The heart of Europe: Four affordable options for a quick getaway from Luxembourg

Due to its small size, it is very easy to travel quickly from Luxembourg to one of the four surrounding countries. So why not take advantage of it while you're studying in Luxembourg? Here are four relatively affordable options that can be seen over a weekend or perhaps even in one day.

BELGIUM – Brussels

For only €10, you can buy a train ticket at CFL International to travel to Brussels. And after three hours, you will arrive in the capital of Belgium , the de facto capital of the European Union. It is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city known for its rich historical heritage and diverse cultural scene. So, it would be worth it to stay the night and also explore the nightlife of Brussels — for example, the jam sessions and live music at Sounds.

Every morning there is a flea market on Place du Jeu de Balle where you can find some cool souvenirs to bring home from your trip. During the day, it is worth checking out the street art, which is spread all over the city, giving the city an artistic flair. The Marolles neighbourhood in particular features a diverse collection of art, from graffiti to murals to sculptures, installations, and more.

FRANCE – Strasbourg

In three hours, you can also take the Flixbus to Strasbourg. If you book in advance, you can get to the capital of Alsace for only 12€. Strasbourg impresses with its beautiful half-timbered houses along the river Ill, which are adorned with many flowers, especially in spring and summer.

I personally really enjoyed my visit to the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art and the Parc de l'Orangerie. You should also take advantage of being in Alsace to eat a typical tarte flambée made in Alsace and all the other delicious Alsatian food.

© Auriane Möck

GERMANY – Trier

Did you ever notice Bus 306 in Belval going to Trier? Why not just hop on it and make a day trip to Trier? A bus ticket costs €3, and the bus goes back and forth between Belval and Trier the whole day during the weekdays. On Saturdays, you can also take the 303 from Kirchberg Luxexpo.

In Trier's city centre, in addition to the normal shopping streets, there are several well-preserved Roman buildings, which are also UNESCO World Heritage sites. Also, if history isn't your thing, you can go on a wine tour while you are in the Moselle wine region, or you can take a short hike to the Sirzen waterfall (Sirzenicher Wasserfall) past the Marian column (Mariensäule).

Alternatively, you can enjoy a shopping day in Trier, which tends to be less expensive than in Luxembourg. Every other Saturday, there is also a flea market at the Messepark Trier. Before you take the bus back to Luxembourg, you can round off the evening in a bar right on the Moselle, Moselsperle Trier (open in the summer months), or you could go to one of the events offered by Mergener Hof or Zuppermarket, like comedy or poetry slams.

© Auriane Möck

NETHERLANDS – Maastricht

In addition to the three direct neighbouring countries, you are able to travel to the Netherlands quite quickly. In just three hours, you can take the Flixbus for €12 to Maastricht, the southernmost student-friendly city in the Netherlands. You can hire a bike directly at the train station and explore the city the traditional Dutch way. While cycling through the city, I suggest paying attention to the bells of the town hall tower ringing every half hour.

Maybe you'll be able to recognise the song since the carillon, which consists of 49 bells, always plays different pieces of music, like Schiller’s Ode to Joy or John Cage's In a Landscape. If you enjoy bookstores or appreciate repurposed old architectural structures transformed into contemporary designs, you should check out the Boekhandel Dominicanen.

Roux Magazine

Roux Magazine is made by students at the University of Luxembourg. We love their work, so we decided to team up with them and bring some of their articles to our audience as well. You can find all of their issues on Issuu.