Winter in Luxembourg
Winter in Luxembourg is a magical time, when the country’s scenic landscapes transform under a blanket of frost and snow, and the capital city lights up with festive cheer. While the season is known for its chilly weather, it’s also a time when Luxembourg’s unique blend of old-world charm and modern vibrancy shines the brightest. Whether you're a fan of cozy indoor experiences or outdoor winter sports, Luxembourg offers a variety of activities to enjoy during the colder months.
Luxembourg City Christmas market
Luxembourg’s Christmas markets transform the Grand Duchy into a magical winter wonderland every year, offering a perfect blend of tradition, festive cheer, and cultural charm. As soon as the holiday season begins, Luxembourg City and its surroundings light up with twinkling lights, festive decorations, and the scent of mulled wine and gingerbread filling the air.
The Luxembourg City Christmas Market, known locally as “Winterlights,” is one of the country's main attractions. Held across several squares, including Place d'Armes, Place de la Constitution, and Place Guillaume II, the market creates a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. Each square has its own theme, offering different experiences for visitors. Stroll through stalls selling handcrafted gifts, artisanal products, and festive treats while enjoying live music performances and carolers. Traditional wooden chalets display a variety of items such as ornaments, winter clothing, and holiday trinkets, making it a great place to find unique Christmas gifts.
One of the highlights is the Gromperekichelcher stand, where you can indulge in crispy potato fritters, a local specialty, often paired with a warm mug of Glühwein (mulled wine) to ward off the winter chill. Other delicacies like sausages, waffles, and roasted chestnuts are must-tries as well. For those with a sweet tooth, Luxembourg’s markets offer a range of festive pastries like Stollen and Luxembourgish Christmas cookies called Boxemännchen, shaped like little men and typically made from spiced dough.
Children will love the traditional rides, including a nostalgic carousel, ice skating rinks, and the chance to visit Santa Claus in his cozy chalet. The entire city comes alive with festive activities, from ice sculptures to light shows that illuminate the city's stunning architecture.
Venturing beyond the capital, smaller towns like Echternach and Clervaux also host their own charming Christmas markets, offering a more intimate and traditional experience. Here, local artisans showcase their craftsmanship, and the emphasis is on the authentic holiday spirit of the region.
Luxembourg’s Christmas markets are a magical experience for anyone looking to get into the holiday spirit. Whether you're visiting for the food, the festive atmosphere, or the chance to find unique gifts, Luxembourg offers something special for every visitor during this time of year.
Visiting Luxembourg City Winterlights
The Winterlights festival this year is open from the 22nd of November 2024 until the 1st of January 2025 so any visitor will have ample time to experience the spirit of Christmas.
The festival transforms Luxembourg City into a true winter wonderland complete with Christmas markets all across the city (there are 5 in total, just in the city of Luxembourg). Besides the markets, there are also concerts, exhibitions and performances plus there are regular workshops aimed at children.
In the 100 chalets set up in the city centre and Gare neighbourhood, your holiday dreams will finally come true and you will have the opportunity of getting unique Christmas decorations, craft products, toys, clothes, jewellery, confectionery, food and drinks and try out rides with the entire family.
You will be able to marvel in all of these at the following spots:
•"Lëtzebuerger Chrëschtmaart" on the Place d'Armes
•"Knuedler on Ice" on Place Guillaume II
•"Wantermaart" on the Place de la Constitution
•"Niklosmaart" at Place de Paris
•"Solidaritéitsmaart" in the Grand-Rue at Roude Pëtz
Walking from market to market, while discovering the the city’s marvelous squares and streets, you will be accompanied by colorful light installations and twinkling fairy lights which set the city aglow and have the potential to cover you in a warm, peaceful happiness, only known to those who are in love with this particular holiday season.
So get yourself a mulled wine, enjoy some fresh potato pancakes (Gromperekichelcher) and even get a ride on the enormous, glowy Ferris Wheel situated at the Place de la Constitution!
Quaint and charming Christmas Markets in Luxembourg
Once you leave behind the glorious festivities of the Winterlights in Luxembourg, you can still dip your toes into smaller, more intimate Christmas Markets in pictoresque little towns such as Differdange, Clervaux, Ettelbruck and Echternach.
