Summer in Europe continues as we make our way to Luxembourg. This country may be small, but man is it beautiful. We spent our first day exploring the main square and walking streets of Ville Haute, taking in the views near Barrio Grund, and drinking a lot of coffee along the way.
We’re really zipping along through cities lately, so I don’t want to jabber on too much. So instead, I’ll leave with you some facts.
Fun Facts about Luxembourg:
- It is one of the three Capitals of the European Union.
- Its head of state is a Grand Duke or Grand Duchess, making it the only grand duchy in existence today.
- It is the 8th smallest sovereign state in Europe.
First Impressions on Luxembourg
- Munich meets Paris meets Bratislava. The charming, winding streets, the imposing churches, the sweeping countryside are all things I’ve come to expect from Europe. So it’s not surprising that it reminds us of other quintessentially European cities. Barrio Grund is a part of town located at the bottom of the Casemates du Bock, and it feels a lot like Bratislava’s Old Town. But the beautiful architecture and high-end shopping takes us to the streets of Paris, all with the small city vibe of Munich. We like it!
- It’s hilly. Why does no one warn you about how hilly some cities are? I need an elevation map overlay on Google Maps. I didn’t realize that the streets cut so sharply back and forth because they were going up a mountain. Add to it the 90°F sunny day and we were really getting a workout in.
- It’s just really pretty. We have only been here for 24 hours and only have one more full day here. I can’t fully assess it as a destination because we’re not taking some of the day trips that really make Luxembourg stand out, but I just like it here. Because it’s so small, it’s a great place to relax and makes for perfect stop for a Summer in Europe.
What you need to know — Luxembourg City:
- Population: 111,000
- Altitude: 232 meters
- Temperature: July average highs are in the 70s, lows in the 50s (It was much hotter when we were in town!)
- Exchange Rate: 0.86 Euro to $1 USD
- Primary Language: French, German, Luxembourgish
- Walking Tour: Yes, but we did not take it.
- Time Zone: Central European Summer Time, UTC +2 (7 hours ahead of US Central Time)
- Taxi: Yes
- Uber: Yes
- Public Transit: Trains and buses
- Emergency Number: 112
- Running: We thought about running, but it’s so hilly, guys!
- American Football: No longer in season.
- Starbucks: Yes, but not in central Luxembourg City
- Local Starbucks Specialty: TBD
- McDonald’s Veggie Burger: Yes!
- Coffee Price: About 5 Euro for a large latte/flat white (~$5.85 USD) for a latte or flat white
- Beer Price: TBD
