Despite being one of the smallest countries, thousands of hikers travel Luxembourg to experience one of the densest trail networks in Europe first-hand.
The country’s wildly diverse landscapes, ranging from rock formations formed millions of years ago to scenic rivers cutting through valleys and cities in half, make hiking in Luxembourg never boring.
Lucky for me, I’m a local who’s also a hiking junkie. The woodsy trails of Luxembourg have been my play garden for the longest time, and still, to this day, I am discovering new paths.
Hence, to share the joy of living in this very hike-able country with fellow hikers like you, let me highlight the best trails to explore in Luxembourg.
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Overview: Hiking in Luxembourg
- Mullerthal Trail
- Nature Discovery Path Burfelt
- Moselle 3 Trail
- Wenzel Circular Walk
- Minett Trail
Table of Contents
1. Mullerthal Trail
One of the most popular things to do in Mullerthal, the Luxembourg Little Switzerland, is to hike the Mullerthal Trail.
This trail is a great way to explore Luxembourg’s natural scenic wonders.
Depending on which of the three main routes you choose (if not all), you may find unique rock formations, historic towns, beautiful valleys, and other scenic beauties.
Most seasoned hikers I’ve met hiked one route daily when exploring the Mullerthal Trail.
But, as that means hiking for 8 to 10 hours of your day for three days straight (each route is 37/38km each), most tourists simply stick to hiking one of the routes during their visit.
I’ve tried all of these routes at least three times, and here’s when I can recommend visiting each.
Route 1 (Echternach to Herborn): Perfect for exploring things to do in Echternach, walking along the river Sûre which borders Germany, and seeing other natural wonders.
Route 2 (Echternach to Scheidgen): Enjoy the view of out-of-this-world rock formations and the iconic Schiessentümpel waterfall.
Route 3 (Mullerthal to Beaufort): Explore stream valleys, rocky landscapes, two beautiful castles, and other natural wonders.
I’d classify all of these routes as moderate hikes.
But, the 3rd route is the best for beginners as you may split it into shorter segments, and its terrain is less rugged.
2. Nature Discovery Path Burfelt
Want a short yet still moderately challenging hike?
Nature Discovery Path Burfelt is one of my go-to Luxembourg hiking trails to do so.
This 6.8 km trail starts at a car park in Burfelt and typically only takes about two and a half hours to complete.
After initially passing through a lush forest, this hike winds through orchard meadows, fields, and a reservoir.
You’ll also pass through the Burfelt Nature Conservation Centre, a great place to learn about the local flora and fauna.
On your way back to complete the hike, you’ll find yourself at the Belvédère viewing platform. It offers one of the best panoramic views of the Upper Sûre Lake!
My favorite part about this trail is that it’s suitable for families.
It’s my go-to trail to hike with my friends who aren’t too fond of hiking.
After all, there are no unexpected rough landscapes or challenging terrains. Plus, there’s a shortcut about halfway through if you need to shorten your hike.
3. Sentier du Nord
The Sentier du Nord, known as the Northern Trail, is one of Luxembourg’s lesser-known yet challenging hikes.
This 65-km trail starts in Weiswampach in the North and ends in Diekirch in the South.
Traveling south, you’ll see numerous towns, including Clervaux and Diekirch, two of my favorite historical towns.
This makes it easy to find a place to stay overnight, and you’ll also have plenty of dining options to enjoy Luxembourg traditional food!
How’s the scenery?
Nothing short of phenomenal.
You won’t be able to miss the varying and diverse landscapes you’ll witness throughout this trail as you travel long distances!
It showcases beautiful places in Luxembourg, making it popular among photographers and nature lovers.
Due to its long distance, which most people complete in 3 days, this trail isn’t exactly beginner-friendly.
However, you can always hike smaller sections to enjoy a more manageable journey!
4. Moselle 3 Trail
Hiking in Luxembourg can’t get more interesting than hitting up the Moselle 3 Trail.
This trail covers the 33 km of the region where the Luxembourg-French-German borders meet.
