Luxembourg is a small country and it is possible to see Luxembourg in one day but personally I think you should take more time to see this beautiful country. Whether you decide to see Luxembourg in one day or longer you will find lots of options below of what to do in Luxembourg city and also many things to do in the rest of Luxembourg.
Many people ask “But how many days in Luxembourg?” and my answer is that you need at least 3-4 days to see the whole country. If you plan to see Luxembourg in one day then I would certainly recommend only spending this time in Luxembourg sightseeing, the capital Luxembourg City.
If though you can manage more than one day in Luxembourg then I have some great day trips from Luxembourg City too including to the neighbouring countries of France, Belgium and Germany.
About Luxembourg
Contents
Luxembourg is a very small country, it is only 51 miles long by 35 miles wide (82km by 56km) and you can see a lot in 1, 2 or 3 days. The capital of Luxembourg is Luxembourg City and the Luxembourg population is 590,000. Most of the population lives in Luxembourg City with the rest of the country being mostly rural with forests, gorges and river valleys. There are over 100 castles to visit in Luxembourg.
It can be difficult to know when is the best time to visit Luxembourg, summer is generally hot, in July & August getting up to 30°c and winter can be below zero. Spring and Autumn are great months to visit, it is not too hot, there isn’t too much rain and not as many crowds as in summer.
Where is Luxembourg
Luxembourg is in Europe and is a landlocked country, meaning that it is surrounded by land and has no sea borders. It is a small country only 998 miles squared (2,585 km squared). It is surrounded by Belgium, France and Germany. As Luxembourg is in the Schengen region it is easy to travel throughout Europe from Luxembourg and also to Luxembourg .
How to get to Luxembourg City
Luxembourg airport is located 4 miles outside of Luxembourg City. Click here for more information on flights to Luxembourg. It is very easy to get from Luxembourg airport to the city, buses 16 and 29 take you to the city centre via the train station and are free. All public transport within Luxembourg has been free since March 2020.
You can also get buses to France, Belgium and Germany too, so if you want to visit Luxembourg from these countries it is very easy to do so. Luxembourg is only 3 hours by bus or 3 and a half hours by train from Brussels, so if you are are staying in Brussels, it is easy to do an overnight to Luxembourg City or to visit Brussels while you are in Luxembourg.
Click here for more information on the buses from Luxembourg Airport. A taxi should cost you around 25-30 Euro to the city centre/train station.
What to do in Luxembourg In One Day
If you can only visit Luxembourg in 1 day, then my 1 day Luxembourg itinerary would be that you want to spend that day exploring Luxembourg City, it is a beautiful city and one I fell in love with in minutes.
The old town ( ville haute quarter ) is where you want to spend most of your time, make sure you visit the old Luxembourg city center and main square, also walking along the river that runs around the old town and trying to fit time in to visit one of the many museums that Luxembourg city has.
If you don’t want to walk around the city then consider taking the Hop on Hop off Bus, it takes you around both the old town and new modern area of the city and includes all the highlights. It comes with an audio guide in 7 languages. Tickets must be bought online as the ticket office is currently closed.
Click here to buy your Hop on Hop off Luxembourg City Bus Ticket
The Best places to see in Luxembourg City are:
Bock Casemates
One of the most popular places to visit in Luxembourg in one day has to be the Casemates Du Bock. Nowadays you can visit the underground tunnels that run for 23km underneath Luxembourg City, with the original tunnels being built in 1644.
They were originally built below a castle that was built on the bock, an area of raised land that was naturally well positioned for defending. The casemates, a structure from which guns are fired were built from the original cellars in the castle.
They are normally open from March to November, though you will need to check as they are currently closed to the public.
Chemin de Corniche
This is the old city wall that was built in the 17th century and you are able to walk around it and see beautiful views of the valley that surrounds the city, the city itself and you can see the ramparts and casemates. People call it “the most beautiful balcony in Europe”.
This was the first place I stopped when I arrived in the city after I got off the bus from the airport on my walk to the Youth Hostel and I have to stay that it made me instantly fall in love with the city.
Notre Dame Cathedral
I have to admit from the outside it is not the most beautiful cathedral I have seen on my travels but once you enter you will be impressed by the detailed carved columns and stained class windows.
The cathedral was originally built in 1613 and is now the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Luxembourg. The interior is in a neo-gothic style and I personally think that it is a must see while you are in the city.
Grand Ducal Palace
The Grand Ducal Palace is situated in the middle of the old town, not far from the main square and is the city residence of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. When it was originally built it was the first town hall of the city so it might not look exactly how you would expect a palace to look.
It is open to visit every day from 14 July to 1 September between 10am and 5pm and costs 14 Euros, all proceeds from your visit go to the Grand-Ducal Foundation. You need to book in advance though as you can only visit on a guided tour.
