Before you go

Your trip to Vianden.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Vianden – Vianden Destination Vianden and the Ardenas

How to get there

Aeroporto de Luxemburgo-Findel (LUX) Findel · 50 km
Gare de Diekirch (estação de trem) Diekirch · 13 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Check before buying. Vianden has no train station: from the capital, take the train to Ettelbruck or Diekirch and continue by bus; total travel time is about 1 hour to 1h15. By car it's about 45 km from the capital, via the northern motorway and the road through the Sûre and Our valleys. Public transport is free; only first-class on the train requires a fare—confirm beforehand.

How many days

One day is enough for the castle, the cable car and Victor Hugo's house. With one overnight you have time to see the castle lit up and to do a hike in the Our valley the next morning, or to continue on to Clervaux or Bourscheid.

When to go

From April to October the cable car usually operates and the trails are open. In early August the castle often hosts a medieval festival, and on the second Sunday of October the town holds the walnut fair, the Veianer Nëssmoart. In winter it is cold and the castle has reduced opening hours; check ahead.

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

Do you need a car?

The train does not stop in the town, which is best explored on foot and uphill. The bus links Vianden with Ettelbruck and Diekirch, where you can catch the train. A car is useful to combine Vianden with Bourscheid and Clervaux in the same day. There are riverside parking areas near the bridge; the climb up to the castle is steep.

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 Vianden

Morning
Castelo de Vianden
Walk up the main street to the castle, at the opening. Allow 1h30 for the rooms, the two-storey chapel and the knights' hall.
Afternoon
Cable car and walk down
Have lunch in town and take the cable car by the river up to the top of the hill, at 440 metres. Have a coffee at the viewpoint and walk down through the forest, passing by the castle.
Late afternoon
Casa de Victor Hugo and the bridge over the Our
Visit the house where Victor Hugo stayed in 1871, next to the bridge, and see the writer's bust by Rodin overlooking the river. Cross the bridge to the German side.
Evening
Illuminated castle
Dine at a restaurant on the main street or by the river and view the castle lit up from the bridge.

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

Where is the bus stop in Vianden?

Buses coming from Ettelbruck and Diekirch stop near the bridge over the Our and in the lower part of the town, a few minutes from the cable car station and Victor Hugo's house. Check return times before you leave.

Is the climb to the castle tiring?

It's steep: from the bridge to the castle is about a 15–20 minute uphill walk. One option is to take the cable car up the opposite hill and walk down to the castle along the forest trail.

Is Vianden on the border with Germany?

Yes. The river Our marks the border, and on the other side of the bridge lies the German locality of Roth an der Our.

What is the Vianden walnut fair?

The Veianer Nëssmoart, a fair usually held on the second Sunday of October, featuring walnuts, liqueurs, sweets and cakes made with local walnuts. The town usually gets very busy that day.

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