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Today’s blog post is going to focus on one of the smallest countries in the world — Welcome to Luxembourg! Luxembourg is a landlocked country located in northwest Europe. It’s sandwiched between France, Germany, and Belgium. Last October, I was based in Belgium for a few weeks and knew that visiting Luxembourg was a MUST! It was a new country for me, and I’ve heard such good things about visiting. In this article, I’m going to share all these good things with you. By the end of this post, you’ll be rushing to plan a trip with at least one day in Luxembourg too!
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Don’t have time to read the full guide? This full-day tour to Luxembourg with a stop in Dinant, Belgium from Brussels is top-rated & is the tour I personally booked to visit all the below sights. It’s PERFECT for just one day in Luxembourg!
Know Before You Go: Luxembourg Edition
Currency
The Euro is the official currency used in Luxembourg. Luxembourg is a member of the EU. Credit cards are primarily used in Western Europe. Fun fact: Luxembourg is actually the wealthiest country in Europe because of its high minimum salary. It’s also kept to high-standards because of its wealth, so it’s incredibly clean!
Pro-tip: Make sure your credit card is tappable! Even chip cards are old school. In Europe, most restaurants will have a POS hand-held device for checking out, in which you just tap your card.
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Language
Luxembourg is one of the most multi-lingual countries in the world. The majority of Luxembourgers speak 4 languages. The 3 main administrative / official languages in Luxembourg are Luxembourgish, French, and German. English is also widely spoken!
Water
Luxembourg is one of the cleanest countries I’ve ever seen. Tap water is also the most controlled resource in the country — making it completely safe to drink here. Fill ’em up!
Weather
Luxembourg experiences all 4 seasons similar to its surrounding countries. Here, there are cold winters and relatively warm summers. Although the country is small, the north is different than the south. The northern part of the country, referred to as Oesling, is slightly cooler and has more rainfall. The southern part, called Gutland (where Luxembourg City, the capital is located), has less rainfall.
Summer is the driest season, and the warmest with average temperatures ranging from 57°F to 75°F. You may want to pack some layers for your one day in Luxembourg, it doesn’t get too hot here!
Cell Service / WiFi
There is strong service and free WiFi throughout most parts of the country. Certainly in Luxembourg City, and in most other towns.
Transportation
One of the main reasons why I was so impressed by Luxembourg? ALL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS FREE! I’ve never heard of another country offering this, especially in a capital city. The public transportation is extremely nice too. It’s clean and efficient. Definitely take advantage of the tram system during your one day in Luxembourg! Have more than one day? DEFINITELY use it! Imagine commuting to work for free?!
As of June 2024, Uber is also readily available in the country.
Arriving In Luxembourg
As mentioned above, Luxembourg is landlocked by France, Belgium, and Germany, making it easily accessible! There are even full-day tours from nearby cities such as Brussels and Amsterdam to make the absolute most of your one day in Luxembourg. If you don’t want to book a full-day, guided bus tour, here are other ways to arrive in Luxembourg City from nearby cities.
Brussels To Luxembourg
Brussels is about 2-3 hours from Luxembourg via car / bus. This is the best way to travel here. If you book a full-day tour, like this one — it will include transportation. This is what I did to travel to Luxembourg for one day. It was the easiest way to visit the country without having to plan too much myself. Plus, the bus ride was extremely relaxing… I just slept for the full 3 hours to & from.
FlixBus also operates a direct bus from Brussels North Station to Luxembourg P+R Bouillon. This ride is a little over 3 hours and tickets will cost you about $20 USD each way.
Other options include renting a car which will take you about 2-2.5 hours to drive, and taking the train. There are direct routes from Brussels Midi to Luxembourg Station. This train ride is about 3.5 hours and will cost you about $30 USD each way. You can grab these tickets in advance on Omio.
I wouldn’t recommend flying for your one day in Luxembourg since it’s more complicated and the two cities are only 120 miles apart.
Amsterdam To Luxembourg
Amsterdam is a bit farther from Luxembourg — you have to journey through Belgium to get to Luxembourg. The two cities are 228 miles apart, and take about 4 hours of driving.
A FlixBus will take about 6 hours to travel between the cities. This journey, although a bit long, is direct. Tickets will cost you about $40-$55 USD each way. Most buses leave from Amsterdam, Piarcoplein (Amsterdam Sloterdijk) and will arrive at Luxembourg P+R Bouillon.
There aren’t any direct trains from Amsterdam to Luxembourg. But even with the one change, the journey is still only about 5.5 hours long. Also, the tickets will cost about $100-$150 USD each way — significantly more expensive than a bus.
Lastly, if you want to fly, KLM City Hopper does offer a non-stop 55 minute flight between Amsterdam and Luxembourg, but tickets for this are about $250 USD ONE WAY. Considering this is such a short distance, if I were you, I would take the bus to cut costs! There’s a bathroom on-board, fast WiFi, and comfy seats.
Paris To Luxembourg
Driving from Paris to Luxembourg takes 4-5 hours. Taking a bus (or your own rental car!) is the cheapest way to travel between the two cities. FlixBus offers rides for as little as $30 USD one way. Alternatively, you can also travel the 178 miles (287 km) by flight. Flights with LuxAir are direct and only take about 1 hour, but can cost upwards of $200 USD each way.
There are incredible high-speed trains between the two cities that take only 2ish hours. These are direct and cost about $60 USD each way. Although the train is pricier than the bus, this would be my recommendation since it takes half the time! Plus, train travel in Europe is literally the best. You can soak in views of the French countryside as you begin your one day in Luxembourg.
What To See During One Day In Luxembourg
Now that we’ve gone over some things to know about Luxembourg and how to get there from nearby European cities, let’s hop into the sights to see! Below, I provide sightseeing + dining recommendations. Note: I don’t have any personal accommodation recommendations for Luxembourg since I took a day trip and only spent one day in Luxembourg!
