An amazing 4-day roadtrip through Luxembourg

Luxembourg, the smallest country in Europe after Malta, is often quickly crossed on car holidays to France, Switzerland and Italy. Many Dutch people have no idea what there is to see and do in Luxembourg. I also didn't really have a good idea of ​​the destination. A shame, as I discovered. Because in less than a four-hour drive from our hometown Oostvoorne we find ourselves in a completely different world: a hilly landscape full of castles, valleys, vineyards and French-looking towns and villages.

A roadtrip through Luxembourg is the perfect way to explore its diverse landscapes, from rolling vineyards to medieval castles. In just four days, you'll experience everything this small but spectacular country has to offer.

Welcome to Luxembourg!

Luxembourg, with a surface area of ​​2,587 km2, is slightly larger than the province of Drenthe, which makes it an ideal road trip destination.

Everything is close together, but the landscapes and highlights are still very diverse. Travel with us along the most beautiful stops in the Luxembourg Ardennes, the countryside of the Guttland region, the valley of seven castles, the capital Luxembourg City, the vineyards along the Moselle River and the amazing Mullerthal.

Stop 1: The Luxembourg Ardennes

We enter the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg via the picturesque highlands and winding valleys of the Luxembourg Ardennes. We meander through coniferous and deciduous forests over hills and through characteristic villages. Our first stop is the Belvédère panorama platform, which we reach after a short walk and where I look out over the photogenic Obersauer reservoir from a height of 70 meters, surrounded by forests and beaches. Although we have not yet been on the road for four hours, I immediately feel very far from the Netherlands here.

What a wonderful start to our road trip through Luxembourg!

Just fifteen minutes further, in a bend along the Sauer River and hidden between the mountains, lies Esch-sur-Sûre: one of the most beautiful villages in the country. We park the car along the water and walk through the lovely streets and over centuries-old bridges. Densely overgrown rocks rise vertically from the Sauer and high on the rocks behind Esch-sur-Sûre lie castle ruins from the year 927. A beautiful place to stop for lunch or a walk.

Stop 2: Cycling and castles in the Guttland region

After our stop in Esch-sur-Sûre we continue to Guttland, a rural region just outside Luxembourg City. We pass cute villages, old farms and vast agricultural landscapes. We park our car at Green & Breakfast, a special bed & breakfast with 6 rooms, each with its own theme, in the rural village of Niederpallen. This is where we will sleep tonight. From the B&B we leave, together with guide Fränk Barthelmes, for a bike ride on a former railway route through the area. We cycle past meadows, through forests and even through an old railway tunnel. Once back at the B&B we can relax in the hot tub on the roof terrace, after which we sit down for a luxurious four-course dinner in the cozy dining room. Everything is freshly prepared by the passionate host, with products from the area.

The next day we leave for Luxembourg City, via the so-called Valley of the Seven Castles in Guttland. The name speaks for itself: seven centuries-old castles are spread out in a green, undulating landscape, on a route of 25 kilometers. We walk around the high Schoenfels Castle, admire the landscape around the romantic and high-lying Hollenfels and wander through the gardens of Ansembourg Castle, before we continue to the capital.

Stop 3: A day in Luxembourg City

Half an hour later we park the car in the centre of Luxembourg City. I didn’t really have an image of the city full of nature and ancient remains, which made it all the more surprising. The city consists of different levels, because it is built against the Bock promontory. Via the 150-metre long Adolfs Bridge, an arch bridge from the early 1900s, we walk back and forth between the Oberstadt and Gare districts at a height of 42 metres. I look down on the Pétrusse river and the wooded city park that runs along it. Luxembourg City is a wonderful city to stroll endlessly through pleasant cobbled streets full of restaurants and cafés, past the fortress – which was founded in 963 – and medieval houses in the old town, which has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1994. We stay one night, but Luxembourg City is a destination in itself where you could easily fill three days!

Also read our blog about awesome outdoors adventures in Luxembourg

Stop 4: Wine route along the Moselle

The next day we drive from Luxembourg City towards the region of the Moselle, where we start with a beautiful wine route along the river of the same name, which forms a natural border with Germany. We start in the picturesque wine village and three-country point Schengen, the southernmost town in Luxembourg on the river. This is where Luxembourg, France and Germany meet.

From there we continue to the Biodiversum nature conservation centre, an architectural gem in the Haff Réimech nature reserve, located at the foot of the vineyards. We walk one of the three hiking trails around the nature centre and enjoy the peace and nature. Via steep roads that wind through the vineyards, we continue to the Wormeldange Koeppchen, a lookout point with a small chapel from 1925. I sit down on one of the loungers and look down on the vast Luxembourg vineyards to Germany, on the other side of the river. An idyllic spot!

Stop 5: Hiking in the Mullerthal 

From the Moselle region we continue to the green Mullerthal region. We can follow the river to medieval Echternach, the oldest village in Luxembourg, or drive inland. Due to the high water level we unfortunately have to skip Echternach, but the inland also has a few nice surprises in store, such as Larochette Castle. This 11th century castle, located on a rock, towers high above the village of the same name. Another gem on the route are the Beaufort Castles: an impressive ruin of a 12th century medieval castle and a Renaissance castle from the 17th century. The last stop today is the Schiessentümpel: a picturesque waterfall in the Black Ernz, with a photogenic sandstone bridge from 1879. The tour ends today in Berdorf, where we spend the night. Satisfied, we plop down on one of the nice outdoor terraces for a well-deserved burger and a beer.

The next morning we leave early to walk a part of the famous Mullerthal Trail , a 112-kilometre route that is known as one of the most beautiful in Europe. The route has three loops, each with its own character. We walk a part of route 2, which leads through a mossy forest and along spectacular rock formations. A fairytale setting full of bridges, streams and hollowed-out rocks. The highlight is the narrow rock gorges through which you can make your way. The Mullerthal is a beautiful place, where you could go on an adventure for days.

Ready to hit the road? Pack your bags and discover why Luxembourg is the ultimate roadtrip destination! Get inspired on the Visit Luxembourg website >