Last month, I spent two days in Luxembourg City. Must admit I felt a little ashamed that I lived in Belgium for six years and the closest I had been to Luxembourg were my drive-by’s on my way to Germany. Also, I always got conflicting stories about Luxembourg. Some love it and others find it boring. Needless to say, there was only one way to find out. My friend Maribel (and fellow Boricua) from Living La Vida Green joined me on this adventure. Maribel and I are not new to Euro roadtrips together. Our first adventure was a road trip to Austria a few years ago.
About Two Days in Luxembourg City:
Getting There: We arrived in Luxembourg City by car from Brussels. I decided to rent a car as I love the scenic views from the Ardennes. Many Americans can be intimidated by driving in Europe. I love it! I always enjoy taking little detours on my European road trips. It allows me to discover hidden gems and not be attached to a schedule. It took us two hours from the city center of Brussels to Luxembourg City. We did take a little detour at Brasserie de Bastogne in Belgium to learn about the artisanal beer making of the region (that’s an upcoming story!). You can also get there easily by rail or plane.
Where We Stayed: During our two days in Luxembourg City, we stayed at Hotel Simoncini. The hotel is a small boutique property with an adjacent art gallery. The rooms were small yet comfortable. What we enjoyed the most was encountering unique paintings and sculptures throughout the property. If you love art, this is a hotel for you.
What we did: It was pouring rain when we arrived to Luxembourg City, dimming our desire to explore. We finally took out our umbrellas and went for a walk. We went on a leisurely stroll around the city and ended up at Place d’Armes. We stumbled upon a beautiful classical music concert in the center of the square. We decided to have a glass of rosé at one of the patios at the square and take in the music. The evening was the epitome of old world charm with the sounds of Mozart in this beautiful old square. A must experience in the city, especially during the summer months.
The following day we headed on another walk to explore the city. We didn’t have an aggressive agenda of what to see or do. We were happy just wandering around and catching up. During our walk, we discovered the St Jean du Grund church. It was absolutely stunning. Contrary to most European churches, this one as slightly off the beaten path and not overwhelmed with tourists. It was beautifully calm, I felt a sense of peace there. We then walked around the Neimester area, taking in the little details of the homes, we had a small lunch in an anonymous cafe, and engaged in a little people watching.
In the afternoon, we took a walking tour with the Luxembourg Tourism office. Our tour guide, Milda was a lively young woman from Lithuania. She reflected Luxembourg City as there are more than 150 nationalities represented in this tiny country. Although we walked some of the spots of the walking tour prior to, listening to the story behind the landmarks made it much more worth it. You can book a walking tour at the Luxembourg Tourism office for 10 Euros. Dining Traveler Tip: A walking tour is a great way to get acquainted especially if you just have two days in Luxembourg City.
Traditional Food: The traditional food of Luxembourg reflects its geographical location. Wedged in between Germany, France, and Belgium, it has plenty of culinary influences. We experienced this at restaurant Am Tiirmschen, a beautifully rustic restaurant in a restored medieval building. We tried Kniddelen: similar to gnocchi but made with wheat flour, eggs and milk and locally made sausages. The menu definitely reminded me a lot of German cuisine. Wish I would have had more than two days in Luxembourg City to dive deeper into its culinary offerings.
Castles: There are over 13o castles in Luxembourg. With our short itinerary we had to pick one. We looked at the map and picked Bourscheid Castle as it was right on our way back to Brussels. We got an audio companion and took a self guided tour of the castle. The views from the castle are beautiful as you can see the the Ardennes in its splendor. It took us around 90 minutes to explore the castle. Dining Traveler Tip: Get a Luxembourg Card! For two days in Luxembourg City, you can get a card for 20 Euros per person with 48 hours of access to many attractions inside/outside of the city.
The verdict: Is Luxembourg boring? Absolutely not! Is it peaceful? Absolutely. One of the things Maribel and I both agreed on was that it is a great city for a relaxed weekend trip. One of the things we enjoyed the most was all the green space in the city, which I believe adds that sense of calm. I recommend two days in Luxembourg City for a catch up session with friends, a romantic getaway or a culturally rich stopover in your European road trip. Hope to return soon to explore the wine region and see more castles! Have you been to Luxembourg? What would you recommend?
Big thanks to Luxembourg Tourism for facilitating this trip. As always, opinions are my own.
Its a lovely city indeed!! In terms of castles I really like Vianden. It is not en route to Bruxelles but in the opposite direction though. But the good thing about Luxembourg is that it is so tiny, that it can never take you long to get there and Vianden is definitely worth the detour
Thanks Jantine for the tip! Will make sure to take the detour next time!
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