These have their very own charm and should be experienced at least once in a lifetime. Due to the fact that the organizing communities are smaller, you will have the chance to mingle with the locals, experience their heartfelt hospitality and try specific, regional delicacies right from their origins - the way these should be experienced.
The Clervaux market for example enchants with the promise of a Winter Wonderland, where you and your family will find yourselves encapsulated by the beauty of winter during two weekends in December: from the 2nd to the 4th of December and on the 11th of December, complete with a charming Christmas Market.
Take a leisurely walk through town, get a hot cup of expertly spiced mulled wine, fill your pockets with traditional winter specialities such as hot chestnuts and enjoy the entertaining seasonal programme. The market itself will have everything you might need for decorating your home for the holidays and even handmade, special christmas gifts you won’t be able to find anywhere else. It is also a great way of offering support for local craftsmen, small business and people who to this day create products by using traditions which are hundreds of years old.
Here is a list of Christmas markets in Luxembourg full of small-town charm:
•Christmas Market in Differdange
•Dudelange Medieval Christmas Market
•Eechternoacher Chrëstmoart
•Christmas Market Esch-sur-Alzette
Other activities in Luxembourg during winter
In addition to the festive markets, the city’s cultural institutions, such as the Musée d'Histoire de la Ville de Luxembourg and the Mudam Museum, provide warm escapes with their fascinating exhibitions. Many cafés and restaurants in the old town offer a chance to warm up and sample Luxembourgish winter cuisine, with hearty dishes like Judd mat Gaardebounen (smoked pork with broad beans) and Bouneschlupp (bean soup) perfect for combating the cold.
Winter sports and outdoor activities
For those who prefer outdoor adventures, Luxembourg’s winter months offer opportunities for skiing, snowshoeing, and hiking. The Oesling region, located in the Ardennes, is known for its hilly terrain, and during snowy periods, its landscapes turn into prime spots for cross-country skiing and tobogganing. If the snow isn't as heavy, the Ardennes remain a beautiful area to explore on foot, with well-marked trails offering panoramic views of valleys and villages dusted with snow.
The Upper Sûre Lake and Mullerthal region—known as Luxembourg’s Little Switzerland—are also popular for winter hikes. Although the terrain can be challenging, the frozen waterfalls and dramatic rock formations make it a rewarding experience for those seeking winter solitude and breathtaking scenery.
A taste of Luxembourg in winter
Winter in Luxembourg wouldn’t be complete without sampling the country's seasonal food and drinks. Traditional winter meals often feature game meats, such as venison and wild boar, which are locally sourced and served with rich sauces and root vegetables. For dessert, Luxembourg’s bakeries offer a range of festive sweets like Boxemännchen, the spiced brioche bread shaped like Saint Nicholas, and Quetschentaart, a plum tart that is a staple of Luxembourgish winter cuisine.
Warm drinks are also a highlight of the winter season. Apart from the ubiquitous Glühwein (mulled wine), you’ll find Eierpunsch—a Luxembourgish version of eggnog—served at markets and in cafés. The local beer and wine culture also shines during the winter, with regional wineries producing a variety of seasonal white wines and crémants, perfect for cozying up indoors.
Winter Wonderland beyond the capital
While Luxembourg City is a winter wonderland in its own right, many of the country’s smaller towns and villages offer an equally picturesque winter experience. Towns like Vianden, with its stunning hilltop castle, and Echternach, the oldest city in Luxembourg, exude old-world charm, enhanced by winter’s quiet beauty. The calm streets, historical landmarks, and surrounding nature make these towns perfect for a peaceful winter escape.
Shopping in Luxembourg during Christmas
Shopping in Luxembourg during Christmas is a unique experience, combining the elegance of high-end boutiques with the charm of festive markets. Whether you’re in search of luxury goods, artisanal crafts, or one-of-a-kind holiday gifts, Luxembourg offers a wide variety of options to satisfy every shopper's needs during the holiday season.
Luxurious shopping in the capital
For those seeking high-end shopping, Luxembourg City is home to some of the most prestigious international and local brands. The Avenue de la Liberté and the Grand-Rue are the city’s main shopping streets, where you’ll find luxury fashion houses, designer boutiques, and jewelry stores. Stores like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Hermès are nestled among charming cafés and restaurants, allowing for a stylish shopping experience.