If you’ve ever heard of Schengen, the borderless village, yup— that’s one of the main highlights of this trail.
This trail offers much beauty, though, apart from giving you a glimpse of Germany and France.
There’s the Moselle Valley, renowned for its vineyards and picturesque landscapes.
There are also natural sites like Stromberg Hill, which offers incredible panoramic views, and Montenach limestone meadows.
My favorite part about hiking this trail, though, is enjoying the diverse, multicultural life of the village of Schengen.
There, you’ll find unique shops that encompass not only Luxembourg’s charm but also the flavors of nearby countries that you can cross in minutes from the village (no passport needed)
5. Escapardenne Eisleck Trail
The Escapardenne Eisleck Trail is another must-try adventure if you love near-border or over-the-border hikes.
This 106 km trail starts in Kautenbach, a small village in Luxembourg, and ends in La Roche-en-Ardenne, a picturesque town in Belgium.
If you plan to complete this trail, it’s highly recommended that you split the hike into five daily stages (each hike being anywhere from 18 to 25 km).
Sounds like a strenuous journey?
Well, I’m not going to pretend that it isn’t.
But trust me, the entire path is packed with vast, enchanting forests, steep valleys, and charming villages that will make time feel like it’s flying by.
If you love detour adventures like me, you can even take a detour to visit Kneiff, the highest mountain in Luxembourg, from Clervaux (by bus) before continuing the trail!
Speaking of Clarvaux, you can also stop by the Clervaux Castle and other cultural heritage sites such as Wiltz Castle.
Of course, when you get there, enjoy La Roche-en-Ardenne’s museums and lively cultural scene!
6. Wenzel Circular Walk
If you want to explore the city of Luxembourg walking, I can’t recommend hitting the Wenzel Circular Walk trail enough.
Sure, you can travel the city aimlessly.
But by following this trail (which is very easy, by the way), you’ll be able to explore some of the city’s best highlights in less than three hours!
No need to awkwardly retrace streets you’ve already walked.
Some of this urban trail’s best historical and cultural stops include the Bock Promontory, Bock Casemates, and Neumünster Abbey.
In addition to urban landmarks, you can explore natural scenery like the Alzette River Valley, parks, gardens, and other green spaces!
This 5 km urban trail gives you a sneak peek of the best things in Luxembourg City.
That includes the best things to do in Luxembourg by night, such as exploring the Grund district.
If you’re a tourist in Luxembourg city, just trust a local this one time and don’t skip this trail.
Hiking near Luxembourg City (or in it) is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in your adventures!
7. Hiking Route of the 7 Castles Valley
The Valley of the 7 Castles in Gutland is undoubtedly a must-visit region in Luxembourg.
As the name suggests, this part of the country has seven medieval castles, all near each other.
Just seeing one 13th-century house is impressive enough.
So, you can imagine the incredible journey of traveling through seven different castles in one go!
Now, most people drive through the 7 Castles Valley.
It’s just over 25 km, so that’s half an hour of drive at most.
Years ago, I tried hiking through the valley’s 37 km footpath instead for fun.
As expected, the hike provided a different perspective on the scenery from one castle to the next!
Hiking in Luxembourg is just way more fun when castles are involved.
Check out the Ansembourg Castle, which I think is the most impressive.
8. Autopedestre Esch-sur-Sure
Created by the Ministry of Economy, Auto-Pédestre trails are traditional Luxembourg hiking trails scattered throughout the country.
They aim to showcase the natural landscapes of Luxembourg.
And these trails are doing an excellent job of fulfilling their roles.
In the Éislek region of Luxembourg, there are 43 Auto-Pédestre trails.
Out of them, the Auto-Pédestre Esch-sur-Sûre trail quickly became my favorite.
This trail is only 9.7 km long, so it only took me over 3 hours to hike this path.
However, it offered inspiring adventures, including passing through dense forests, picturesque views of the Sûre River, and a captivating display of the ruins of Esch-sur-Sûre Castle.
The hike isn’t easy, but there are no overly tricky paths.
