Luxury and tourism in the Upper Town district

Located in the heart of Luxembourg City, the Center or Upper Town district is one of the liveliest areas of the Luxembourg capital.

This district of Luxembourg combines the old town (Altstadt) and the upper town (Oberstadt). Considered the smallest district in Luxembourg, the Center district is mainly dedicated to services, shops, and luxury boutiques. With its green spaces, beautiful buildings, and cultural offerings, it is a very touristy district.

The Ville-Haute harmoniously combines historical richness, commercial dynamism, and quality of life, making it a must-see for residents and visitors to Luxembourg.

Population of the Upper Town district of Luxembourg

	Ville-Haute district	City of Luxembourg
Number of inhabitants as of January 1, 2025	3,449	136,208
Number of different nationalities	94	169
% of foreigners in the total population	69.61	70.13
Quality of life rating (out of 100) given by residents	72.34	77.84

Ville-Haute, the lively center of Luxembourg City

The lively heart of Luxembourg's capital

The Ville-Haute district is the heart of Luxembourg City's bustling life, with its pedestrian streets lined with shops. Its two main squares, Place Guillaume II and Place d'Armes, welcome tourists and residents alike at all hours of the day.

The district regularly hosts cultural and artistic events.

Place d'Armes is a very pleasant place with its café and restaurant terraces, which open in the spring. Dominated by the Cercle Cité, Place d'Armes, or "d'Plëss" in Luxembourgish, is the ideal place to enjoy the sun and chat over a drink or a good meal.

The bandstand offers opportunities for concerts. In summer, you can enjoy lunch in the sun while listening to music with the "Plëss in Concert" entertainment. In winter, it is one of the main venues for Christmas markets.

Place Guillaume II is also a place for meetings and entertainment, with a market that sets up its stalls there twice a week. Here you can buy fresh produce from local producers. The new redevelopment of the square, known as "Knuedler," now focuses on pedestrian and leisure areas.

And what about the major sporting events that take place in the streets of the Upper Town?The ING Night Marathon attracts tens of thousands of spectators, and the DKV Urban Trail thrills runners in the historic heart of the capital.

In the height of summer, the Place du Théâtre on the other side of the Grand-Rue is transformed into a beach with parasols and deckchairs. It's also a great opportunity to play pétanque with friends.

Tourist center of the city of Luxembourg

The Upper Town is one of Luxembourg's historic and tourist districts. Eighteenth-century bourgeois houses and nineteenth-century villas stand side by side with modern buildings.

This historic district is home to most of Luxembourg City's museums. The Grand Ducal Palace and the Luxembourg Parliament are also located nearby.

The 17th-century Notre Dame Cathedral also stands in this district and offers a magnificent view of its bell towers. The famous Octave market or "Maërtchen" takes place on Place Guillaume II .

It is also in this district that you can stroll along the " most beautiful balcony in Europe." Walking along the Corniche offers a magnificent view of the Grund district below.

The pretty little Rue du Saint-Esprit was honored during the first Urban History Festival.

Most of the government institutions are also located in the streets adjacent to this very pretty tourist district.

The Upper Town is also full of museums, cultural centers, and theaters.

The Gëlle Fra and the memorial, symbols of Luxembourg

Located on Place de la Constitution, the "Gelle Frä" memorial is one of the city's most famous statues. The statue can be seen from afar thanks to its dizzying height and golden color.

Standing 21 meters high on its stone obelisk, the statue depicts a woman made of gold, holding a laurel wreath above two monumental soldiers. One watches over the body of his compatriot, who fell during battle.

Inaugurated in 1923 in the aftermath of the First World War, the monument represents not only peace and freedom, but also the memory of the soldiers who died in the First and Second World Wars.

This monument also symbolizes Luxembourgish patriotism. Destroyed by the Nazis in 1940, the Gëlle Fra statue was repaired and restored in 1984, after a long wave of patriotic protests by the inhabitants.

