Best Things to Do in Luxembourg with Kids

Visiting Luxembourg with kids isn’t something you see recommended all that often, but after spending two days there with my 10 year olds, I really think it should be. It was surprisingly easy to explore as a family without having to plan our days around kid-specific attractions.

There’s plenty to keep a family busy for a few days, from exploring the upper and lower parts of Luxembourg City to underground fortifications, viewpoints and easy walks through the old town. And when everyone’s tired of walking, public transportation, including the trams, is completely free.

You don’t have to plan your days around kid-specific attractions either. Many of Luxembourg’s main sights are interesting for both adults and kids, which makes it an easy place to explore together.

We only had two days and left wishing we’d had more time. Here are our favourite things to do in Luxembourg with kids, plus a few that are already on our list for next time.

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Map of What to Do in Luxembourg with Kids

I’ve added all of the places mentioned in this guide to the map below, along with a few playgrounds that are handy to know about while you’re exploring the city.

Map of Luxembourg City with yellow stars marking family friendly stops around the city center including areas near the Palais Grand Ducal and Casemates du Bock. The marked locations highlight places to visit while exploring Luxembourg with kids. — Open the map in Google Maps to see all the stops and save it for your trip.

Best Things to Do in Luxembourg with Kids

One of the nice things about Luxembourg is that many of the main sights work just as well with kids. Tunnels, glass elevators, viewpoints and the different levels of the city make exploring a little more interesting than simply walking from one historic building to the next.

1. Explore the Bock Casemates

The Bock Casemates were easily one of the highlights of our time in Luxembourg. These underground tunnels and passages were once part of the city’s fortifications, and today you can walk through sections of them beneath the old fortress.

My kids loved exploring the tunnels, ducking through narrow passages and finding openings in the rock overlooking the city below. It feels much more like exploring than visiting a historic site, so it’s an easy way to sneak a bit of history into the day without kids feeling like they’re touring another museum.

There are quite a few stairs and some uneven, narrow sections inside, so this isn’t somewhere I’d bring a stroller. I’d also wear shoes with decent grip, especially if it’s wet outside.

The Bock Casemates are right beside the old town and Chemin de la Corniche, so they’re easy to include while you’re exploring Luxembourg City.

Historic stone fortifications in Luxembourg with arched openings and a staircase descending between thick stone walls. The ruins sit beneath an overcast sky with part of the city visible beyond.

Historic stone fortifications and cobbled paths in Luxembourg with a large church rising above them. The layered old city architecture shows the dramatic changes in elevation found around Luxembourg City.

2. Ride the Pfaffenthal Panoramic Elevator

Luxembourg City is built on several levels, and the Pfaffenthal Panoramic Elevator is one of the easiest, and most fun, ways to get between them.

The glass elevator drops more than 70 metres from the upper city down to Pfaffenthal, with views across the valley on the way. It’s completely free to ride, and there’s a viewing platform at the top if you want to stop for photos before heading down.

There’s also a small playground just a minute or two from the bottom of the elevator, which is perfect for a quick break before continuing towards the Grund or exploring along the Alzette River. It’s not a destination playground, but my kids were happy to stop there for a bit after we’d been walking around the city.

TKE Tip: Luxembourg City has quite a few other playgrounds scattered around the city as well. Some are little more than a quick play stop, so I’d use the city’s playground map to find one close to wherever you’re already exploring rather than going out of your way to visit them.

A tall glass elevator travels vertically beside a wooded hillside in Luxembourg City. The modern lift connects neighbourhoods at different elevations and is surrounded by bare winter trees. — the glass elevator is a great way to get between the Upper and Lower town, but it also has fantastic views

3. Explore the Grund

One of the things that makes Luxembourg City so interesting to explore is that it’s built on different levels. The Grund sits down in the valley below the old town, along the Alzette River, and feels completely different from the streets above.

We walked down towards the Grund as part of the Wenzel Walk and spent some time exploring along the river. There are old stone buildings, bridges and some great views looking back up at the fortifications towering above you.

There’s also a small playground, Kowalski playground, in the Grund, which makes a good stop after you’ve been exploring for a while. From there, it’s only a short walk to the Pfaffenthal Panoramic Elevator, so you can take the glass elevator back up instead of tackling the climb with tired kids.

Quiet river winding past pale historic homes built along a moss covered stone wall in Luxembourg City. A wooded hillside rises behind the waterfront neighbourhood under a cloudy sky. — the river runs right through the Grund

A large sandy playground in Luxembourg surrounded by residential buildings and bare winter trees. Play structures include a tall metal slide and swings with a child playing near the center. — and the playground is a perfect break after exploring

4. Walk Along the Chemin de la Corniche

The Chemin de la Corniche runs along the old city walls and is often called “the most beautiful balcony in Europe.” It’s a pretty accurate description too, as the walkway looks out over the Grund, the Alzette Valley and the old fortifications below.

