If you live or are travelling through Luxembourg and want to explore more of Europe by train, you are in an ideal location.
There are so many destinations you can reach from Luxembourg by rail without the a sky-high carbon footprint of a flight. You can reach all of them by train in under 6 hours, equivalent to the time it would take you to travel somehwere by plane for a short break.
Swap the time you would spend travelling to the airport, flying out, landing, and exiting the airport at your destination, for a simple train trip. You’ll be spending that time admiring the French countryside, the Swiss lakes, the Austrian Alps, or some stunning Belgian and Dutch gems from the comfort of your seat!
20 European weekend train trips starting in Luxembourg
Ready to plan a train getaway somewhere in Europe? Research your options. The Trainline and CFL are great places to start, and make sure to browse the websites of the national rail operators of Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and France as well, if you need more flexibility in designing your break, or want to benefit from some special offers.
To get you started, here are 20 destinations you can easily reach from Frankfurt by train, even for a long weekend:
- Paris
- Brussels
- Amsterdam
- Lyon
- Reims. Troyes, and the Champagne region
- Zurich
- Versailles
- Strasbourg and Alsace
- Bordeaux
- Chartres
- Dijon & Burgundy
- Munich
- Bern & the Bernese Oberland
- Rouen and Normandy
- The Loire Valley
- The Hague
- Saint Malo and Brittany
- Wurzburg and Bamberg
- Schaffhausen
- London
1. Paris
Getting to Paris from Luxembourg by train is super-easy. The journey is direct, and you can get into Paris Gare de l’Est in 2 hours and 10 minutes.
It is the perfect short break. There is no time difference so you can maximise your time. Explore a world-famous museum, stroll along the Seine from the Eiffel Tower to the Latin Quarter (one of my favourite activities in Paris), hop into stunning churches and elegant palaces.
If you are not visiting large museums, even an overnight stay can get you a pretty good feel for the centre. It is very easy to explore Paris on foot, using the Seine as your beacon. You can still fit in one or two famous attractions, or explore smaller museums not so crowded but equally fascinating. And of course, if you have time to stay longer, you can explore in depth. To maximise your time in Paris, you can book tickets to the top attractions online at Paris Je t’aime.
2. Brussels
Three hours and 17 minutes on a train is all it takes to get from the heart of Luxembourg city to the heart of Brussels,
Once you are there, think a stroll in the stunning eclectic mix of gothic and Renaissance/Baroque styles of the UNESCO-listed Grand Place, a climb up the twentieth century Atomium, a visit to one of the city’s museums, an immersion into its comic book culture, while enjoying delicious beer stew or waffles, and of course some chocolate, and understand the reasons why Brussels is considered one of the gourmet capitals of Europe.
3. Amsterdam
Amsterdam’s cultural and night scenes are one of the best in Europe. I love going in winter when it is quieter. The canals become very peaceful, and you can wander around the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh Museum without the crowds.
The journey from Luxembourg is Just under 6 hours.
4. Lyon
You can travel from Luxembourg to Lyon with a change of train station. Once in Paris, you can head straight from Gare de l’Est to Gare de Lyon (a quick metro journey) or break the trip with a lunch or mini-stopover in the beautiful French capital. The trip from Luxembourg to Paris is 2 hours and 10 minutes, and the journey from Paris to Lyon is just under 2 hours. Consider another hour for changing stations, to be on the safe side.
Lyon is a stunning city which deserves to be better known. Check out my post on a long weekend in Lyon for ideas on what to do.
5. Reims, Troyes and Champagne region
You’ll be surprised by how easy it is to get to the Champagne region from Luxembourg. You actually have two route options!
Option number 1 is via Paris. You change train but do not need to change station, as the line leaves from Gare de l’Est too. Otherwise, you can change in Metz.
Either way, the whole journey from Luxembourg to Reims takes under 4 hours. Troyes takes slightly longer – about 4 and a half hours.
Check out this post to plan your visit to Reims and this one for Troyes.
6. Zurich
There are two good train routes between luxembourg and Zurich; one is via Strasbourg and the Other via Mulhouse. Either way, the journey will between 4 and 5 hours,
It won’t take you long to realise that Zurich is far more than a financial centre and the largest Swiss city. Wander through the narrow streets of the Old Town (Altstadt), take a stroll along the peaceful shores of Lake Zürich, visit the Kunsthaus, one of Switzerland’s most important contemporary art collections, or the FIFA Football Museum. If the weather’s nice you can go hiking on the Uetliberg, Zurich’s mountain, and reconnect with nature. It is a city for all seasons too. There is a lovely Christmas market, foliage in autumn, and glittering waters all around you.
