploration.
Exiting from the Bock Casemates is via the castle bridge, erected by the Austrians in 1735.
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| The Exit |
Once you exit, you will find yourselves at the next stop...
Le Chemin de la Corniche (30 on Map)
Also called The Walls of the Corniche is known to be one of the most beautiful balconies of Europe. And it truly felt that way while we gazed upon the city spread out below at our feet.
Built in the 17th century by the Spanish, this pedestrian promenade offers you stunning views of the Neimënster and Alzette River, some of the more prominent aspects of the town below (Grund).
Truly, the pictures doesn't really do the view justice. Don't miss it even if the Bock Casemates are not in your plans. In fact, the Corniche is really just a short walk away from Saint Michael's Church so you could get right to it from the city center.
The attractions we have visited up 'til now are located in Ville Haute or the Upper Town, also known as the Old Town. There is a section of older town below this level - the view from the Corniche, Ville Basse (Lower Town).
Yes it is a little confusing but the neighborhoods of Ville Basse are actually older than the Old Town or Ville Haute.
One of Luxembourg's oldest neighborhoods, the Grund, is accessible via stairs or the Ascenseur Plateur St. Esprit elevator from the Old Town. We didn't know about the elevator and made the climb down from the Corniche which was done easily enough by one moderately fit and one not as fit persons.
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| The Grund, where the Old Town is visible far up in the background |
Take a leisurely stroll along the narrow streets and check out the local stores. Partake in the various lively night activities especially in the Clausen district. Grab yourselves some dinner at one of the many pubs, cafe or restaurants in the area.
To return back to the Old Town / Upper Town, we took the bus to the city center itself because we were too tired. Alternatively, you could head up via the same stairs to the Corniche or via the Elevator Saint - Espirit (same elevator to descend, just another name for it).
There is the additional option to make use of the Pfaffenthal Elevator which will require you to venture into the Pfaffenthal district of the Ville Basse. To read more about the elevator, carry on to Day 2...
Day 2 - Vianden and its Impressive Castle
Get yourselves outside of Luxembourg City today and head to Vianden, a region at the North of Luxembourg, where the impressive Vianden Castle is situated.
Journey to Vianden from Luxembourg City takes about an hour or slightly more. Take the train from Gare Centrale to Ettelbruck then grab bus 570 to Vianden, Bréck. The entire travel (round trip) cost 4€ per person. You could get the day travel pass which would allow you to travel on any public transport in the country within a 24 hours time frame.
Do note that a large chunk of our day was spent travelling to and fro Vianden and within Vianden itself. So only undertake this journey if you are sure you can spare the time away from Luxembourg City itself.
You could grab some breakfast from the Gare Centrale to munch on during the train ride.
Our first view of the castle from the bus stop...
As you can see, there is a bit of a climb to get to castle. The climb itself is quite steep and takes around 20 minutes.
We decided to take the chairlift instead which took us from a height of 220 metres to 440 metres with scenic view of the town of Vianden! A round trip cost 5.80€ per person while one way cost 4.30€ per person.
Do take note of the closing time of the chairlift especially if you are taking the roundtrip. Operating hours was 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. while we were there in June. In fact both the chairlift and castle have variable operating hours throughout the year and closes later during the high seasons of the year (Jun - Aug).
And then finally, we rounded a bend and there is the imposing Château de Vianden. A castle built between the 11th and 14th century on the foundations of a Roman castle and Carolingian refuge, belonging to the Grand Ducal family. Only in 1977 was the ownership passed on to the state.
Journey to Vianden from Luxembourg City takes about an hour or slightly more. Take the train from Gare Centrale to Ettelbruck then grab bus 570 to Vianden, Bréck. The entire travel (round trip) cost 4€ per person. You could get the day travel pass which would allow you to travel on any public transport in the country within a 24 hours time frame.
Do note that a large chunk of our day was spent travelling to and fro Vianden and within Vianden itself. So only undertake this journey if you are sure you can spare the time away from Luxembourg City itself.
You could grab some breakfast from the Gare Centrale to munch on during the train ride.
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| Got a sneaky, unapproved (by him) picture on the train! |
Our first view of the castle from the bus stop...
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| Vianden Castle far off up the hill |
As you can see, there is a bit of a climb to get to castle. The climb itself is quite steep and takes around 20 minutes.
We decided to take the chairlift instead which took us from a height of 220 metres to 440 metres with scenic view of the town of Vianden! A round trip cost 5.80€ per person while one way cost 4.30€ per person.
Do take note of the closing time of the chairlift especially if you are taking the roundtrip. Operating hours was 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. while we were there in June. In fact both the chairlift and castle have variable operating hours throughout the year and closes later during the high seasons of the year (Jun - Aug).
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| The starting point |
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| Us on the chairlift! It was a really hot day. |
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| View of the castle from the chairlift |
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| View of the town from the other end of the chairlift cable line |
As you can see from the picture below, the chairlift brought us to a higher ground than the castle. We have to climb down to the castle through a sort of forested area.