This trail starts and ends at the same point, which is a parking lot, making it the epitome of accessibility.
9. Minett Trail
The Minett region, also known as the Land of Red Rocks, is one of the most interesting hiking trails in Luxembourg.
This marked 90 km trail passes through numerous open-pit mines that have been reclaimed by nature over the years.
Throughout the trail, you’ll be captivated by the colors and scent of iron ore that define the scenery while observing how nature has slowly reclaimed its way into previously abandoned industrial facilities.
This long trail has ten sections ranging from 7 km to 15 km.
They all allow you to explore Luxembourg’s trademark lush greens, flowering orchids, and interesting red land—which you won’t often find elsewhere!
I recommend hiking the Clemency—Pétange Gare section if you want an easy two-hour hike that still encompasses several of the abandoned mines of the Minett Trail.
If you want to explore the district of Belval, which has been scientifically advancing rapidly over the past decade, instead, hike the Belval-Rédange Gare – Esch-sur-Alzette Gare trail.
10. Autopedestre Vianden
Here’s another runner-up from the Autopedestre trail network in the country.
Autopedestre Vianden is an almost 8 km trail that starts near the shadow of Vianden’s dam.
Following the trail, you’ll initially hike through the forests and later find yourself in the Vianden chairlift, which offers fantastic panoramic views of the town of Vianden.
Vianden is part of the Our Nature Park region, a protected natural area.
This natural area is renowned for its deeply carved valleys, rich biodiversity, and cultural landmarks (like the Vianden castle).
So, while this trail might be the last on this list, it surely would be one of the best hikes you’ll ever be on in Europe!
Why you MUST go Hiking in Luxembourg
Hiking has become one of the most popular Luxembourg recreational activities.
So, long story short, you will indeed have an unforgettable hiking experience in the country.
But, of course, that’s too vague of a description, isn’t it?
Let me give a quick rundown of the hiking culture in Luxembourg, including tips like the best time to hike in the country and how to enjoy the activity safely.
Culture
Luxembourg has a very active hiking community.
With all the beautiful landscapes surrounding us, it’s tough for any local not to be interested in hiking explorations.
Since the hiking culture is booming among tourists and locals, the country’s tourism board has ensured facilities are in place to make hiking as enjoyable as possible.
Expect most hiking trails to be well-signposted and have easy access to hiking maps.
You’ll also be able to explore trails of all difficulty levels!
When to Hike
Like most countries, hiking in Luxembourg peaks during warmer months (June to August).
These times of the year have the best hiking weather. Plus, warmer months allow you to enjoy the lush scenery and extended daylight hours.
However, the good news is that many hiking trails in Luxembourg are open year-round.
Even winter hiking enthusiasts prefer pristine snowy landscapes over dry summer trails.
And, of course, who doesn’t like hiking when the leaves start turning during fall?
Gear and Safety Tips
When hiking in Luxembourg, make sure to follow standard safety practices.
Research the trail before setting out, pack all the essentials (including emergency kits), and dress appropriately for the weather.
Of course, you should also know your physical limits to avoid injuring or exhausting yourself too much.
It’s probably best to hike with other people, especially if you’re tackling challenging and long trails, but if that’s not possible, at least inform someone about your hiking plans.
My Final Thoughts on Hiking in Luxembourg
Hiking in Luxembourg has never been a dull experience.
And I’m not just saying this ‘cause I’m a local.
As a hiking enthusiast who has hiked in over a handful of different countries and dozens of new cities, I know how to distinguish not-so-great trails from amazing ones.
Try out any of the trails above when in Luxembourg, and you’ll immediately realize why the country is so popular among hikers worldwide!
Need more travel guides or tips on where to stay in Luxembourg?
Don’t forget to check out my other posts! All of them are based on my not-so-organized travel journal!
Hola! I’m Paulina, a seasoned travelette who crossed the Atlantic Ocean by Boat HitchHiking. On my blog, find expert insights for an extraordinary holiday through outdoor and sustainable travel like hiking, cycling, and sailing. Let’s embark on unforgettable journeys together! 🌍🚀
