Are you planning a trip to Luxembourg and have a few days and are wanting to see something other than Luxembourg City? Well, there is so much more to Luxembourg and many cities in countries next to Luxembourg that you can visit on day trips from Luxembourg City Centre within just a few hours.

It may be easier if you have access to a car but some of these day trips or even weekend trips from Luxembourg can also be done by train or bus.  Remember if you do hire a car then you will need to advise them for insurance purposes if you are planning to travel to a different country as this will affect the price that you pay.

Luxembourg is a small country it is only 82km long and 57km wide and is surrounded by Belgium, France and Germany and so it is easy to visit many cities within a couple of hours from Luxembourg City.

If you had to pick one day trip from Luxembourg City then I would choose one place within Luxembourg as it is a beautiful country and there is lots to see and do, from visiting one of the many castles or hiking the beautiful Mullerthal region.

One of the most popular day trips from Luxembourg City has to be to Vianden and one of my favourites in Luxembourg, easily done by bus or car from Luxembourg City.

If though you want to see further afield then these are my favourites for the best places for day trips from Luxembourg.

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1. Vianden, Luxembourg

Vianden is a small town in north eastern Luxembourg just a few kilometres from the German border and is the most popular place to visit in Luxembourg because of Vianden Castle, which was restored by the Luxembourg government in 1977.

There are several museums and shops in the area, as well as a chair lift that takes visitors up past the castle. You just need to cross the river and a short walk away you will see the chair lift, the chair lift goes higher up the mountain than the castle so you get great views of the area and it is an easy walk back to the castle and to the town, if you only want to buy a one way ticket. It costs 5 Euro one way or 7 Euro return.

The castle is the highlight of the town, though the town is beautiful and worth spending some time in, you can explore the castle on your own, with an audio guide or take a guided tour.  It costs 10 Euro’s to enter and expect your visit to take around 2 hours.

Vianden Castle is easy to access from the capital, Luxembourg City and takes around 40 minutes by car, alternatively you can take the train and bus which will take around 1 hour 30 minutes.

2. Mullerthal, Luxembourg

Mullerthal is a region in eastern Luxembourg with rolling hills and rock formations that give it a bit of a Swiss feel and is one of the top Luxembourg tourist attractions. There are many hiking trails and bike trails in Mullerthal, as well as the River Sure running through the area. Echternach the main town in this area is actually the oldest town in Luxembourg and has a beautiful medieval old town centre, from here you can start the most famous hike in Luxembourg, The Mullerthal Trail.  The whole trail is 112km which you might not want to do all of it, but it is possible to hike part of it and then get the bus back to Echternach, or you can drive it and do little sections.

If hiking is not your thing, then a great alternative is to rent kayaks in Echternach and to take them out on the river for just a few Euros.

To travel from Luxembourg City to Mullerthal is about 30 minutes by car or 1 hour and 20 minutes by bus.

3. Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg

Esch-sur-Alzette is a small village in the north west of Luxembourg. Three sides of the town is surrounded by the river Sauer which snakes around the village, with the ruins of a castle remaining at the highest point of the village. It is a beautiful place to visit, from the waterfront parks to the small narrow streets up to the castle. You can also cross the river and climb the hill to get a beautiful view of the town and the river surrounding it.

It is one of the most beautiful places in Luxembourg and definitely worth a visit.

It is about 50km from Luxembourg City and takes about 45 minutes by car or 1 hour and a half by bus, though there is no direct bus and you will need to change.

4. Bourscheid Castle, Luxembourg

Bourscheid Castle is the largest of the castles in Luxembourg and one of the best places to visit in Lxuembourg, though it’s not as well known as Vianden Castle that everyone tends to visit.

Construction originally began on the castle in 1,000 AD and it has been added to over the centuries. After the castle was auctioned off in 1812 the castle started to fall into ruin until it was acquired by the state in 1976 and since then has been excavated and restored to what we see today.

Entrance is 7 euro and make sure to take an audio-guide available for 2 Euro for a smartphone as it helps bring the place to life! It will take around 1-2 hours to visit. There is free car parking opposite the castle and it takes about 45 minutes from Luxembourg City by car.  It is also possible to get a train and bus from Luxembourg City, it will take around 1 hour 30 minutes.

