Luxembourg is the capital of the small, beautiful country that shares its name. Located in the heart of Western Europe, it a perfect destination for a weekend trip. Luxembourg City is very green, with plenty of historical buildings, old fortifications, and scenic viewpoints. We visited as part of our mini Benelux trip and absolutely loved it. In this post, we’re sharing ideas on what to see and how to spend One Day in Luxembourg City.
Find more ideas for your trip in our post 2-3 Days in Luxembourg: A Complete Itinerary.
A bit of History
The history of Luxembourg City dates back to Roman times, with its origins as early as the 10th century. The first towers and fortifications were built at the crossing of two Roman roads on the site of modern-day Luxembourg. Thanks to its position on steep rocky terrain at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers, the city held strategic military importance for centuries.
Over time, Luxembourg was ruled by various European powers, each one strengthening the city’s defenses and leaving its mark. Burgundians, Spanish, Austrians, French, and Prussians all played a role in shaping its identity.
No wonder the country has three official languages: French, German and Luxembourgish. Portuguese, English and Italian are also widely spoken, reflecting its multicultural character.
Following the Treaty of London in 1867, which declared Luxembourg a neutral and independent state, much of the city’s fortifications were gradually dismantled over a period of sixteen years. Still, many impressive structures remain today, including walls, gates, casemates, and forts.
The historic center of Luxembourg, with its well-preserved fortifications, has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1994.
Top Sights in Luxembourg City
The heart of Luxembourg City is its charming old town, and the best way to explore it is on foot. While the city center is split across two levels, meaning you’ll encounter a few uphill and downhill stretches, it’s still very walkable. There’s even a public elevator that connects the lower valley with the upper part of the city.
Here are the top sights to explore if you have just one day in Luxembourg City.
Neumünster Abbey
Neumünster Abbey, located on the lower level of the city, is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Luxembourg. This 17th century building is a popular venue for public events and often features on postcards and in photos of the city.
After exploring the spacious square at Neumünster Abbey and crossing the stone bridge of Pont du Stierchen, continue along the Chemin de la Corniche.
Chemin de la Corniche is a walkway atop the historical walls. This scenic walkway leads from the lower level of the abbey to an observation deck overlooking the remains of the 18th century tunnels and World War II shelters – known as the Casemates du Bock.
Saint Michael’s Church
After enjoying the beautiful views along the Chemin de la Corniche, make your way to nearby Saint Michael’s Church. This Roman Catholic church is the oldest religious building in Luxembourg City. The first chapel on this site was built in 987. Although it was destroyed and rebuilt several times over the centuries, the current structure dates back to the 17th century.
Cathédrale Notre-Dame (Notre-Dame Cathedral)
Another historical church worth visiting in Luxembourg is Cathédrale Notre-Dame – the country’s only cathedral. Originally built as a Jesuit church in the 17th century, it later became a Roman Catholic cathedral.
Palais Grand-Ducal (The Grand Ducal Palace)
The Grand Ducal Palace is the official residence of Luxembourg’s Grand Duke – the country’s constitutional monarch. In summer, visitors can join guided tours to explore its stately rooms and ornate interiors (check the official website for details). Outside of the summer season, the palace remains closed to the public.
Palais de Justice (Justice Quarter)
Next, a short walk away, you’ll find the Palais de Justice (also known as the Justice quarter, or Judiciary City). It’s a quiet spot surrounded by elegant justice court buildings and offices. Check out the large colourful vases standing alongside one of the buildings, the Still Bridge, the detailed bronze 3D map of the area, and Fontaine aux colombes (Fountain of Doves).
The Justice Quarter is located atop the Plateau du Saint Esprit, offering beautiful views down toward the lower level of Luxembourg’s old city. Just beside the quarter, you’ll find the Ascenseur Plateau St. Esprit – Grund, a public elevator that connects the upper and lower city. It’s an easy but scenic way to descend, especially if you’re exploring with kids or want to save your energy for wandering the streets below.
The Grund
Instead of taking the elevator from Plateau St. Esprit to the Grund, we opted to walk down the winding streets.
The Grund district lies in the valley around the Alzette River and features many well-preserved medieval sights – it’s very photogenic! It’s also a great spot for lunch, with plenty of cafes and restaurants to choose from.
We simply wandered the streets of the Grund district, enjoying its historical sights, stone bridges, and green spaces. You can walk along the Alzette River, past Neumünster Abbey, over the Pont du Stierchen, under the Pont du Château, and onward toward Muerbelsmillen.
Muerbelsmillen is a small mill museum that’s open only on weekend afternoons, and entrance is free. It’s a nice stop if you’re traveling with kids, giving them a chance to see old grindstones, wheels, and gears up close.
Pfaffenthal Lift
After exploring the streets of the Alzette River valley, head to the Pfaffenthal Lift when you’re ready to return to the city center. This public elevator connects the lower valley with the upper city and offers a quick and easy alternative to the uphill climb. Thanks to its glass doors, you’ll enjoy scenic views on the way up.
Not far from Pfaffenthal Lift are the old towers of Porte des Trois Tours and Spanish Turret (Spanischer Turm) – both with stunning views over the valley below.
