Luxembourg is Europe’s seventh-smallest country by size, and its capital, Luxembourg City, has a population of just 136,000. Unfortunately, many European-bound tourists avoid Luxembourg, perhaps due to its size or because its closest neighbors — France, Belgium and Germany — get more exposure.

However, Luxembourg is quite beautiful and Luxembourg City a flourishing European city with 24 distinct quarters. Throughout the city you’ll find numerous parks; cultural attractions; excellent restaurants; historical and modern buildings; and a large, free, glass elevator. Although trains, trams and buses are free for residents and visitors, Luxembourg City remains one of Europe’s best walking cities and boasts a large, multilingual population.

Panoramic Elevator in Pfaffenthal © Thomas Linkel / Visit Luxembourg

The Ville Haute quarter (Old Town), in the city center, houses the Grand Ducal Palace, Notre-Dame Cathedral and several museums, including the interesting Luxembourg City History Museum. Not surprisingly, this quarter is one of several UNESCO World Heritage sites. The boutique hotel Le Place d’Armes lies close to the Cathedral and features elegant Art Deco décor and a 24-hour reception.

A good restaurant in this quarter, Brasserie du Cercle, serves everything from fresh fish to meat dishes. From December through January it transforms into a Swiss mountain chalet serving Alpine cuisine, including tartiflette, cheese fondue and raclette, in a cozy setting, Close to Ville Haute find the Pfaffenthal quarter, easily reached via the Panoramic Elevator, providing a pleasant shortcut for pedestrians and bicyclists between the upper and lower parts of the city. This lovely quarter abounds with interesting shops and residential housing, and the Panoramic Elevator, with its beautiful views, provides perennial amusement.

Plateau de Kirchberg, a new, upscale quarter, boasts busy Avenue John F. Kennedy, lined with banks, restaurants and shops. Popular cultural venues sit close to each other, accessed by taxi or tram. LuxExpo The Box, a busy event and conference center, lies just minutes from the prestigious Philharmonie Luxembourg, itself just a few minutes’ ride to Mudam – The Contemporary Art Museum of Luxembourg — a beautiful building designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect I.M. Pei in 2006.

© Brasserie du Cercle

The Grund quarter features some of Luxembourg’s oldest and most historic buildings, dating to the 14th century and owned by wealthy Luxembourgish families. Explore along the banks of the Alzette River by taking the Ascenseur Elevator Plateau St. Esprit Grund on Plateau du Saint-Esprit, which leads into Grund. (Yes, Luxembourg City boasts two free public elevators.)

The old brewery area of Rives de Clausen stands as a lively and picturesque destination along the river in Grund. Known for its vibrant nightlife, the area features a waterfront promenade and nice views of the river. It proves a favorite among locals and tourists with its variety of bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

The most populated quarter, Gare, is named after Luxembourg’s main rail station. Gare Centrale de Luxembourg serves as a hub for domestic and international rail services, connecting Luxembourg City to Belgium, France, Germany and beyond.