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| Stunning view of the castle and town from a height of 440 metres! |
The trail to get to the castle. Not a difficult one but it does take around 10 minutes.
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| Keeping the castle in view while navigating the trail |
And then finally, we rounded a bend and there is the imposing Château de Vianden. A castle built between the 11th and 14th century on the foundations of a Roman castle and Carolingian refuge, belonging to the Grand Ducal family. Only in 1977 was the ownership passed on to the state.
Entrance fee is 8€ for adult with discounts for students, seniors and children. Audio guides cost an additional 2€, which is very worth it to better appreciate the castle and its many sections. Guide options are also available if you are interested.
Opening hours of the castle is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Nov - Feb), 5 p.m. (Mar & Oct), 6 p.m. (Apr - Sep).
It was a fascinating visit especially since I had not visited all that many castles before. Some of the interesting rooms are pictured below.
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| The Dining Room |
This time we had to climb UP the trail.
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| The ride is much steeper on the way back |
Wander around the town of Vianden
After exploring the castle and its grounds, take a stroll around the area surrounding the castle. You will find charming houses and streets, quaint cafes where you could sit in and partake of desserts. It was an especially hot day so we definitely did that (partake in ice cream I mean).
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| A really pretty entryway. Couldn't help capturing it! |
We began to make our way back to Luxembourg City around late afternoon. Somehow we got on a train that took a longer route or probably that it made more stops. The journey ended up taking an hour and a half.
Ride the Pfaffenthal Elevator (14 on Map)
Once we got back, we headed to the Pfaffenthal elevator, a glass elevator that connects Parc Fondation Pescatore (Pescatore Foundation Park) near the city center to the Pfaffenthal area at the bottom of the Alzette valley.
The ride up the elevator is 71 metres high and is free of charged to use. Operating hours extend from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.
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| Can you spot the Pfaffenthal elevator? It's really tiny but it is at the far left upper portion of the picture. |
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| The elevator |
The 20 seconds ride in the elevator...
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| Pfaffenthal area of the Alzette valley - at the bottom of the elevator |
Be sure to snap away for some great pictures at the viewing platform on top!
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| The viewing platform with great views! |
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| The Grand Duchess Charlotte Bridge or Red Bridge is visible on the left of the picture. |
As I mentioned at the end of Day 1 of this post, you could make use of the Pfaffenthal Elevator to get back to the Old Town / Ville Haute from the lower towns. From the Pescatore Foundation Park, it is just a short walk to the city center.
Dinner at Place d'Armes (17 on Map)
And finally, round off your Luxembourg trip at Place d'Armes, another public square very close to Place Guillaume II. Where a long time ago it served as a parade ground for troops defending the city, these days it's filled with street cafes and restaurants and is a great place to enjoy a relaxing evening.
Ate at McDonald's, not exactly a great culinary experience but hey, every once in a while I just enjoy regular fries and burger.
The square of Place d'Armes was beautifully lighted up!
And finally, round off your Luxembourg trip at Place d'Armes, another public square very close to Place Guillaume II. Where a long time ago it served as a parade ground for troops defending the city, these days it's filled with street cafes and restaurants and is a great place to enjoy a relaxing evening.
Ate at McDonald's, not exactly a great culinary experience but hey, every once in a while I just enjoy regular fries and burger.
The square of Place d'Armes was beautifully lighted up!
If you require drinking water, you could get it FREE here! Just remember to bring your own empty bottles to hold the water in. Located right beside the McDonald's.
And with that, we rounded up our Luxembourg trip! Definitely a charming little country worthy of a visit even if it's for just two days. As part of our 12 Days Europe trip, I am very glad we added Luxembourg into the itinerary as it was two of the most relaxing days of the trip.
Before I end off, I wish to bring to your attention the Luxembourg card which might be worth it to get if you intend to visit more places of attractions than we did. It allows access to more than 60 museums and attractions throughout Luxembourg.
Some of the attractions in this post like the Bock Casemates, Vianden Castle, Vianden Chairlift are included. A 2-Days pass per person cost 20€ which cost lesser than what we paid in total (considering our transport wasn't free at that time). So make the necessary calculations to see if the card might be worth it for you. Once again, take note that all public transport in Luxembourg since March 2020 is free.
If you have more than 2 days to while away in Luxembourg, why not explore the other towns of Luxembourg. One such town I would have loved to go to was Echternach, famous for its international music festival as well as dance procession.
*As part of our 12-Days Europe itinerary, we followed our trip to Luxembourg with a 1 Day visit to the German city of Cologne. It was my first time in Germany and if Cologne is anything to go by, I can't wait to visit other parts of Germany in the future! Do check out the post if you have plans to travel there too. And the post on Amsterdam - How to Spend 4 Days of Summer in Amsterdam which was the final leg of our summer vacation!
**I really hope you enjoyed the post! I would love to hear from you. Is there anything else you would like to know? Do let me know by leaving a quick comment below.
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