Luxembourg

Luxembourg’s Bock Casemates tunnel 17 kilometers through cliffs where 35,000 soldiers once hid during sieges—today’s guided tours ($8/adult) lead families through gun galleries and underground bakeries that fascinate history-loving teenagers while younger children pretend to defend Europe’s “Gibraltar of the North.” The clifftop Chemin de la Corniche walkway provides Europe’s “most beautiful balcony” overlooking Grund district where medieval houses cluster along the Alzette River. Hotel Le Place d’Armes ($450/night) positions families at the capital’s heart where Saturday markets fill squares with local cheeses and Moselle wines.

Vianden Castle commands hilltop views where chairlift rides ($7 roundtrip) spare small legs the climb while delivering panoramic vistas of Our Valley. The restored medieval fortress hosts summer knight tournaments that mesmerize children watching sword fights and falconry displays. Victor Hugo’s house museum reveals where the exiled writer sketched the castle 20 times during his 1871 stay.

Mullerthal’s “Little Switzerland” creates natural playground where Schiessentümpel waterfall cascades over moss-covered rocks—Instagram paradise for teenagers. The 6-kilometer Mullerthal Trail Route 2 winds through rock labyrinths and narrow gorges manageable for fit grandparents and adventurous children. Free nationwide public transport makes exploration budget-friendly while Echternach’s dancing procession (Whit Tuesday) provides Europe’s last traditional hopping pilgrimage.