Children’s Museums

Musée des Tramways et de Bus (Hollerich)

Not just for train-spotters, this gem of a museum is like a gigantic indoor playground with real trams and buses to operate! As well as the cultural experience of being able to understand Luxembourg’s love affair with trams (now seeing a rebirth in Lux), children can get hands-on experience of the public transport system. Tours are available (call 47 96 23 85 or email tramsmusee@vdl.lu)

• Top tip: It’s all indoors, so perfect for wet afternoons.

Where: 63, rue de Bouillon, 1248 Luxembourg (map)

When: Thursdays 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm; Saturdays and Sundays 10 am to 6 pm. Check the website for holiday hours/closings.

Cost: FREE!

Casino (Centre-ville)

No, we’re not setting your child up for a gambling addiction; the Casino Luxembourg is the contemporary art museum with a lively exhibitions programme. You can pick up an activity box (called a “Klik-Klak” box) from the entrance, with quizzes and creative activities which you can use to explore the exhibition during your visit. They offer a special guided tour once a month (Friday from 11am-noon) for parents with babies in a sling or a pushchair. On Saturdays there are workshops for children in different languages (including English) for 5-8 year olds and 8-12 year olds. Children can tour the current exhibition and then look into it even more with a hands on workshop, helped by a member of museum staff. On Sunday afternoons there are relaxed drop in sessions where a staff member welcomes families to take part in workshops and activities based on the Klik-Klak boxes.

• Top tip: You can even celebrate your child’s birthday here!

Where: Casino Luxembourg – Forum d’art contemporain, 41, rue Notre-Dame, L-2240 Luxembourg (map)

When: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, open from 11am until 7pm. Thursdays 11am until 9pm. Closed Tuesdays, 1 January, 1 November and 25 December.

Cost: Entrance is now free! Individual workshops, including the Sunday workshops cost €6 (free with the Kulturpass), annual KLIK-Kaart for your child to get into all workshops €40.

MUDAM (Kirchberg)

And continuing with the artistic theme, the Musée d’Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean also offers workshops, storytelling and tours for children of all ages. Set in a gorgeous park, the building is an exhibition in itself.

It’s well worth a visit with kids of all ages, just be aware that many of the art works are on open display so you will need to keep a close eye out for any wandering little hands!

‘Mudamini‘, the programme catering for children is split into 3-5 and 6-12 year olds, whilst older children (13-21 year olds) can enjoy the Art Freak sessions. There are frequently fab activities for children available on a more casual, drop in basis, which tie in with the main exhibitions.

• Top tip: Fill in this form to get a free Mudamini card for your child and enjoy special discounts on workshops!

Where: MUDAM,3, Park Dräi Eechelen L-1499 Luxembourg-Kirchberg  (map)

When: Thursday – Monday 10am-6pm, Wednesday 10am – 9pm. Public holidays 10am-6pm. 21 December and 31 December open 10am – 3pm. Closed on Tuesdays and 25 December.

Cost: Adults €8, Under 26 or groups (minimum 15 people) €5. Under 21’s, students up to the age of 26, free. Free entry Wednesdays from 6pm – 9pm/cafe until 10pm.

Musée d’histoire naturelle (Grund)

Calling all science lovers! The natural history museum, or “ natur musée” is home to fossils and minerals, plants, insects and animals. This is your chance to get close to lots of animals you just otherwise wouldn’t be able to see. You can find out all about the world in which we live, as well as focusing on the wildlife of Luxembourg.

There are lots of interactive activities in the galleries to keep kids amused and enhance your visit. The museum offers the ‘Panda Club‘ for 6-10 year olds and the ‘Science Club‘ for 11-18 year old budding scientists. Combining education with play, your child could be doing anything from dissecting a fish to hunting for treasure, learning how a barometer works to hands-on chemical experiments. And don’t miss the fantastic (and free!) Fete du Natur Musée, held in and around the museum each September, with a huge range of activities for families to take part in.

• Top tip: Please note that text in the museum is in French and German, with English and Luxembourgish translations available via a free phone app. You can also access a 3D virtual visit of the museum here.

Where: Musée national d’histoire naturelle, 25 Rue Münster, 2160 Luxembourg (map)

When: Check website for complete time tables of permanent and temporary exhibitions.

Cost: Adults  €5, Children 0-20 years free, Students 21-26 years free. Over 65s / Disabled €3, Muséeskaart, LuxembourgCard, ICOM, Kulturpass free.

