Area guides
Ville Haute area guide for tourists
5 min read
Ville Haute old town Luxembourg with Palais Grand-Ducal
What's here
Ville Haute (the 'upper city') sits on a sandstone plateau ringed by the Pétrusse and Alzette valleys. Everything a first-timer wants is here: the Palais Grand-Ducal, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Place d’Armes, Place Guillaume II, and the Bock casemates — the UNESCO-listed defensive tunnels carved into the cliff. Walking from one end to the other takes 15 minutes.
Where to stay and eat
Hotels here are pricey ($200+) but you’re right in it. Hotel Simoncini, Le Place d’Armes and Vauban are the best. Eat at Um Dierfgen for Luxembourgish, Brasserie Guillaume for steak, and Chocolate House opposite the Palais for the guard-change spectacle and outrageous hot chocolate. Rue du Marché-aux-Herbes has the tourist traps — cross to Rue de la Boucherie instead.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ville Haute walkable?
Entirely. It's a pedestrian zone in most parts and the whole plateau is flat. Getting down to Grund uses the free Pfaffenthal elevator or stairs — both are step-free options exist.
Where do I see the changing of the guard?
Outside the Palais Grand-Ducal on Rue du Marché-aux-Herbes. It's a small ceremony every hour when the Grand Duke is in residence, usually mid-July to end of August.
Where to stay
Rooms worth pairing with this guide.
Ready to plan this trip?
Real prices for the places this piece names.
