Europe’s Easiest Country To Explore Aims To Become Next Travel Hotspot

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If you’re looking for Europe’s next big thing, you can skip the Eiffel Tower queues and Spain’s jam-packed beaches for a small, landlocked nation too often overlooked despite its ease of access.

I had the privilege of visiting last fall.

Its Medieval marvels, stunning scenery, and best of all, free nationwide transportation sealed the deal for me as one of my favorite European destinations.

Despite being noticeably affluent, you’d be surprised how affordable it is to visit. It’s not hard at all to find $5 meals, the same prices for coffee you’d spend anywhere, little-known riverside wineries that won’t break the bank, and yes, no-questions-asked free public transit.

The only question mark is hotels, which can be a bit pricey. Factoring in the other travel costs, if my bottom line can squeeze it, yours can too!

If you haven’t guessed by now, we’re talking about the beautiful country of Luxembourg, where their flagship carrier Luxair is set to launch a slew of new flights with the goal of making their underrated homeland Europe’s next go-to hotspot.

In The Overtourism Era, Should You Skip Global Icons For Luxembourg?

When it comes to planning your next European adventure, it seems like every list starts with the icons—Rome, Barcelona, Athens, and the like.

But a majority of these cities have varying levels of overtourism concerns, whether environmentally related or directly impacting locals’ pockets like rental rates spiking.

It’s a hard sell to book a long-haul trip knowing the welcome mat isn’t laid out for you, which is why many of us settle for places like Cancun — close by, welcoming, and always reliable.

But sometimes we have a wanderlust itch we just gotta scratch! That’s where Luxembourg comes in — a country still clinging on to “hidden gem” status despite being sandwiched being always-popular France, Germany, and another of Europe’s trendy destinations, Belgium.

While there’s no direct flights from the U.S. to Luxembourg City, getting here is just a hop, skip, and a jump from Paris, Berlin, and Brussels by train to name a few, though I flew from Marseille after exploring France and it was one of the top highlights of my European escapades.

Luxembourg is looking to expand their presence through Luxair over the next 5 years, but there’s no need to wait that long as it’s already well-connected across Europe.

How Luxembourg’s Free Transit Works

Let me guess – you’re waiting to scour the fine print for a catch, right?

Nope. Riding public transit is truly no-questions-asked across the country (though some travel boards state they’ve been asked to show ID; I was not asked).

As a fairly recent visitor, let me first and foremost tell you downloading the mobiliteit.lu app will be your North Star for navigating small yet mighty Luxembourg.

You can input in any destination, address, or landmark for step-by-step directions regarding which bus/tram/train to catch making it easy peasy lemon squeezy; inarguably Europe’s easiest country to explore.

Moreover, there’s also a separate City Night Bus if you need to catch a late night ride on weekends.

Let’s just say Luxembourg City isn’t shy about its beer drinkin’ legendry and I can’t recommend Scott’s Pub enough along the scenic Alzette River — hands down one of my favorite bars on the planet!

Discover Medieval Delights & Riverside Wineries

I could spend countless hours roaming Luxembourg City alone, but I did venture away from the maze of Medieval marvels for some downtime along the gorgeous Moselle River, which splits Luxembourg and Germany.

And yes, you can make use of free public transit here (though there was a snafu on our route last fall).

No matter how you get here, just here. It’s a great way to experience of region of a lesser-known country that isn’t hyped up near enough with some awesome wineries inside caves and others with sweeping waterfront views.

I’m not gonna lie, though — Luxembourg City is so mesmerizing you may not want to leave. I was there for a short time so I tried to pack everything in I could, but you won’t regret exploring solely the city either.

You’ll find the Chemin de la Corniche, one of my favorite spots in the city. I promise you every 5 steps you’ll stop to take more pictures.

Once you’re there, make sure to take the Pfaffenthal Panoramic Elevator for arguably even better views.

Want the real game plan? As one of Europe’s safest places, simply wander with no destination in mind and stop for a quick coffee and people-watch, hit up a local pub for a great beer, or peruse local markets (one of the best ways to score cheap food!) as you please.

It’s impossible to miss numerous staggering cathedrals, a handful of free museums, timeless plazas, and grand hotels, the only place you might need to tap into savings.

I stayed at Double Tree and definitely recommend it for its welcome cocktail, friendly service, complimentary room upgrade (luck of the draw!), and stone’s throw access to the transit station.