Luxembourg

Trier, Germany

Weekend away: Luxembourg and Trier 

It's time to discover two countries in one weekend on a whistle-stop tour of both Luxembourg and Trier. 

They say all the best things come in small packages and that is certainly true of Luxembourg (the capital city of Luxembourg). There is no shortage here of enchanting architecture and luscious greenery. In fact, Luxembourg has earned itself bragging rights as one of the greenest cities in Europe and a UNESCO world heritage site.

✦ Pack comfortable shoes and a raincoat.

Occasional showers bring plenty of flowers and keep Luxembourg looking fresh and green.  

Fly to Luxembourg from Stansted Airport London with a budget airline with a flight time of just over 1-hour. Already on the continent? Landlocked Luxembourg is conveniently connected to neighbouring countries by train so you should have no trouble finding a fare.

Bus 29 from the airport will take you straight to the central train station for free and it runs every 20-30 mins.

When browsing accommodation we found the station area best suited to our budget but, if you're travelling in style or want to stay in the middle of the action Ville Haute is the place for you. Trams and buses in the city are free to hop on and off and the distance is walkable in under 20-minutes.

We start the day by taking a ride with a view of the city from the Panoramic Elevator of the Pfaffenthal. Used by locals and tourists alike, this experience is FREE and you won't need to wait in line. To enjoy the rest of this guide we recommend taking a ride down and back up, or simply enjoying the viewing platform. 

Following along this road you will find yourself as Bock Casemates, a 17th century subterranean defence system made up of kilometres of tunnels through the fortress walls. The tunnels were later used to shelter the local population during WWII and are open for exploration for €7.  The walls themselves offer fantastic views from both sides of the bridge overlooking the maze garden and Grand Duchess Charlotte Bridge on one side and Grund neighbourhood on the other. Huelen Zant and Lieu de commémoration des Casemates ruins allow you to gain a little extra height to fully appreicate the panoramic views.

We're about to get our first glimpse of Luxembourg's most famous picturesque neighbourhood - Grund. Instagrammers have your cameras at the ready as you make your way to Chemin de la Corniche to catch one of the most famous views in the city. 

Our next stop is the Cathédrale Notre-Dame. Considered to be one of the most important religious landmarks in Luxembourg, the Cathedral has witnessed the weddings and burials of Luxembourg's prestigious Grand Ducal Family. If you are lucky enough to catch a service or choir practice during your visit you will find yourself uplifted by the wonderful acoustics of the cathedral as you enjoy the stained glass windows. The crypt, which is open for visitation, is the resting places of some important characters in Luxembourg's history. 

The Palais Grand-Ducal is the official residence of the grand ducal family and between July and September it is open for visits. Tickets for guided tours are available at the Luxembourg City Tourist Office just a couple of blocks away and booking in advance is advised. 

If you don't feel like seeing more of the city on foot, from Bock Casemates you can catch a road-train sightseeing tour. The tour lasts about 45 minutes and is a circular route. Whilst the service is a hop-on/hop-off it is best to check the service frequency with the driver to avoid waiting around too long for your onward journey. 

If you are continuing your journey on foot make your way down to Les Rives de Clausen, a trendy former industrial area with plenty of bars and restaurants where you can stop for refreshment. Whilst the atmosphere in the day time is easy going, if you're looking for  nightlife in Luxembourg, this area really comes alive. 

Don't worry about missing out on the next parts of this guide, as we'll be covering the same ground on foot!

Make your way down to the river path along the Alzette to begin a peaceful waterside walk and enjoy the scenery from the bottom of the valley. Following this path for a 30 minute stroll you'll pass through some of the fortifications and gardens and have opportunities to explore Grund at ground level.

(If you took the land train option, this is one of the stops you will make). 

Our walk finishes at the Ascenseur Elevator Plateau St. Esprit Grund, which will take you back up to the top of the valley. Whilst not as scenic as the Pfaffenthal elevator we started the day with, your legs may be thanking you for hitching a ride by now. Pass by the Palais de Justice Luxembourg and pause for a moment of reflexion at the Monument National de la Solidarité Luxembourgeoise. 

If travelling from the station area, your nearest tram stop is  Limpertsberg, Theatre, a 10-minute walk from the elevator. 