Musée National des Mines de Fer Luxembourgeoises

Despite the sound, the MNM has very little to do with rapping and everything to do with mining. It tries to recapture a day in the life of a miner for your child, starting with the 20 minutes train journey into the mine itself. This can be followed by a two-hour interactive walking tour (must be reserved) of the museum. Every child (aimed at 6-14 year olds) takes on the identity of a mine employee: foreman, miner, tracklayer, surveyor etc and they get to drill, crush rocks, push mine cars and witness a blast. After the tour, they are given a miner’s token as a souvenir and a voucher for a free entry to the MNM and they can keep the ore they have extracted. Dress warmly, it’s chilly underground!

Outside the museum there are some pieces of heavy mining machinery to discover and they have a lovely children’s playground on a mining and railways theme which your kids can clamber about on to their hearts content.

Where: MNM Rumelange, Rue de la Bruyere, Rumelange, Luxembourg (map)

When: The museum is open all year round for you to book a guided tour. Check here for information on individual tours, guided tours and interactive visits.

Cost: For a guided underground tour, including train ride and exhibition building: Adults €9, students €7, children up to 15 years, €5. Group rates also available for the guided tour. Cost for the train ride only with no visit to the exhibition building  €5.

Musée ”A Possen” (Moselle)

This site is a little further afield but you get two museums for your trouble: The Musée folklorique et viticole and the Musée du jouet. Parents can enjoy learning more about the history of wine right in the heart of the Moselle region, while the children explore the replicas of shoemaking and weaving workrooms, as well as drawing water from the well. The toy museum features beautiful period toys including antique dolls and model train sets. They also offer workshops for children in German and French. There are a variety of themed tours and they have a restaurant to round off your day.

Top tip: Do take the opportunity to explore Bech-Kleinmacher, a beautiful and typical Moselle village.

Where: Musée ”A Possen”, 2, Keeseschgässel,  L-5405 Bech-Kleinmacher (map)

When: Closed January & February.  Full list of hours by month/day here

Cost: Adults €5, Children/Students Free

Kulturhuef (Grevenmacher)

Another two-for-the-price-of-one experience – The Printing Museum which shows the evolution of printing in Luxembourg mainly from 1850 to 1950; and the Museum of Playing Cards. What will really draw your children in, though, are the workshops that they hold regularly and throughout the holidays. These are usually held in English, French, German and Luxembourgish, but do check the individual events. Free guided tours of the museums are run regularly on Sundays and public holidays.

• Top tip: Why not check out a film at the Kulturhuef cinema whilst your children attend the workshop?

Where: Kulturhuef, 54 Route de Trèves, 6793 Grevenmacher (map)

When: Check the website for the complete timetable of opening hours.

Cost: Free, but individual workshops cost, dependent on the activity.

Musée Rural à Peppange (Peppange)

Farming is very much a part of Luxembourg life and as such, this tribute to all aspects of country life shouldn’t be missed. Aside from being a living monument to farms since 1849, children will love the hands on experience of climbing onto preserved agricultural machines. There’s also an imitation medieval village forge, a gorgeous garden and workshops to demonstrate ancient crafts. Whilst you’re in the area, do look at the Carriage Museum and the Ancient Metallurgy Museum?

Where: Musée Rural, 38 rue de Crauthem, L-3390 Peppange  (map)

When: 1 May to 30 September: Open Tuesday – Sunday 2pm until 6pm. 1 February – 30 April: open Sundays 2pm until 6pm.

Cost: Adults and children, self guided visit including the Metallurgy Museum, €5. Guided tours available upon request at at cost of €7 per person. For combined entry with Rural Museum, Metallurgy Museum and Carriage Museum, self guided visit €8, guided tour €10.

• Top tip: Take the family on a horse-drawn carriage ride for an experience they won’t forget.

Vitarium

Every child who lives in Luxembourg should go to the ‘milk museum’ at least once. It’s the manufacturing site where they process the milk, housed in a funky building adjoining the factory. Consisting of about 45 ‘hands-on’ stations where children can press things, pull stuff and even try and milk a (robotic) cow and even try on some udders for size. Each station has instructions in Luxembourgish, French, German and English and it is well worth booking a tour in advance in your language of choice. As part of the tour you can even go and see inside the factory, and at the end of your visit you have the chance to sample the goods!

Vitarium has very cool holiday activities for children including cookery workshops! You can also celebrate your birthday here!

Where: Luxlait Association Agricole, L-7759 Roost (map)

When: Wednesday to Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm- guided tours (with reservation) at 10am/2pm and 4pm. Tuesday afternoons for kids’ birthdays/groups only (during Covid, reservations are mandatory!)

Cost: Price list here.

*Check opening times/booking policies before heading out as things are always changing in the times of Covid.