Things to do in Luxembourg on a day trip
- Henna Shah
- May 19
- 6 min read
Updated: Jul 25
If you’re travelling to Europe and visiting any of these three cities in Western Europe — Brussels, Paris, or Amsterdam — definitely consider taking a day trip to the tiny European nation of Luxembourg. A highlight of Luxembourg tourist places includes the most beautiful balcony in Europe, and yes, you can literally explore a whole new country in just a few hours.
In this blog post, we list the best things to do in Luxembourg on a day trip, based on our personal experience of spending around 4 hours in Luxembourg City.
Table of contents
Where is Luxembourg?
Tucked away in Western Europe, Luxembourg is a tiny, landlocked country bordered by Belgium, Germany, and France. Officially known as the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, it is one of Europe’s smallest nations by area and population — but don’t let its size fool you. It’s packed with charm, history, and scenic beauty. Despite its size, Luxembourg is a multilingual, multicultural hub. The locals commonly speak Luxembourgish, French, and German, and you’ll also find that most people understand English, especially in tourist areas.
Day trip from Brussels to Luxembourg city
Brussels is the closest major European city from which to access Luxembourg easily. You can take a 2.5-hour train ride from Brussels to Luxembourg City. That means you’ll spend around 5–6 hours commuting in total, leaving you with 3–4 hours to explore Luxembourg — which is just enough to soak in the highlights.
Trains from Brussels Central or Brussels Midi are frequent and comfortable. The scenic ride takes you through the Belgian countryside and into Luxembourg without needing any border checks. If you're based in Paris or Amsterdam, the journey is longer (around 3.5 to 4.5 hours each way), so an overnight stay might be a better option in those cases.
What is the best way to get around Luxembourg?
We explored Luxembourg City on foot, which is honestly the best way to take in its charming streets and stunning architecture. The city is very walkable, and most tourist attractions are within close proximity. One of the most unique things about Luxembourg is that public transportation is free — yes, completely free! That includes buses, trams, and trains within the country.
Luxembourg tourist places
We covered a lot of ground when it comes to places to visit in Luxembourg in a span of just 4 hours. This is the exact walking route that we followed all navigated through Google Maps.
Place D’Armes
We kicked things off by heading to Place d'Armes, just a short walk from the station. This lively square sits right in the heart of Luxembourg City's old town and is often called the “Parlour of the City” (fancy, right?). It's a popular hangout for both locals and tourists, always buzzing with energy, well, at least on weekdays. Come during lunch on a weekday, and it’s packed with people grabbing food, chatting, or just soaking up the sun. But on weekends? It’s almost eerily quiet. That’s because a lot of folks who work in the city actually live outside of it or even commute in from neighboring countries like France or Belgium. So once Friday wraps up, the place really empties out.
Grand Ducal Palace
Next up on our list was the Grand Ducal Palace, definitely one of the must-see spots in Luxembourg City. Right in the center of town, this place is full of history and has that classic fairytale look with its stunning architecture. One of the coolest things? You can actually get pretty close to the palace guards. We even ended up interacting with one of them. It’s not like other European palaces where everything feels super distant or overly formal. Here, it feels a bit more relaxed and up close. The palace’s facade is absolutely gorgeous.
Villeroy & Boch
For those who love fine dining aesthetics, Villeroy & Boch is a must-visit. The brand, known for its luxury ceramics, has historical roots in Luxembourg. Since we already owned a few pieces back home in India, we were curious to see what the local store had in stock.
To our surprise (and delight), the collection was largely the same — proving the global consistency of this European brand. Even if you're not shopping, the store is lovely to browse.
Chemin de la Corniche
One of the absolute highlights of our trip was walking along the Chemin de la Corniche, often called “the most beautiful balcony in Europe” and honestly, it lives up to the name. This scenic walkway winds along the edge of Luxembourg City’s old fortifications, offering some seriously jaw-dropping views over the valley below. We recommend going in the late afternoon or evening when the city starts to light up, it's magical.
Elevator of Pfaffenthal
One of the coolest (and most unexpected) things we did in Luxembourg City was ride the Pfaffenthal Panoramic Elevator. This super sleek glass lift connects the upper part of the city with the Pfaffenthal district down in the Alzette valley. It only takes about 30 seconds to travel the 60-meter drop, but the real highlight is the view. You can hop on from Pescatore Park up top or Rue du Pont down in Pfaffenthal. Best of all? It’s totally free. It runs daily from early morning (5:45 AM) to after midnight (1:00 AM), with just a short monthly maintenance break (usually the first Monday of the month).
Cathedral Notre-dame of Luxembourg
Before heading back to the train station, we made one last stop at Notre-Dame Cathedral and wow, what a way to end the day. This stunning cathedral sits right in the heart of Luxembourg City and is a beautiful mix of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture. It’s not just visually impressive, though it’s also packed with history and national significance. Inside, it’s peaceful and grand, with soaring ceilings, intricate stained glass, and a sense of quiet majesty. Whether you're into architecture, history, or just love a good photo spot, this place is totally worth a visit.
Vegetarian food in Luxembourg at Beet
Before making our way to Chemin de la Corniche, we stopped for lunch near Place d’Armes at a cozy vegan spot called Beet. The owner was super friendly and even set us up with a lovely terrace seat on the first level, giving us a great view of the square while we ate. And the food? Absolutely delicious. From fresh salads to hearty burgers, colorful mezze platters, and refreshing juices, everything hit the spot. Fun fact: the same team also runs another vegan place nearby called Seed, so clearly they know what they’re doing and owned the vegetarian food scene in Luxembourg.
Before heading back to the station, we couldn’t resist a quick dessert stop at Glacier Bargello, a tiny gelato shop that turned out to be a hidden gem. We tried a flavor called Crema Toscana, a dreamy blend of pistachio and almond and honestly, it might just be the best gelato I’ve had in all of Europe. No exaggeration. The perfect sweet ending to a day well spent in Luxembourg.
Last word: Day trip to Luxembourg or an overnight stay?
If you're travelling from India to Europe with a tight itinerary, a day trip to Luxembourg is a smart way to check off another country while experiencing something genuinely beautiful and unique. Luxembourg City is compact, clean, scenic, and easy to explore in a few hours. You’ll cover the main attractions without feeling rushed — especially if you're travelling by train from Brussels.
However, if your Europe trip involves road-tripping or a slower pace, staying overnight can be rewarding. The city has a quiet charm after sunset, and the evening cityscape from Chemin de la Corniche or the Pfaffenthal lift is stunning.
Pro tip: Stick to trains if you can. The Western European rail network is efficient, scenic, and stress-free compared to navigating parking in unfamiliar cities. It allows you to focus on the experience — not logistics.
Comments