Luxembourg
Phone Code
+352
Capital
Luxembourg
Population
640,000
Native Name
Luxembourg
Region
Europe
Western Europe
Timezone
Central European Time
UTC+01:00
On This Page
Luxembourg is the world's only sovereign Grand Duchy, a 2,586-square-kilometre landlocked country wedged between Belgium, Germany and France with a population of around 640,000 — of which 48 percent are foreign nationals, the highest proportion in the European Union. The country is one of six founding members of the European Union, NATO, Benelux and the United Nations, hosts the European Court of Justice, the European Investment Bank and parts of the European Commission, and runs Europe's most cosmopolitan small capital. Luxembourg City — population around 130,000 — perches on a sandstone plateau cut by the gorges of the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers; the resulting old-town fortifications and casemates are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Three languages are simultaneously official: Luxembourgish (the national vernacular, a Moselle Franconian dialect), French (legislation and administration) and German (media and education), and most Luxembourgers speak all three plus fluent English. Beyond the capital the country opens out fast: the medieval castles of Vianden, Bourscheid, Beaufort and Clervaux in the north, the Mullerthal sandstone hiking region known as Little Switzerland, the Moselle wine villages from Schengen (where the 1985 agreement abolishing internal European borders was signed) to Wormeldange and Remich, and the Esch-Belval steel-belt now repurposed as Esch-sur-Alzette's University of Luxembourg campus. Public transport is free for everyone — visitors and residents — across the entire country, the first such system in the world (since March 2020).
Visa Requirements for Luxembourg
Luxembourg is a founding Schengen Area member, so standard Schengen rules apply at every border. Citizens of the European Union, EEA and Switzerland enter freely with a national ID card or passport. Citizens of around sixty visa-exempt third countries — including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and most of Latin America — may enter visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period across the entire Schengen Area, not Luxembourg alone. Travellers from countries on the Schengen visa list apply for a Schengen short-stay visa at the Luxembourg embassy or consulate responsible for their place of residence, or at any other Schengen mission representing Luxembourg. A passport valid for at least three months beyond the planned departure date is required for entry; six months is the safer benchmark for visa applications. Travel medical insurance covering at least EUR 30,000, return travel arrangements and proof of accommodation and funds are standard supporting documents. The ETIAS travel authorisation system will apply to currently visa-exempt travellers when it enters operation. The Schengen Agreement itself was signed in 1985 in the Luxembourg village of Schengen on the Moselle.
Common Visa Types
Schengen Visa-Free Entry (90/180 Days)
Tourism, business, family visits and short courses for citizens of around sixty visa-exempt third countries.
Schengen Short-Stay Visa (Type C)
Tourism, business, conferences, family visits or transit for nationals on the Schengen visa list.
National (Long-Stay) Visa — Type D
Stays longer than 90 days for studies at the University of Luxembourg, work in finance/EU institutions, research, family reunification or seasonal employment.
EU/EEA/Swiss Entry
Free movement for nationals of the EU, EEA and Switzerland — tourism, work, study, residence — under treaty rights. Around 200,000 cross-border workers commute daily from France, Belgium and Germany.
Important Travel Information
Travel Guide
Luxembourg rewards travellers who like compact, dense, internationally connected cities and short trips into castle and wine country. Luxembourg City is the obvious base: the UNESCO-listed old town perches on a sandstone plateau split by the gorges of the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers, with the Bock Casemates running 17 kilometres of medieval fortification tunnels beneath the streets, and the riverside Grund and Clausen quarters offering the most photogenic walks. The Adolphe Bridge over the Pétrusse and the Pont Grande-Duchesse Charlotte over the Alzette frame the modern Kirchberg European quarter on the far plateau, where the European Court of Justice, European Investment Bank and Mudam (Museum of Modern Art) are clustered. Beyond the city the country fits comfortably into long weekends: Vianden's romantic medieval castle on the Our river — Victor Hugo lived in exile here and drew the castle repeatedly — sits 60 kilometres north; the Mullerthal sandstone hiking region known as Little Switzerland is 30 kilometres east; Bourscheid and Clervaux castles cluster within an hour of Luxembourg City; the Moselle wine villages from Schengen (where the 1985 agreement was signed) through Wormeldange to Remich produce Crémant, Riesling and Auxerrois along a 42-kilometre wine route. Free public transport across the entire country since 2020 — buses, trains and the Luxembourg City tram, all gratis — makes the whole country navigable without a single ticket.
Ways to Experience This Destination
The UNESCO-listed Vieille Ville perches on a sandstone plateau split by the Alzette and Pétrusse gorges. The Bock Casemates run 17 km of medieval fortification tunnels beneath the streets; the Chemin de la Corniche walk along the cliff edge is described as 'Europe's most beautiful balcony'. The Grand Ducal Palace, Notre-Dame Cathedral and Place d'Armes anchor a compact two-day walking circuit.
