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Luxembourg City is the capital of Luxembourg and one of Europe’s smallest capital cities.
To put this into perspective, Luxembourg City covers a squared area of around 51km², compared to London’s 1,572 km².
Despite its size, this capital city packs a punch, with plenty of things to do to occupy you for a day or two.
And if you are looking to explore more of Luxembourg other than the city, we have a post for that – things to do in Luxembourg.
Things to Do in Luxembourg City
Before we get into our list of things to do in Luxembourg City, let’s briefly discuss the Luxembourg Card for a moment.
Explore with the Luxembourg Card
The Luxembourg Card is similar to the London Pass—it gives you access to over 70 attractions around the country, many of which are in Luxembourg City.
Some things to do in Luxembourg City are free, and some are paid entry.
Everywhere with paid entry we visited, the Luxembourg Card was accepted.
So, if you plan to visit a few of the city’s museums, the Luxembourg Card might be worth considering.
And if you are considering exploring further afield than Luxembourg City, getting an additional day or two might be worth it.
Read: things to do in Luxembourg.
1 | Explore the Bock Casemates
The Bock Casemates are one of the city’s most popular attractions.
They are an impressive (and quite expansive) underground network of tunnels and chambers that were originally part of the city’s fortifications and contributed to its defence.
Dug into the rock beneath the Bock promontory, these casemates, which date back to the 17th century, provided shelter for soldiers, workshops, and storage areas.
The casemates are pretty cool, offer a glimpse into the city’s past, and offer fantastic views over Grund and towards the Red Bridge (officially known as Grand Duchess Charlotte Bridge).
The ground is quite uneven inside, so wear appropriate footwear!
📍 Mnt de Clausen, 1343 Grund Luxembourg
💷 Paid entry
2 | Head Down to Grund
Grund translates directly to the ground in Dutch and is located in the Alzette River valley below the city’s centre.
If you’ve ever seen a picture of Luxembourg City, you’ve likely seen Grund because it’s the picture-postcard view of the city.
It’s a charming little district that is quieter than the upper city.
Grund is part of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage site, and down there, you’ll find cafes, restaurants, shops, the National Museum of Natural History, Wenzel Wall, Jacob Tower and the Melusina statue.
💷 Free
3 | Visit the Luxembourg National Museum of Natural History
The Luxembourg National Museum of Natural History in Grund is dedicated to studying and preserving natural history.
The museum is home to an extensive collection of specimens, including minerals, rocks, fossils, and taxidermy animals, offering a comprehensive look at the natural world.
📍 25 Rue Münster, 2160 Grund Luxembourg
💷 Paid entry
🌍 mnhn.lu
4 | Take in the Views at the Panoramic Lookout
The Panoramic Lookout offers some of the best views in Luxembourg City.
You’ll get eyes on the Pont Adolphe and La Passerelle bridges and a view down into the valley where the River Petrusse flows.
You’ll also find the Monument of Remembrance with the Golden Lady atop. The “Golden Lady“, known locally as Gëlle Fra, on Constitution Square was established in 1923 to commemorate the Luxembourgers who perished in the First World War.
There are even places to grab food and drinks while admiring the views.
📍 2 Bd Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 2450 Ville-Haute Luxembourg
💷 Free
5 | Visit the Cathédrale Notre-Dame
The Cathédrale Notre-Dame in Luxembourg City was constructed as a church by Jesuits between 1613 and 1621 and gained cathedral status in 1870.
It’s spacious inside, with impressive stained glass windows and fancy wood carvings.
There is also a crypt, which, among other things, is the final resting place of Luxembourg’s Grand Ducal family members.
📍 Rue Notre Dame, 2240 Ville-Haute Luxembourg
💷 Free
6 | Explore the Luxembourg City History Museum
The Luxembourg City History Museum offers an interesting journey through the history of Luxembourg.
Housed in four restored houses dating back to the 17th century, the museum showcases a diverse collection of artefacts, documents, and interactive displays that bring the city’s rich history to life.
