Most travellers visiting Luxembourg tend to focus only on the capital – and with good reason. Luxembourg City has plenty to keep you busy. But if you want to see more of the country, the good news is that Luxembourg is perfectly suited for day trips.
Thanks to its small size, you can reach charming medieval towns, fairytale castles, vineyards and nature parks in under one to one and a half hours from Luxembourg City. Many of these places are easy to visit by public transport, while others are most convenient by car – but all of them can be done as a stress-free day trip.
In this guide, I’m sharing 6 easy and beautiful day trips from Luxembourg City that show just how varied the Grand Duchy is. From castle-topped villages in the Ardennes to historic towns and scenic river valleys, these destinations are perfect if you want to go beyond the capital without spending long hours on the road.
Read more: 4 Days in Luxembourg: Fairytale Castles and Storybook Towns
Contents
- Vianden – A Medieval Castle Town in the Luxembourg Ardennes
- Echternach – Luxembourg’s Oldest Town in the Müllerthal
- Clervaux – Castle Views and “The Family of Man” Exhibition
- Schengen – Where Europe Changed Forever
- Useldange – A Small Town in the Valley of the Seven Castles
- Esch-sur-Sûre – A Fairytale Town Surrounded by the Sûre River
- Organized Day Tours from Luxembourg City
- Day Trips from Luxembourg City: FAQs
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Vianden – A Medieval Castle Town in the Luxembourg Ardennes
Travel time: ~1 hour • Best for: medieval castle & Our Valley views • Getting there: car or bus via Ettelbruck
Vianden is an adorable little town on the River Our in the Luxembourgish Ardennes. The town is a popular tourist destination in Luxembourg but just take a side step off the main street and you will find yourself walking into a different world: quiet cobbled streets, tranquility, blooming flowerpots everywhere, and you have the feeling as life has stopped.
Vianden became a town in 1304 and in the 15th century it was already the 3rd biggest city in Luxembourg. From those glorious days there are left the remains of the old fortifications that once protected the town and its inhabitants from the enemies. Today, partly restored, the ramparts are a nice place for a walk.
The Castle of Vianden is perhaps the most famous asset of this little place. Built between the 11th and 14th century and sold piece by piece in 1820 by the Dutch King William I, the Castle of Vianden was restored to its previous glory in the 1970s. You can reach the castle following the road from the town, but I strongly recommend taking the chairlift and then following the path to the castle. You won’t be disappointed – the views on Vianden, the castle and the valley of the Our River are simply breathtaking.
Walnuts are the specialty of Vianden. So, when staying there, do not forget to fill in your supplies of anything walnut: walnut oil, walnut liqueur, walnut bread, sausages with walnuts… Vianden even has its own Walnut Festival, which is held each year in October.
We stayed in Vianden on our 4-day trip around Luxembourg and we absolutely fell in love with the place, its castle and the surrounding beautiful nature.
How to get to Vianden from Luxembourg City
The best way to reach Vianden from Luxembourg City is by car. In fact, it is easier to travel around in Luxembourg by car than by public transport.
So, if you rely on the public transport in Luxembourg, take the train from the Central railway station in Luxembourg City to Ettelbruck. From Ettelbruck get bus line 570 direction Stolzembourg, Akescht and get off in Vianden. The journey is about an hour. Check out all options on the website of the Luxembourg Railways.
Or you can join this tour that covers both Vianden and Echternach:
Echternach – Luxembourg’s Oldest Town in the Müllerthal
Travel time: ~40 minutes • Best for: history, abbey & colourful old town • Getting there: direct bus from Luxembourg City
Echternach lies in the Müllerthal in a bend of the Sûre River and is the oldest town in Luxembourg. The town was formed around the Benedictine Abbey founded by the English monk St Willibrord in 698 AD. The place obtained township rights in 1236. The Abbey, as we know it today, comes from the 18th century when the original one was rebuilt in Baroque style.
The best way to discover the town is by foot. Start from the beautiful Abbey with the lovely park and the Basilica of St Willibrord, and head to the Market Square lined up with lovely colourful buildings. Don’t forget to look up so that you don’t miss the beautiful shop signs made of wrought iron. The Market Square (Place du Marche) is dominated by the Dënzelt – the former palace of justice. Some parts of the building date back to the first half of the 14th century. The façade however is an eclectic mixture of Gothic and Renaissance influences.