Fort Thüngen and Fort Obergrünewald
Fort Thüngen and Fort Obergrünewald are historical fortifications situated near each other within Parc des Trois Glands (Park of the Three Acorns) – a park-like area that offers a peaceful break from the city’s bustle.
Fort Obergrünewald was built in the 17th century by the renowned French engineer Vauban – the same architect behind the pentagon-shaped Citadel of Lille (read about it in my post about Lille).
Fort Thüngen came later, in the 18th century, and was once connected to Fort Obergrünewald by a tunnel.
We started at Fort Thüngen and walked toward Fort Obergrünewald, which offers beautiful views of the city center in the distance. Afterwards, we followed the tree-lined track through Parc des Trois Glands, descending toward the Alzette River.
We really enjoyed walking there, and our boys loved all the fortifications, stone walls, and old moats.
Constitution Square and Adolphe Bridge
Luxembourg City is full of stunning viewpoints, and Place de la Constitution (Constitution Square) is one of them. Located just south of the city center, it overlooks Parc de la Pétrusse and Garden Luxembourg, offering panoramic views across the valley.
A highlight of Constitution Square is the Monument of Remembrance – a granite obelisk topped with a golden statue of a woman, simply known as the Golden Lady. Beneath the square lie the Pétrusse Casemates, a network of underground tunnels and bomb shelters used during World War II.
Don’t miss a walk across the Pont Adolphe (Adolphe Bridge), a stunning stone-arch bridge built between 1900 and 1903. It offers panoramic views of the Pétrusse Casemates, the surrounding park, and Constitution Square itself.
At the end of Adolphe Bridge, at Plate de Metz, you’ll find the Musée de la Banque (Bank Museum). Although it was closed during our visit, we still appreciated its elegant exterior and architecture.
Place Guillaume II and Hôtel de Ville (City Hall)
Place Guillaume II – also known as Knuedler – is a central town square in Luxembourg City, surrounded by elegant buildings and leafy trees. One side features an equestrian statue of Grand Duke William II, while the other is home to the City Hall (Hôtel de Ville).
If you visit in December, the square transforms into a festive Christmas market complete with an ice skating rink. The rest of the year, it’s a lovely spot for lunch or dinner, with several cafés and restaurants lining the square.
Place d’Armes
Right next to Place Guillaume II lies another charming city square – Place d’Armes. It also surrounded by cafes and restaurants, and it also hosts a Christmas market during the winter festive period. Place d’Armes is a perfect spot to relax with a lunch or dinner after exploring the city.
A few shopping streets begin at or near Place d’Armes, making it great spot to wander through local shops and boutiques if you have time (and budget :)).
Museums to Visit
If you’ve got a little extra time in Luxembourg City, you can visit one of the following museums.
The National Museum of History and Art gives a great overview of Luxembourg’s story, from ancient artifacts to modern art. It’s compact enough not to feel overwhelming and right in the heart of the old town.
A few streets away, the Lëtzebuerg City Museum adds some fun with interactive exhibits and displays that walk you through the city’s development.
Both spots are easy to reach and manageable if you’re travelling with kids.
Where to Eat in Luxembourg City
No visit to a new city feels complete without sampling the local food and drinks. Luxembourg City has plenty of cafés and restaurants right in the center, which is ideal if you’re short on time and want to stay close to the main sights.
As mentioned earlier, the Grund district is full of great dining options, and you’ll find even more around Place d’Armes and Place Guillaume II. These areas are perfect for a relaxed meal or a quick bite between stops.
Where to stay in Luxembourg City
If you’re spending the night in Luxembourg, it’s worth booking a stay in the heart of the old city. All the major attractions will be within walking distance, so you won’t lose time commuting between your accommodation and the sights.
We stayed at a hotel on Place d’Armes, right in the city center. Since we arrived by car, we simply left it in an underground parking garage nearby and explored Luxembourg entirely on foot – it couldn’t have been easier.
Is One Day enough in Luxembourg City?
Luxembourg City center is compact, and it’s main sights can be easily explored within a single day. We visited everything mentioned in this post with our boys (aged 7 and 11 at the time), and still had plenty of time for rest breaks, photo stops, and a few essential ice cream detours.
We didn’t rush or walk too quickly, and the day felt full but relaxed. It’s absolutely doable, and enjoyable, even with kids in tow.
Read next – A Forest Walk in the Mullerthal Region, Luxembourg.
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So much history and so many beautiful places in Luxembourg! You have certainly whetted my appetite to visit. Love the idea of the Christmas market in the square, but perhaps too late for this year…..
Luxembourg has always been intriguing because of it’s small size and ability to “check off” a country in a day. But your pictures are beautiful and it is so charming that it seems to deserve so much more than a tick of a box.
The Grund quarter looks lovely, I would love to take that walk between the two levels of Luxembourg, preferably downhill 😃
We’ve never visited Luxembourg but would love to and your post has certainly convinced us that we should make the trip. It’s a really beautiful city with so much to see. It was also great to learn about its history. Fort Thüngen and Fort Obergrünewald looked very interesting and we’d enjoy walking through the Grund district.
Luxembourg seems like a nice stop for a day if in the area. It looks like it has lots of things to see but nothing huge that takes up too much time. Besides that, it looks adorable. Your photos are all great and really showcase how pretty the city is!