The views from the castle and also from the road driving uphill towards the castle are amazing, as the castle is perched on a rock 150 metres above the Sure river, a must see place to visit during your trip to Luxembourg.

5. Beaufort Castles, Luxembourg

There are two castles in Beaufort, the ruins of the medieval castle which are open from 2 April 2022 until 14 November 2022 with a cost of 5 euros which includes an information leaflet about different points within the castle. This castle was originally built in the 12th century but by the 1600’s was a ruin, it has been cleared of rubble and restored so that it is safe and has been open to the public since 1932.

The Renaissance Castle, which is open year-round, has nice gardens, but this does need to be booked in advance. It was originally built in 1645 and is still lived in today, so you can see how a real castle looks and how it is decorated and used.

Beaufort is close to Echternach and Müllerthal , making it easy to visit both these destinations in one day if you have a car.  From Luxembourg City it takes around 1 hour by car or 1 hour 30 minutes by train and bus.

6. Bonn, Germany

Bonn is a university city in the west of Germany and is renowned for being the birthplace of Ludwig Van Beethoven, a famous German composer. It was founded in 12 BC by the Romans, when they had an army stationed in what would now be the centre of Bonn, on the banks of the River Rhine.

The Beethoven House museum honours him and you can see his birthplace and where he lived.

Other popular museums in Bonn, include a science museum in Poppelsdorf Palace and Kunstmuseum Bonn (otherwise known as Bonn Museum of Modern Art which was founded in 1947).

You can also explore the castle, Schloss Drachenburg and appreciate its architectural style, which makes it look like a palace, it is just a few kms from Bonn so very easy to visit while you are on a day trip to Bonn. It is actually a private villa styled as a palace and was built in 1884, it stands on a hill overlooking the River Rhine with amazing views of the valley.

Bonn is located around 2 and a half hours drive from Luxembourg City or 3 hours 10 minutes by train as you will need to change trains in Koblenz.

7. Cologne, Germany

The city of Cologne was established in 38BC and is small and compact, and easily walkable with the main train station situated in the city centre.  The travel time is around 2 hours and 45 minutes driving from Luxembourg City or 3 and a half hours by train making Cologne a great day trip from Luxembourg but also one of the popular day trips from cologne to Luxembourg.

Cologne cathedral was completed around 1322 and was designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. The famous Romano-Germanic Museum you will also find next to the Cathedral and is well worth a visit. It is located on the site of a Roman town villa, which is located in the basement of the museum and the museum was built around this.

There is a lot of evidence of the Roman’s in Cologne and you can find many buildings and part of the wall that surrounded the city from the Roman times. It certainly is a beautiful historic city.

8. Eltz Castle, Germany

Eltz Castle is a medieval castle located between Koblenz and Trier in the Moselle Valley in Germany. The castle was built in the 12th century and has been renovated several times.

It is located in the hills on a 70 metre rock spur and is surrounded by trees and on three sides by the river Elzbach.

Eltz Castle is 150km from Luxembourg City and it takes around 2 hours to drive by car.  It is very difficult to get there using public transport and it would be best to get a train to Koblenz which takes 2 and a half hours and then a taxi which takes 30 minutes to Eltz Castle.

The entry to the castle costs 12 Euro per person and it is open from 8.30am to 5pm and it is best to allocate around 2.5 hours for your visit.

9. Trier, Germany

Trier is a beautiful town in Germany with plenty of history as it is the oldest town in Germany as it was founded in 4th century BC.

It’s a perfect day trip from Luxembourg City as it is only 1 hour by direct train, it’s also possible to drive and it will take an hour, but if you have rented a car you will need to tell the company that you are also going to Germany too.

It’s nice to simply walk around the old town centre in Trier Germany, with the most famous of places that you can visit being Porta Nigra (Black Gate), which is the only surviving roman gate that was part of the wall surrounding the city, the market square or “Hauptmarkt” and the Electoral Palace.

