A Luxembourg Genealogy Trip Itinerary

Luxembourg is known for being an exceptionally tiny country, but don’t let that stop you from finding interesting and meaningful things to do. To get you oriented to the beautiful city, I recommend spending the first day walking around Luxembourg City.

Begin your day with a walking tour (I am happy to recommend one of my favorites!) to get you oriented to the city, country, and history. Spend the afternoon exploring the Bock Casemates (a complex underground cave system built into the cliffside). If you really want to keep busy, stop at one of the numerous chocolate shops before your unwind for dinner.

There are many cozy and quaint places to eat in Luxembourg City. One of our favorites is a testament to the diversity of Luxembourg (home to over 170 nationalities—incredible for such a tiny country!). Cafe Litteraire Le Bovary is a small Brazilian restaurant where you can sit outside and enjoy a slow dinner under candlelight and music.

It is worth it to take a day trip to Trier, Germany, if you have the time. Trier is just an hour’s train ride away and the oldest town in Germany. Spend the day exploring the ancient city and ruins here. It will add dimension to your trip and help you understand Luxembourg’s relationship with the rest of Europe.

Alternatively, you could consider spending more time in Luxembourg City and/or even attend a Catholic Mass. Regardless of whether you practice or are religious, Catholicism has historically made up the largest religion in the country (and likely your family’s history). Plus, the churches in Luxembourg City are quite historical and beautiful.

After having a couple days to explore Luxembourg City, take some time to get outside of the city. On day three, I recommend beginning your morning at the American Military Cemetery. The American Military Cemetery has over 5,000 Americans that died during WW2 (where George S. Patton) is buried). Although it’s an intense experience, it will inform you of Luxembourg’s role in WW2.

Not too far away is the German Military Cemetery. You will see the contrast between the two cemeteries just a couple of miles apart from each other.

Finally, I recommend making your way to your accommodation near your ancestors’ hometown. Not sure where to start on accommodation? Let me help!

This can be an overwhelming but amazing part of your trip. Keep in mind that Luxembourg is so tiny many towns are only a 10-minute drive apart. Spend day four visiting your ancestral towns.

I highly recommend doing lots of research in advance of your trip. At the minimum, know what town(s) your family lived in before migrating to the US. But the more you research, the more you will find other towns that were a part of your family’s story.

If you don’t know where to get started, I highly recommend building your family tree with Ancestry or Family Search. Family Search has digital records (birth, death, and marriage) from all over the world.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to me for more genealogy recommendations. I have many tips and would love to help!

On day five, take a drive to see some of Luxembourg’s most iconic regions. Start your day at Vianden Castle. There are many castles in Luxembourg, but Vianden is the most iconic.

Late in the morning, make your way down to Echternach, the oldest town in Luxembourg and home to the Abbey of Echternach, which was founded in the seventh century.

To finish your day, explore the Mullerthal Region. If you are an active traveler, you could spend one day here hiking the numerous trails. But if you have limited time in your itinerary, a couple of hours will do.

Spend another day committed to researching and exploring where your ancestors came from. You might even find a small local bistro to have lunch at or enjoy a local wine or beer.

If you only have one week in Luxembourg, you might want to spend your last day doing more genealogy exploration.

A trip to Luxembourg also wouldn’t be complete without a visit to at least one winery in the Moselle Region. There are numerous wineries to choose from. Domaine L & R Kox is a great one to start at if you’re in the south of Luxembourg.