Routes · Europe

Shanghai to Luxembourg: Luxembourg City, Vianden and the Müllerthal

Shanghai → Luxembourg City → Vianden → Müllerthal

Fortress capital, castles & sandstone gorges Best season (general guide): May–Sep

Luxembourg is one of Europe's smallest countries, but it has a dramatic capital, hilltop castles and forest trails. This route spends seven nights between Luxembourg City, Vianden and the Müllerthal. From Shanghai you'll connect through Frankfurt, Paris or Amsterdam.

How to pace it: Spend days one to three in Luxembourg City: day one, the old quarter; day two, Bock casemates and the Grund; day three, Moselle wine villages. Then spend days four and five in Vianden: day four, travel to Vianden, then the castle; day five, river walk and chairlift. Then spend days six and seven in Müllerthal: day six, into the Müllerthal; day seven, hike a loop of the Mullerthal Trail.

Luxembourg City is built on cliffs above two river valleys. UNESCO lists its old quarters and fortifications, once among the strongest in Europe. The Bock casemates, tunnels cut into the rock, can be visited.

Below the cliffs, the Grund is a riverside district of old houses, bridges and bars, reached by lifts and stairs from the upper town.

Public transport in Luxembourg is free for everyone, which makes travelling by train and bus easy.

Vianden, in the north, is a small town beneath a large, restored castle on a hill. A chairlift climbs above the valley for views over the castle and the river.

The Müllerthal region, sometimes called Luxembourg's Little Switzerland, has sandstone rocks, narrow gorges and mossy forest. The Mullerthal Trail links several loops through this landscape.

May to September is the warmest season and best for walking.

Luxembourg City's upper and lower towns are linked by a public lift and a funicular, which save a steep climb at the end of the day. Locals switch easily between Luxembourgish, French and German, and many also speak English. In Vianden, walk up to the castle in the morning and take the chairlift in the afternoon light. Keep one day free in the Müllerthal for a long loop, and bring a picnic, since cafés along the trail are few.

Good to know: Buses connect the villages, but check times on weekends. Bring good shoes for the gorges, which can be slippery after rain. The Moselle valley, south-east of the capital, is lined with vineyards and is easy to add as a day trip.

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