Luxembourg (LU)

Luxembourg is a tiny but remarkably prosperous constitutional monarchy at the heart of Europe — a founding member of both the EU and NATO — celebrated as the world's most productive economy per capita, the EU's premier financial centre, and home to the highest minimum wage on the continent.

Capital: Luxembourg City

Region: Europe

Language: Luxembourgish

Currency: EUR (€)

Cost of living: Very expensive (index 90)

Emergency: 112

Getting Around

Transport options for living in Luxembourg.

Public Transport Overview

Luxembourg made all public transport free in March 2020 — a world first for a country-wide system. Trains, trams, buses, and night buses are all free of charge for all passengers (residents and visitors) on the entire national network. This applies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Only first-class train travel requires a supplement. The system is operated primarily by CFL (Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois) for trains and RGTR/AVL for buses. Luxembourg City has a modern tram (Luxtram) running from the central station through the city to Kirchberg (EU quarter). The free transport policy has significantly increased ridership but also highlighted capacity issues during peak hours.

Main operators:

CFL (Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois) — national railway (free second class)Luxtram — Luxembourg City tram line (Line 1: Luxexpo to Cloche d'Or, free)RGTR (Régime Général des Transports Routiers) — national bus network (free)AVL (Autobus de la Ville de Luxembourg) — city buses in Luxembourg City (free)TICE (Transport Intercommunal Bassin Esch-sur-Alzette) — south Luxembourg buses (free)TIC (Transport Intercommunal des Cantons) — rural bus network (free)Metz/Thionville cross-border services — paid, some covered by employer mobility grants

🎫 Transit Passes

Free Travel (All domestic services) Free — no ticket, no pass, no app needed for second-class travel

All CFL trains (2nd class), all RGTR and AVL buses, Luxtram, and all licensed public transport within Luxembourg.

💡 Simply board any bus, tram, or second-class train in Luxembourg with no payment required. First-class supplement: €3/journey (short) or €6/journey (long) at ticket machines (restructured January 2026). Cross-border services to Germany, Belgium, and France require tickets for the foreign portion of the journey.

Cross-border monthly pass (frontaliers) Varies by destination — e.g. RegioZone monthly ~€40; Saarbrücken L40 bus monthly ~€85; check mobiliteit.lu for current fares

Cross-border train and bus services to Metz, Thionville, Trier, and other cross-border destinations. The Luxembourg portion is free; the pass covers the foreign segment.

💡 Essential for frontaliers (cross-border commuters) who live in France, Belgium, or Germany. Many employers (especially large ones) subsidise cross-border commuting costs. Check with your employer HR.

CFL First Class Supplement €3/journey (short distance) or €6/journey (long distance) — first-class supplement above free second class; restructured January 2026

First class on all CFL domestic train services.

💡 Available from ticket machines at railway stations or via the CFL app (from Jan 2026). First class on CFL trains is noticeably more comfortable during busy peak hours — the €3 supplement is worthwhile on packed morning commutes from Metz or Trier.

Taxi & Rideshare

Taxis in Luxembourg are expensive by European standards. Meter rates start at approximately €2.60 plus €1.60–2.20/km. A ride across Luxembourg City costs approximately €15–25. Apps: Webtaxi Luxembourg, Vinz (local app). Uber is not available in Luxembourg. Book in advance for airport transfers. Taxis are reliable but rarely hailed on the street — call or app-book.

Rideshare (Long-distance)

CoPilote.lu is Luxembourg's main carpooling platform, popular for commuting from France and Belgium. BlaBlaCar is used for longer trips. Lime and Bolt electric scooters are available in Luxembourg City. Vélo (public bike share) has docking stations throughout the city — free for 30-minute trips, affordable for longer use.

Cycling

Luxembourg City has been expanding its cycling infrastructure significantly, though the terrain — the city is built on dramatic cliffs and valleys — makes it challenging. Dedicated cycle lanes exist on key routes. The Vëloroutes (national cycling routes) connect Luxembourg City to the countryside. Electric bikes (e-bikes) are extremely popular given the hills. The Moselle valley cycle path is excellent for leisure cycling. Rural cycling on quiet roads is very enjoyable. Cycling in the Müllerthal and Ardennes is popular for mountain biking.

Intercity Trains

CFL operates frequent services across Luxembourg (free). Key routes: Luxembourg City to Clervaux (northern Ardennes, 1 hour), Luxembourg City to Esch-sur-Alzette (southern industrial area, 30 minutes), Luxembourg City to Diekirch (via Ettelbruck, 45 minutes), Luxembourg City to Wasserbillig (Moselle valley, 40 minutes). Cross-border: Luxembourg City to Brussels (2h30 via Liège), Luxembourg City to Paris (2h20 direct TGV — requires ticket for the whole journey), Luxembourg City to Metz (45 minutes, some services free to the border then require ticket), Luxembourg City to Trier (Germany, 45 minutes, mixed free/paid).

Driving

Luxembourg drives on the right. Roads are generally excellent. Speed limits: 50 km/h in built-up areas, 90 km/h on rural roads, 130 km/h on motorways (reduced to 110 km/h in rain and 90 km/h in heavy rain). The A6 (Luxembourg to Belgium/France) and A1 (to Germany) are the main motorways — no tolls on Luxembourg motorways. Drink-drive limit: 0.5‰ (0.2‰ for new drivers and professional drivers). Winter tyres: not legally mandatory but strongly recommended — conditions can be icy especially in the Ardennes. Many residents commute by car; traffic congestion is severe on all routes into Luxembourg City during rush hour (07:00–09:00 and 17:00–19:00).

Airports

Luxembourg Airport (Findel / LUX) is Luxembourg's only commercial airport, located just 6 km east of Luxembourg City. Served by Luxair (the national carrier), Ryanair, TUI, and other European airlines. Bus line 16 connects Findel to Luxembourg City station (free, approximately 25 minutes). Taxis from airport to city: approximately €25–35. Luxembourg Airport is small and easy to navigate — no shuttle buses needed. Amsterdam, London, Paris, Frankfurt, and other European hubs are all under 1.5 hours by air. The TGV Paris–Luxembourg (2h20) is often preferable to flying for central Paris destinations.