Top 10 things to do in Luxembourg City, ranked

The essential five

1. Walk the Chemin de la Corniche — the ramparts walk above Grund is the single view that sells the city, and it's free. 2. Descend into the Bock Casemates, the UNESCO-listed tunnel network under the old fortress; allow an hour and wear grippy shoes. 3. Wander Grund itself along the Alzette, past the Neumünster Abbey. 4. Ride the Pfaffenthal panoramic elevator down the cliff — it's part of the free public transport network. 5. See the Grand Ducal Palace on Rue du Marché-aux-Herbes, especially during the summer guided tours in July and August.

These five hit the fortress-city geography that makes Luxembourg unlike anywhere else. Do them in one long day if you must, but two days lets you slow down. The Corniche and Bock Casemates are within five minutes of each other; the Pfaffenthal lift is a ten-minute walk further along the ridge. Everything is walkable from Ville Haute, though the descents into the valleys are steep enough that returning uphill on foot will remind your calves you did.

The next five

6. Mudam on Kirchberg — I.M. Pei's building alone justifies the tram ride, and rotating exhibitions are strong. 7. The National Museum of Art and History (MNAHA) on Marché-aux-Poissons, for the Gallo-Roman mosaics and Luxembourg painters. 8. Philharmonie Luxembourg on Kirchberg for a concert; the acoustics rank with the best in Europe. 9. The Wenzel Circular Walk, a two-hour loop combining Ville Haute, Pfaffenthal, and Clausen with historical panels. 10. Place d’Armes for an outdoor coffee, especially on summer evenings when brass bands play from the bandstand.

These are the ones people skip when they only have a morning — and then regret. Mudam and the Philharmonie sit on the same Kirchberg plateau, so pair them. The Wenzel walk is the best single route in the city if you want to understand the topography rather than just photograph it. Skip Place d’Armes at lunchtime unless you like paying tourist prices for average food; go for a drink at 6pm instead.

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