If you are looking for culture, relaxation, and a proper break from the hustle and bustle of Frankfurt, Zürich has it all.
7. Versailles
This is a trip I did with a toddler. It is super easy and a weekend gives you the time to truly appreciate Versailles without rushing through the sights. You get off your Luxembourg-Paris high-speed train at at Gare de l’Est, walk 30 minutes to stretch your legs or get on the metro line 7 for 4 stops, until Gare Saint Lazare, from where you can catch a local suburban train (RER), which will deliver you to the court of the Sun King in just under one hour. So you are looking at a total travel time of around 4 hours including the change of station.
Versailles is a magnificent city. The centre was designed by the same architect that designed the royal palace, and is filled with quirky antique shops, lovely restaurants, and if you go at weekends you can sample the treats of a mouth-watering farmers’ market.
The formal gardens are free at sunset in the summer months, so you can go and watch the sun go down and drop into the magnificent fountain at the bottom of the formal gardens. Staying for the week end also means you can visit the palace one day and the gardens and the Trianon the next, without rushing. And there are other beautiful buildings and museums in the city centre which I did not have time to visit.
It is also worth mentioning that beyond the formal gardens, there is a vast park where you can sit down for a picnic by the lake or go for a hike in the woods to round off your sightseeing!
8. Strasbourg & the heart of Alsace
You can get from Luxembourg to the medieval wonders of Strasbourg in 2 and a half – change in beautiful Metz. From Strasbourg, SNCF trains take you to Colmar, the most famous of the Alsatian postcard-perfect villages, in under 30 minutes.
Both Strasbourg and Colmar host renowned Christmas markets.
Colmar is surrounded by other equally interesting villages such as Eguisheim. (16 minutes by bus).
If you love medieval history, you will be in heaven. Strasbourg is home to one of the most celebrated gothic cathedrals, A 37-minute train ride (or 11-minute from Colmar) takes you to Sélestat. From there, in 30 minutes, buses take you to the 900-year-old Haut-Koenigsbourg castle, perched on top of a mountain overlooking the Rhine valley.
9. Bordeaux
There are various good connections a day between Luxembourg and the stunning French city of Bordeaux. You will need to change station in Paris (going from Gare de l’Est to Gare Montparnasse) but the total journey time including the station change is in the region of 5 hours and 30 minutes.
Bordeaux’s city centre is delightful. The medieval alleyways of Saint Pierre, the Garonne waterfront, the city parks, the gothic cathedral, and the perfect beauty of the classic Bordeaux 17th century buildings and squares, such as the symmetry Place de la Bourse.
Despite this glorious past Bordeaux is a city with vibrant contemporary sights and architecture too. The riverside Chartrons quarter, the iconic Miroir d’Eau and the futuristic shape of La Cité du Vin are fascinating examples of Bordeaux’s daring and innovative spirit.
Be it the wine or the delightful local food, every eating and drinking establishment exhudes joie de vivre.
You can read more about this incredible city here.
10.Chartres
The stunning Romanesque cathedral of Chartres, famed for its glass windows is surrounded by a stunning ancient village.
You can reach it from Luxembourg in under 4 hours, changing station in Paris, from Gare de l’Est to Montparnasse. The change gives you an excuse for a stroll or lunch in the Latin Quarter before boarding a train that takes you through lovely French countryside to the hillside city of Chartres.
11. Dijon & Burgundy
Fancy a gourmet weekend in Burgundy? Catch a direct train from Luxembourg to Dijon. You’ll be sampling Pinot Noir in just under 4 hours!
Burgundy is one of France’s most fascinating historical regions, a former duchy and before that an independent kingdom! And Dijon is its worthy capital. The distinctive polychrome roofs, toits bourguignons, add character to the architecture of a city brimming with building ranging from medieval Gothic to Art Deco.
Visit the Palais des Ducs, home of one of France’s great museums, the Musée de Beaux Arts. Admire the stunningly elegant Notre Dame de Dijon with its slender gothic columns, or step inside to admire Notre-Dame de Bon-Espoir (Our Lady of Good Hope), one of the most ancient French statues of the Virgin Mary. Visit the cathedral of Saint Bénigne, walk through the ancient streets to soak in the atmosphere, or if you are feeling more epicurean visit the Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin.
Surrounded by vineyards, Dijon is the starting point of the route des Grands Crus, where eight of the world’s top ten most expensive wines are produced.
