Luxembourg is the capital of the Grand Duchy of the same name, set on the edge of the deep valley cut by the Alzette and the Petrusse. The whole shape of the city comes from that geography: the old town sits on the rocky plateau above, the Grund and Clausen quarters lie on the valley floor below, and the two are joined by lifts, stairways and bridges. The network of defensive tunnels cut into the rock, some seventeen kilometres of them, was left in place after the fortress was dismantled in 1867 and can be visited today. The city is also one of the three seats of the European Union institutions, with the Court of Justice and the Court of Auditors on the Kirchberg plateau.
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See flights to Luxembourg →When to visit Luxembourg
May to September is the easiest stretch, with daytime temperatures between 18C and 24C and the casemates and valley paths open. The Bock Casemates close in winter, so the choice of dates decides directly what can be visited. National Day at the end of June is the liveliest night of the year. November to February is cold, damp and short on daylight, though the Christmas markets fill the centre in December.
Things to do in Luxembourg
The Bock Casemates
The network of tunnels begun in the rock by the Spanish in 1644 and extended by Vauban's engineers and later the Austrians reached twenty three kilometres at its greatest extent. When the fortress was dismantled under the treaty of 1867, filling the tunnels in would have brought the city down, so this section was left as it was. The part open today shows gun embrasures and chambers cut into the stone.
Notre-Dame Cathedral
Built between 1613 and 1621 as a Jesuit church, the cathedral is an unusual case of late Gothic structure carrying Renaissance ornament, and the carving around its doorway is where that mixture shows most clearly. The crypt holds the tombs of the grand dukes of Luxembourg, its entrance guarded by two bronze lions. Three copper clad spires set the skyline.
The Grund and the Corniche walk
On the floor of the valley cut by the Alzette, the Grund is the oldest layer of settlement in the city, with its stone houses and water mills, joined to the upper town by lifts and stairways. The Chemin de la Corniche, the walkway along the top of the ramparts, looks down on it and was called the most beautiful balcony in Europe by the writer Batty Weber.
The Adolphe Bridge
The bridge across the Petrusse valley was built between 1900 and 1903 and on opening was the largest stone arch bridge in the world, with a span of 84 metres. It joins the two sides of the upper city and, taken as a symbol of independence, is still called the new bridge. The valley floor beneath it is laid out as a park, from which the bridge is seen at its full height.
The Grand Ducal Palace
Built in 1572 as the town hall, the building stands in a narrow street of the old town behind an ornamented Flemish Renaissance facade and has been the city residence of the grand duke since 1890. A guard is posted at its door and the changing of the guard can be watched. The interior opens only in summer, on guided tours with limited numbers.
Mudam Modern Art Museum
The museum on the Kirchberg plateau was designed by I. M. Pei and opened in 2006. The building sits on the surviving rampart foundations of Fort Thuengen, so a modern volume of glass and sandstone stands directly on the old fortification. The collection concentrates on contemporary art since 1990, and the glass domed entrance hall is worth the visit on its own.
Flights from Turkey to Luxembourg
Direct flights to Luxembourg from Turkey leave from Istanbul Airport, operated by Turkish Airlines up to twice a day and as often as fourteen times a week, and take about 3 hours 20 minutes. That frequency is high for a capital of this size because the city is a financial and institutional centre. Findel Airport is about 6 kilometres east of the centre, and since public transport is free throughout the country the airport bus costs nothing and reaches town in 20 minutes.
Luxembourg FAQ
How many days do you need in Luxembourg?
A day and a half covers the old town, the casemates and the Corniche walk. A second day suits Kirchberg and Mudam, and a third Vianden Castle or the Muellerthal trails. Three or four days is enough for the whole country.
How far is the airport from the city centre?
Findel Airport is about 6 kilometres from the centre, so it is very close in. Public transport in Luxembourg has been free nationwide since 2020, and buses 16 and 29 reach the centre in 20 minutes and the main station in 25.
Do you need a visa for Luxembourg?
Luxembourg is in the Schengen area and a Turkish passport needs a Schengen visa obtained in advance. Because the country's application capacity in Turkey is limited, appointments can take time, so it is safer to start at least two months before travel.
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