In summer, you can take a boat tour down the Mosel River from Trier to enjoy the beautiful scenery.  It is certainly one of the best day trips from Luxembourg by train.

10. Koblenz, Germany

Koblenz is a city with history and contains some impressive buildings and is known for its impressive Deutsches Eck landmark. This is an artificial piece of land that sticks out into the mouth of the rivers Moselle and Rhine, with a monument of the German Emperor Wilhelm 1 being placed there in 1897.

Koblenz was founded by the Romans as a military post in 8BC and became an important Roman settlement. You can still see today remains of a bridge that was built in 49AD.

Today the most famous places to visit in the city are Deutsches Eck, Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, Stolzenfels Castle, Koblenz Cable Car and the Romanticum Museum.

It’s recommended to travel there by car from Luxembourg so that you can see the many charming villages situated along the Rhine and Moselle rivers and you could also stop and visit Eltz Castle as you pass by it on the drive, or maybe have some weekend getaways from Luxembourg City

To drive from Luxembourg City it will take you around 2 hours 10 minutes or 2 hours and 30 minutes by train.

11. Bastogne, Belgium

Bastogne is a town in Belgium known for its WWII history and the famous battle of the Bulge that changed the course of the Second World War and took place near Bastogne. It is only 11km from the border with Luxembourg, though it will take you about 50 minutes from Luxembourg City and around 2 hours by train and bus, it is one of the most popular day trips from Luxembourg to Belgium.

The town itself is really nice, and there are lots of interesting war sites and museums, the most important to visit is the Bastogne War Museum and Mardasson War Memorial, it is located just 2.5km from the town and you will need around 2 hours to visit.

St Peter’s Church in the centre of town is a must see, just to see the impressive ceiling, as well as the Treves Gate, it was built in 1332 and is the last city gate that remains in the city. In addition, you’ll also find charming cafés and food stores where you can try all kinds of typical local specialties of the Belgian Ardennes region.

12. Namur Belgium

Namur is a beautiful city that has so much to offer, but it’s often overlooked by tourists. It is located in the French side of Belgium and is known as the capital of Wallonia. It is around 1 hour 40 minutes by car from Luxembourg City or 2 hours by train.

In the Middle Ages, Namur served as an important gateway between France and Germany and later became one of the most prosperous cities in Belgium due to its textile industry. Today, Namur is a vibrant cultural centre with numerous museums and gardens, as well as several universities and colleges.

Namur is known for its cobblestone streets, narrow canals, and magnificent architecture. The main thing to do in Namur is to visit the incredible citadel which offers amazing views over Namur City as it is located on a hilltop overlooking the city. The original was built in 937 though it has been extended and a lot of what we can see today dates back to 1675. If you don’t want to walk up to the citadel then there is also the option to take the cable car from the city centre to the Citadel and get some beautiful views of the city.

Another great way to see Namur is by taking a boat tour on the Meuse- and Sambre River, or if you want a different type of exercise you can also rent a paddleboard or kayaks.

13. Dinant, Belgium

Dinant is a small town in Belgium with a population of only 18,000 and is a popular day trip from Luxembourg as it is only 1 hour 30 minutes from Luxembourg City by car or 2 hours 30 minutes by train as you need to change trains in Libramont.

The town is located on both sides of the River Meuse and is easily walkable, the main highlight of Dinant has to be the citadel which sits above the town and is accessible by either 400 steps or a cable car.  There you can visit the museum or just enjoy the beautiful view overlooking the town and the river.

Another great view point is to cross the river to get a view of the citadel and the Collegiale Notre Dame de Dinant which dates back to the 13th century and has a pear shaped bell tower which was added in the 16th century, this is probably the most photographed area of Dinant.

There are many restaurants and shops in the town, as well as a botanical garden and museums that you can spend your day visiting. A beautiful town to visit whether the sun is shining or not.

14. Mons, Belgium

Mons, Belgium is a historic city in the west of Belgium close to the border with France and about 2 and a half hours by car to Luxembourg City and 3 and a half hours by train.

The city is known for its Gothic architecture, including the belfry and basilica of Our Lady and in 2015 was declared a European Capital of Culture.

