Luxembourg Travel Guide: London City to Luxembourg Flights

This small, characterful capital is big enough to be full of surprises.

The world’s only Grand Duchy, landlocked Luxembourg covers just a small area of hilly landscape in northwest Europe but you’ll find so much to entertain you. This global business hub is filled with world-class museums, great dining destinations and dreamy mountain landscapes for walking and biking.  

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Flying to Luxembourg from London City

Flying direct to Luxembourg Airport (LUX) from London City Airport (LCY) takes just over one hour.

Enjoy dramatic views of the Alzette and Pétrusse river gorges as your flight comes down to land at the airport, which sits just east of the city’s financial and historic centres. And keep an eye out for the striking glass and steel architecture that represents modern Luxembourg, home of several European institutions. 

Buses and taxis give easy access to the capital’s key areas and can take you around the city, though it’s very rewarding to explore the old-world atmosphere on foot. If you pick up a Luxembourg card, you can get free or discounted admission to 80+ places of interest.

There can be several direct flights between London City Airport (LCY) and Luxembourg Airport (LUX) via Luxair each week, so whatever your travel plans, here's what you need to know about getting there. 

Key Stats

Language

French, German, Luxembourgish

Time Difference

1 hr ahead of GMT

Currency

Euro

Luxembourg Travel Guide

Luxembourg is a stylish combo of old-world charm and modern glam. There are plenty of luxury bars and fine dining on offer so if you fancy a spot of Michelin decadence, you’ll find it here. Browse our Luxembourg travel guide for essential sights to see, the city’s vibrant night life, its food and drink scene, and special events worth checking out. It’s not all urban though – head to those beautiful hills to find winding rivers fed by glaciers and rippling green forests to walk and bike through. Rent a car and you’ll be breathing crisp country air in less than an hour.

Essential Sights

Kirchberg

A tram and funicular railway run through this glimmering district on a plateau above the Old Town, where a free panoramic glass lift can carry you up the steep ascent. If you’re coming for work, you’ll likely visit this modern financial area, home of European institutions including the Court of Justice, Court of Auditors and the Investment Bank. Kirchberg’s sleek skyscrapers and office blocks do host numerous banks and businesses, but also look out for the national concert hall and the city’s leading modern art gallery, MUDAM. 

Old Town

There are plenty of culturally rich places to see in Luxembourg City’s scenic Old Town, which is brimming with landmarks, monuments and museums. Strolling around the centre, which is wedged between two meandering rivers, shows you Luxembourg’s famous Museum of National History, the 17th-century Cathedral of Notre Dame and the vast Bock Casemates tunnels running through the cliffs. If you need a map, find the tourist office on Place Guillaume II, next to the elegant Hôtel de Ville. 

Grund

By day, visit this diverse area for its historic abbeys, cobbled streets and villagey vibe. By night the fun amps up as the many bars and restaurants bring its medieval streets to jumping life. Find entertainment at the Abbaye de Neumünster, a popular events venue, or just hang out in one of the stylish pubs lining the streets.

Bock Casemates

Head right into the heart of Luxembourg City by following this warren of 17th and 18th century tunnels that burrow into the cliffs. These atmospheric fortifications have a rich history which involves being used for various functions, including serving as bomb shelters during World War II. 

Chemin de la Corniche 

Luxembourg’s most famous walkway is one of the loveliest ways to see the centre. It acts as a balcony to the city, leading from the Casemates around the Alzette valley and offering views into the dramatic gorge below.

MUDAM 

Kirchberg’s modern art gallery is a marvel, designed by 20th-century genius I.M. Pei (the man behind the Louvre pyramid). Its light, spacious interiors display the work of contemporary masters including Cy Twombly and Daniel Buren, as well as a calendar of temporary exhibitions throughout the year.

The Ducal Palace 

Visit Luxembourg’s grand Ducal Palace in summer and you’ll be able to peek inside the residence of Luxembourg’s royalty. It’s still worth a visit when they’re at home, just to see the elegant outside façade of this city-centre palace.

Notre Dame Cathedral

The thin, climbing spires of Luxembourg’s stunning main cathedral share the same fairy-tale aesthetic as many of the country's landmarks. Built in the 17th century, Notre Dame holds an impressive array of stained glass, sculpture and artworks inside its vaulted nave. 

Nightlife

Luxembourg City is the hub of this small country’s cosmopolitan nightlife scene, packed with a varied selection of stylish bars, cafes and clubs where you can pass your evening. Historic Grund is lined with characterful pubs filled with young professionals relaxing after work, while nearby former factory district Clausen becomes one of the city’s liveliest spots on weekends.

You’ll find more attractively designed night spots than characterless warehouses. Instead, expect small intimate venues with flair, excellent menus and plenty of choice. There’s a variety of live music venues and, if you aren’t a dancer, plenty of clubs with relaxed lounge areas. 

One top benefit of a night out in Luxembourg is the regular City Night Bus service that lets you party without having to worry about parking. So it’s nice and easy to go straight from, say, a concert in the Philharmonie Luxembourg hall to a club serving local craft beers. 

Food & Drink

Generous portions and wholesome local ingredients served in season make sure you never go hungry in Luxembourg!

Traditional dishes 

Freshwater fish is a common sight on local menus, brought straight from Luxembourg’s numerous rivers and freshly prepared every day. If you’re not a fish fan, try popular national dish judd mat gaardebounen, a filling meal of smoked pork collar with broad beans. Other traditional bistro favourites include warm potato pancakes called gromperekichelcher and the irresistible cream or cheese-topped pizza-style flammkuche

Modern Luxembourg 

The Grand Duchy may hold tightly to tradition but this diverse modern capital has fully embraced 21st-century dining. There’s so much choice, from cosy bistro culture to high-end restaurants garlanded with more than a scattering of Michelin stars.

Moselle vineyards 

Outside the city centre lies the fertile soil of the Moselle Valley, ideal for grape growing. Luxembourg’s a small country but it boasts vineyards producing world-reputed wines with famous grape varieties from Riesling to Chardonnay. Explore the wineries along the edges of the Moselle river to sample local vintages, making sure to try some delicious sparkling Crémant. 

Events

Luxembourg Museum Days May

Museums and galleries across the country open their doors to share the country’s cultural heritage, with programmes for the whole family featuring tours, talks and workshops. Visit in October and you can enjoy its after-dark equivalent, the Nuit des Musées, when museums open late to entertain visitors with music, dance and live performance.

Fête de la Musique June

In summer, the city comes to life with the sound of live music. This festival treats you to a huge range of music genres performed by international musicians, both amateur and professional, at open-air venues.

National Day 23rd June

This celebration of the Grand Duke’s birthday sees festivities take place all over Luxembourg. In the capital they kick off the night before with a torchlit procession, open air-party and fireworks, then an official ceremony and military parade follow on the day itself.

Blues ’n’ Jazz Rallye July

Every year this wildly popular festival brings the best of jazz and blues to venues across the Clausen, Grund and Pfaffenthal neighbourhoods for a few days, filling the streets with sound from late afternoon until the wee small hours. Luxembourg’s status as a UNESCO World Heritage site backdrops your listening with some truly stunning settings.

Christmas markets  December

Winter is a great time to visit, as Luxembourg lights up with Christmas markets that bring a typical mix of picturesque stalls selling sweet treats, handicrafts and mulled wine by the gallon. 

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