Worth getting out of bed for...

Viewpoint

Stand at the entrance to the Casemates and survey the river, gorges, and the Grund.

Arts and culture

Watch an opera or play at the Grand Théâtre (+352 47 96 39 00; www.theatres.lu) at 9 place du Théâtre. The Philharmonie (+352 26 32 26 32; www.philharmonie.lu), set in a stately building at the Place de l’Europe, runs an impressive programme of performances. Another of Luxembourg’s cultural big guns is the Musée National d’Histoire d’Art (+352 47 93 301; www.mnha.public.lu) at Marché-aux-Poissons; for something more modern, take a trip to the Nosbaum & Reding Gallery (+352 26 19 05 55; www.nosbaumreding.lu) at 4 rue Wiltheim.

Something for nothing

Go for a stroll along the banks of the Alzette river, admiring the cliff face, the fortress and the resident ducks.

Shopping

Smets (+352 31 07 71 1) at 262-266 route d’Arlon is a luxury concept store with plenty of tempting boutiques, including American Vintage, J-Brand, Maje and Prada. Browse furniture and furnishings by Armani Casa, B&B Italia and Giorgetti in Mobilier Bonn (+352 22 32 01; www.bonn.lu) at 9 rue Philippe II, in the town centre.

Daytripper

Become an oenophile, with a tour of the Moselle Valley wineries. Sip some riesling, pinot gris, pinot noir and elbling, and admire the valley’s views (if you can still see clearly).

Perfect picnic

Drive 20 minutes out of the city centre to Petite Suisse, east of Luxembourg. This ‘Little Switzerland’ encompasses forests, caves, streams and a lake, and is an obvious choice for picnics, hikes and rambles.

Walks

The Wenzel Circular Walk promises to deliver ‘1,000 years in 100 minutes’. Slightly suspect mathematics aside, this guided tour focuses on two of the city’s crowd pleasers: the Casemates and the Alzette Valley. Groups set off at 3pm sharp on Saturdays (www.lcto.lu).

Children

Take your brood to Mudam (+352 45 37 85 1; www.mudam.lu), Luxembourg’s museum of modern art, at 3 parc Dräi Eechelen. There are plenty of activities and workshops for children. The museum is worth visiting for the food alone, so have a pit stop in the cafe.

Activities

Watch an opera or play at the Grand Théâtre (+352 47 96 39 00; www.theatres.lu) at 9 place du Théâtre. The Philharmonie (+352 26 32 26 32; www.philharmonie.lu), set in a stately building at the Place de l’Europe, runs an impressive programme of performances. Another of Luxembourg’s cultural big guns is the Musée National d’Histoire d’Art (+352 47 93 301; www.mnha.public.lu) at Marché-aux-Poissons; modernists will like Nosbaum & Reding Gallery (+352 26 19 05 55; www.nosbaumreding.lu).

And

Luxembourg has been a grand duchy since 15 March 1815. Henri Albert Gabriel Félix Marie Guillaume is the current incumbent.