For those of you staying in the station district and those of you happy to make the journey, our day finishes in a fantastic Lebanese restaurant called 'The Green Olive'. 

We recommend sharing the 'Green Olive Mix' for 2. Enjoy! 

Your day begins with a trip to Luxembourg Gare rail station. If you didn't have chance to grab breakfast on the way, Fischer Backerei Cafe inside the train station offers a great selection of pastries for you to take away. 

You can buy your tickets to Trier at the ticket office for €5 return per person and trains run every hour from early to late. You will need to present ID to buy your tickets.  As Luxembourg and Germany are both in the Schengen zone, there are no border crossing check points and you won't need a passport stamp. However, it is best to travel with my passport in case of random spot checks that could happen on the train.

Trier is one of Germany's best kept secrets and the oldest city in the country. This ancient Roman capital offers 10,000 years of history and 9 UNESCO world heritage sites from Roman ruins and dramatic gothic architecture to the birth place of Karl Marx. History lovers - this one is for you! 

After a short 15-mintue walk from the train station to the city centre you will find yourself face to face with the most recognisable landmark of Trier, Porta Nigra. This imposing roman gatehouse is exceptionally well preserved and offers a unique glimpse into the history of the city. If you are comfortable with stairs, the €4 climb is worth it to see the city from above and take a closer look at the architecture. 

The tourist information office is just to the right as you pass underneath the gate. Here you can pick up a map and find out more about additional attractions that we don't cover in this guide, including museums and events. 

Head down Simeonstraße and you'll reach the main square Hauptmarkt. Described by some as the city's 'living room' this bustling market square is the beating heart of Trier. From the end of March to early November, the wine stall at the Hauptmarkt welcomes a different local winery to showcase, and if you are lucky you might catch one of the wine festivals that happen throughout the year attracting tourists and locals alike. 

German wine often flows on the sweet and indulgent side and is a real treat that is not to be missed - Prost! 

Again, if you are less comfortable with walking there is a sightseeing road train that stops just ahead of the tourist information office which will take you to many of the sites we will visit on foot in this guide. 

Before you leave the square, now is a good time to make a visit the Cathedral of St Peter, our second UNESCO world heritage site of the day.  

Next we'll be taking a trip down unsuspecting street Brückenstrasse, where at 2 a.m. on 5 May 1818 philosopher Karl Marx the "Father of Communism" was born. The house is now a museum dedicated to the life of Karl Marx and can be visited for €5. 

Stretching south from Konstantinplatz are the Palastgarten formal gardens. The gardens take inspiration from 18th century France and seem the perfect setting for any period drama. As you stroll through leafy arches passing fountains and flowers it's not hard to imagine elegant gowns and powdered wigs of times gone by floating past.

Our final stopping point is the Trier Ampitheatre, where gladiators and animals would compete for glory and survival under the gaze of 20,000 spectators. What it lacks in signage, it makes up for in atmosphere, particularly the underground cellars. The sloped embankments which have not been excavated make for a good place to soak up the end-of-day sun and if you're lucky the Gladiator training school which use the amphitheatre today will bring the arena to life before your eyes. 

With that, it's time to make our way back to the train station. Dinner is served at a restaurant of your choice in the city centre to break up the journey, with options to suit every budget, but if you're looking for inspiration you might try Kartoffel Kiste.

After leaving the Palastgarten we'll dive back into the Roman History of Trier with a visit to our next UNESCO site, the Roman Baths. Dating back to the 4th Century it is currently believed that the Kaiserthermen was never completed, but it has stood the test of time and is open for exploration.

Café Zeitsprung within the grounds of the gardens is a great place to stop and take refreshment whilst enjoying the peace and tranquility of the gardens. 

We've kept Sunday as a day of free exploration for you to re-visit any landmarks you missed or that we didn't cover in this guide before your flight home or onward journey. We hope you have enjoyed your whistle-stop trip and we hope we'll see you on another guide soon! 

One last commendation for a good breakfast to begin the day for those of you staying in the station district:

Don't miss the very unique lights at the crossing point with Fleischstraße for a fun free extra!

Weekend away: Luxembourg and Trier

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