Also, I wanted to note that while this city can 100% be explored on your own (it is quite small, and most of these sights are walking distance from one another), I would recommend a guided tour. The full-day Brussels to Luxembourg tour that I booked included a 1-2 hour walking tour through the city. This allowed me to learn about the history of this fascinating micro-country, and to see the main sights. I then had free time after lunch to revisit sights that interested me / take photos. I HIGHLY recommend THIS tour if you’re looking for a similar experience!
Viaduc Bridge
Viaduc Bridge is a viaduct bridge, as the name alludes! This specific type of bridge consists of a series of arches / columns supporting a long, elevated railway. This bridge is located on the outskirts of the valley of the city, allowing direct overpass across the terrain and creek below.
Viaduc bridge is also referred to as “The Old Bridge”. It was built between 1859 and 1861 to cross the Pétrusse valley at a height of 45 meters. It consists of 24 arches, which makes it a beautiful sight to photograph from afar during your one day in Luxembourg!
Place De La Constitution & “Gëlle Fra” Sculpture
You will pass this sculpture and city square on your way into the main city of Luxembourg. Notice how GREEN this city is! The greenery, and lushness of the trees, in a European capital city totally blew me away. This city park is a beautiful photo spot, and also a symbol that has inspired many generations. The “Golden Lady” sculpture was commissioned shortly after WWI in December 1918 in dedication to the young Luxembourgers who lost their lives in the French battles against the German troops.
This statue was unfortunately partially destroyed during WWII by German soldiers, although it was rebuilt throughout the years. Today, the obelisk stands proudly at the Place de la Constitution, and pays tribute to the Luxembourg soldiers who fell during both world wars. “Gëlle Fra” is a sign of French, symbolizing Luxembourgish friendship, but also resistance.
Grand Ducal Palace
The Grand Duke’s Palace is located in the very heart of Luxembourg’s Old Town and is a must-see during your one day in Luxembourg. If you book the full-day tour that I recommend, a local guide will bring you here!
This palace is still the official residence of the grand ducal family. The site of this palace was once home to Luxembourg’s first town hall (dating back to 1418). That building was eventually destroyed, and rebuilt and enlarged on both sides in the 1700s. Since 1890, the main building has served as the grand ducal palace.
During the summer months, tourists can gain exclusive access to the palace on guided tours. The 75-minute tour includes a behind the scenes look at the Grand Duke’s office, dining room, etc. During the rest of the year, tourists can admire the building from the outside plaza, along with observe the Changing of the Guard ceremony out front.
Cathedral Notre-Dame De Luxembourg
This is the main (and only!) cathedral in the city and is definitely worth a visit during your one day in Luxembourg. It is also located int he heart of the Old Town, not too far from the palace.
The Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin dates back to 1613 and was originally a Jesuit church. It was built in the gothic style, and has been enlarged several times throughout history. Most recently in 1938. It is free to walk inside and tour it!
Place d’Armes
There are several pedestrian-only zones scattered throughout Luxembourg. This city square is one of the main areas for street cafes, restaurants, and souvenir stores.
Place d’Armes, also called “Parlour of the City”, was built in 1671. The French troops of Louis XIV paved the square, planted lime-trees and used it for parades. Today, this square hosts the city’s main Christmas Market, along with open-air concerts and events.
The City Palace, also called Cercle Cité, is situated here as well.
Pro-tip: This city square is the perfect place to eat lunch during your one day in Luxembourg! I ate at Brasserie du Cercle and couldn’t recommend it more. They are known for their traditional Luxembourg food — which is essentially hearty, comfort stews, steaks with mashed potatoes, etc. They also have outdoor seating, which is perfect for people watching. I visited during October and was still comfortable sitting outside since they provided blankets!
Pfaffenthal Panoramic Elevator
You may be curious why an ELEVATOR is mentioned on this list?! Well… during your one day in Luxembourg, you’ll want to explore both the upper and lower towns. The Upper Town contains most of the sights mentioned above in the Old Town of Luxembourg, including the cathedral, the main city square, and the palace. However, the lower valley is equally as beautiful (if not more scenic thanks to all the trees + creeks that flow through this area), and is worth the stroll.
To access the lower town, you’ll want to ride the city’s Pfaffenthal Panoramic Elevator. The new glass elevator connects the “Pescatore” park located in the city center to the Pfaffenthal area at the bottom of the Alzette valley.
The elevator runs everyday from about 6 am – 1 am in the night. It is free to use and will offer sweeping views of the city. The elevator is usable for both pedestrians and cyclists.
Grund District
Once you are in the lower town, I recommend exploring the Grund district! This area is a charming jewel in the heart of Luxembourg City. With historical records dating back to the 14th century, this district is also one of the oldest (and most picturesque!) in Luxembourg.
This part of the city has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994. It is located in the lower part of the city right in the heart of the old fortress, which took over 9 nine centuries to built, only to be demolished in 1867 as part of the Treaty of London.
This district is described as a “village within a city” and is much more calm and quiet than the nearby, upper city center. This region was one of the most beautiful parts of a capital city I’ve ever seen… anywhere in the world, so be sure to visit!
I just strolled around here, but some main sights to see are: Neimënster Museum, the Wenzel Wall, and Jacob Tower.
That brings us to the end to my guide for spending one day in Luxembourg! Although many people don’t stay overnight here, or plan a visit JUST to Luxembourg, it is the perfect city (and new country!) to tack onto a trip throughout Western Europe. I visited from Brussels, which you can read all about in this post. And again, here is a link to the full-day tour that I recommend from Brussels to Luxembourg! Enjoy!
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