Itineraries

48 hours in Luxembourg

7 min read

View across the Alzette valley to the old town of Luxembourg City

Day 1: Old town and the casemates

Start at Place d’Armes for coffee (around $4) then walk Rue du Fossé to the Grand Ducal Palace for the 10am changing of the guard. Follow the Chemin de la Corniche, the balcony over the Alzette locals call Europe's most beautiful. Drop into the Bock Casemates ($8), the 17th-century rock tunnels carved under the promontory. Wind down through Montée de Clausen into the Grund neighborhood for lunch at Scott's Pub on Bisserweg or a bowl of bouneschlupp at Brasserie Cathédrale.

In the afternoon ride the free Pfaffenthal panoramic lift up to the Pescatore park, then walk Boulevard Royal back into the center for shopping on Grand-Rue. End at Big Beer Company on Rives de Clausen — the reconverted brewery strip along the river — for a $9 pint and steak-frites around $22.

Day 2: Kirchberg, Philharmonie and Vianden

Take tram T1 (free, like all public transit nationwide) from Central Station to Philharmonie/Mudam. The Mudam contemporary art museum ($8) sits inside I.M. Pei's Fort Thüngen. Its rooftop café does a $16 lunch plate. Cross to the European Quarter to see the Court of Justice towers, then tram back to Hamilius.

With half a day left, take the CFL train to Ettelbruck (35 min, free) and bus 570 up to Vianden castle ($10 entry) — a fairy-tale hilltop fortress restored in the 1970s. Back in the city by 8pm, book dinner at Um Plateau in Clausen for a proper Riesling-and-judd-mat-gaardebounen sit-down, about $35 a head.

Where to sleep for a 48-hour trip

Base yourself around the Gare (station) district for cheap sleeps — Hotel Bristol on Rue de Strasbourg runs about $95 a night, walkable to everything and on every tram. If you want quieter, Hotel Parc Beaux-Arts near the palace is around $240 but puts you 2 minutes from breakfast on Place Guillaume II.

Frequently asked questions

Is 48 hours enough for Luxembourg City?

Yes for the capital itself. You can cover the Unesco old town, the Grund, the casemates and 1 Kirchberg museum without rushing. Add a 3rd day if you want Vianden or Echternach.

Do I need a car for a weekend in Luxembourg?

No. All public transport — trams, buses and trains — has been free nationwide since 2020. A car is a liability in the old town where parking runs $4 an hour.

What's the best day to arrive?

Friday afternoon. You get the Saturday Glacis flea market (twice-monthly), full restaurant openings, and Sunday's quiet-old-town photo light before flying out.

Is Luxembourg expensive for a short trip?

Meals and hotels run 20-30% above Paris. Budget $180 a day per person including a mid-range hotel, 2 meals out and 1 museum. Transport itself costs $0.