Luxembourg travel guide
Luxembourg is the second smallest country in Europe, but that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing to see! Dozens of beautiful castles tower above cute villages, which in turn are completely surrounded by beautiful nature. Luxembourg is a paradise for hiking, culture and nature lovers. With a combination of influences from France and Germany, this small country has created its own authentic atmosphere that you won’t find anywhere else in Europe. Relax in this beautiful country, or go for a short city trip to Luxembourg City. Whatever you do, you won’t be bothered by hordes of tourists, because Luxembourg is definitely a hidden gem on the European mainland.
Average costs in Luxembourg
Stay – There aren’t many hostels or youth hostels in Luxembourg. For a little more than €20 per night you can stay at one, but you’re never really centrally located. The same also applies for budget accommodations: they are very scarce. For an apartment you pay +/- €40 per night, while you can already find a three-star hotel from €50 to €60 per night. Four or five star accommodations start at €80, but most of these hotels start at €100 a night.
Eat – I always thought that Luxembourg was an expensive country, but I actually noticed that prices were comparable to Belgium. Of course, you pay more everywhere in the capital city (Luxembourg City), but for the rest of the country it’s not that bad. An appetizer costs between €8 and €15 (sometimes there are of course more expensive options, but you have those everywhere!) and a main course ranges from €14 but to €20+. A delicious dessert starts at about €10. Those who want a quick (cheap) bite can already buy a hot dog or small pizza for €2 to €3. If you go for a drink on a terrace, you should count on spending €2 to €4 for a coffee or hot chocolate and €2.5 for a glass of soda. Wine certainly costs €5 per glass.
Transport – Because Luxembourg is so small, everything is well connected. Public transport consists of trains, trams and buses and in the capital you can also rent city bikes. Via NMBS or Eurail you can get almost anywhere in Luxembourg. If you still need the bus or tram, you pay about €2 per ride. Two days of unlimited use of public transport costs €8, and three days costs €12. You can also buy a Luxembourg Card for €13 (1 day), €20 (2 days) or €28 (3 days). This gives you free public transport and you can also visit more than 50 attractions for free.
With Véloh you can also rent a bike in Luxembourg. For 7 days you pay €1 registration fee and after that you also pay an additional €1 per hour with a maximum of €5. If you return the bike within half an hour, you pay nothing.
If you come with your own car, please not that parking in Luxembourg City can be very expensive. The parking garages charge more than €10 for four hours of parking.
Saving money in Luxembourg
Stay outside Luxembourg City – The accommodations in Luxembourg City are more expensive than elsewhere in the country. Wherever you book a hotel in Luxembourg: you are never far away from the sights and things to do. Driving from the far north, east, south or west to the other side never takes much longer than one hour. So book a hotel that is a bit out of the center. This way you escape the crowds and you also get better prices.
Go by train – From Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and France there are very good connections to Luxembourg with the NMBS. By train you can get to all small and big cities at affordable rates, but at the same time you also save on parking costs. The parking garages in Luxembourg city are ridiculously expensive (€10 for 4h parking…). Keep in mind that you have to use the bus to see certain sights (eg Castle Vianden).
Don’t stay too long – Don’t get me wrong: Luxembourg is really nice and fun, but if you don’t want to lose a lot of money you don’t have to stay for too long. With three full days you can certainly see the most impressive sights of Luxembourg.
Buy the Luxembourg Card – If you plan to use public transportation and do some sightseeing, a Luxembourg Card can save you money. For one day you only pay €13, for two days €20 and for three days €28. If you know that most tourist attractions cost €6 to €10 per person for a single ticket, you’ll get back your money quite quickly.
Things to do in Luxembourg
Visiting the many castles – Luxembourg has a lot of castles. Some have already fallen into ruins, others have been restored to their original glory. The best known is undoubtedly Vianden Castle, located in the Luxembourg Ardennes. Other recommendations include the Beaufort castle and the Bourscheid castle. The castles that tower above Larochette are also beautiful.
