My wife and I will be in Luxembourg next April, and we have always found the best way to get to know a place is on a private tour with a local.
I know I could look at some of the big operators, but I'd prefer to work directly with a guide - they get more of my $, instead of sharing it with the company.
Any recommendations?
We like history, architecture, food & wine.
Thank you in advance,
steve
Steven I can't help you specifically, but I just returned from a trip where I did a couple days of solo bicycle touring around Luxembourg. I went to watch the final stage of the Tour of Luxembourg cycling race.
Luxembourg City was an interesting place. Once you get your head away from being overwhelmed by the huge pedestrianized shopping district, the place has bonkers local geography - it really is pretty crazy the deep river cut gorge s-turning wildly through the city. It's tough from moment to moment to know what direction you're facing! There's cool medieval stuff all over the place. Given the geography, it was a place right for fortification. Outside of the medieval, the city has some lovely baroque and neoclassical.
Out of cities in Europe in general, Luxembourg City seems like it would really come to life in all kinds of interesting ways with a local guide. I think your impulse is two thumbs up.
Also, The more country parts of Luxembourg are also pretty cool, if a little stayed and maybe a little "generally European."
After Luxembourg, I rode the Teutonic Mosel. The Mosel in Luxembourg was lovely, but more like a quiet, clean, quietly good living area where I would want to hide out in a witness protection program than a great short trip tourist destination.
There are a lot more vineyards in Luxembourg than I expected. Luxembourgish wines were far far better than I'd expected. I'm a wine geek with a big cellar and pretty good knowledge, so I knew that the wines of Luxembourg would not be bad, but they were really very good. The whites in general have Mosel-like character, but with a bit more crispness and aromatics like they have a little bit of the spirit of white Bordeaux waved over them. Well worth sampling a lot of the local wines in Luxembourg, if of course that is your thing.
Thank you Hawk - if I don’t get a recommendation from the forum I can always book one with the tourist board - but would love to get a recommendation
Sure. I usually don't stop through TI's, but I did in Luxembourg City. The people working there were very nice, as were the guides waiting outside to pick up their private tours that had been booked through the TI. If you don't get a recommendation I'd wager that you'll still do well. I'm in accord with your impulse to pay the person not an organization that they work for, but Luxembourg is a rich little country, and the guides working for the tourist board are paid a living wage and are well taken care of by the country's social benefits.
thanks Hank - that's what I thought as well
Are you aware that ALL publuc transportation in Luxembourg is free? That includes trains around the country.
