With an abundance of big cities in Western Europe like Paris, Madrid, Berlin and Brussels. You’d be forgiven to have overlooked Luxembourg City as a destination. Have you even considered visiting this tiny land locked country? The answer is probably no. But it is undeniably a beautiful region filled to the brim with majestic architecture and enchanting castles showing examples of the old and new as well as man-made and natural surroundings fusing together harmoniously. With such a varied and rich past, there is a significant amount of culture and tradition seeped in it’s history. Personally, I think Luxembourg City is still one of the best places in Europe to explore the bygone years, especially if you’ve only got a day or two to spare.

Where to go in Luxembourg City

Luxembourg city is most easily explored on foot because it really is small and you may miss a few gems if you decide to hop on one of their local buses. To put it into context, our Airport to city centre journey only took 15 minutes on the bus and it even stopped outside our hotel. The inner city centre has very few hotels, so we stayed at the Hotel Novotel Luxembourg, which was a 12+ minutes walk to most of the attractions between the Grund and Gare area.

This was my first trip alone with #JasperBean outside of the United Kingdom (you can read about our last trip together here). I deliberately chose Luxembourg City for it’s compactness, ease of travel (just 1 hour 20 mins from Heathrow!) and honestly, it’s lack of “busy-ness” as it’s not a must go destination (yet!).

When I started planning this trip, there were a few attractions that I deemed as worthy visits. However, as our trip progressed, the city was even smaller than what I had planned and everyday, we ended up taking our time and taking in and appreciating the things that weren’t mentioned in tourist books or websites.

Luxembourg City Attractions

Everyday, in order for us to reach attractions such as the Chemin de la Corniche, Grund or Palais Grand Ducal, we had to cross the Passerelle bridge. This bridge was built between 1859-1861, and gave us panoramic views of the Pétrusse Valley, the Alzette River and endless green space that are as mesmerising as the historical sites themselves.

La Chemin de la Corniche is also known as the “most beautiful balcony in Europe”, providing splendid views over the lower town of the Grund, Eglise Saint Jean (St. John’s Church) and Alzette River. You may be sorely disappointed if you actually expected a balcony, but the view of Luxembourg’s Old Quarters are definitely a must see from here.

Cathedrale Notre-Dame is the only cathedral in the whole of Luxembourg and holds the remains of the country’s royalty. The beautifully stained glass windows and intricate sculptures is a good enough reason for you to visit this attraction! We visited 8 beautiful Churches in Luxembourg during our time there, view all about them here.

Museums

The small city’s numerous museums has something for everyone. Whether you’re into archaelogy (National Museum of Natural History), art (MUDAM, The National Museum of Art and History, Casino Luxembourg) or just want to learn more about the city you’re visiting (Letzebuerg City Museum, Casement du Bock, Musee Drai Eechelen), you’re definitely spoilt for choice!

Visiting with Children?

Luxembourg City is the perfect place to visit with children! Why?

1. It’s easy to walk around.

   • Because of the size of the city, you shouldn’t have too many complaints from little legs about how much walking there is! If you still need to travel with a buggy, maneouvring around town with one wasn’t hard, although there is alot of cobbled ground, so do becareful if you have a compact travel buggy with smaller wheels. I used the GB Pokit and easily folded it up into my backpack when not in use. For older children, I saw quite a few kids with scooters, so this definitely is a child friendly city!

     

     

     

2. There is so much to see in such a small area.

   • On our first day, on many occassions, I walked pass attractions that I didn’t even notice. Not because they weren’t grand or attractive enough, but because I thought it was alot further than I had anticipated. There are historical buildings, museums, markets, cafes and restaurants everywhere. Since it’s not very touristy, there are literally no queues anywhere!

3. There are plenty of outdoor spaces and attractions suitable for children of all ages.

   • Miniature Train. Runs on certain days from the Easter weekend to September every year. Kids will love catching a ride on miniature trains specifically designed for 5 inch lanes. Rides cost €2 each.
   • Skatepark Péitruss. Located in the Petrusse Valley by Saint Querin. On one side is a skatepark for older children and the other a play area with slides and swings for little ones. There is even a fitness area for the adults! Every age is targeted in this little park that is just a stone’s throw from the city centre (and our hotel!).

     

   • Pont Adolphe. Yes, it’s a bridge and I hear you asking what is there for a kid to do on a bridge! This! There is a cycle path under the main carriageway of this old historical bridge. Little ones can safely run up and down, scoot up and down or just leisurely walk along under the bridge taking in the views from here!

     

     

     

     

1. • Parc Municipal. Large city park that has a pirate ship playground! Enough said.

     

     

     

   • Pfaffenthal Lift. A free public lift connecting the historic district of Pfaffenthal and the upper city of Luxembourg. The lift suspeneded 60 metres above the city offers breathtaking panoramic view. And it only takes 30 seconds to reach the bottom. An absolute thriller for #JasperBean!

     

     

     

     

Is Luxembourg City worth visiting?

Ultimately, the decision is yours. If you’re visiting cities such as Paris, Berlin or Brussels and happen to have a day or two to spare, definitely get a train ticket to Luxembourg City! There’s really nothing to lose! Personally, I am definitely going to be back. Maybe not specifically to Luxembourg City, but further out into “Little Switzerland”. The friendly locals has successfully hooked me with the promise of beautiful nature trails, hikes and wine!

Luxembourg City was definitely a worthwhile visit for us. Have you set foot in this part of the world as well? Do share with me your thoughts in the comments below.

Thanks for reading and until next time…

Love, MsMamaBean x