Luxembourg

A weekend circuit to Antwerp — doable from Metz, Paris, Amsterdam, or Luxembourg — with Billie's Bier Kafétaria for beer lovers, plus Brussels, Bruges, and Ghent all worth adding.

Duration

A weekend covers Antwerp itself comfortably. Extend to a long weekend if you want to add Brussels, Bruges, or Ghent.

Best time

Spring (March-May) or fall (September-October) — the shoulder seasons offer mild weather, fewer crowds, and cheaper rates than summer's peak pricing.

Budget

Around €80/night for a double hotel room, plus roughly €20 per person per meal.

Getting around

No direct train from Metz — you'll change at Luxembourg, with the full journey to Antwerp taking somewhat longer than the equivalent Brussels route given the extra distance north. This route also works well as a weekend trip from Amsterdam (roughly 1h15, direct — the fastest gateway by far), Paris (roughly 2 hours, direct), or Luxembourg (roughly 3.25-3.75 hours) — see the note below.

A weekend circuit to Brussels — doable from Metz, Paris, Amsterdam, or Luxembourg — with Delirium Café for beer lovers, plus Antwerp, Waterloo, Namur, Bruges, and Ghent all worth adding.

Duration

A weekend covers Brussels itself comfortably. Extend to a long weekend if you want to add Waterloo, Namur, Bruges, or Ghent.

Best time

Spring (March-May) or fall (September-October) — the shoulder seasons offer mild weather, fewer crowds, and cheaper rates than summer's peak pricing.

Budget

Around €80/night for a double hotel room, plus roughly €20 per person per meal. We got a Brussels Card for our two days, which covers free entry to around 47-49 museums and attractions across the city (we used it for about 5 places ourselves), with public transport available as an add-on option.

Getting around

No direct train from Metz — you'll change at Luxembourg. The full Metz-to-Brussels journey runs roughly 3.5-4.5 hours depending on connections. This route also works well as a weekend trip from Amsterdam (roughly 2 hours, direct), Paris (roughly 1h22, direct — the fastest gateway of them all), or Luxembourg (roughly 2.5-3 hours, direct) — see the note below.

A weekend from Metz to Germany's oldest city, Trier, with real time to explore Luxembourg City on the way there or back — Roman ruins, a UNESCO old town, and the AntikenCard's four major sites.

Duration

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

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 around

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.