Luxembourg Christmas Market Day Trip

Every year, I try to squeeze in at least one festive getaway, and this time I went for a Luxembourg Christmas market day trip. One of the perks of living in London is having easy access to flights all over Europe, even to the smaller cities, so a spontaneous Christmas market adventure is always an option. Last year I flew to Bremen, and this year Luxembourg was calling my name.

To be honest, I wasn’t sure I’d make it because I felt really unwell the day before. But I woke up feeling much better, and since I hadn’t eaten for about 40 hours by the time I reached the markets, my stomach was definitely ready for all the festive food. The flight from London is only an hour, so a Luxembourg Christmas market day trip is an easy and fun option if you’re looking for something different. Even though it rained non-stop, I still had such a great time!

Since the GBP–EUR rate is basically identical right now, I’m keeping everything in pounds for this post.

✈️ Travel Costs

Price: £53.67 return fare

I booked in September and got a great deal, though the 6am flight meant leaving my house at 1am to catch the bus to Stansted Airport (which, let’s be honest, is not in London). Luckily Ryanair behaved; it was a smooth boarding process, and the pilot seemed determined to get going ASAP.

🎄Wantermaart (Place de la Constitution)

This was hands-down my favourite spot and where I spent the most time during my Luxembourg Christmas market day trip. It’s probably the most popular market thanks to the huge ferris wheel that looks magical as the sun sets. It’s very family-friendly with rides and a few seating areas (though finding an empty chair isn’t easy) It opens around midday on weekends, so I explored a few spots before making my way there.

🌭Bratwurst

Bratwurst Price: £5.50

It wouldn’t be a Christmas market without eating my beloved bratwurst! It’s my non-negotiable yearly tradition. There was a big stall selling bratwurst, currywurst, and mettwurst. I really should have ordered a mettwurst as I’ve never tried it before. The queue was long (around 15 minutes). They even had a digital kiosk where you could order and pay before joining the same long queue. Not necessarily worth it, but it could be helpful if you want to see pictures of the sausages and know what they are called.

🔥Feuerzangenbowle

Feuerzangenbowle price: £8 (excluding the cup deposit)

This was the highlight of my Luxembourg Christmas market day trip. I’ve been wanting to try Feuerzangenbowle since last year, when I couldn’t find it in Bremen. It’s mulled wine with a twist: a rum-soaked sugar loaf is placed on top of your cup and set on fire, melting into the drink. It’s delicious…but wow…also very strong! My head was spinning for around 1 hour, so I had to go and get more food to try and soak up the alcohol in my stomach.

🥟Knödel

Knödel price: £7

I usually love Knödel, and my first time trying them was in Austria. This one was definitely a miss. They only had one flavour (spinach), and it was bland even with cheese on top. Also, paying £7 for one small dumpling… is questionable. The stall was always empty, which should’ve been a warning. But at least they had covered seating, which was very needed while I recovered from that flaming rum drink. I sat down for an hour and did some reflecting.

🕯️Souvenirs

Luxembourg’s markets are definitely more food-focused, but I did come across a cute stall selling beeswax candles, tree ornaments, and beeswax cosmetics. They also had mini bottles of honey wine and hot honey wine for around £5. Aside from that, I only spotted three more non-food stalls: one with jewellery, one with snow globes, and another with wool scarves and socks.

🎄The Christmas Tree

This Christmas market has the biggest tree I’ve ever seen! According to Google, this Christmas tree is 13 metres tall. I got a photo with it, but my eyes were unfortunately closed. But hey, travel isn’t perfect, and this is sometimes what you get when relying on strangers for photos. It still looks cute!

🍷Weißer Glühwein

Weißer Glühwein price: £5

I saw so many people drinking white mulled wine, and I wanted to try it too. I’ve had it once before in France, and it was delicious. This one did not disappoint either. I actually prefer white mulled wine because it tastes smoother and a little weaker than the red one. With all hot drinks at the Christmas markets, you pay a deposit for the cup and get the money back when you return it. The deposit was £5 for all hot drinks I had in Luxembourg. Sometimes tourists leave the deposit and choose to keep the cup as a souvenir. I have done it many times in other countries. This cup was cute, so I did actually contemplate keeping it, but I only had a handbag because it was heavy.

