Cidade de Luxemburgo, Luxembourg: things to do, when to go and how to get there

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

A Cidade de Luxemburgo (Lëtzebuerg, in Luxembourgish; Luxembourg, on signs in French) is the capital of the Grand Duchy and the arrival point for almost every trip to the country. The old city occupies a rocky plateau surrounded by the Alzette and Pétrusse valleys, and for nearly a thousand years it was a fortress contested by Spaniards, French, Austrians and Prussians. What remains of the walls, bastions and tunnels carved into the rock, together with the old quarters, form the ensemble that UNESCO declared a World Heritage Site in 1994.

In the Ville Haute, the upper part, are the Catedral de Notre-Dame, the Palácio Grão-Ducal, the Place Guillaume II and the Place d'Armes, the shopping street Grand-Rue and the main history museums. The edge of the plateau is the Chemin de la Corniche, a walkway along the ramparts with views over the Grund, the lower neighborhood by the Alzette, where the former Neumünster abbey and the natural history museum are located. On the other side of the valley, the Bock rock shelters the casemates, galleries open to visitors. The Ponte Adolphe and the viaduct connect the old town to the Gare area, to the south, over the Pétrusse valley, which is a park.

To the east, the Kirchberg plateau brings together European Union institutions and the modern quarter: the Philharmonie, the Mudam of contemporary art, and the Musée Dräi Eechelen at Fort Thüngen. The Pfaffenthal panoramic elevator and the funicular link the upper city to the valley and to the Kirchberg. In the surroundings, in Hamm, is the Cemitério Americano, where General Patton is buried.

Public transport is free, only first class on trains requires a ticket; check before travelling. Luxembourgish, French and German are spoken, and English is common.

This destination brings together 1 city: Luxemburgo.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Cidade de Luxemburgo is

Outlines: Administration du cadastre et de la topographie (Luxemburgo), CC0 1.0. Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Cidade de Luxemburgo

✈ Aeroporto de Luxemburgo-Findel (LUX), in Findel · 7 km to Luxemburgo

Check before you buy. Findel airport is about 7 km from the center, with buses and tram to the city. By train, Brussels, Paris, Metz and Trier are just a few hours away, and Frankfurt too, with a change. Public transport is free, only first class on trains requires a ticket; check before boarding.

Luxemburgo · Cidade de Luxemburgo Capital

Luxemburgo

The capital of the Grand Duchy sits on a rocky plateau surrounded by the Alzette and Pétrusse valleys. The upper city has the cathedral, the Palácio Grão-Ducal and the squares; the Corniche looks over the Grund in the valley; the Bock casemates pierce the rock opposite; and the Kirchberg, to the east, brings together the Philharmonie, the Mudam and the European institutions. It is the base for exploring the whole country.

The local experience

Things to do in Cidade de Luxemburgo

Luxemburgo · Luxemburgo · Fortification

Casemates du Bock (Casamatas do Bock)

Galleries carved into the rock of the Bock promontory, where Count Sigefredo built the first castle in 963. The tunnels housed cannons, soldiers and horses, and open out in embrasures over the Alzette valley. Part of the fortress designated a World Heritage Site.

Luxemburgo · Luxemburgo · Fortification

Casemates de la Pétrusse (Casamatas da Pétrusse)

17th-century galleries excavated beneath the Bastion Beck, where Place de la Constitution stands today. The visit descends via the Vauban and Austrian staircases to the gun openings over the Pétrusse valley.

Luxemburgo · Luxemburgo · Viewpoint

Chemin de la Corniche

Walk along the old rampart of the upper town, with views of the Grund, Neumünster Abbey, the Alzette valley and the Bock rock. It links Place du Saint-Esprit to the entrance of the casemates.

Luxemburgo · Luxemburgo · Historic neighborhood

Grund

Old quarter at the bottom of the Alzette valley, beneath the Corniche, with stone houses, the bridge over the river, the abbey of Neumünster, the natural history museum and bars. Linked to the upper town by a lift and stairways.

