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Before you go
Your trip to Esch-sur-Alzette.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Esch-sur-Alzette – Esch-sur-Alzette
How to get there
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Aeroporto de Luxemburgo-Findel (LUX) Findel · 25 km
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Gare d'Esch-sur-Alzette (estação de trem) 1 km
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Gare de Belval-Université (estação de trem) Belval · 3 km
Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.
Check before booking. From the capital, the train reaches Esch-sur-Alzette station in about 20 minutes and Belval-Université in about 25. By car it's around 18 km via the motorway. Local buses go to Rumelange, Pétange and the Fond-de-Gras. Public transport is free (you only pay for first class on the train); check before travelling.
How many days
One day covers the centre, the Museu da Resistência and Belval with the blast furnace. With two days you can fit in the Fond-de-Gras on a seasonal Sunday, the Museu Nacional das Minas in Rumelange, and a walk in the Ellergronn.
When to go
All year for the town, Belval and the museums. From May to September the Fond-de-Gras trains usually run on Sundays and public holidays, and the old-mine trails are more pleasant. In winter it's cold and gets dark early.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
Not for the centre and Belval, which are connected by train and bus. For the Fond-de-Gras and Rumelange there are buses, but a car helps to combine both in one day. The centre has underground car parks.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Esch-sur-Alzette
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Morning
Belval blast furnaces
Take the train to Belval-Université station and walk to the altos-fornos. Climb to the platform of blast furnace A for views over the neighborhood and the former industrial site.
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Afternoon
Centro de Esch and rue de l'Alzette
Return to the centre by train or bus, have lunch and walk along the rue de l'Alzette, the pedestrian street with early 20th-century façades.
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Late afternoon
Museu da Resistência
Visit the Museu Nacional da Resistência e dos Direitos Humanos, on the praça da Resistência, a few minutes from the main street.
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Evening
Dinner in the center
Dine at a restaurant in the centre; the town has many Portuguese and Italian eateries, a legacy of immigration.
2 days in Esch-sur-Alzette
Day 1
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Morning
Belval blast furnaces
Same start as the one-day itinerary: platform of blast furnace A and the Belval district.
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Afternoon
Centro de Esch
Lunch in the centre and a stroll along the rue de l'Alzette.
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Late afternoon
Museu da Resistência
Visit to the Museu Nacional da Resistência e dos Direitos Humanos.
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Evening
Centre
Dinner in downtown Esch.
Day 2
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Morning
Museu Nacional das Minas, Rumelange
Take a bus or drive to Rumelange, about 7 km away, for the guided tour with a train inside the mine. Book in advance.
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Afternoon
Minett Park Fond-de-Gras
On a seasonal Sunday, go to Fond-de-Gras, near Pétange, for the steam train and the mine train to Lasauvage. Check the schedule.
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Late afternoon
Ellergronn or Gaalgebierg
Back in Esch, take a short walk in the Ellergronn nature reserve or in the Gaalgebierg park above the town.
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Evening
Return to the capital
Have dinner in Esch or return by train to the capital, about 20 minutes.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
Is Esch-sur-Alzette very far from the capital?
No. The train takes about 20 minutes, and it's about 18 km by car.
Is Portuguese spoken in Esch?
Many people speak it, because of the large community of Portuguese origin in the city. The official languages are Luxembourgish, French and German.
What's the difference between Esch and Belval?
Esch is the city centre, with the pedestrian street and the Resistance museum. Belval is a new district, built on a former industrial site, with the blast furnaces, the university and its own train station.
What to do in Esch on a Sunday?
The blast furnaces in Belval are usually open, and from May to September Fond-de-Gras runs heritage trains. Many downtown shops are closed; check museum opening times.