Exhibits range from medieval times to the present, focusing on the city’s evolution, cultural heritage, and societal changes.
It has a cool room that is quite difficult to describe.
It’s like a 360-degree picture, with three-dimensional cobbles blending into it.
It’s impressive, there’s no doubt about that.
There is also a thought-provoking exhibition about the European Union, which we found to be the most interesting part of the museum.
📍 14 Rue du St Esprit, 1475 Ville-Haute Luxembourg
💷 Paid entry
7 | Soak up the Atmosphere at Place Guillaume II
Place Guillaume II is a spacious and charming public square in the city.
Historic buildings, cafes, and restaurants surround the square, and you can see the cathedral, Hôtel de Ville, and the Statue équestre Guillaume II, which translates as the ‘equestrian statue of William II’ if you were wondering!
You’ll even get eyes on the Palais Grand-Ducal, where the Grand Duke of Luxembourg hangs out.
The Palais Grand-Ducal is the lovely building you can see at the end of the road if you face the same way as the statue.
And you might be lucky when you stumble upon the square because it’s often the site of markets, open-air concerts, and festivals.
The market is here every Wednesday and Saturday, between 0730 and 1400.
The square is also home to the Luxembourg City Tourist Office!
📍 23 Rue du Fossé, 1536 Ville-Haute Luxembourg
💷 Free
8 | Explore the Floors at the National Art and History Museum
Of all the museums in Luxembourg, this one was the most daunting.
It sounds strange to be daunted by a museum, but it has a remarkable number of floors—10, to be precise.
However, each one isn’t massive, so it won’t take you too long to get around them all.
It’s an unusual but complementary combination of art and history, and inside, you’ll find all sorts, including an impressive Roman mosaic and a fascinating exhibit to do with minting and currency.
You might not find any English display boards, but if you look for the books at the exhibition entrances, you’ll find English translations to help explain what you are looking at.
📍 Marché-aux-Poissons, 2345, Luxembourg
💷 Paid entry
9 | Get a Lift in the Panoramic Elevator of the Pfaffenthal
The Pfaffenthal Panoramic Elevator offers a journey unlike any other in the city.
It connects Pescatore Park in the upper city with the Pfaffenthal area below, which is in the Alzette Valley.
The elevator provides an impressive panoramic view of the Alzette Valley and the Red Bridge, and at the top, you’ll find another platform to soak up the views if you didn’t catch them all while in the lift.
The lift is 71m high at its highest viewing point, and it is accessible to both pedestrians and cyclists.
It’s also free, which is a bonus!
📍 2 Rue du Pont, 2344 Pafendall Luxembourg
💷 Free
10 | Check Out the Art Museums
The prominent art galleries in Luxembourg City are Villa Vauban and Mudam Museum of Modern Art.
The former is home to an impressive collection of classical European art from the 16th to the 18th century, housed in an elegant mansion on the edge of Kinnekswiss Park.
The latter is home to contemporary art, housed in a striking architectural masterpiece designed by renowned architect I. M. Pei.
Classical and contemporary art can easily split opinions, so it’s up to you to decide which you’d rather visit based on your preference (or you can always visit both!).
📍 Villa Vauban, 18 Av. Emile Reuter, 2420 Ville-Haute Luxembourg
💷 Paid entry
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📍 Mudam Museum if Modern Art, 3 Park Drai Eechelen, 1499 Clausen Luxembourg
💷 Paid entry
Things to do in Luxembourg City Map
The map below shows everything on our list of things to do in Luxembourg City. It is designed to help you navigate and plan your route around the city to make the best use of your time.
Is Luxembourg City worth visiting?
Yes, Luxembourg City is worth a visit. From visiting museums to epic viewpoints and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this tiny city has a lot to see and do.
How long is enough in Luxembourg City?
Two days is enough in the city to see everything comfortably and avoid rushing around.
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