In the centre of the city you will find many cobbled streets, leading to the main square or the Grand Place as it is known.  Here you will see the impressive town hall which dates back to 1477 in a gothic style.  It’s a popular place for visitors to Mons who come to the town hall to touch the monkey to the left of the entrance with their left hand and then make a wish.  You can also visit the Mayor’s garden which is accessed from the town hall.

One of the three designated UNESCO World Heritage Site’s in Mon’s is the Belfry which sits on top of the hill in Mon’s. The Belfry was finished in 1672 and is 87 metres high and is the must visit place so you can see the amazing views of the city from the top of the Belfy.

15. Brussels, Belgium

Brussels is probably the most famous city in Belgium as it is the capital of Belgium with a population of 11.5 million. Brussels is a popular day trip from Luxembourg and even many people like to take a day trip from Brussels to Luxembourg as it is only 2 and a half hours driving or 3 and a half hours by train.

A trip to Brussels would not be complete without visiting the historical centre and Grand Place. The Grand Place is a beautiful cobbled rectangular market square surrounded by government offices in historic buildings and cafes with outdoor seating. Here you can find the city’s town hall, the Bread Hall and other ornate guild halls and it is thought of as one of the most beautiful squares that there is in Europe. It became a UNESCO world heritage site in 1998.

The square is first mentioned in the 12th century, though nowadays many of the buildings in this square only date back to the late 1600’s as in 1695 the buildings in the square were destroyed during a battle in just 3 days. The city very quickly rebuilt it’s main square and most famous today is the city hall with its impressive bell tower. The building mainly survived the bombardment and was restored in the 19th century.

Another must see is the cathedral of St Michael and St Gudula, which when it opened in 1519 had been under construction for 300 years!! This cathedral is stunning inside and has gothic and baroque chapels.

Now Belgians love their fries and waffles, so be sure to try them while in Brussels! You will find many cafes and restaurants in the historic centre and the Grand Place where you can try some waffles and sample a few Belgian beers.  If you happen to be on holiday in Brussels then think about taking a Brussels to Luxembourg day trip as this is equally as popular as doing the day trip from Luxembourg.

16. Metz, France

Metz is a city in north eastern France and is the capital of the department of Moselle and lies on the Moselle River at its confluence with the Saar River. It is just 62km from Luxembourg City and will take around 1 hour 15 minutes by car and just 1 hour by direct train making it one of the perfect day trips from Luxembourg to France.

The City of Metz, dates back more than 3,000 years, and here in the old city you will find lots of history and many notable historical monuments. Metz over the years has been part of both France and Germany and has been fought over for many years. After the 1st world war it once again became part of France.

The city is very green with many parks and many trees lining the promenade alongside the river. The Esplanade is a garden and one of the most beautiful and popular places to visit in the city, you will find it is always at the heart of celebrations in the city, from the carnival to fair’s in summer and at Christmas an ice rink is close by.

The city has many beautiful old buildings that are worth seeing and visiting, the Saint-Pierre Cathedral dates back to 1220 and is one of the tallest cathedrals in Europe and has amazing stained glass windows and gothic features.  The city also has the oldest church in France which dates back to 390AD.

The German’s Gate is a place not to be missed too, it is the city gate and a medieval bridge castle and is one of the last remaining parts of the old city wall. It served as a bridge over the river seille and a door to the entrance of the old city.

This is certainly a beautiful city to visit to enjoy the history and there also a few museums you can visit to learn about the history of the town and the region.

17. Reims, France

Reims is the capital of the Champagne region of France and is home to a number of notable attractions, including the Reims Cathedral. It was founded in 80BC and was a major city in the Roman Empire.

It is about 2 hours and 30 minutes from Luxembourg City by car and about 3 hours by train as there is no direct train.

Reims boasts 4 UNESCO world heritage sites, the Notre Dame of Reims, The Palace of Tau, The Old Saint Remi Abbey and The Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars.