The walkway follows the edge of the upper city, with views over the river, old stone buildings and fortifications below. It’s easy to add while you’re exploring the old town and Bock Casemates, and doesn’t take long, unless you stop at every viewpoint like we did. But give yourself time to stop and take it in. I remember looking out over the Grund and thinking, do people who live here ever get tired of this view?

A panoramic view across Luxembourg City with a large historic church beside the river in the lower city. Colorful buildings and old fortifications climb the surrounding hills beneath dramatic gray clouds.

5. Walk Part of the Wenzel Walk

If you want to see more of Luxembourg on foot, follow some (or all) of the Wenzel Walk. The full 5.5-km route takes about three hours and connects the upper and lower parts of the city, passing old fortifications, viewpoints and some of Luxembourg’s oldest neighbourhoods along the way.

The Chemin de la Corniche is actually part of the Wenzel Walk, so if you’ve already walked along the “balcony of Europe,” you’ve done the beginning of it. From there, you can continue down towards the Grund and follow the route through the lower city and up towards the Rham Plateau.

We didn’t do the entire loop, but followed part of the route from the upper city down towards the Grund. There are quite a few stairs and climbs along the full route, so with kids I’d treat it as something you can dip in and out of rather than feeling like you need to complete all 5.5 kilometres.

Two children walk along a narrow cobblestone lane in Luxembourg City beneath tall historic buildings. Moss covered stone walls and bare winter trees line the quiet path. — Walking down to the Grund

The Alzette River winds between historic buildings in the lower part of Luxembourg City. Pastel houses cluster beneath towering stone fortifications and rocky cliffs. — View of the Grund from above

6. Wander Through Luxembourg’s Old Town

Don’t worry too much about following a specific route through Luxembourg’s Old Town. Give yourself some time to wander, turn down the streets that look interesting and see where you end up.

Much of the centre is pedestrian-friendly, and you’ll naturally come across some of the city’s main sights and squares as you explore. Place d’Armes and Place Guillaume II are both worth seeing, along with the Grand Ducal Palace, Notre-Dame Cathedral and Place de la Constitution overlooking the Pétrusse Valley.

Honestly, I couldn’t tell you exactly which streets we walked down. We tended to turn whenever something looked interesting, and that was part of the fun. Luxembourg’s Old Town isn’t huge, so you can wander without feeling like you’re going to end up miles away from where you meant to be.

When we visited in December, the squares and streets were also filled with Christmas markets and lights, which gave us even more reason to take our time exploring.

Bright red orange blue and patterned lanterns hang above a narrow street lined with historic buildings in Luxembourg City. — These just added a bit of colour to a grey day

A pedestrian street in Luxembourg City covered by a canopy of warm white Christmas lights. Shoppers walk beneath the festive lights past restaurants and storefronts at night. — and the streets done up with lights in December

7. Visit the Luxembourg Science Center

This is one we didn’t get to, and looking back, I really wish we’d made time for it.

The Luxembourg Science Center is in Differdange, just outside Luxembourg City, and has around 100 interactive exhibits that kids can actually experiment with rather than just look at. There are also daily science shows covering topics like electricity, chemistry, astronomy and physics.

Since we didn’t have a lot of time in Luxembourg, we chose to spend most of our time exploring the city, but knowing what I know now, I would have seriously considered setting aside half a day for the Science Center. It looks like a particularly good option if you’re visiting in winter or hit a rainy day.

And because public transportation throughout Luxembourg is free, you can get there from Luxembourg City without needing a car or worrying about buying separate train or bus tickets.

Large stone Adolphe Bridge arches over the wooded Pétrusse Valley in Luxembourg City. Walking paths and a stream wind through the valley below the bridge. — the Adolphe Bridge stretches high above the river

More Things to Do in Luxembourg with Kids

We only had two days in Luxembourg, so there were quite a few places we didn’t get to. If you have more time, or you’re planning to explore beyond Luxembourg City, these are a few more options worth considering.

National Museum of Natural History: Located in the Grund, this would be an easy indoor stop to add while you’re exploring the lower city. We considered visiting but simply ran out of time.

Lëtzebuerg City Museum: Another one we considered, particularly because I’d heard about the huge glass elevator inside and the views from the upper floors. It’s right in the Old Town, so it would also be easy to work into a day of sightseeing.

Vianden Castle: About an hour from Luxembourg City, Vianden is home to one of Luxembourg’s best-known castles. There’s also a chairlift that takes you above the town, which immediately puts this on my list for a future warmer-weather trip.

Mullerthal: Often called Luxembourg’s Little Switzerland, this part of the country is known for its hiking trails, rock formations and forests. There are routes of different lengths, so you don’t necessarily have to commit to one of the longer hikes with kids.

Parc Merveilleux: This family park in Bettembourg has playgrounds, rides, fairy-tale areas and animals. It’s much more of a kid-specific day out than most of the things on this list, but could be worth considering if you have younger kids or more time in Luxembourg.

