Looking for the best things to do in Luxembourg in winter? We’d known of the little country for a long time, but we’d always made the mistake to skip over it on our past European tours. A mistake indeed, as...

Looking for the best things to do in Luxembourg in winter? We’d known of the little country for a long time, but we’d always made the mistake to skip over it on our past European tours. A mistake indeed, as Luxembourg is well worth a visit, especially in the winter, when Europe is at its most festive. The city and country embody many quintessential European cities and countries.

We were lucky enough to visit during the Christmas season, catch one of the first snowfalls, and even participate in Luxembourg’s excellent Christmas markets.

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Where is Luxembourg

Luxembourg is a country located in Western Europe, bordered by Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east, and France to the south. The capital of Luxembourg is Luxembourg City, which is also the country’s largest city.

Luxembourg is a small, landlocked country with a population of around 626,000 people. Many travelers often give it a skip, but it’s well worth visiting for its picturesque landscapes and rich history.

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Best Things to Do in Luxembourg in Winter

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Tour Luxembourg City

Luxembourg City is a mix of the old and new with highrises rising all over the city, and a pleasant old town located in the heart of the city. It’s a melting pot of nationalities and you’ll often hear English on the streets as many foreigners come to work for banks and tech companies based in the city. It brings a pleasant expatriate vibe to vibe to the city and adds to its character.

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Descend to the Grund

Wondering what to do in Luxembourg? Head to The Grund! The heart of the old town is located below the city center along the banks of the Alzette River. It sits at the base of the former Luxembourg Castle.

Descending down to the Grund feels like stepping back in time and the atmosphere changes to a more relaxed pace. To get down to the Grund easily, you can catch an elevator near the judiciary building.

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Go Underground at Casemates du Bock

Unfortunately for us, these were closed in the winter so we couldn’t visit. Casemates du Bock is a series of underground tunnels that extend beneath the city’s former castle. The castle may be in ruins, but visitors can tour a section of the 17km long network of tunnels. They were carved out in the 1700s by the Spanish military and used as storage defense.

They even housed around thousands of locals in both the World Wars. Now, they are preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s arguably one of the top things to do in Luxembourg during the winter months.

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Walk Through the Kirchberg district

This is Luxembourg’s modern center. The Kirchberg district has a number of contemporary art museums and is the home to several European institutions. There are a number of pleasant parks and it’s a nice place to spend a summer afternoon.

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Go Castle Hopping

One of the best things to do in Luxembourg in the winter is explore the castles! It’s a short drive out of Luxembourg City to find the lovely countryside. There are plenty of attractive villages and many are home to grand medieval castles. When we found ourselves struck by a snowstorm we found refuge in Beaufort, where we entered the town’s castle, that was actually inhabited until 2012. Now you can visit for guided tours year round.

The most famous castle in Luxembourg is Vianden Castle and is only about 50km from Luxembourg city. It’s pretty simple to reach via public transport with both train and bus options. The castle was built over 300 years from the 11th – 14th centuries and it is one the largest castles from the Gothic period in Europe. It’s now been restored as a tourist attraction for 40 years.

We had the Luxembourg Card for the duration of our time in Luxembourg, which you can get in one to three-day increments. it covers all transport in the country as well as entry into many tourist sights such as the castle.

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Sample Traditional Luxembourgish Food

It takes some digging as the country is very international and borrows plenty. There is a wide range of restaurants extending from bars, bistros, and gourmet restaurants. They take many of great European dishes and produce them with fresh local products to create great destinations for foodies.

The country also has 12 Michelin starred restaurants. The most common Luxembourgish dish we found is called Kniddelen, a pan-fried flour dumpling, they are most commonly served with bacon and cream. We had two fantastic Luxembourgish meals at Berdorfer Eck in Luxembourg’s “Little Switzerland” and Siegfried in the heart of Luxembourg City.

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Learn Through Museums

A really cool thing to do in Luxembourg City is head to the museum. Luxembourg has long been at the heart of Europe and has an interesting history. The museums in Luxembourg have wonderful art exhibitions and plenty of history.

In the heart of the city lies Museum-mile, a street that starts from the Villa Vauban to the highly regarded Museum of Modern Art – Mudam. Unless you’re a big history buff we suggest heading to the Museum of Modern Art to see the best of contemporary art in Luxembourg and around the world.