If you like to watch the changing of the guard it is normally held once a month from June to September.
Luxembourg City Museum
Once of the most popular museums in Luxembourg is the Luxembourg City Museum. The museum shows the culture and heritage of Luxembourg through the years.
You will be also able to find out why Luxembourg City is a UNESCO world heritage site and the importance of it. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm and on Thursdays you can enter for free between 6pm to 8pm. Entrance to the museum is 5 Euros.
Free Walking Tour
If you enjoy walking tours of cities, then there are a few free walking tours that you can join that will tell you the history of Luxembourg and Luxembourg City.
I love to do free walking tours when I am in a city, the guides are normally very knowledgeable and enthusiastic as they are working on tips and you get to see the highlights of the city and learn the history.
Grand Duke Jean Museum of Modern Art (MUDAM)
The museum is located a short walk from the city center of Luxembourg and is worth visiting just for the views and grounds outside the museum. You can take the Pfaffenthal panoramic elevator to the bottom, walk across the valley and you will find the grounds of the museum.
The museum is located inside the previous Fort Thungen with a new glass building built behind it housing the museum.
It is certainly very impressive to walk around. Once inside the museum you will find exhibitions of contemporary art.
It is open Wednesday to Monday from 10am to 6pm (Wednesday it closes at 9pm) and costs 8 Euros. If you go between 6pm – 9pm on Wednesday then entrance is free.
Click here to read my In-depth guide of things to do in Luxembourg City.
Things to do in Luxembourg in 2 days
I spent a total of 5 days in Luxembourg and one of those days I did a day trip to Trier, Germany as I had allocated 2 days to see Luxembourg City, but unless you are planning on visiting a few museums then only 1 day in Luxembourg city is needed.
Above you saw my Luxembourg 1 day itinerary and now I am going to recommend what you should do if you have 2 days in Luxembourg or 3 days in Luxembourg.
If you only have 2 days in Luxembourg then I recommend that you spend 1 day seeing the capital Luxembourg City and the other day exploring the castles in Luxembourg. It is also worth considering buying the Luxembourg Card if you plan on visiting a lot of the castles and museums.
If you have two days in Luxembourg, then I recommend spending your first day exploring Luxembourg City as per the itinerary above. The second day I would then leave the city to explore some of the many castles that fill the countryside of Luxembourg.
The most popular castle to visit is Vianden and if you do not have a car, it is easy to get public transport from Luxembourg City.
Guided Day Tour to Vianden, Beaufort, Mullerthal & Echternach
If you don’t have a car and want to see as much as possible in one day without using public transport, then a good option is this Hop on Bus that takes you Vianden & Beaufort Castles, to see the famous waterfall in Mullerthal before finishing in the oldest town in Luxembourg, Echternach.
Click here to book your ticket to see Vianden & Beaufort
Vianden Castle Luxembourg
If you visit Luxembourg in 2 days and there was only 1 castle you should see in Luxembourg then it is Vianden Luxembourg Castle. Vianden Castle from Luxembourg City is only 52km and will take about 45 minutes by car or 1 hour 30 minutes by bus.
The castle was originally built between the 11th and 14th century, in 1820 it was sold off, bit by bit and eventually fell into a state of ruin before it was transferred to the state in 1977. Since then it has been restored so that visitors can see the castle in its former glory.
The castle is beautiful and has been well restored and costs 10 Euros to visit, I also decided to get the audio guide at 2 Euros and it was worth it to find out more about the history of the castle. The town below it is also beautiful and it is lovely to walk through. You can get the cable car from the river up to the castle and there is a ski lift further up the mountain if you want a view from higher up, though you can easily walk in about 20 minutes to the café at the top.
There is plenty of parking around the town on the streets if you have a car. If you don’t have a car then there are buses from Luxembourg City.
Click here to purchase your Vianden Castle ticket and skip the queues
Bourscheid Castle
What to see in Luxembourg in 2 days, well Bourscheid Castle should be another castle on your list, it was built in 1095 and is partly restored but mainly ruins. Entrance costs 7 Euros and now available is an audio guide for smart phones or tablets which costs 2 Euros. It is open every day from 1st April to 15th October 9.30am – 6pm and 16th October to 31st March from 11am to 4pm. I enjoyed exploring this castle and the views from it down the valley are amazing.
There are a few rooms inside the castle that you can explore and it is lit up at night so you can see it from the valley. There is a big car park opposite the castle which is free.
Beaufort Castle
A Luxembourg 2 days itinerary needs to include Beaufort Castle which was built in the 11th century and here you can walk around the ruins of the medieval fortress. It costs 5 Euro and this includes an information leaflet. It is open every day from 27th March to 28th November from 9am to 6pm and it definitely worth visiting as the grounds are beautiful.
It is a very tranquil place and is surrounded by trees and grass. It is not near a busy road so it is a nice place to just sit outside the castle and just look at it and enjoy the nature.
