Our travel bucket list is filled with destinations far away and because of that, we sometimes neglect to give some destinations closer to home the attention they deserve. Therefore, we were happy to learn that my parents were organizing a multigenerational trip to nearby Luxemburg. Just a 3-hour drive from home yet unchartered territory for our Clan. It’s a small country but don’t let that fool you because the offer of activities is endless. Here’s how we spent 48 hours in Luxemburg with kids.
Feeling royal in Luxemburg City
The inviting, medieval capital is a great place to spend an afternoon. You’ll find classy shops, great restaurants and cute little cafés in the heart of this multicultural city, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage.
The Grand Ducal palace is located right in the middle of the action. Visits are only possible in July and August but the girls were happy enough to see the guards marching their way along the palace’s stunning facade. And then, just as I was filming them, my mom saw the Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg arrive. That was quite the treat, especially since we had only been there for five minutes or so. Life is full of surprises, even during a trip to Luxemburg with kids.
Greeting the locals in Parc Merveilleux
I’m usually the planner for our family trips but when my mom’s around she takes over. You could say that she’s my travel planning mentor. Anyway, she had read some good reviews about the Parc Merveilleux, literally meaning ‘Marvellous Park’, consisting of a zoo, an enchanted forest and a small amusement park for young kids. It’s no place to bring a teenager here but for small children this place is indeed marvellous. Just look at the smiles on our girls’ faces!
Cruising the Moselle
A must when you’re in Luxemburg is the ever-boring cruise over the Moselle, along the border between Luxemburg and Germany. We kind of knew what to expect but went ahead with it anyway, boarding in Remich. And, well, the concept hasn’t changed – at all – over the past decades but then again, it’s a classic experience. At least the girls even had fun aboard… for half an hour. We didn’t take the longer cruise to Schengen though. Walking along the Moselle and bringing along a scooter or rollerblades for the kids would the better alternative. Remich offers a fine promenade to do so.
Walking into history in Echternach
Echternach is the country’s oldest city, located only about 30 kilometres for 18 miles from Luxemburg City and surrounded by natural beauty. The town was actually built around the abbey, which dates from around the year 700. The center oozes charm and offers a surprising number of restaurants and little bars. It’s the ideal place to relax after a day of exploring nature.
Exploring the Mullerthal’s stunning nature
The Echternach Lake is located at the entrance of the town. It’s an artificial lake of 30 hectares (about 75 acres) and has several leisure and sporting facilities on offer as well as several play areas for kids. We rented these pedal boats to enjoy some time on the water and the girls blew off some steam on the trampolines.
Echternach is actually the capital of the Mullerthal, aka Luxemburg’s Little Switzerland. This typical landscape is a result of the soil erosion and a unique rock composition. More experienced hikers have different trails to choose from. Luckily, also this (far) less experienced crowd had some options to choose from.
The Schiessentümpel waterfall is the star of the Mullerthal and with reason. It’s only a small waterfall but its setting is truly idyllic and enchanting. And it’s not too far from the parking lot so that even the smallest legs can walk the trail leading to it.
The best part of these 48 hours in Luxemburg
It was refreshing for our Clan to explore a destination so close to home. Luxemburg is the perfect choice to spend a weekend thanks to the wide variety of activities, all within close reach. The fact that it was a multigenerational trip added to the fun.
We intensely enjoy these precious family moments. So, thanks mom & dad! When can we start packing for our next family weekend?
Where to stay in Luxemburg with kids
Our family stayed at the stunning Hotel Ecluse, an stylish eco-style accommodation in a lush green setting on the riverwalk of the Moselle. This was the view from our room. A separate photo review will follow in on the Family Hotel Picks page so stay tuned!
Have you been to Luxemburg and more activities to recommend? Be our guest in the comments!
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