Luxembourg City is very compact and walkable, with a surprising amount of greenery mixed with adorable honey-hued buildings. In short, it is the perfect place for a day trip if you love cities with a touch of nature.
On the last day of our long weekend at Nutchel Ardennes we drove to Luxembourg City for a day trip. It’s a great idea to finish your stay at Nutchel Ardennes, that lies just across the border in Belgium, with a visit to Luxembourg City. However, I believe it’s also a good plan to extend your stay and discover more of Luxembourg. If the rest of the country is anything like the capital, it sure will be worth it!
Walk around Luxembourg City
As the capital city of Luxembourg is small, you can simply walk from place to place. It’s a great city to discover on foot. Not only is it compact, there’s also lots of nature and green spots to be found. I was pleasantly surprised with this when we spent one day in Luxembourg City. The combination of nature and the honey-coloured houses gives the place an extraordinary charm.
Before you venture off in the city centre, swing by Luxembourg City’s tourist office. They offer a city promenade that takes you past many of the main sights. The main route is about three kilometres long (you see how close everything is to one another). You can extend this walk through the centre with a stroll in the Railway Station District. This adds another two kilometres to the promenade. We decided to just do the first part of the Luxembourg City promenade. Instead of adding the other two kilometres to our day trip, we visited some other spots in Luxembourg City that we had researched ourselves.
So, here’s a list of the things you cannot miss in Luxembourg City on a perfect day trip!
1. Adolphe Bridge and Pétrusse River Valley
This marvellous bridge was one of the first sights we saw in Luxembourg City. It spans the Pétrusse River Valley, an incredible green area that meanders through town. The Valley is a great park for hiking and cycling. The bridge itself is really special too, as it has two levels. You can walk across the top level, but underneath it is an amazing passage especially for cyclists and pedestrians.
2. Place de la Constitution
Not too far from the Adolphe Bridge is the Place de la Constitution. The main eyecatcher here is the Gëlle Fra Memorial. A pillar with a gold woman on top, that remembers the country’s soldiers who lost their lives during the First World War. Nowadays it’s a symbol for freedom and resistance in general. On this square you can also find the Pétrusse Casemates, a part of the underground defensive structures of Luxembourg City.
3. Cathedral Notre-Dame de Luxembourg
A city’s cathedral is always a must stop during a visit. This one in Luxembourg City dates back to 1613. It’s beautiful in its simplicity, but don’t expect an ornate house of worship or a very spectacular building.
4. Place Guillaume II
We couldn’t really admire this square in all its glory, as construction works were blocking the views when we visited. However, this is an absolute must stop. Firstly, because the tourist office is located here, so this is where you pick up the map for the Luxembourg City promenade. Secondly, because you can admire the Town Hall and Equestrian Statue of William II on this square.
5. Grand Ducal Palace
Luxembourg is a Grand Duchy and the head of state’s palace lies in the heart of the city. It is absolutely an unmissable sight. There are guards in traditional uniforms in front, who march at frequent intervals and also have a subtle changing of the guards every hour.
6. Chocolate House
If you want to keep an eye out for the changing of the guards, the terrace of the Chocolate House is where you’ll want to sit. The main reason to visit the Grand Duke’s neighbour across the street are the heavenly cakes. I must admit the service left something to be desired (maybe it was just a bad day), but our cake was very tasty. The pieces are huge though, so come hungry to this palace of all things sweet. If that doesn’t fit your schedule, you could also choose some delights from the shop to take with you.
7. Place de Clairefontaine
Luxembourg City has no shortage of lovely squares. This tranquil place boasts a beautiful statue to remember Grand Duchess Charlotte.
8. Place d’Armes
If you’re in dire need of food, this is where you want to head. When you enter this lovely square, it will immediately become clear why it is dubbed ‘Parlour of the City’. It’s teeming with life and filled with terraces and places to eat and drink.
9. Bock Promontory & Casemates
The Bock Promontory is where Luxembourg City first came to life in the 10th century. You can still walk along the remains of the city’s first stronghold and climb some of its towers. Because the fortress was squeezed in between valleys, you now have amazing views over many parts of Luxembourg City from up here.
Normally, you can also visit the Bock Casemates and its Archeological Crypt while you’re here. These structures, that were built to defend the city in the 18th century, are supposedly really worth a stop, but unfortunately they were still closed due to corona when we were there.
10. Chemin de la Corniche
According to the Tourism Office’s city promenade brochure, this is “the most beautiful balcony of Europe”. And who am I to contest that claim? From up here, you really do have a marvellous panorama over some of the lower parts of Luxembourg City, the Bock Promontory and the Holy Ghost Citadel (the rough stone structure that towers over the lower lying area). A must see, if you ask me.
11. Grund and Neimënster
The lower part of the city you can admire from the Chemin de la Corniche is called Grund. It’s an incredibly picturesque corner of Luxembourg City. At the edge of it lies Neimënster: originally an abbey, now cultural centre, that was once also a military hospital and a prison. Despite its many roles throughout the ages, it’s never lost its charm.
We decided to just soak in the views on this beautiful part of town from above, as we had been hiking and biking on hilly terrain the previous days too. But if you have more energy left than us, I think a stroll ‘downtown’ will be totally worth the effort.
12. MUDAM Museum and Fort Thüngen
On our day trip to Luxembourg City, we went to see the European quarter, but were a bit disappointed by this side of town. Until we came across the MUDAM Museum and Fort Thüngen. The modern architectural building of the museum is surrounded by the old structures of the fortress, giving the place a truly unique vibe.
In addition, these buildings lie in the middle of parkland including some parts of the defence works of the Fort. This area of the city makes for a lovely evening stroll, with the sunset lighting up the city skyline. However, if you’re into modern art, you might want to come earlier to visit the interior of the museum too.
13. Pfaffenthal
Grund isn’t the only lower city neighbourhood that deserves your attention. Pfaffenthal has some charming corners as well. But its main draw is the free lift you can take, offering mesmerizing vistas over parts of Luxembourg City once more and bringing you back to the historical centre.
Want to combine your visit to Luxembourg City with a unique stay in nature, just across the Belgian Border? Then a long weekend at Nutchel Ardennes is what you’re looking for.