Luxemburg

French, German, and Luxembourgish are all official languages. French dominates official signage, restaurant menus, and government paperwork, while Luxembourgish is the language most people speak at home. English is widely understood in Luxembourg City and at tourist sites, less so in small villages.

EU/EEA SIM and eSIM plans work in Luxembourg without extra roaming charges. Prepaid SIM cards are available at the three network operators' shops and at Findel Airport; bring a passport, since ID registration is required by law for any prepaid SIM. There are no unusual content or access restrictions.

Tap water is safe to drink throughout the country. Pharmacies, marked with a green cross, are found in every town and keep a rotating on-call schedule for nights and Sundays, posted in each pharmacy's window. No special vaccinations are required for visiting Luxembourg.

Luxembourg is part of the Schengen Area. Citizens of the EU, US, UK, Canada, Australia, and many other countries can enter visa-free for stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period for tourism. Travelers who need a visa apply for a Schengen visa through a Luxembourg embassy or consulate, or through the embassy of another Schengen country where Luxembourg has no representation.

Visa and entry requirements change frequently. Verify current requirements with the official immigration authority or your country's embassy before travel.

Greetings usually include a handshake on first meeting; friends and family exchange cheek kisses, typically three. Luxembourgers value punctuality for both business and social plans. Modest dress — covered shoulders and knees — is expected in churches and abbeys, including the ones in Echternach and Clervaux. Sundays are quiet: most shops close, and many smaller restaurants outside the capital close for the day too.

Public holidays close most shops, banks, and offices, though restaurants and museums in tourist areas usually stay open.

Regular shop hours are shorter than in many countries: many close by 18:00-19:00 on weekdays, close early on Saturday afternoons, and stay shut all day Sunday outside the capital's train station and a handful of exceptions.

• By train: All second-class trains within Luxembourg are free, part of a nationwide free public transport policy in place since 2020. The rail network reaches most larger towns, including Diekirch, Clervaux, and Esch-sur-Alzette.
• By bus: Buses are also free and fill in gaps the rail network doesn't reach, including castle towns such as Vianden and Echternach.
• By tram: Luxembourg City's tram line links the airport, the Kirchberg EU quarter, the main station, and the old town.
• By bike: The capital's vel'OH! bike-share system covers the city center, and national cycling paths follow former rail lines into the countryside.
• By air: Findel Airport, a short drive from the capital, is the country's only international airport.

Luxembourgish food blends German heartiness with French technique. A hot lunch is the main meal of the day for many locals, often eaten in a brasserie or a company canteen. The national dish is Judd mat Gaardebounen, smoked collar of pork served with broad beans. Bouneschlupp, a green bean and potato soup, and Kachkéis, a soft cooked cheese spread, both show up on traditional menus.

Street markets and fairs sell Gromperekichelcher, crisp fried potato pancakes, as a snack. In late summer, bakeries fill their windows with Quetschentaart, an open plum tart. The Moselle valley in the east produces crisp white wines and Crémant sparkling wine, both worth trying alongside a meal or on a vineyard visit.

Beyond the capital, Luxembourg's small size makes every region reachable on a day trip.

North: the Éislek

Hilly and forested, dotted with castle towns. Vianden sits below its restored hilltop castle. Clervaux pairs its own castle with the Family of Man photography exhibition. Wiltz hosts an open-air theatre festival each summer. Diekirch is known for its brewery and a military history museum covering the Battle of the Bulge. Ettelbruck is the region's main rail junction. Esch-sur-Sûre sits inside a dramatic bend of the Sûre river, below the ruins of its medieval castle.

East: Mullerthal and the Moselle

Sandstone hiking trails meet vineyards. Echternach, the country's oldest town, is the gateway to the Mullerthal Trail and home to an abbey linked to Saint Willibrord. Larochette has the ruins of two medieval castles above its old center. Along the Moselle River, Remich and Grevenmacher are wine towns with riverside promenades and cellar tours.

South: the Minett

Once the heart of Luxembourg's steel industry. Esch-sur-Alzette, the country's second-largest city, has reinvented former steelworks at Belval into a university campus and cultural venue. Neighboring Dudelange is known for its contemporary art and photography museums, also built on former industrial sites.