The Reims Cathedral or Notre Dame of Reims is probably the most popular place to visit in Reims, the cathedral itself is bigger than the Notre Dame in Paris and 2,303 statues embellish its exterior. The stained glass windows are stunning too. If you enjoy seeing the city from above then you can climb the 249 steps to the top of the north tower. In summer from May till the end of August you will find a sound and light show on the cathedral.

The Palace of Tau was once the home of the archbishops of Reims, though now is a museum showing many objects from the cathedral.

The Old Saint Remi Abbey consists of the Saint Remi Basilica and the Saint Remi Museum it has a beautiful interior and is also a must see during your visit.

If you are visiting Remi and the Champagne region then a must is to visit the hillsides where the Champagne is made, explore the cellars and try some local champagne.

18. Strasbourg, France

Strasbourg is located in North Eastern France practically on the border with Germany. It has a major role in France as a business, commercial and cultural centre, with the European Parliament, Council of Europe and European Court of Human Rights based there.

It is located around 2 hours and 30 minutes by car from Luxembourg City and it is even possible to get the fast direct train and will take 1 hour and 30 minutes.  It is one of the great day trips from Luxembourg by train and is also the perfect weekend trip from Luxembourg.

It is famous for being a very beautiful city, it is over 2,000 years old and straddles two rivers. You will find buildings dating back to the Medieval, Renaissance, Romantic and Art Nouveau eras. If you walk through the old town (La petite) you will find it filled with small narrow streets, perfectly preserved and in summer many flowers and trees make the city very colourful. Make sure you look across the waterway to the buildings which the fishermen, millers and tanners worked, it’s the most stunning part of the city.

Ponts Couverts marks the entrance to the old town and here you can still see three bridges and their towers which used to be part of the ramparts surrounding the city. For the last 300 years the bridges have been uncovered but they used to be covered to give protection during sieges.

There are many things to do in Strasbourg that you may want to spend more than a day there exploring!! Probably the most famous and popular place to see is Strasbourg Cathedral. Most of the building dates back to the 1100’s and it was even the tallest building in the world until 1874. Make sure you walk up the 330 steps to the top of the north tower to get views of the Black Forest in the distance on a clear day.

Strasbourg may be a very old beautiful city but you will find some new architecture there, the European Parliament had a glass building built along the riverside for its home.

This is certainly a beautiful city to take a day trip and will certainly make you want to go back to see more.

19. Nancy France

Nancy is directly south of Luxembourg in north east France and was founded around 1,000 years. It is famous for its baroque and art nouveau structures.

Nancy is located 60km directly south of Metz and Luxembourg and will take around 1 hour 30 mins by car from Luxembourg City or 1 hour 45 minutes by train.

The main attraction of Nancy is the Place Stanislaus which is one of the most beautiful squares in Europe and has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1983. It was finished 1760 and is surrounded by 5 palaces with the largest being the town hall. The most photographed part of the square is the gilded railings around the fountains which joins two of the palaces.

There are also many museums, churches, squares and parks to enjoy in Nancy, and you should also make sure to visit the city’s old town, where you can see the city gate built in 1619 and the 18th century cathedral.

20. Haguenau France

Haguenau is a beautiful town in north east France, located just 35km from Strasbourg. It was founded by German Dukes in the 12th century and over the years has swapped many times from being part of either Germany or France. It was returned to France in 1918 at the end of World War 1.

Located in the northeast of France close to the border with Germany, it is about a 2 and a half hour drive from Luxembourg City or 3 hours by train.

To the north of the city is Haguenau Forest which is the largest undivided forest in France. It is a great place to hike or cycle with many different options.

The city itself is beautiful to walk around and despite being part of many wars over the years it still has many features you can see including two of the old city gates. It also has many museums to visit and churches. In the area surrounding the town you will also find 2 renaissance mansions and 35 medieval palaces, some of which you can explore.

What do you think of these day trips from Luxembourg City, have you done any of these trips?  Is there other cities which you think I should add to the list?

You might also find these Guides on Luxembourg useful:

• What to do in Luxembourg in 1, 2 or 3 days
• What to do in Luxembourg City
• The Best Castles to visit in Luxembourg
• Where to stay when visiting Luxembourg
• Best time to visit Luxembourg

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