Echternach is also famous for the Whit Tuesday dancing procession. Each year the event attracts about 13 000 participants. Because of its significance it has been added to the UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
How to get to Echternach from Luxembourg City
Echternach is easy to reach by public transport from Luxembourg City. Bus lines 111 and 110 go from Luxembourg City to Echternach and it takes about 40 minutes.
Clervaux – Castle Views and “The Family of Man” Exhibition
Travel time: ~1 hour • Best for: castle scenery & “The Family of Man” exhibition • Getting there: direct train from Luxembourg City
Clervaux is a lovely little place in the Luxembourgish Ardennes, located in a bend of the Clerve River. It has an absolutely picturesque setting, which can be best admired if you approach the town by car. When you start descending a mountain ridge, following a few hairpin turns you will be smitten by the view to this small town, dominated by the white castle and the Church of St Cosma and Damian. A bit further, up the hill is located the Benedictine Abbey of St. Maurice and St. Maur. The Abbey was built at the beginning of the 20th century and is still functioning as such.
The hidden treasure of Clervaux is the photographic exhibition The Family of Men hosted in the Castle of Clervaux. I was literally mind blown and I can’t enough recommend it. The collection consists of 503 pictures by 273 photographers from 68 countries.
The exhibition was initially curated by Edward Steichen for MoMA in New York. After it travelled the world in the 50-s and the 60-s, it found its final home in the castle in 1994 as was the wish of the former MoMa director Steichen who was actually born in Luxembourg. Since 2003 the exhibition is included into the UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register.
How to get to Clervaux from Luxembourg City
There is a direct train from Luxembourg City to Clervaux. The journey takes about an hour.
You can also visit Clerveaux with this tour:
Schengen – Where Europe Changed Forever
Travel time: ~40–45 minutes • Best for: European history, vineyards & river scenery • Getting there: direct bus or via Remich/Mondorf
The name of Schengen affects us in our daily lives, not only if we live in Europe but also if we travel to and around in Europe. Most people have heard about the Schengen Area and quite a lot of travellers need a Schengen Visa, but almost nobody can point on the map where Schengen is located. Well, it’s easy, just look for the southeastern tip of Luxembourg where the borders of Luxembourg, France and Germany come together and there at the tripoint you’ have ‘ll find Schengen.
The Schengen Agreement (1985) that grants free movement of people, was actually signed on the board of the passenger MS Princess Marie-Astrid ship on the Moselle River near the town of Schengen. Today we can’t imagine anymore travelling in a Europe with borders and border checks.
When in Schengen, visit the Monument of Europe and the European Museum, which commemorate this significant episode of Europe’s history.
For the rest, Schengen is a sleepy little town on the Moselle River set among vineyards and orchards. Do not miss to try the local wines when there.
How to get to Schengen from Luxembourg City
Bus line 315 from Luxembourg City goes directly to Schengen. It takes about 40-45 minutes. There’re also other options with changing buses at Remich or Mondorf.
You can visit Schengen with this tour that covers 3 countries in 1 day:
Useldange – A Small Town in the Valley of the Seven Castles
Travel time: ~1 hour • Best for: castle ruins & quiet village atmosphere • Getting there: direct bus or with transfers
While the castle of Useldange is not officially one of the seven castles in the Guttland region in Luxembourg, it’s worth a day trip from Luxembourg City. The small town of Useldange (with a population of just over 1000 people) lies on the Attert River. The medieval castle, or at least the ruins thereof, stand proudly on a small hill in the centre of the town.
The castle was built in the 12th century and after years of prosperity was sold two times which led to its decline in the 17th century when the castle ended up in ruins. At the beginning of the 20th century the castle was bought by a private person and the restauration got in the wrong direction. Today, the reconstruction of the castle continues true to the medieval look and feel of the place.
From the top of the tower there is an amazing view and if you happen to be in Useldange in June, do not miss the medieval fair that is organized annually.
How to get to Useldange from Luxembourg City
There is one direct bus line from Luxembourg City to Useldange – bus 445. There are also a few options with changing buses. The trip takes about an hour.