See 15 more places in Cidade de Luxemburgo

Luxemburgo · Luxemburgo · Historic building

Abbaye de Neumünster (Neimënster)

Former Benedictine abbey in the Grund, on the banks of the Alzette, which served as a prison for more than a century and is today a cultural centre with exhibitions, concerts, a cloister and a terrace overlooking the Corniche.

Luxemburgo · Luxemburgo · Palace

Palais grand-ducal (Palácio Grão-Ducal)

Official residence of the Grand Duke, in the center of the upper town. The 16th-century Renaissance façade, with the guard at the door, can be seen from the street; the interior usually opens for guided visits only in summer.

Luxemburgo · Luxemburgo · Church

Cathédrale Notre-Dame (Catedral de Notre-Dame)

The city’s cathedral, built by the Jesuits in the early 17th century, with a late Gothic façade, a Renaissance portal and the crypt that houses the tomb of John the Blind, Count of Luxembourg and King of Bohemia.

Luxemburgo · Luxemburgo · Square

Place Guillaume II (Knuedler)

The main square of the upper town, called Knuedler by locals, with the equestrian statue of William II and the town hall. It hosts the Wednesday and Saturday market and, nearby, Place d'Armes with the bandstand and cafés.

Luxemburgo · Luxemburgo · Monument

Monument du Souvenir (Gëlle Fra)

An obelisk topped by a gilded statue of a woman holding a laurel wreath, in tribute to Luxembourgers who died in wars. It stands on Place de la Constitution, on Bastion Beck, overlooking the Pétrusse valley.

Luxemburgo · Luxemburgo · Bridge

Pont Adolphe (Ponte Adolphe)

Early-20th-century stone-arch bridge over the Pétrusse valley, linking the upper city to the train station district. Cars and the tram pass over it; under the deck there is a suspended walkway for pedestrians and bicycles.

Luxemburgo · Luxemburgo · Museum

Musée national d'archéologie, d'histoire et d'art (Museu Nacional de Arqueologia, História e Arte)

The national museum at Marché-aux-Poissons, with prehistoric finds, the country’s Gallo-Roman art, weapons, coins, painting and modern art. Known by the acronym MNAHA or as Nationalmusée um Fëschmaart.

Luxemburgo · Luxemburgo · Museum

Lëtzebuerg City Museum

City history museum housed in four old houses on rue du Saint-Esprit, with models of the fortress, everyday objects and a glass elevator that descends the building’s levels with a view over the valley.

Luxemburgo · Luxemburgo · Museum

Mudam (Musée d'Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean)

Contemporary art museum in Kirchberg, housed in a glass-and-stone building by architect I. M. Pei, built over the ramparts of Fort Thüngen. Temporary exhibitions, its own collection and a large glass atrium.

Luxemburgo · Luxemburgo · Museum

Musée Dräi Eechelen

Fortress and national history museum, inside Fort Thüngen on Kirchberg, whose three towers topped with stone acorns give the name Three Acorns. It displays the fortress, the treaties and the formation of Luxembourg.

Luxemburgo · Luxemburgo · Performance venue

Philharmonie Luxembourg

Concert hall in the Kirchberg by Christian de Portzamparc, with a façade of hundreds of white columns on Place de l'Europe. Home of the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra.

Luxemburgo · Luxemburgo · Viewpoint

Ascenseur panoramique du Pfaffenthal (Elevador panorâmico do Pfaffenthal)

A glass elevator that descends from Pescatore Park in the upper town to the Pfaffenthal neighborhood in the Alzette valley. The cabin and the glass-floored platform at the top provide views of the valley and Kirchberg.

Luxemburgo · Luxemburgo · Museum

Villa Vauban

The city's art museum housed in a 19th-century villa in the municipal park, built atop remains of Vauban's fortifications. Dutch and Flemish painting of the 17th and 18th centuries, 19th-century French painting, and temporary exhibitions.

Luxemburgo · Luxemburgo · Museum

natur musée (Museu Nacional de História Natural)

National natural history museum in the Grund, with geology, fossils, animals, plants and the country’s natural environments, in interactive galleries designed also for children.