🧀Raclette

Raclette price: £12

Raclette is usually an easy win for me, especially after trying it in Switzerland. But this one was average. The cheese was fresh and delicious, but the potatoes tasted like they’d been sitting around for two days. I still ate them because I hate wasting food, but I wouldn’t get raclette again from there.

🎅Lëtzebuerger Chrëschtmaart

This market was beautifully decorated at the entrance and only a five-minute walk from the first one. It was crowded…like shoulder-to-shoulder crowded. It’s much smaller, and you can see the whole thing in 20 minutes. Most stalls were food again, but there was a lovely walk-in stall selling Christmas baubles.

🍷Glühwein

Glühwein price: £5

For my final drink of the day, I went classic with a red Glühwein. Thankfully this one wasn’t too strong. There wasn’t much shelter, so I hovered near the cash register to avoid the rain.

✨Nativity Scene

This market had an impressively large nativity display. Loads of people were taking photos, and it added a lovely festive touch.

🥞Poffertjes

Poffertjes price: £4.50

To end my Luxembourg Christmas market day trip on a sweet note, I got poffertjes. These are mini Dutch pancakes that are light and fluffy. Most people went for the Nutella topping, but I chose powdered sugar and butter, which was perfect. The 25-minute queue was absolutely worth it.

Tips for Your Luxembourg Christmas Market Day Trip

• Cup deposits
Most hot drinks come in reusable souvenir mugs, and you’ll need to pay a deposit (usually around £5). You’ll get it back when you return the cup, but if you want to keep one as a souvenir, just don’t return the cup. Or you can return it and ask for a clean one to keep instead (I have done that before).

• Take advantage of Luxembourg’s free public transport
One of the best things about Luxembourg is that all public transport within the country is free! buses, trams, and trains. You can hop between markets and the airport without spending a penny.

• Get there early to beat the crowds
The markets fill up fast, especially Wantermaart. Arriving earlier in the day gives you space to explore, take photos, and enjoy food before the queues get long.

• Plan indoor attractions in case of rain
Luxembourg’s weather can be unpredictable, so have a few indoor options ready:
– Musée d’Art Moderne (MUDAM)
– Lëtzebuerg City Museum
– Cafés around Place d’Armes
– The underground Bock Casemates (if they’re open)

• Use the airport’s free charging lockers
Luxembourg Airport has free secure charging lockers for your phone. Perfect if you’re doing a same-day trip and relying on maps, camera, and mobile boarding passes.

• Bring an umbrella (even if the forecast lies)
It’s worth packing a small umbrella. Even light drizzle can feel heavy when you’re outdoors all day.

• Eat where the locals are
A simple but reliable rule: if a stall has a long queue, the food is probably worth it. If it’s empty… maybe keep walking.

• Bring gloves
Between holding mugs, taking photos, and walking in the cold, your hands will get chilly fast. Gloves are a lifesaver.

• Take screenshots of your return boarding pass
If your phone battery dips, it’s reassuring to have your boarding pass saved offline.

• Allow plenty of time for airport security
If you’re travelling outside of the EU and don’t hold an EU passport, you may be in for a long wait. Most of us on my flight were British and the queue to get to our gate was long as we had to have our photo and fingerprints taken (both on arrival and departure). This meant that some people were still stuck in the security queue to reach the gate while the plane was already boarding.

My Luxembourg Christmas market day trip honestly exceeded my expectations. Even with the rain and the early start, I had a great time exploring the markets, trying new foods, and soaking up the festive atmosphere. It feels like the best of both worlds as its a diverse city, but you also get the blend of both French and German influences in the Luxembourgish culture & food.