Esch-sur-Sûre – A Fairytale Town Surrounded by the Sûre River
Travel time: ~1.5 hours • Best for: fairytale setting, castle ruins & hiking • Getting there: train + bus via Ettelbruck
Although Esch-sur-Sûre is very tiny (about 400 inhabitants), it deserves to be listed among the most amazing day trips from Luxembourg City. The Sauer River (Sûre in French) makes a 360 degree bend thus creating almost a perfect island connected to the ‘mainland’ by an 80-m wide isthmus. In the middle of the ‘island’ clung onto the rocks stands the town of Esch-sur-Sûre dominated by the fairytale ruins of a medieval castle and its tower.
The castle of Esch-sur-Sûre is perhaps the oldest castle in Luxembourg with some parts dating back to 927 AD. The castle had a turbulent history changing owners after each war. In the 17th century the castle fell into the hands of the common folk and until the 19th century there were still families living there.
Little has changed in this medieval town over the centuries which makes it a lovely place for a day trip from Luxembourg City.
You can also visit the dam (built in 1956) on the Sauer River which forms the Upper Sûre Lake or hike one of the many trails in the Upper Sûre Nature Park.
How to get to Esch-sur-Sûre from Luxembourg City
Take the train form Luxembourg City to Ettelbruck and then bus 535 to Esch-sur-Sûre. It takes about hour and a half in total.
Or you can join this tours out of Luxembourg City:
Organized Day Tours from Luxembourg City
If you don’t want to bother yourself with the logistics, there are also organized guided day tours out of Luxembourg City that cover the places above or a combination thereof. These tours are small group, almost kind of private, as they are done with a 5-seater passenger car, which means that the places on each tour are limited to 4. The costs per tour are about 500–700 EUR for 4 persons. This could be perfect if you travel with friends or for a family of 4.
Here is my selection:
- Luxembourg Castles, Forests, and River (Easy Walks) – includes Esch-sur-Sûre Castle, the Dam on Esch-sur-Sûr, Runtschelt viewpoint, Burfelt Viewing Platform, and Bourscheid Castle. Click here to check the availability.
- WWII Battlefields & Castles – includes Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial, General Patton Museum, Clervaux Castle, Museum of the Battle of the Bulge, Wiltz Castle, and the Museum of the Resistance. Click here to check the availability.
- Valley of the Seven Castles Fullday Tour – includes Mersch Castle, Schoenfels Castle, Château Hollenfels, Grand-Château d’Ansembourg, Château de Septfontaines, and Château de Koerich. Click here to check the availability.
- Trier (DE), Schengen & a French Castle – includes Trier (in Germany), Mosel Valley, Schengen, and Sierck-les-Bain (France). Click here to check the availability.
- Castles and Countryside – includes Vianden, Echternach, and Moselle Valley. Note that this is a bus tour and the price is around 100-110 EUR per person. Click here to check the availability.
Day Trips from Luxembourg City: FAQs
Can you do day trips from Luxembourg City without a car?
Yes, many day trips from Luxembourg City are easy to do by public transport. Towns like Echternach, Clervaux and Schengen are well connected by direct buses or trains. For smaller villages or more rural areas, travelling by car can be more convenient, but it isn’t essential for most popular day trips.
What is the best day trip from Luxembourg City?
The best day trip from Luxembourg City depends on your interests. Vianden is ideal for medieval castles and dramatic scenery, Echternach is perfect for history lovers, and Clervaux stands out for its castle and the UNESCO-listed “The Family of Man” exhibition. All three can be comfortably visited in one day.
How far can you travel on a day trip from Luxembourg City?
Thanks to Luxembourg’s small size, you can reach most destinations within 40 minutes to 1.5 hours from Luxembourg City. This makes it easy to visit castles, historic towns and nature parks without spending long hours on the road or on public transport.
Are day trips from Luxembourg City free with public transport?
Public transport within Luxembourg is free nationwide, including buses, trams and trains in second class. This makes day trips from Luxembourg City particularly budget-friendly. Always check current routes and timetables, as connections can vary depending on the destination.
Is Luxembourg City a good base for exploring the country?
Yes, Luxembourg City is an excellent base for exploring the country. It offers the best transport connections and allows you to reach every region – from the Ardennes in the north to the Moselle Valley in the southeast – on easy and well-planned day trips.
Read more: Discover Luxembourg Old Town – a Lesser Known UNESCO World Heritage Site
