There are plenty of attractions for kids to enjoy in Luxembourg. Fun museums and parks are aplenty with animal parks, adventure parks and even horseback riding. The Tram and Bus Museum is perfect for kids while Parc Merveilleux should also not be missed.

Animal Park
Situated on the banks of the Messancy River in the beautiful Ardennes region of Luxembourg, the Animal Park is a great day out for the whole family. It gives kids the chance to see the animals and birds of the region including deer, goats, wild boar, and wildfowl and is sure to keep young kids entertained for a good few hours. Phone: +352 61 210 640.

Bison Farm 
Also in the Ardennes, this farm with a difference is tied in with the interactive Museum of the American Indian Life and takes families on a trip through a herd of wild bison. The trip involves a trek aboard a wagon and a drive through spectacular countryside to reach the bison, which are here in their numbers. Kids can then explore the museum and see the way of life for the American Indians.

Horseback riding 
There aren’t that many kids around who don’t like horses and it just so happens that horseback riding in Luxembourg is a favourite pastime. Numerous well-equipped stables around Luxembourg offer rides by the hour or day while beginner’s courses are also available. Try a tour by horseback of Luxembourg City and the surrounding countryside or perhaps go way up into the mountains and forests of the north. The Fédération Luxembourgeoise des Sports Equestres has a list of stables around Luxembourg. Phone: +352 484 999.

Museum of Music 
Parents with kids who are into their music will love the Museum of Music, which was Luxembourg's first such museum and has been operating since the mid-1990s. The museum primarily details Luxembourg City’s wind orchestra, as well as covering music in the country for the last two centuries. In addition, fanfares and brass bands are also detailed and there are plenty of ancient instruments, old sheet music and photos exhibited, to boot. Phone: +352 957 444.

Parc Merveilleux 
Parc Merveilleux is Luxembourg’s most popular amusement park and a must for those with active kids. The park is small but intimate and a nice change from the other larger parks of Western Europe. The main highlights of Parc Merveilleux are the adventure playgrounds, a children’s miniature train ride, the pony express, a small zoo complete with indigenous animals, mini-cars, and a café and restaurant. Phone: +352 511 048.

Tram and Bus Museum 
Located in the small town of Hollerich to the south of Luxembourg City, the excellent Tram and Bus Museum features loads of fun exhibits including old tramway carriages, bus models, a historical horse-drawn coach and a display of old-fashioned uniforms. The museum is educational and teaches kids about what life must have been like for getting around Luxembourg all those years ago.

There is much to see and do in the way of cultural attractions all over Luxembourg and the capital naturally has the best of them, with fine museums, opulent palaces and ancient castles. There are also plenty of theatres in Luxembourg City and the lush Moselle Valley enables one to get on a wine tour of this verdant region.

Château de Bourscheid
Presiding over lush farmland and the meandering Sûre River, the spectacular 1,000-year-old Château de Bourscheid is perhaps the most impressive of all of the castles in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The castle is actually well located on a rocky bluff and provides perfect views over the surrounding region. A 600-year-old wall surrounds the complex. Phone: +352 990 570.

Luxembourg City History Museum
The Musée d'Histoire de la Ville de Luxembourg in central Luxembourg retraces the history of the city through wooden models and artwork. The museum is spread over several levels; the wooden statues are downstairs and the paintings and decorative arts are upstairs. Be sure to take in the views of the town from the glass lift and don’t forget to pick up the free English language guide at reception. Phone: +352 47 964 500.

National Museum of History and Art 
The National Museum of History and Art is Luxembourg’s premier museum and features some excellent exhibits on art, history, archeology, and geology. Of the many exhibits the Bentinck-Thyssen art collection is the finest with loads of masterpieces from the 15th to 18th century Benelux countries by the likes of Rubens, Rembrandt, van Dyke, and Breughel. The museum can be found in the oldest part of town. Phone: +352 47 93 301.

National Museum of Military History 
War buffs need to head for the National Museum of Military History in Luxembourg City to learn more about the Battle of the Bulge and the occupation and liberation of Luxembourg. Huge dioramas depict fighting US and German troops while tanks, artillery, weapons, military uniforms and loads of sundry military equipment are also on show. Phone: +352 808 908.

Palace of the Grand Dukes 
Situated right next door to the Luxembourg Parliament the Grand Ducal Palace harks back to the days of the medieval Grand Duchy and is the official residence of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. Parts of the palace date back to 1572 and today it has been completely revamped with the state rooms and ballroom being particularly delightful. Phone: +352 467 070.