Alternatively, change train in Dijon and head to the stunning city of Beaune, 18 minutes away. Dijon is postcard-perfect Burgundy and the ‘route des grand crus’ actually ends there. Wander through the half-timbered houses of the Old Town, admire the Hospices de Beaune (Hôtel-Dieu), and hike or cycle the Chemin des Grand Crus to visit wine cellars the active way.
If you have 3-4 days, make the most of SNCF and combine Dijon and Beaune!
12. Munich
The Munich city centre is very compact, and you could squeeze in a decent amount of sightseeing even in a day: Marienplatz, the Frauenkirche, the elegant Konigsplatz, with its green expanse surrounded by neo-classical buildings.
If it is relaxation you are after, you can lunch in a historic brewery, go for a stroll and a nap in the vast Englischer Garten, watch the surfers catch a wave on the Eisbach river, and then stock up for Bavarian delicacies and relax in the beer garden at the Viktualienmarkt.
You will definitely need more than a day if you plan to visit any of its grand buildings and museums.
I enjoyed the sprawling Residenz, the former royal palace gradually developed by the kings of Bavaria from the Renaissance to, and the nineteenth-century, and the delightful Nymphenburg, the king’s summer residence surrounded by a delightful formal garden.
There are 18 museums in the art district alone, and if you are into science and technology the Deutsches Museum is a must! And you do not need to be a car lover to enjoy the BMW Welt.
Last but not least, Munich’s Christmas markets are among Germany’s most Celebrated.
You can travel from Luxembourg to Munich in just over 6 hours. There are various options with 1 change (in Saarbrucken) or 2 changes (in Saarbrucken and Mannhein or Strasbourg and Mannheim for example).
13. Bern – and the Bernese Oberland
Bern, the capital of Switzerland, is a pearl where culture merges with nature at every step. Its size makes it an ideal short break destination, and it is under 5 hours from Luxembourg, Admittedly, you will need to make a couple of changes (Mulhouse and Basel) but the journey is so beautiful! Apart from the environmental damage, Flying there you would miss out on a spectacular journey through pristine Swiss countryside, peaks, and lakes.
Bern is the capital city you would not expect, lively and yet relaxed, cultured and adventurous. From admiring the views from the Rosengarten, to strolling through the medieval arcades, to swimming in the green waters of the Aare River like the locals love to do, from visiting Einstein’s house to bear spotting in the Bärengraben, your weekend will be full and refreshing at the same time. I have visited multiple times and never say no when the opportunity arises!
Bern prides itself on being one of the sustainability capitals of Europe too, and thanks to the Bern ticket, tourists travel free on public transport!
14. Rouen and Normandy
Normandy’s atmospheric capital Rouen is about 5 hours from Luxembourg. You will need to change of station in Paris – the Normandy line leaves from Saint Lazare.
There is plenty to do in Normandy’s historic capital, Explore the medieval city centre, all half-timbered houses and gothic churches (Saint-Ouen, Saint-Maclou, Notre Dame Cathedral) that earned it the nickname of ‘city of a hundred spires’, take the obligatory photo of the Astronomical clock, and exercise of relax by the beautiful Seine quay sides.
Are you into art? If the city museums leave you wanting for more, a local train can take you to Monet’s gardens at Giverny in under 40 minutes. Spring is the best time to visit.
15. The Loire valley
After Burgundy, here is another fairy tale destination easily reachable from Luxembourg for a long week end escape to the French Renaissance: the Loire Valley.
You’ll change change train and station in Paris. (From Gare de l’Est to Gare d’Austerlitz). Blois-Chambord, there are also limited departures from Gare Montparnasse. Either way, the journey from Luxembourg should take around 5 hours. Alongside Blois, another great option is Amboise. 20 minutes away.
Once you arrive, you can use local trains or rent a bicycle to explore the many castles.
The whole of the Loire Valley is UNESCO-heritage-listed, and deservedly so. From the water-straddling beauty of Chenonceau to the magnificence of imposing Chambord, to Leonardo da Vinci’s final retreat at Amboise, you’ll be steeped in history with a capital H.
16. The Hague
With two changes (in Brussels and Rotterdam), you can get to Den Haag (The Hague) from Luxembourg in 5 hours and 30 minutes.
The seat of the Dutch royal family and the Dutch parliament (the medieval Binnenhof), Den Haag is a city that deserves to be seen in the old-world way, and a train is a perfect introduction to its magic.
