Under $100: Luxembourg City

At the rate the dollar is going these days, 100 bucks will get you around €114. Here’s how to do the capital of this tiny nation on a budget.

Luxembourg is a small town that can be accessed easily by visitors. Shelling out €4 will get you a day pass for the city’s rail and bus system which is fairly regular with most of the lines running through the central district. Luxembourg is also fairly walkable, and can easily be traversed in a day on foot, the best way to see the city’s sites and rolling hills.

Place Guillaume II, The Kneudler © Mihai-bogdan Lazar | Dreamstime

The central Place d’Armes is a great place to start your day, especially on a sunny day when the vendors are out and you can have a light breakfast outside to the tune of street musicians. The neighboring Place Guillaume II (locally known as the Kneudler) also has a market every Wednesday and Saturday, and is also the location of the city’s neo-classical Town Hall and its statue of William II.

The MUDAM Museum © Lukaszkozma | Dreamstime 48871437

Luxembourg has historically been a fortified town, long desired for its strategic value. The Luxembourg City History Museum documents the town’s story, from its origins as a Roman guard tower to its resistance against Nazi invaders. If you’re looking for something a little different, check out MUDAM (Musée d’Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean), an offbeat art museum that showcases the best artists of the country. Louvre-designer I.M. Pei created the building to be nonlinear, making navigation through the exhibits a bit of an adventure. Entrance to both of these museums are €5.

Walking around the city can build up an appetite, so make a stop by the local legend Café des Artistes, a quaint, nostalgic piano bar located just north of Grund. Established in 1968, this café is one of Luxembourg’s oldest, attracting a mixed crowd for its cozy atmosphere and vintage décor.