The renaissance castle next to it can be visited but only on a private tour Thursday to Sunday at 11am or 4pm and it’s best to book in advance. The cost of this tour is 10 Euros and includes access to the medieval castle too.
What to see in Luxembourg 3 Day Itinerary
Should you be lucky enough to have 3 days in Luxembourg then I would recommend going further afield to visit some of the other castles a bit further from Luxembourg City.
Clervaux Castle and Abbey
With three days in Luxembourg you will have time to visit Clervaux, it is in the north of the country and there is a small town surrounding the castle. The castle holds 3 museums (Museum of the Battle of the Bulge, Museum of Models of Luxembourg Castles & photographic exhibition The Family of Man) which you can visit or you can just walk up to the castle and into the courtyard as I did. There is a church near the castle but the Abbey is at the top of the hill behind the church and is about a 15 minute walk. It is well worth the walk up to see it. You can either walk along the road or behind the church you will see a footpath you can follow.
Wiltz Castle
If you plan to visit Luxembourg in 2 days or 3 days then Wiltz Castle is an option, it dates back to 1573 and is now the National Museum of Brewing. You are able to walk into the courtyard and around the grounds if you don’t want to go into the museum.
Esch-Sur-Sure
If you are planning on seeing Luxembourg in 3 days then my favourite place was Esch-Sur-Sure, it is certainly one of the must see cities to visit in Luxembourg. The view from the opposite hill of Esch Sur Sure is stunning and something that you should do. If you keep driving around the town there is on street parking and a few car parks as well.
Once you are parked then just follow the paths up the hill to the ruins on top of the hill in the middle of the town. The castle was built in the 13th century and there are only ruins left and it is free to enter. If you climb the hill on the opposite side and follow the path, you get a great view of the town and of the ruins.
Larochette Castle
Larochette castle is another one of the things to see in Luxembourg, it is a ruin now but was originally built in the 11th century. The ruins that we see today have been like this since the castle was destroyed by a fire in 1565. One of the houses on the site has been restored to give you an idea of how the castle once looked. It is only a ten minute walk from the town centre and worth a visit.
It is possible to get there by public transport from Luxembourg City. It costs 5 euros and is open every day from 14 March to 31 October from 10am to 6pm.
Bourglinster Castle
Bourglinster Castle was built in the 11th century, it is now a restaurant, but you are still able to walk around the grounds and into the courtyard.
Places to visit in Luxembourg Day 4
If you have a bit longer in Luxembourg then I would definitely recommend visiting the area of Echternach, this area is known for it’s hiking trails and beautiful woodlands.
Mullerthal Trail
If you have 4 days in Luxembourg then it is great to see a bit of the countryside and do some hiking. There are so many hikes to choose from in different areas of the country but the most popular are around Echternach. I decided to do part of the Mullerthal trail. It is split into 3 routes, all around 37/38km long, but you are able to do part of them too and get the bus back to Echternach. I hiked about 22km from Echternach to Hersberg and caught the bus back. It was a beautiful walk, though tough in places and after 22km I was ready to call it a day. As I had finished around 5.30pm, I decided to have dinner in Echternach, see the cathedral and have an ice cream before heading back to my hostel.
It is possible to get the bus from Luxembourg City to Echternach and do either part of the Mullernthal trail or do the E1 trail which is 12km long and starts and finishes in Echternach.
Day trips from Luxembourg Day 5
As Luxembourg is a land locked country and very small it is easy to do day trips from Luxembourg City to France, Belgium or Germany. There are many beautiful cities located within an hour or two from Luxembourg City and easily accessible by car or by train and the beauty about Luxembourg is that it is Schengen and you don’t need to work about going through immigration at the border and it taking time, half the time you don’t even realise that you have crossed from one country to another.
Trier – Germany
As I had planned 3 days in Luxembourg city and had seen everything I wanted to see in Luxembourg city within a day, I asked the hostel what I could do as a day trip from Luxembourg and they suggested exploring Trier. It is just across the border in Germany and is the oldest city in Germany. It is very beautiful and if you have an extra day then well worth a visit. It is only 50 minutes by train from Luxembourg City and the town is easily seen in a day. The most famous things to see are Porta Nigra (Black Gate) and the Market Square.
Bouillon – Belgium
Bouillon is located about 100km from Luxembourg City and is most famous for the medieval castle from the 8th century. It is a beautiful town located along a river with lots to do. Once you have visited the castles and climbed the towers to see the amazing views of the valley then make sure you visit some of the houses, museums and churches in the town. If you want something a little different then consider taking a kayaking trip along the river.
Metz – France
Metz is only around 65km from Luxembourg City and is an easy day trip from Luxembourg, there are direct trains and you can also visit easily by car. The city was established over 2,000 years and is along the Moselle and Seille rivers. In the old town there are many things for you to visit the cathedral, the Portes des Allemands and lots of museums.