Featured in many iconic photos of the country, the Gëlle Fra is one of Luxembourg's major symbols. The Gëlle Frä was created by Luxembourgish sculptor Claus Cito.

Shopping and luxury boutiques in the Ville-Haute district

The shopping streets and pedestrian zones of the Upper Town offer numerous shopping opportunities, with many brand-name stores.

The center is home to all kinds of shops (chains and independent stores, etc.). It is best known for its luxury boutiques, particularly on Rue Philippe II.

The multitude of stores in the pedestrian center will delight shopping enthusiasts. This part of the city is particularly lively during Mantelsonndeg or any other shopping event.

The construction of the Royal-Hamilius shopping center has revitalized the neighborhood and the upper part of Grand-Rue. It is home to major international brands such as Galeries Lafayette, Fnac, and Decathlon.

Rue du Marché aux Herbes is also home to all kinds of songbirds during the Marché de l'Eimaischen. Don't miss this celebration of local crafts.

Other amenities in the Upper Town district

Shops in the Upper Town

In terms of amenities, there is a Delhaize supermarket in the Hamilius center for everyday shopping and a few food shops in the streets of the center. An Alima, a Monoprix and several specialty shops, bakeries, butchers and greengrocers can be found in the small streets of the center.

The weekly market offers a very pleasant place to shop for fresh produce every Wednesday and Saturday at the Stater Maart with its many stalls selling fresh produce.

More practical information about shopping in Luxembourg.

Schools and childcare in the Ville-Haute neighborhood

However, the neighborhood hasonly one elementary school. There is only one daycare center.

Transport in the Ville-Haute

Due to its central location, the neighborhood offers excellent public transportation connections, with buses and trams at the Hamilius Center. The vast majority of buses pass through the Royal-Hamilius center.

Several Vel'Oh bike-sharing stations are available to users in the neighborhood.

Otherwise, everything can be done on foot. It is very pleasant to stroll through the lively pedestrian streets of this neighborhood.

Although not particularly car-friendly, the numerous parking lots make it fairly easy to park, except during major events.

The "A vos côtés" association, sponsored by the City of Luxembourg, offers assistance services for your journeys if needed. In 2024, more than 250 assistance services and 2,850 patrols were carried out to ensure safety in the neighborhood.

Playgrounds and leisure activities in the Upper Town

There are many places to relax here.

• The Kinnekswiss is ideal for summer picnics.
• The Pétrusse Valley offers a magnificent setting for walks and jogging.
• The most famous playground in Luxembourg City is located in this neighborhood at the Edouard André Municipal Park. With its huge pirate ship, gigantic slide, swings, and water games, the Pirateschëff playground is a must-see. A kiosk offers drinks and snacks.
  Edouard André Park will also host the LUGA 2025 exhibition on urban gardens.

The Badanstalt> aquatic center offers excellent facilities for relaxation.

Living in the Center or Upper Town neighborhoods

This historic district of the Upper Town is increasingly attracting an international clientele, drawn by the neighborhood's many attractions: shopping streets, cultural events and artistic programming, beautiful historic buildings, trendy bars and restaurants, and more.

Housing prices in this neighborhood are high, among the most expensive in the city. There are few properties available on the market.

More commercial than residential, the Ville-Haute neighborhood remains a safe and aesthetically pleasing area. It is a great place to live if you enjoy meeting people and going out.

A new project plans to redevelop the Place de la Constitution. Cars and tourist buses will be banned from the square. The Pétrusse Valley should then be accessible via an elevator. No deadline has been set at this time.

Residents have expressed their desire to see more green spaces and trees in the neighborhood, particularly on Place du Théâtre and Place de la Constitution.

To find out more about the neighborhoods of Luxembourg City, visit our dedicated page.

Price per square meter for sale	Price per square meter for rent
€11,741	€34.76
5.41% decrease over one year	5.50% increase over one year
Comparison with Luxembourg City: €11,969/m²	Comparison with Luxembourg City: €34.36/m2