This route treats Luxembourg as a real stop, not just a train change — there’s enough to see in Luxembourg City to justify slowing down for it, whether that’s on the way out to Trier or on the way back to Metz.

At a glance

  • The route: Metz → Luxembourg City (real sightseeing time, not just a connection) → Trier (2 nights) → back to Metz. Luxembourg City works just as well on the return leg instead, if you’d rather arrive in Trier without a stop first.
  • How long you need: A weekend — a few hours in Luxembourg City either on the way out or on the way back, two full nights in Trier.
  • Best time to go: Spring or early autumn — mild weather, and specifically better for avoiding the crowds that build up around Porta Nigra and Trier’s other major sites later in the day and in peak summer.
  • Budget: Hotels run around €70/night. Food is roughly €15-20 per person per meal. For sightseeing in Trier, get the AntikenCard — €18 covers four major Roman sites (Porta Nigra, the Imperial Baths, the Barbara Baths, and the Roman Amphitheatre) plus the Landesmuseum, working out cheaper than paying for each individually.
  • Getting there: Luxembourg is under an hour from Metz by direct train. Trier is a short onward hop from Luxembourg. Luxembourg City works equally well as a stop on the way out or on the way back — pick whichever fits your energy levels better.

The route

Luxembourg City is worth genuinely stopping for rather than just changing trains — whether you build that stop into the outbound leg to Trier or save it for the way back to Metz. The Old Quarters and Fortifications are UNESCO World Heritage listed, and the Bock Casemates — a network of underground fortification tunnels carved into the rock — are a genuinely unusual thing to walk through. The Grand Ducal Palace and the Chemin de la Corniche, a scenic walkway along the old fortified ramparts sometimes called “Europe’s most beautiful balcony,” round out a few hours well spent either direction.

Trier is Germany’s oldest city, and it shows — this is one of the best places north of the Alps to see genuinely intact Roman heritage. Porta Nigra, the “Black Gate,” is the largest surviving Roman city gate anywhere north of the Alps, built around 170 AD and later repurposed as a church before being restored to its Roman form. Beyond it, the Imperial Baths, the Barbara Baths, and the Roman Amphitheatre round out the AntikenCard’s four sites, and the city’s old town — also UNESCO-listed alongside the Roman monuments — is worth a slow wander in its own right, especially around the Hauptmarkt.

Frequently asked questions

Is Luxembourg City worth stopping for, or should I just change trains and continue to Trier? Worth stopping for — the Bock Casemates and the Old Quarters’ UNESCO-listed fortifications are a genuinely worthwhile few hours, not just a rushed layover.

Should I stop in Luxembourg City on the way to Trier, or on the way back to Metz? Either works equally well — there’s no real advantage to one direction over the other, so pick based on whether you’d rather ease into the trip with a few hours in Luxembourg first, or unwind there on the way home.

What does the AntikenCard actually cover? Four major Roman sites in Trier (Porta Nigra, the Imperial Baths, the Barbara Baths, and the Roman Amphitheatre) plus the Landesmuseum, for €18 — cheaper than paying for each site separately.

How many days do I need in Trier? 2 nights is a comfortable amount of time to see the Roman sites and the old town without rushing.

What’s the best time of year for this trip? Spring or early autumn — mild weather, and noticeably fewer crowds around Porta Nigra and the other major sites than in peak summer.

Want this route adjusted for your dates, or built out as part of a longer European trip? Tell me what you’re looking for and I’ll put together a real plan.