The medieval stone castle of Vianden with round towers, steep slate roofs, and fortified walls rising above a wooded hillside beneath a partly cloudy sky. The imposing fortress dominates the landscape with its well preserved historic architecture in LUxembourg — Friends of ours made it to Vianden Castle and said it was a great day trip

Where to Stay in Luxembourg with Kids

For a first visit, I’d stay in or close to Luxembourg City rather than farther out. You’ll be able to walk to many of the main sights, and with free public transportation, it’s easy to get around without needing a car.

We stayed at Hôtel Perrin, near Luxembourg’s main train station. It worked well for us because we arrived by train, and we could easily walk or take the tram into the Old Town. The rooms were comfortable, the location was convenient and it was a good option for our stay.

Here’s some more options on where to stay in Luxembourg with kids, including the best areas and family-friendly hotel options, if you’re deciding where to base yourself.

A Hotel Perrin guest room in Luxembourg with a large double bed and a second bed beside it. The room has patterned wallpaper and wood floors with a desk and two chairs by the window. — the rooms at Hotel Perrin weren’t huge, but clean and really comfortable

A child reaches for the bells on an antique wall telephone surrounded by patterned wallpaper. A framed vintage poster beside it reads "Mont Cassel Lundi de Pâques". — my kids loved the old phones throughout the hallways

How Many Days Do You Need in Luxembourg with Kids?

I’d recommend spending at least two days in Luxembourg with kids. That’s enough time to explore the Old Town, Bock Casemates and Grund without trying to squeeze everything into one day.

We had two days and managed to see quite a bit, but I would have happily added a third. That would have given us time for the Luxembourg Science Center or one of the museums without taking away from simply exploring the city.

If you want to visit Vianden, hike in Mullerthal or see more of the country beyond Luxembourg City, I’d plan for at least three or four days.

Getting Around Luxembourg with Kids

Luxembourg City is easy to explore without a car, but be prepared to do quite a bit of walking. The city is built on different levels, so somewhere that looks close on a map can involve stairs or a climb between the upper and lower parts of the city.

Fortunately, public transportation throughout Luxembourg is completely free, including buses, trams and second-class trains. There’s no need to buy a ticket or remember to tap on and off — you can simply get on. My kids loved riding the trams, and we found them quiet and really easy to use.

The city’s free elevators are also really useful when you’re exploring the lower parts of the city. After exploring the Grund, we used the Pfaffenthal Panoramic Elevator to get back to the upper city rather than climbing all the way back up, but there are also other elevators throughout the city that can save you a climb back up.

Modern tram traveling along tracks through central Luxembourg City with historic buildings and a green church tower in the background. The tram display reads "LYCEE BOUNEWEG" and shows one way families can get around when exploring Luxembourg with kids. — trams are free throughout the city

A steep staircase descends along massive moss covered stone fortifications in Luxembourg City. Trees and vegetation grow around the historic walls while temporary wooden structures sit along the upper walkway. — or you can take the stairs!

How to Get to Luxembourg

Luxembourg is easy to reach by train, plane or car, and it works especially well as an addition to a longer trip through Germany, France or Belgium.

By train: Luxembourg City has train connections with nearby European cities, including Trier, Brussels and Paris, making Luxembourg an easy addition to a longer European itinerary. We arrived by train from Trier, Germany, which took about an hour and was an easy way to add Luxembourg to the end of our Christmas market trip.

By plane: Luxembourg Airport is just outside the city and connected to the centre by free public transportation. We flew out of Luxembourg at the end of our trip and found getting to the airport really easy, and no taxi or separate airport transfer was needed.

By car: Driving can make sense if Luxembourg is part of a larger road trip or you plan to explore more of the country. You won’t need a car for sightseeing in Luxembourg City, though. Once you’re there, I’d park it and take advantage of the free public transportation or explore on foot.

Make Exploring Luxembourg More Fun

Make exploring a little more fun with our free Luxembourg City scavenger hunt and activity book, with things for kids to spot and do as you make your way around the city.

Our Take: Is Luxembourg Worth Visiting with Kids?

Yes, I think Luxembourg is absolutely worth visiting with kids, especially if you’re already travelling through this part of Europe.

It’s an easy city to explore as a family without having to plan your days around kid-specific attractions. The Bock Casemates, glass elevators, different levels of the city and views over the Grund kept things interesting for my kids, while still being places I wanted to see too.

We left with a few things we wished we’d had time for, and we’re already planning another visit this winter. This time, we’ll hopefully get to a few of the places we missed the first time around.

Planning a Trip to Luxembourg?

If you’re putting together your Luxembourg itinerary, I’ve got a few more guides to help. Start with our 2 days in Luxembourg itinerary to plan your time, find the best area to base yourself in our guide to where to stay in Luxembourg, or, if you’re visiting in winter, don’t miss the Luxembourg Christmas markets.