Luxembourg's northern Ardennes region holds Vianden — a romantic medieval castle on the Our where Victor Hugo lived in exile and drew it repeatedly — plus Bourscheid (one of Europe's largest castle ruins), Clervaux (housing the Family of Man UNESCO photography exhibit), Beaufort and Larochette. The 'Valley of the Seven Castles' along the Eisch river adds a second loop closer to the capital.
Mullerthal — known as Luxembourg's Petite Suisse — is a sandstone landscape of narrow ravines, moss-covered cliffs, waterfalls (Schiessentümpel) and beech forests, threaded by the Mullerthal Trail (112 km in three loops). The town of Echternach, founded by St Willibrord in 698, anchors the region with its Romanesque basilica and annual UNESCO-listed Hopping Procession.
The Moselle wine route runs 42 km from Schengen — the village where the 1985 agreement abolishing internal European borders was signed, marked by the European Museum — through Remich, Wormeldange, Grevenmacher and up to the German border. Riesling, Auxerrois, Pinot Gris and Crémant de Luxembourg sparkling wine dominate; Caves Bernard-Massard at Grevenmacher is the largest producer.
Kirchberg, on the plateau across the Alzette gorge from the old town, holds the European Court of Justice, European Investment Bank, European Court of Auditors, parts of the European Commission and Mudam (Museum of Modern Art). Forty-eight percent of Luxembourg's residents are foreign nationals — the highest proportion in the EU — making the capital one of Europe's most cosmopolitan small cities.
Since March 2020, Luxembourg has been the first country in the world to make all public transport — buses, trains, regional buses, the Luxembourg City tram — free for everyone, including tourists, around the clock. There is no ticket to buy, no card to validate; simply board. The system covers the entire country and is the single most distinctive practical feature of a Luxembourg trip.
Money & Currency
Euro (EUR)
Currency code: EUR
Practical Money Tips
Luxembourg uses the euro (EUR) — one of the most expensive countries in the EU; wages and prices are among the highest in Europe; no currency exchange needed from other Eurozone countries
Luxembourg is a founding member of the Eurozone and uses the euro (EUR) as its sole currency. No exchange is necessary for visitors from other Eurozone countries. For non-Eurozone visitors (USD, GBP, CHF, etc.), exchange at Luxembourgish bank branches, BGL BNP Paribas, Banque Internationale à Luxembourg (BIL), or Post Luxembourg. Luxembourg City has limited standalone exchange bureaus — banks are the primary option. Luxembourg consistently ranks as one of the most expensive countries in the EU for eating out, accommodation, and services, reflecting its status as a major European financial centre and home to numerous EU institutions.
ATMs widely available in Luxembourg City and across all towns — BGL BNP Paribas, BIL, Spuerkeess most common; standard Eurozone fees apply
ATMs are available throughout Luxembourg City (Grand-Rue, Gare district, Kirchberg European quarter) and in towns across the country. BGL BNP Paribas, Banque Internationale à Luxembourg (BIL), and Spuerkeess (BCEE) are the most common operators. International Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, and Cirrus cards are accepted. Standard foreign withdrawal fees (EUR 2–5 depending on home bank) apply. Luxembourg is a very cashless country in practice — most transactions are card-based. Carrying EUR 50–80 in cash is more than sufficient for a multi-day visit for most visitors.
Highly cashless — Visa and Mastercard accepted almost universally; Apple Pay and Google Pay widely used; Luxembourg City is one of Europe's most card-friendly capitals
Luxembourg is one of Europe's most cashless societies. Visa and Mastercard are accepted everywhere — restaurants, hotels, shops, museums, markets, and transport. Apple Pay and Google Pay work seamlessly on all NFC-enabled terminals, which are standard across the country. Contactless tap-to-pay is the dominant payment method in Luxembourg City cafés and shops. Tram and bus network (Luxtram/RGTR) is free of charge for all passengers since 2020, making transport entirely frictionless. American Express is accepted at higher-end establishments. Very few situations in Luxembourg City require cash.
Budget guide: coffee EUR 3–5; lunch EUR 15–25; dinner EUR 25–45; mid-range hotel Luxembourg City EUR 120–200/night; Moselle wine region day trip from EUR 15
Luxembourg is among the EU's most expensive destinations. Coffee at a Luxembourg City café: EUR 3–5. Lunch (brasserie or restaurant): EUR 15–25 per person. Evening dinner at a mid-range restaurant: EUR 25–45 per person. Glass of local Crémant or Moselle Riesling: EUR 5–9. Mid-range hotel in Luxembourg City: EUR 120–200/night. National Museum of History and Art: EUR 6. Vianden Castle: EUR 9. All public transport (tram, bus, national trains) is free — a major advantage. Day trip to Moselle wine villages: free transport + wine tasting from EUR 15. Budget day in Luxembourg City: EUR 50–80.
Note: Always check current exchange rates before traveling. Currency exchange is available at airports, banks, and authorized money changers.
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