Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about what NOT to do when you visit Luxembourg. While many travel blogs will tell you what to do in Luxembourg, we want to be sure you know about the things you should NOT do when you visit Luxembourg.
Don’t Worry About Getting to Luxembourg
It’s easy to get to Luxembourg. The TGV takes about two hours from Paris to Luxembourg, so you can even visit on a day trip. We took the train from Brussels to Luxembourg, which is about two and a half hours. There are plenty of trains coming to Luxembourg from France, Belgium, and Germany. You can also fly to the airport in Luxembourg from several European cities.
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Don’t Expect to Run into a Lot of Native Luxembourgers
While there are 600,000 people who live in Luxembourg, only about half of them are native to Luxembourg. It’s a very “international” country with a mix of people from all over. A typical Luxembourg family is a blended family of multiple cultures and you’ll see that reflected in the restaurants as well with the cuisine. As you walk around Luxembourg, you’ll hear French, German, and English all used quite often.
Don’t Miss the Up and the Down Parts of the City
In Luxembourg city, there is the down part of the city and the up part. Make sure you see both. The lower part is called Grund, with winding narrow alleys and historic buildings. It feels like a small village within the capital city. In the upper town or Oberstadt, you’ll find some of the best cathedrals in Luxembourg. But don’t worry, there are elevators you can take to get up and down, so don’t let the hill scare you!
Don’t Forget to Bring Good Walking Shoes
The city is very compact, but you’ll want to have a good pair of walking shoes as you will be doing a lot of walking. Expect a lot of up and down as you walk around Luxembourg, too, so make sure you have comfortable shoes!
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Don’t Expect to Shop in the Evenings or on Sunday
If you want to do any shopping in Luxembourg, make sure you do it during the day as the shops close early. Most stores are also closed on Sundays, so make sure you plan ahead for this. Likewise, you won’t see many people out and about in the evenings. Many of them commute out of the city, so it gets pretty quiet at night.
Don’t Expect Friendly Service
Whether you are dining out or shopping, don’t expect the best service in Luxembourg. Sometimes, you will feel like they are doing you a favor by letting you shop in their stores. A few times our kids even asked if we did something to make the shopkeeper mad. Even the French think the service can be rude, so just be prepared for that and don’t take it personally!
Don’t Rely on Ridesharing Apps
Uber and Lyft are not prevalent in Luxembourg, but taxis are. You can even download an app for the local taxi service. It’s a bit pricier than what you might expect, but it is an easy way to get around and they are pretty reliable and available all of the time. You might want to purchase a Luxembourg card, which gives you access to public transportation. There are buses that go all over, so this is another way you can get around Luxembourg.
Don’t Plan More Than a Weekend in Luxembourg
Since Luxembourg is a pretty small country, you can easily see the highlights on a weekend visit. In Luxembourg city, you’ll mostly wander the streets and check out a few museums. The Museum of Modern Art and the Natural History Museum are both worth visiting. That said…
Don’t Think Luxembourg is Too Small
Many people skip Luxembourg altogether because they think it’s too small. There are plenty of things to do in Luxembourg for a weekend. There are a ton of castles you can visit. Luxembourg is kind of a crossroads between France, Germany, and Belgium. The Vianden Castle is probably the easiest to reach from Luxembourg City. In the north, you have the hilly region of Luxembourg.
Don’t Expect a Cheap Vacation
Luxembourg is one of the richest countries in the world, and the prices reflect that! Luxembourg accommodation, restaurants, and shopping are all expensive. That’s another reason to only visit for a quick weekend before moving on to a more affordable location. There are people who live in France, Germany, and Belgium and commute to Luxembourg because the cost of living is so high.
Don’t Worry About WiFi
They actually have free WiFi throughout the city, so staying connected during your Luxembourg trip won’t be an issue.
Don’t Bother Searching for Traditional Cuisine
You probably want to try Luxembourg food while you’re here, but there isn’t much to try, and it can be hard to find. Since Luxembourg is such a melting pot, the cuisine is really borrowed from the surrounding countries. We also saw a lot of Italian, Greek, and Portuguese food. The food is actually great, but it’s not unique to Luxembourg.
Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!
Don’t let these “don’ts” keep you from planning a trip to Luxembourg. Although it’s small and expensive, there are a lot of things to do in Luxembourg; you can easily see the highlights on a weekend trip and then continue your travels throughout Europe. Want more of our Central Europe travel tips? Check out some of our other blog posts: