I’m hoping for some help in deciding where to spend our last few nights in Europe. We have 4 nights after finishing a river cruise from Basel to Amsterdam. We have a Eurail Pass so we’re planning on rail from Amsterdam to Ghent, stay here for 3 nights and visit Bruges and Brussels for day trips.
We have 1 night left before we make our way by train, back to Zurich for a 6.00 pm flight. As this is quite a long train journey, 8 1/2 hrs, we would like to break it and spend a night in either Luxembourg or Strasbourg. Any recommendations as to which would be the better stop? We will be visiting both these places on the river cruise but thought it would be nice to go back to one.
Appreciate input from anyone who has been to both places.
Posted by
8180 posts
Both are interesting places to visit. I would give a slight edge to Strasbourg. The best way to see Luxembouurg is with a car, so you can go to the American cemetery and see Patton's grave as well as the wonderful town of Viaden on the German border. Also, not real far away is the ancient city of Trier, Germany.
Strasbourg is in the Alsace region of France that is a blend of German/French culture.
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
8859 posts
A car is not necessary to visit American Cemetary in Luxembourg. Local transit bus leaves from next to the train station.
Posted by
Portland, Maine
2916 posts
If you're talking about Luxembourg City, Strasbourg wins hands down. I've been to Strasbourg a few times and Lux City twice. The first time we thought it was beautiful and a great place to visit. The next time was about 15 years later, and I hardly recognized the place. It had gotten so built up, and a lot of the charming architecture was gone. We couldn't find either the hotel we had stayed in nor the restaurant we had dinner at, probably because the buildings they were in had been torn down. Strasbourg, on the other hand, is really charming.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you to all for your great responses. It seems that Strasbourg will be the place to spend our last night.
Posted by
S.F. Bay Area, CA, United States
1878 posts
Of the two I have only been to Strasbourg but I thought it was great. The cathedral there is especially nice, and there are many half-timbered buildings in that area. The boat cruise around the city center was fun, too. Strasbourg is the kind of city where if you had an extra day to just hang out after seeing all the sights, you could enjoy filling the time doing just that.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area
5697 posts
Could you just wait until you have visited both locations on the cruise, and go back to the one that YOU liked most ?
Posted by
OP
3 posts
We did think about waiting but as it’s only a week after our cruises ends but as it’s early August, high season, I’m concerned that the trains and hotels will book out. It’s certainly an option, not the preferred one.
Posted by
Myrtle Beach, USA
12313 posts
I can't compare the two. I've only been to Strasbourg, really liked it. I haven't been to Luxembourg City (been as close as Trier) because it didn't really excite me when I researched it.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33747 posts
I return to Luxembourg frequently but have not returned to Strasbourg - except to change trains - because I prefer the German side of the river around there...
I do agree with Laura B's suggestion to choose after you have visited both on the cruise.
Trains don't fill up unless you are particularly unlucky or traveling on a TGV with a Eurail pass.
Strasbourg will be considerably more convenient to your flight out.