In addition to fashion, the city offers several department stores like Galeries Lafayette, where shoppers can find a wide range of goods, from designer clothing to cosmetics, home décor, and gourmet food items. During the Christmas season, these stores are beautifully decorated with festive lights and window displays, creating a holiday atmosphere perfect for browsing.
Festive markets for unique gifts
One of the highlights of Christmas shopping in Luxembourg is exploring its Christmas markets, where you can find handcrafted goods and festive treats. The Winterlights Festival turns Luxembourg City into a magical shopping destination, with market stalls set up across Place d'Armes, Place de la Constitution, and Place Guillaume II.
Here, you can shop for unique, artisanal gifts like handmade ornaments, candles, and traditional Christmas decorations. Local artisans sell beautifully crafted goods, including jewelry, leather goods, and wooden toys, making it a perfect spot to find thoughtful and personal presents. Many of these items are made locally, adding an authentic touch to your Christmas shopping.
Beyond gifts, the markets are also a great place to indulge in Luxembourgish holiday delicacies. Traditional treats like Gromperekichelcher (potato fritters), Luxembourgish honey, and festive baked goods like Stollen or Boxemännchen are widely available, and can also be purchased to take home as gifts or to enjoy later.
Gourmet treats and local specialties
No Christmas shopping experience in Luxembourg is complete without indulging in the country's rich food and wine culture. The Luxembourg City Christmas Market and local gourmet shops are filled with festive culinary treats, perfect for gifting or bringing home to share. You can find artisanal chocolates, regional wines, and delicacies like Luxembourgish mustard and Luxembourg Crémant, the country’s sparkling wine, which make for thoughtful and sophisticated gifts.
In addition, many gourmet stores and markets sell Kachkéis (cooked cheese), locally produced honey, and jams, which are ideal for creating bespoke holiday gift baskets.
Vianden Christmas market
The Vianden Christmas Market offers one of the most enchanting holiday experiences in Luxembourg, set against the backdrop of the town’s stunning medieval castle and nestled in the picturesque Our Valley. Known for its charming, small-town atmosphere and historic allure, Vianden becomes even more magical during the Christmas season, as the town is transformed into a winter wonderland of lights, festive cheer, and local traditions.
Vianden is famous for its Vianden Castle, one of the largest and most well-preserved feudal castles in Europe. Perched on a hilltop overlooking the town, the castle adds a fairytale-like charm to the Christmas market experience. During the holiday season, the castle is often illuminated with festive lights, creating a dramatic and festive backdrop to the market below.
The market itself takes place in the heart of the town, often in the area near the castle or in the Ancien Cinéma, a cultural hub that hosts various events. The cozy, narrow streets of Vianden are lined with wooden chalets selling everything from handcrafted gifts to seasonal treats, while the scent of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts fills the air.
Besides the Christmas market, in 2024, during Advent and Christmas season, the Knights' Hall of the castle will host an enchanting display of handcrafted Christmas ornaments and related works, created by artists from around the world.
Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in the magical blend of tradition, imagination, and artistic craftsmanship, all conveying the spirit of light, joy, and generosity. Exhibition dates: December 14, 2024 – January 5, 2025.
Domaine la Sapinière - a moment captured in a snowglobe
All of this Christmas spirit can be heightened even more by choosing the ideal place to stay during your visit to Luxembourg. The perfect place to call home for a few days should be far away from crowds and close to nature and to the snowy landscape if December decides to bless us with a “postcard Christmas” this year.
Domaine la Sapinière is a cozy holiday park located in Hosingen, Luxembourg very close to Clervaux. The wintery hills of the area offer a dreamy backdrop to a place where you can snuggle up and celebrate Christmas with friends and family.
Here, you can be sure nobody holds back when it comes to Christmas. The holiday park goes all out when it comes to creating a fabulous winter wonderland complete with lights and decoration, showcasing an atmosphere similar to a perfect winter moment captured in a snowglobe.
The holiday park offers houses of many different sizes, so it can be the ideal spot for a couple looking for a romantic Christmas stay but can also host families with 3 or 4 members friend groups of 6 or even 8 and 16 people in a single comfortable holiday home with everything a person may need during their stay.
No matter how many people you have in your immediate family or friends group, you all have the chance to spend that picture-perfect holiday in the heart of magical Luxembourg.
Pack your bags, tell Santa your address for the holidays and spend some happy moments with your loved ones.