Den Haag boasts world class museums, buzzy eateries, trendy boutiques, and last but not least there are lovely Atlantic beaches only 15minutes away, so you can feed the body and the soul, combining a stroll on the beach or a swim with culture, food and great shopping.
I spent a weekend in The Hague last summer. Check out my post for ideas of what do to and see.
17. Saint Malo and Brittany
The journey from Saint Malo to the walled city and golden sands of Saint Malo is Around six hours. You will need to get into Gare de l’Est (2 hours and 10 minutes) and make your way to Gare Montparnasse. From there, you can get to Saint Malo in 2 hours and 20 minutes,
Once in Saint Malo, you can relax on the magnificent beaches and explore the city centre, maybe going for a hike along the sea promenade. You can also use Saint Malo as a base to explore the rest of Brittany – and beyond.
Local trains take you to the half-timbered centre of Rennes, the regional capital, and frequent buses to the abbey of Mont Saint Michel, in nearby Normandy. Mont Saint Michel is the most visited location in France after Paris, and if you go you will appreciate its magic and understand why.
18.Wurzburg and Bamberg
The university town of Würzburg, surrounded by beautiful vineyards, is one of Germany’s baroque jewels, thanks to the Residenz, the magnificent seat of the local prince-bishop, frescoed amongst others by Tiepolo.
Across the river Main from the Altstadt is the Marienberg, a medieval fortress perched on top a vine-covered hill. And the two are connected by a magnificent bridge, with amazing all-around views, and lovely wine bars where you can toast to the sunset with the delightful Franconian wines. The surrounding hills are perfect for hiking and cycling.
A quick change in Koblenz is all you need to get there from Luxembourg, in six hours.
From Würzburg you can also visit Bamberg, a delightful city with a Roman feel – it is built on hills, and its ancient buildings are in beautiful pale stone – and even canals! The city has a UNESCO-Heritage listed centre and one of Germany’s most beautiful medieval cathedrals.
19. Schaffhausen
Schaffhausen is the nearest city to the stunning Rhine Waterfalls at the aptly named Rheinfall, one of the natural wonders of Switzerland, and I would argue of the world. Yet it is a pearl in its own right, an enchanting unique blend of natural beauty, historical heritage, and cultural richness.
The Munot fortress, perched on a hill covered in vineyeards, dominates the medieval Altstadt, with its cobblestone streets and elegant squares surrounded by painted houses, And then, there is the Rhine.
Rheinfall is actually out of town but you can easily reach it on foot, walking along the river, savouring its unique beauty in anticipation of the natural wonder that awaits you – waterfalls with a small island in the middle, topped by yet another medieval castle.
Between a cruise around the waterfalls and visits to the delightful town, sampling some local wines and cheeses, this is a break I have done more than once and I truly treasure.
And it is between 5 and 6 hours from Luxembourg. Granted, You will need to change 2 or three times (in Mulhouse and Zurich, or Mulhouse, Basel, and Zurich), But in my experience Swiss trains are always on time and it is not a big deal. Plus, the route between Zurich and Schaffhausen is one of Switzerland’s most scenic.
Switzerland is famous for its panoramic rail tracks through its pristine landscapes, but it is hard to beat a train ride to Schaffhausen. The tracks overlook the waterfalls and the castle!
20.London
This journey takes longer than 6 hours, because you need to change station (Gare de l’Est to Gare du Nord) and the connections are not ideal. Although the journey time between Luxembourg and Paris is 2h20, and it takes another 2h30 to get from Paris to London, you’ll be travelling for 7 hours, possibly slightly longer. But a 2-hour gap in Paris means you can make something of your time in Paris. Would you say no to breakfast in Paris and lunch in London?
Besides, when you arrive in Saint Pancras you will be right in the centre of London, and walking distance to many of its attractions.
Thanks to its extensive metro system you can see a lot of London even in a couple of days. Allow more if you want to visit attractions further afield or the great museums and galleries such as the British Museum, the V&A, the National Gallery – all free, although donations are welcome – and the historical monuments such as the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey.
Check out VisitLondon to plan your visit.
From Luxembourg to Europe
The suggestions above are just the beginning. Luxembourg’s geographical position, in the centre of Europe, means you have plenty of possibilities. Just define what kind of destinations you love, what inspires you, make a list, and before browsing flights, check if there is a train that can take you there!
Over the next couple of years, new train lines will be added and many more destinations that seem a bit distant today will become possible thanks to fast trains and/or better connections.
For more inspiration on how to travel by train from anywhere in Europe by train, sign up to my blog.
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