The casemates of Luxembourg – Around Luxembourg City is a gigantic underground corridor network developed by the Spanish and Austrian rulers. More than 15 miles of military caves run under and through the city. Once it connected the many forts that stood above ground with eachother. Large sections of the casemates were destroyed or closed to the public, but luckily you can still visit a part of this monumental attraction. There are two casemates in Luxembourg City: the Bock casemates and the Petrus casemates. I would only visit one of the two, because they are very similar. I enjoyed the Bock casemates most because you get the best views from here.
Chemin de la Corniche – Right next to the Bock casemates you’ll find the most beautiful view over Luxembourg City. The Chemin de la Corniche gives a wonderful panorama of the picturesque houses and grand churches in the Valley below the capital. If you look through the holes of the Bock casemates, you’ll also get this view.
The Notre Dame Cathedral – Right in front of the Petrus casemates you’ll find the most beautiful church in the city. The beige building is decorated with beautiful sculptures and a gigantic (and very sharp!) pointed roof. Although the outside is already beautiful, it is mainly the inside that is special. The large cathedral is decorated with beautiful confessional chairs, a gigantic organ and some beautiful tapestries. But the most beautiful are the stained glass. Behind the altar hangs a gigantic colorful window, which seems to bathe the priests in all the colors of the rainbow.
Vallée de la Pétrusse – If you’re in Luxembourg City, you can’t miss the gigantic city park that divides the center in two. Descend in this deep valley and escape the hustle and bustle of the city center. The gigantic park has something for everyone! Beautiful green picnic fields, fun playgrounds for children and challenging winding paths for the sports enthusiasts. If you don’t feel like doing all those steps, you can of course just look from above. The panoramic overview of this unique city garden is truly breathtaking.
Larochette – To be honest, just about every village in Luxembourg is picturesque, cute and beautiful. But if there is one that really stands out… then it must be Larochette! It’s about half an hour’s drive from Luxembourg City or 45 minutes by train. The beautiful historic center is definitely worth a walk, but don’t forget to walk around in the beautiful nature around it as well. There are several viewpoints that you should definitely visit, because the panorama of this city is really worth the hike: two beautiful castles tower majestically above it and thus create a magical landscape.
The Luxembourg Ardennes – The Belgian Ardennes go on effortlessly into the Luxembourg Ardennes, and just like in Belgium, the natural landscape is gorgeous. Summer or winter, it’s always nice to stay in this beautiful area. In addition to a wide range of plants, you’ll also find many animals here. Who knows, maybe you spot a deer, a woodpecker, a wild boar or a fox? In some places there are even some small waterfalls. Don’t just think of nature in the Luxembourg Ardennes, because there are also some pretty villages or castles in this region.
Mullerthal – According to some, the most beautiful hiking area in Luxembourg lies in the east of the country, close to the German border. Mullerthal even got the nickname ‘Little Switzerland’, so it must be beautiful here! Especially the Mullerthal trail is a crowd favorite. During this hike you climb beautiful hilly landscapes and steep, mossy rocks. Along the way you’ll also pass some small waterfalls where you can have a swim in good weather.
Things not to do in Luxembourg
No winter tires / snow chains in winter – Luxembourg has a quite cool climate! If you’re planning a car trip to Luxembourg in the winter, I recommend taking winter tires or snow chains. During my city trip there was no snow in Belgium, but in Luxembourg there was a lot! Some parts of the road were even very slippery!
No sunburn – A large part of Luxembourg is located at a certain altitude. As a result, you also burn much faster! Take care of your nose with a thin layer of sunburn.
Staying too long – Unless you plan a quiet walking holiday, you really don’t need much more than three to four days in Luxembourg. All major sights are quite near to eachother. Most cities (the capital included) aren’t very big and can also be visited in a few hours.
Tax evasion – Big Brother is watching you! Just kidding of course…