Luxemburgo · Luxemburgo · Memorial

Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial (Cemitério Americano de Luxemburgo)

Military cemetery in Hamm, east of the capital, where 5,076 American soldiers are buried, mostly killed in the Battle of the Bulge in 1944–1945, and the grave of General George S. Patton.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From May to September the days are long and the weather is usually mild, good for the Corniche, the Grund and walking tours; July and August are the busiest months. Guided tours of the Palácio Grão-Ducal typically take place only in summer, from mid-July to the end of August. From November to March it is cold, it gets dark early and it can snow; in December there is a Christmas market.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Two days are enough for the upper city, the Corniche, the casemates, the Grund and one museum. With three days there's time left for the Kirchberg, the Mudam and the Cemitério Americano. Since the country is small, the capital serves as a base for day trips to Vianden, Echternach, Remich and Esch-sur-Alzette, each less than an hour away; to see the country people usually allow five to seven days in total.

Which city to stay in

The Ville Haute, between the Place d'Armes and the cathedral, keeps everything within walking distance and has hotels in old buildings. The Gare area, around the station, has more hotels of all kinds, a 15-minute walk or two tram stops from the upper city, and is convenient for those taking day trips by train. The Grund and Clausen in the valley have few accommodations and more bars and restaurants at night. The Kirchberg concentrates business hotels near the Philharmonie and the Mudam, and it empties out at the weekend.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Cidade de Luxemburgo

How to get from Findel airport to the center?

The tram leaves the airport and goes via the Kirchberg to the upper city and the station, and there are buses to the center and to the Gare. The journey takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Public transport is free, only first class on trains requires a ticket; check before boarding. Taxis are available outside the terminal.

How many days to stay in Cidade de Luxemburgo?

Two days are enough for the upper city, the Corniche, the Bock casemates and the Grund. With a third day you can fit in the Kirchberg, the Mudam and the Cemitério Americano. If you want to see the country, you can base yourself in the capital and make day trips, since almost everything is less than an hour away.

Do I need a car in Luxemburgo?

Not in the capital: the upper city is walkable, and the tram, buses, the Pfaffenthal elevator and the funicular link the neighborhoods. For Vianden, Echternach, Remich and Esch there are trains or buses. A car helps in more isolated places in the north and the Mullerthal, and to combine several castles in one day.

What's the best time to go?

From May to September, with long days and usually mild weather. Visits to the interior of the Palácio Grão-Ducal usually take place only from mid-July to the end of August. Winter, from November to March, is cold and it gets dark early, but December has the Christmas market.

What language is spoken in Cidade de Luxemburgo?

Luxembourgish, French and German are the official languages; signs and street names are often in French, and English is common in hotels, museums and restaurants. Many people who work in the city also speak Portuguese, because of the large Portuguese community in the country.

Rotas entre países

Cidade de Luxemburgo is on the Benelux by train: Amsterdam–Brussels–Luxembourg

The three Benelux countries by train: from Amsterdam to Brussels in about two hours, and from Brussels to Luxembourg via the Ardennes, with Rotterdam, Antwerp and Namur along the way.

Illustrated map of Benelux by train: Amsterdam–Brussels–Luxembourg — Illustrative map, not to scale. Tap a city to open its page.

Explore the Benelux by train: Amsterdam–Brussels–Luxembourg

Rotas entre países

Cidade de Luxemburgo is on the Moselle Valley: Luxembourg–Trier–Cochem–Koblenz

Along the Moselle River, from Luxembourg to Germany: vineyards on slopes, half-timbered villages, Roman Trier, Cochem Castle, and the confluence with the Rhine in Koblenz.

Illustrated map of Moselle Valley: Luxembourg–Trier–Cochem–Koblenz — Illustrative map, not to scale. Tap a city to open its page.

Explore the Moselle Valley: Luxembourg–Trier–Cochem–Koblenz

Cidade de Luxemburgo

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.