Luxembourg City Break Weekend

Located in the heart of Western Europe, Sandwiched between Belgium and Germany with France below, it is pretty well landlocked. Luxembourg is famously one of the smallest countries in the world. However, quite interestingly, despite being such a small country, it has three official languages, Luxembourgish, French and German. English and Portuguese are also commonly spoken.

A great choice for a weekend city break! I’d always been quite intrigued to visit. I was fascinated by the fact that it was such a small country.

Yes, certainly. I booked to stay for two nights and two days with a feeling that this would be enough time to explore this small country at a relaxed pace and see all the main sights. And, it was.

My visit was during a weekend in the middle of February. This was fine, the light, drizzly rain held off long enough at points to be able to explore, but it was freezing! And, of course it’s going to be. It was the middle of Winter in Europe! So my advice would be to wrap up warm and make sure you pack those extra layers as they will certainly be needed if you visit during those colder months.

As well as being one of the smallest countries, Luxembourg is also known for being one of the most expensive countries.

To break it down for you on my trip: I spent 90 euros per night for a double room at the hotel; this included breakfast and all taxes. £175 (economy) for flights from Amsterdam. The bus to and from the hotel and around the city was free. And approximately 100-150 euros per day during my trip for food, coffee, wine and souvenirs. I also visited during the Winter months, so prices may differ at other times of the year.

To get from the airport to the city centre I took a bus, which was about 15 minutes. And, it was a good way to see a lot of the city. A bonus was that it was completely free! As, all modes of public transport have been free to travel on since 2020 in Luxembourg. This also includes trains and trams.

I found that Luxembourg is super accessible and easy by foot to get around. Great for getting those steps up! Although, you will encounter steep hills, dramatic cliffs and deep ravines in places so comfortable and practical footwear is a must. Some people choose to get around by bike and there is also a taxi service. Uber is also available via the app.

I booked to stay at Hotel Francis through Booking.com The hotel was right in the centre and over looked the square. So, I had a great view from my hotel window as well as being perfectly located. The room was comfy with all basic facilities needed and breakfast was included in the price. There was also a café/restaurant, Café Francis, as a choice to eat in the evening.

#Arrive at Luxembourg Airport

#Get the free bus into the city centre (approximately 15 minutes)

#Check into Hotel

#Dinner in one of the local restaurants

A Catholic cathedral built between 1613 and 1621 by the Jesuits. The only cathedral in Luxembourg. It is in the heart of the city and is free to go inside. It is very beautiful, so I’d recommend popping in to take a look.

Also called ‘the most beautiful balcony in Europe.’ Built by the French and Spanish in the 17th century. It offers fabulous views of the Alzette River valley. It offers a scenic walkway through the historic part of the city.

A beautiful palace building located in the centre of the old town. It is the official residence of the Grand Ducal family. Grand Duke Guillaume V is the current head of state of Luxembourg, having acceded to the throne in 2025, following the abdication of his father, Grand Duke Henri. The palace can be viewed inside by the public during the summer months.

The Holy Ghost Citadel provides a majestic fortress that overlooks the city. It offers spectacular views and plenty of photo opportunities! I was in awe, it was just so beautiful and picturesque both from below and above.

Also known as the famous square with the golden statue. The monument represents an angel of peace holding a laurel wreath in her hands. It was erected in 1923 in memory of the soldiers who died in World War I.

If you’re an avid coffee and cake lover like myself, then I highly recommend you try out Laduree. Delicious French pastries and coffee. A perfect pit stop in between sightseeing!

Totally gorgeous and picturesque! It is a quarter in the Southern part of Luxembourg City. Located in the valley below the city. It is full of breathtaking views and picture-perfect backdrops.

That view though! The Adolphe Bridge is a double-arched bridge that provides a one-way route for road traffic across the Petrusse from Boulevard Royal to Avenue de la Liberte. It was constructed in 1900 and spans more than 85 metres across the Petrusse valley with a height of 42 metres.

#Breakfast at the hotel and then a taxi or bus and train from the city centre to Vianden. To get the bus it will take roughly an hour and a half and you’ll need to change several times getting the 29 to Gare Cenrale Quai 2, the 1C to Ettelbruck and then the 180 to Vianden. The castle is then a 6 minute walk from there. Viaden itself is also nice to explore.

Constructed between the 11th and 14th centuries on the foundations of a Roman castle, Vianden Castle is an impressive medieval castle perched on the wooded hillside looking down at the town below. Entrance to the castle is free with a Luxembourg Card, except when there is a festival on. Or is around 13 euros for entry without the card for adults and 4 euros for children. You can fly over the castle via a chairlift, however, I opted to view it from the terrace below!

#Return to the city centre to explore more, or dinner at one of the restaurants before checking out of the hotel and making your way back to the airport.

Luxembourg makes for a superb weekend trip. Two days is enough time to explore and experience everything at a relaxed pace. It is so magical and picturesque it’s just lovely to stand and take in the views and scenery. I’d definitely recommend a weekend here anytime of the year.

But if I were to visit Luxembourg again I would add Casemates du Bock to my itinerary. Although I explored the architecture from the outside, I would have also liked to have explored the network of tunnels. I would also take a hike along the Mullerthal Trail and the Gorges Du Loup. And, although it was a very cold February weekend, I’m glad I got to experience Luxembourg during the relatively quieter period.