48 Hours in Luxembourg City
Charming, elegant, and impossibly clean: those were my first three words for Luxembourg City. Grand classic architecture, pastel-coloured houses in the Old Town, green spaces woven right into the city and sleek modern buildings like Mudam and the Philharmonie. It's a small city, but it has a bit of everything, and it's easy to explore on foot.
Here's how I spent my 48 hours.
Day 1: Ville Haute (afternoon and evening)
- Bock Casemates. A great way to start. Wander through the old tunnels, then enjoy the beautiful views over the city from above. Tickets are required, so it's worth booking ahead.
- Chemin de la Corniche. Right next door, and often called "Europe's most beautiful balcony." It's easy to see why.
- A drink at De Gudde Weather by De Gudde Wëllen. A lovely outdoor café along the way, and a nice place to slow down before heading into the Old Town.
- Old Town streets. Take your time here. The pastel façades, little squares and hidden corners are the postcard side of the city, and they're best explored without a plan.
- Adolphe Bridge at golden hour. I ended the day on the bridge as the light softened. It's worth timing your visit for this.
Day 2: Pétrusse Valley, the Grund and city life (full day)
- Notre-Dame Cathedral. I stopped by first thing in the morning, just before heading to the Pétrusse casemates.
- Pétrusse Casemates. They open at 9:45 (high and mid season) and feel completely different from Bock: well-lit, easy to explore, and with an exit that leads straight into the valley.
- Walk through the Pétrusse Valley to the Grund. Green and peaceful, with a skatepark and mini golf along the way. The Grund itself is such a cute district, with lovely views back up towards the Ville Haute and a good place to stop for a drink at Uptown Bar.
- Place Guillaume II, shops and drinks. Back in the city centre, I browsed a few stores. It's a relaxed side of the city, with plenty of cafés and restaurants.
Day 3: Culture and calm (morning and lunch)
- Plateau du Rham and the Passerelle. A quieter corner with a lovely view and a good spot for a slow morning walk.
- Mudam and the Philharmonie. I took the funicular up to Kirchberg for a completely different, modern side of the city. Both buildings are worth seeing even just from the outside.
- A last coffee before the train. I ended the trip with a calm coffee break at the Holy Ghost Garden, a peaceful way to say goodbye to the city.
What surprised me most
How much fits into such a small place and how clean it is. Everyone I met was friendly, and it's fascinating how easily people switch between French, German, Luxembourgish and English. Public transport is free across the whole country, which surprised me a lot!
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Benedicta Renée
Hello, I’m Renée, a photographer, art director and content creator based in Paris. I love discovering new places through their atmosphere, architecture, food, cafés and all the little details that make a city feel like itself.
This was my first time in Luxembourg City. I spent 48 hours exploring with my camera, wandering through the Old Town, walking along the valleys, discovering the modern side of Kirchberg and, of course, stopping for plenty of coffee along the way.
These are a few of my favourite discoveries from the trip. I hope you enjoy exploring Luxembourg City with me!