Luxembourg turned out to be perfect for a short family escape: compact, beautiful and ridiculously easy to enjoy. We started in one of Luxembourg City’s leafy parks, where the main attraction was a giant wooden pirate ship. The kids got adventure, ropes and climbing; we got a few peaceful minutes with our feet up. Everybody won.

From there we wandered into the elegant city centre, past café terraces, pedestrian streets and grand buildings around Place d’Armes and Place Guillaume II. Luxembourg has that polished European-capital look, but without feeling overwhelming. One moment you’re admiring historic façades, the next you’re discussing where to find something sweet. This is exactly the kind of cultural balance our family understands.

Then the city suddenly opened into the green Pétrusse Valley. Huge trees filled the gorge below, stone bridges crossed high above it, and the famous Adolphe Bridge looked spectacular against the dramatic sky. Luxembourg is surprisingly vertical: streets, parks, towers and bridges seem stacked on top of each other, creating new views every few minutes.

We finished by hopping onto Luxembourg’s sleek tram and letting the city glide past the windows. Public transport here is free, which makes spontaneous exploring even better. By the end, Luxembourg had completely charmed us: pirate ships, grand squares, green valleys, handsome architecture and effortless family sightseeing, all packed into one wonderfully small country.