Luxembourg Tours
There are many tours you can do within Luxembourg to castles from Luxembourg City, or you could choose to do one of the many day trips from Luxembourg City visiting the nearby countries.
Where to stay during your Two Days in Luxembourg
Most people who visit Luxembourg stay in Luxembourg City, there are lots of options of hotels in the city. Click here to see hotels in Luxembourg City.
There is actually only one hostel in Luxembourg City so this is where I stayed, Youth Hostel Luxembourg City. It is a big hostel but clean and the cheapest option and in a really good location. Click here for more details.
You might also find these guides on Luxembourg useful:
- Best time to visit Luxembourg
- Guide to the best hotels in Luxembourg
- The Best Luxembourg Castle Hotels
- Things to do in Luxembourg City
- The Best day trips from Luxembourg
- Vianden Castle Luxembourg
- Castles to visit in Luxembourg
If you enjoyed this post, then don’t forget to pin it.
Disclaimer: Ilive4travel is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and its partners. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Thank you for supporting Ilive4travel when you use the links.
Fabulous itinerary! This sounds like it would be pretty much what I would include too as I just love castles! It’s high on my list of next places in Europe to visit! Fingers crossed it won’t be too long before I go!
I drove through Luxembourg on my way between Germany and Belgium. After visitng Luxembourg City and staying near Vianden castle, I wish I had spent more time in this charming country.
The architecture here is unbelievable. How amazing are those castles? Thanks for sharing your tips, we get bored quickly so if we ever go we will make sure to only book 2/3 days
Such a beautiful and historical place! Luxembourg reminds me a lot to places in Germany and Switzerland as well , especially all the historical places, castles and fortresses.
Glad that you saw Trier as well with its ancient history back in times of Roman Empire. I think this makes traveling in Europe so unique, the medieval history is very impressive. Hope to see more of your impressions here soon!
Good program for 3 days in my home country 😉 Although I would also include Echternach, which is the oldest town in the country. Did you talk to some real Luxembourgers? 🙂
I did go to Echternach but only because I started the Mullerthal route from there and I then finished there and had dinner. It is a beautiful town 🙂
What a great guide, I can’t wait to go so I will be able to use it! Never have been to western europe other than Paris so this is an alert!!! Your photos on day 4 is our favorite, would LOVE to go there!
I was in Luxembourg recently and I was trying to work out where you took each of your photos from, I must have taken some of mine from very similar places! I didn’t get the chance to visit Vianden Castle but I wish I had taken the bus you suggested, it is a stunning castle. I think I changed trains in Trier, it’s an interesting fact that it’s the oldest town in Germany, I wish I had explored it!
Such a great itinerary! I visited Luxembourg in 2014 at the beginning of an Interrail Europe trip. The only reason we went there was because it was the cheapest point of entry from the UK (the flights were something like £11, crazy cheap!) and because of that we didn’t really make the most of our time. We were there for 2 days and I don’t actually remember what we saw or did other than the Notre Dame cathedral!
Vianden looks amazing, I may have to make a return trip to Luxembourg just for that.
Whoa. I knew that Luxembourg is small. What I didn’t know was that it is this small. I kind of love exploring small countries as it’s easy to explore and you don’t end up adding to many destinations. The itinerary that you shared is very useful.
For such a small country it looks so beautiful. I love the historical buildings. Especially the ones in your photos . We’ve always wanted to go after we stopped in there one day for petrol.
There are so many castles in Luxembourg. They are all perfect as a setting for a whimsical movie. I would like to visit them all if I could. Are there live music or plays in the castles?
I do not know, I wasn’t really there at the right time of year for that!! Am sure some of them there must be, but it will be in summer though 🙂
Oh my, who knew there was so much to do in such a small country? I’ve always wondered about Luxembourg as a tourist destination, now you’ve introduced it, I definitely want to go.
That’s so cool that you got to cross the border to visit a small town in Germany! I think with most places (and our lack of time) it really pushes us to be creative with itinerary planning to accommodate everything we want to see when traveling! I’m saving this itinerary for future use!
Great post about our home country! 🙂 Glad to see that you made time to visit several castles and even hike the Mëllerdall Trail! Most people who come here, only stay for a day or two and rarely leave Luxembourg City. Or if they do, they’d only visit Vianden. Should you stop by again next time, make sure to visit the Castle of Ansembourg as well (and its beautiful gardens! Check out our blog post :), which lies in the Valley of the 7 Castles, and do some wine tasting along the Moselle.
Luxembourg looks like a fairytale country with all these castles and rock formation. I have never been there but love to explore the country some day.
Luxembourg looks so beautiful. I would love to visit one day soon so this itinerary will come in handy. Thanks