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Squeeze Through Micro Gorges in Mullerthall

Mullerthall is often referred to as “Little Switzerland” due to its hilly landscape and pleasant villages. We were due to go an extended hike through the region when a snowstorm began – so, unfortunately, no extensive hiking for us.

However, there are a number of well-managed hiking trails through the region and its a popular summer activity for many residents, regional neighbors, and tourists. There are even a few well-managed campsites for multi-day hikes!

The most interesting attraction in Mullerthall may be Berdorf. It is a high point that overlooks the valleys of Black Ernz, the Sure, and the Aesbach. From the town are a number of circular hiking paths that lead down through a number of interesting cliffs, rock crevices, and caves. We would highly suggest setting aside a day to go hiking in Little Switzerland, we couldn’t believe just how beautiful it was!

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Take Part in the Winter Festivities

There is no shortage of things to do in Luxembourg in December. The city has multiple Christmas markets with two large ones drawing in hundreds of people to drink, sing, eat, and enjoy the evening. Out of all the Christmas markets we visited in Europe the ones in Luxembourg were by far the most “traditional.”

We spent an evening at the markets and had a wonderful time eating food and drinking Gluhwein (mulled wine). There are other activities to have fun partaking in such as Christmas concerts, ferris wheel rides, or you can try your hand at ice skating.

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Sample World-Class Wine

You’ve certainly heard of the Champagne region in France, but have you heard of Moselle in Luxembourg? Probably not! The region has been cultivating and producing the same sparkling beverages as the Champagne region for centuries now.

We visited Bernard Massard for a tour of their winery and a behind-the-scenes peek at their production. They make amazing sparkling wines that you must give a try when in Luxembourg. The best part of the deal is Luxembourg has lower taxes on alcohol than France so prices are cheaper, but the quality is the same.

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Sip Hot Chocolate at the Chocolate House

One of the best things to do in Luxembourg in winter is to have a hot chocolate and lunch at the Chocolate House. This cafe and bakery is a bit of an institution in Luxembourg and it knows how to draw a crowd.  As their names suggest they specialize in chocolate and baked pastries.

The cafe is most well known for their hot chocolate spoons – you get to choose a chocolate spoon in various yummy flavors before dipping it in a cup of hot milk (they have vegan options too). I would recommend making reservations if you are planning to visit with a large party on weekends, even though this place is three stories, it gets packed!

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Day to the Ardennes

The Ardennes region in the southeast of Luxembourg in Belgium is known for its beautiful forests, rolling hills, and outdoor activities. It’s a great place to go hiking, biking, or just enjoy the scenery and is just two hours away from Luxembourg City – making for a great day trip!

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Get The Luxembourg Card

Get the Luxembourg Card and get free or discounted admission tickets to almost 100 places around Luxembourg. If you are spending a few days in the country and plan to do a lot of things to do in Luxembourg it may be worth picking one up! You can purchase the card online.

Prices for the Luxembourg Card

1 day: €13
2 days: €20
3 days: €28

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is Luxembourg worth visiting in winter?

Often overlooked for other winter destinations like Grindelwald in Switzerland, or Chamonix in France, Luxembourg proves to be an excellent winter retreat. This European gem distinguishes itself with its stunning castles and complimentary public transportation, all without the crowds of more popular destinations.

If you happen to visit Luxembourg in December you’ll be treated to Christmas market fun and plenty of holiday cheer. While if you visit Luxembourg in January or later you can enjoy snow-dusted castles and magical winter walks! I would not hesitate to book a trip to Luxembourg in the winter!

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Quick Facts About Luxembourg

‘Hello’ and ‘Thank You’ in Luxembourgish: “Moien” and “Merci” Capital: Luxembourg City Currency: Euro – (EUR) – € Visa: Schengen visa is 90 days in the European Union every 180 days. Many nationalities are granted this on arrival for free. Check with your embassy to see if that is you. (Interesting fact – Schengen comes from the small town of Schengen in the Southeast of Luxembourg where the agreement was signed.) Weather: Luxembourg has a moderate continental climate – summers are mild and winters are cold. It never hurts to have a jacket. What to Pack: It all depends on the season, but always have something warm to wear as summer nights can be cool. We always throw a packable down jacket in our bags. Random Tip: You can easily drive from Luxembourg City to just about anywhere else in the country in under an hour. Since Luxembourg is part of the Schengen Zone you may even unknowingly find yourself driving into neighboring countries. Safety: Luxembourg has been praised as one of the safest countries in the world. Always use common sense, especially at night, although chances are you will never have a problem.

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