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Europe is full of surprises, but one country in particular couldn’t have been more shocking – in a good way.
Picturesque streets, vibrant foliage, friendly locals, and one region that goes entirely unnoticed left quite an impression.
Coming from Paris, this might be a controversial statement given its iconic status, but I enjoyed Europe’s most underrated country way more.
While we can’t erase memories, try to forget what you think you know about this landlocked mystery sandwiched between France and Germany.
It’s expensive reputation can be a turn-off form the get-go, but as a “budget traveler’ myself, I’m not sure where that stems from except for hotels.
Despite having free transit across the country, your bottom line won’t notice a difference.
Whether you’re planning a last-minute fall escape or ready to jet off to Europe for a winter wonderland experience, don’t skip out on the magic of Luxembourg’s medieval charm and secret riverside wineries!
Go Here, There & Everywhere! Free Public Transit (No Questions Asked)
As one of Europe’s smallest nations, Luxembourg doesn’t have to be your main destination, but it easily could be.
I saw a lot during the full weekend, which seems to be about the right amount of time to cover the main sites and unexpected delights.
Luxembourg’s public transportation system was almost flawless, with only one hiccup around the secret wineries I’ll soon reveal.
99% of the trip was easily navigable visiting Luxembourg City end to end, then venturing off to the scenic Moselle.
Just know when you visit, whether you’re on a couple’s trip, sightseeing with friends, or flying solo, the mobiliteit.lu app will be your best friend (apologies to my girlfriend).
You can type in literally any destination, address, or landmark to see step-by-step directions on which bus/tram/train to hop aboard.
All of these are totally free, even from the airport, which was a great surprise considering how many places across the world tack on annoying fees just for using airport grounds.
Just hop on as you would anywhere – no passes, ID, or anything required. Super simple; no questions asked.
Travel Tip: On weekends, don’t fret about the public transit system shutting down at midnight. There’s a City Night Bus to use on Friday and Saturday nights (also free!)
Medieval Charm: Luxembourg City Is One Of Europe’s Prettiest Places
If you’re coming to Luxembourg, the city is a must-see. Not to say there aren’t hidden gems beyond the city limits, but this wondrous maze of cobbled streets and sandstone buildings captures you on main roads and winding nooks and crannies.
The city is immaculately clean except for a handful of beggars hanging around the towering Cathédrale Notre-Dame, also a must.
While it doesn’t quite match up to, say, Paris, one of the best ways to enjoy Luxembourg is with a surprisingly cheap cup of coffee or local beer at one of many sidewalk patios.
Keep in mind Luxembourg draws strong influence from its neighbors, so beer, coffee, bratwursts, and bakery goodies are impeccable and didn’t break the bank like the city’s notoriously pricey reputation.
Right now, the vibrant foliage only adds to the city’s year-round beauty, which will soon turn white as one of Europe’s real-life snow globes.
The architecture throughout town is captivating, but perhaps nowhere is more eye-catching than Vianden’s fairytale castle just an hour or so away.
Travel Tip: Check out Scott’s Pub for one of the friendliest bars in town, perched riverside for incredible views too.
Visit Luxembourg’s Secret Riverside Wineries (Some Are Inside Caves!)
Again, why does Luxembourg hold an expensive reputation?
It’s two things:
Hotels can be outrageous. And people spend way too much on food. That’s it.
Lucky for me, I scored a last-mute deal at the DoubleTree (where I was treated like royalty by the way), but the real magic was when I scoured Luxembourg’s map for hidden gems, stumbling upon a region that’s overlooked along the tranquil Moselle River shared by Germany.
Freckled with wineries up and down the Luxembourg-Germany border are a wide selection of wineries to enjoy – and some are truly unique.
The most popular of the area is Caves St. Martin, featuring a gallery of wines inside a cave (bring a jacket!)
Circling back to Luxembourg’s prices, tastings here only cost about $15. As such, advanced reservations are recommended as space fills up.
While this winery was really cool, my favorite was Cep d’Or (open through December 1st), an unsuspecting place seemingly all by itself overlooking the scenic Moselle and German countryside.
Travel tip: Make sure to fully read your transit route on mobiliteit.lu. There is ongoing construction in the area, so you may need to book an Uber/taxi for part of the journey.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.