A Day in Vianden, Itinerary

With Luxembourg’s central location, it’s incredibly easy to travel to different countries for a quick day or two; however, there are so many great options for traveling within the country itself! One of our favorite cities in Luxembourg is Vianden, so we’ve created an agenda to give you the best possible day in this fairytale town.

Vianden Chairlift

Start your day off by taking the Vianden Chairlift up to the top of the mountain!! It’s about a 6 minute walk from the Vianden, Gare, and well worth the 20 minute ride! It is the only chairlift in the entirety of the Grand Duchy and reaches a height of 440m with gorgeous views of the castle, the city, and the surrounding countryside. There is even a cafe at the top of the chairlift where you can purchase a souvenir photo of your ride on the chairlift. A single ticket costs €6.50 for adults and €3.50 for children, and a return ticket costs €9.00 for adults and €5.00 for children.

Where: 39, Rue du Sanatorium, L-9440 Vianden

Hours: Monday to Friday: 11am – 5pm, Weekend and public holidays: 10am – 6pm

Vianden Castle

Voted as one of the 21 most beautiful castles in the world, Schloss Vianden is definitely the highlight of the city. The castle is easily accessible from both the upper town and from the Vianden Chairlift – there are two walking trails that lead directly from the top of the mountain to the castle. One of them is 600m and the other is 1800m. It’s entirely up to you to decide which one you take, but both are lovely and offer views of both the castle and the city. Entry tickets to the castle cost €10.00 for adults and €5.00 for students. If you choose to purchase the €2.00 audio guide (available in a variety of languages!) your visit can take you anywhere for 2-3 hours.

Where: Mnt du Château, 9408 Vianden

Hours: Daily from 10am – 8pm

Trinitarian Church

Located just a short walk from the bottom of the castle, Trinitarian Church is one of the gems of Vianden! Dating back to 1248, the dual-aisled church has a total of five spans supported by arch-ribs and elegant pointed arches. An octagonal turret graces its structure. A chancel, complementing the original edifice, was added in 1644, featuring a Baroque onion dome at the top of the ensemble. It is renowned for its Gothic design, and stands as a prime example of architecture. During the first few centuries of its existence, it was also the resting place of several lords of Vianden.

At the back of the church is the Vianden War Memorial, a simple statue with a heavy meaning. It consists of a female figure holding a lion crested shield and commemorates the devestating aftermath of World War II upon the small town.

Where: Grand-rue L-9411 Vianden

Hours: Daily from 10am-6pm

Town Hall

Located about a three minute walk from the Trinitarian Church and the War Memorial in a square called Place Victor Abens, the Vianden Town Hall is easily accessible! It hosts all of Vianden’s main administrative services and is a fun thing to point out on your walk through the upper town. Located in that same square are is another fun monuments to briefly check out – the statues of Le Badigeonneur, Le Musicien, and Le Fou. The three sculptures embody one person and were created and produced by local artist Marie-Josée Kerschen.

Where: 29 Grand-Rue, 9410 Vianden

Lunch in the heart of Vianden

After walking your way through the upper portion of the city, you’ll likely begin looking for places to eat! There are tons of adorable restaurants and cafes along the Our river, all of which have street or water-side terraces with wonderful views of the town and the castle. We recommend visiting the Brasserie des Arts, Cafe du Pont, or The River Restaurant – all of which have good food, a fun environment, and a great location.

Where: Along the Grand-Rue, right near the Our Bridge in the center of town. The River is located directly alongside the water.

Maison Victor Hugo – Musée littéraire

After lunch, pay a visit to the Vianden Museum of Victor Hugo, which is dedicated to the famous French writer who lived in and visited Vianden from the years 1862 to 1871. The museum offers visitors a glimpse into Victor Hugo’s life and work, particularly his two and a half months spent living in the river-side house in the heart of the city. This house is where he wrote portions of the poetry collection L’Année Terrible and the novels Les Misérables, The Man Who Laughs, and The Toilers of the Sea. The exhibition showcases personal artifacts, manuscripts, letters, drawings, and other memorabilia related to the writer. You can explore the rooms where Hugo lived and gain insights into his creative process and inspirations. Admission to the house is free for students and €5.00 for adults.

Where: 37 Rue de la Gare, 9420 Vianden

Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 12pm-6pm

Ourdal Promenade

Spend your last few hours in Vianden wandering the 8.5km trail of the Ourdal Promenade! The walk itself should only take about 2 hours to complete, but the views along the way are stunning! As you can guess by the name, the trail follows alongside the Our river and is very well signposted so you can enjoy the walk without worrying about getting lost. Make sure to stop and read the informational signs along the route, there are some interesting facts about the river, Vianden, and Luxembourg in general!

There are so many fun things to do in the city of Vianden, but if you are looking for a brief guide, feel free to follow the one above! If you want to stray from this, you are more than welcome to check out the cities other museums, restaurants, and more during your trip to this picturesque town.