Luxembourg City

Luxembourg City, capital of the tiny Grand Duchy, is one of Europe's most dramatically situated cities, its historic heart perched atop sheer sandstone cliffs above the deep, green gorges of the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers. Once among the most formidable fortresses on the continent, earning it the name Gibraltar of the North, its old town and vast defences are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Elegant squares, the Grand Ducal Palace and the cathedral crown the heights, while ramparts, viaducts and the lower Grund quarter fill the valleys below.

What you actually see

• The Chemin de la Corniche - the rampart walk, Europe's most beautiful balcony.
• The Grand Ducal Palace - the ornate official residence.
• The Grund - the picturesque lower town in the gorge.
• The old town squares - the Place d'Armes and cathedral.

When to go

April to October, for mild weather and green gorges; the city is lovely in autumn colour and festive in December with Christmas markets. The scenic clifftop walks and valley quarters are best enjoyed on foot in fine weather. Public transport nationwide is free.

Honest expectations

It is a small, wealthy, rather buttoned-up capital, quiet in the evenings and pricey, more a place of scenic strolls and history than buzzing nightlife or major museums, so a day or two suffices for most. Its compact size, though, and its extraordinary setting of cliffs, gorges, ramparts and bridges make it genuinely spectacular and unlike any other European capital.

Nearby

The Bock Casemates, the Mullerthal and the Moselle valley are within reach.