Theatre and Music 
Those into the performing arts will find several popular theatres in Luxembourg City where performances are staged year-round. Theatre Municipal is one of the top venues, displaying well known international artists in ballet and modern dance from May to October. In addition the Orchestre Symphonique RTL and Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg put on regular concerts and the Theatre des Capucins shows off the Round Tower Players.

Luxembourg is big on international eateries owing to the large expat community and multicultural makeup. Unique Luxembourg cafés and restaurants also serve up local cuisine which is largely based on German cooking. Luxembourg also does well in its wine prowess and many fruity numbers hail from the country’s Moselle Valley section and there is also some tasty strong ale worth sampling.

Naturally Luxembourg City is the best place in the country for fine dining and for choice with everything from street side cafes and inns to trendy bars and posh restaurants. Prices are a little on the steep side, however, and unfortunately for some the city isn’t big on fast-food burgers. 

Pork and potatoes can be found on most menus while French cuisine is definitely in evidence, albeit with larger portions. Italian food is also widely available all over the country and Belgian tastes are also catered for. Trout and pike are the most widely available fish in Luxembourg’s restaurants.

National specialities to look out for include: jellied-suckling pig (cochon de lait en gelée); smoked pork and sauerkraut or broad beans (carré de porc fume); and smoked Ardennes ham (jambon d’Ardennes), especially in the north. For traditional desserts try plum tart (quetscheflued) or perhaps omelette (soufflé au kirsch), both of which are instilled with local liqueurs. 

Shopping options in Luxembourg are unfortunately not on a par with its dining options and your best bet is to check out Luxembourg City. Prices are pretty steep here, to boot, although there are some good buys in handicrafts. Handcrafted pottery and clocks are particularly popular with tourists in Luxembourg, while Villeroy and Boch’s crystal factories have very high quality crystal items on show and for sale.

Other popular items to pick up in Luxembourg’s shops are hand painted porcelain plates, which often depict dreamy country scenes in the Ardennes mountains, and cast-iron wall plaques, which generally feature coats of arms, castles and other souvenir-type goodies.

For fashion, Luxembourg City has a collection of snazzy European-style boutiques as well as some fancy art galleries that are sure to break the bank.

Not many people associate Luxembourg with outdoor activities but there is certainly plenty of opportunity for getting active in the Grand Duchy. The cycling, walking and hiking here is a pleasure with a distinct lack of the pollution that comes with most European climes. The fishing and golf is also good while winter sees the north’s ski resorts open up; head to Mullerthal and the Ardennes for the best slopes.

Cycling
Luxembourg is small enough and flat enough, in most places, for just about anyone to enjoy cycling. Luxembourg City itself has a staggering amount of greenery in the form of monstrous parks to ride around as well as the banks of the Alzette River, but those who prefer more strenuous cycling should head to the Ardennes mountains in the north or to the southeast Moselle Valley.

Fishing
Those who take the time to get past all the red tape and obtain the licenses will find the fishing in Luxembourg excellent. The rivers here are among the freshest and best stocked on the continent and many companies offer fishing trips and the like. The district commissioners’ offices in Luxembourg City, Diekirch, and Grevenmacher dish out fishing licenses.

Golf
Although golf isn’t that big in the Grand Duchy and the profusion of 18-hole courses is a bit lacking compared with Luxembourg’s neighbours, there are options in most towns and cities and the Grand-Ducal Golf Club in Luxembourg City is well known in golfing circles. It is actually one of the toughest match play courses in Europe with very tight fairways and some awkward pins. Mondorf-les-Bains is also good for golf. Phone: +352 340 0901.

Skiing 
The skiing in Luxembourg isn’t great and is mostly cross country but at least the Grand Duchy has skiing options nonetheless. The Ardennes has the country’s collection of small ski resorts with about a dozen downhill centres. For a little more excitement, try out the skiing at the Hautes Fagnes Nature Reserve which lies in between Eupen and Malmedy.

Walking and Hiking
Luxembourg’s cities are well laid out and most have quality parks with good walking paths. The Municipal Park in the capital is one such park with many miles of winding paths and several major attractions to boot. If you are here in the summer get on an organized walking tour or perhaps drive into the Ardennes region and try out some serious hiking.