Luxembourg Travel Guide


The latest travel Information on Luxembourg, includes ideas on Things to See and Do, Local Events, Consulate & Embassy Contact Addresses and much more, all from a first-time visitors point of view.

Luxembourg Information

Overview

Diminutive Luxembourg owes its continued existence to a mixture of good fortune and good diplomacy, which have prevented it from being permanently absorbed into the territories of its larger neighbours.

By the time that Luxembourg’s independence was finally confirmed in 1867, however, the Grand Duchy was left with such a tiny territory that its people had to look across its borders for economic survival. This has resulted in a cosmopolitan attitude, exemplified not only by the fact that the nation has the highest percentage of foreigners of any EU country, but also by the trilingual ability of its people.

It is an attractive country with a green and picturesque landscape of rolling hills and valleys, and many closely packed historical sites. Visitors will also discover forests, vineyards and striking sandstone rock formations here.

The capital, Luxembourg-Ville, is split into two districts: the delightful old centre (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), complete with fortress towers, turrets and winding, cobblestone streets; and the modern downtown area on the Plâteau du Kirchberg, home to Luxembourg’s renowned international finance businesses.

Proud of its role as a founding member of the EU, Luxembourg sees itself as playing a prominent position in European affairs and there are a number of European Union institutions based in Luxembourg-Ville.


Top Things To See

Discover the delightful old centre of the capital, Luxembourg-Ville. See the fortress towers, turrets and winding, cobblestone streets. Visit the underground tunnels, known as casemates, and hop on the special open-air tourist train through the Petrusse Valley.
 
See the changing of the guard at the Palais Grand Ducal, the Grand Duke’s official residence. Other attractions in Luxembourg-Ville include the Place Guillaume (also called Knuedler) and its twice-weekly market (Wednesday and Saturday); and the 17th-century Notre Dame Cathedral.

Get cultural in the capital’s numerous galleries and museums. Highlights include the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of History and Art and the Museum of the City of Luxembourg.

Alternatively, head for the modern district on the Plâteau du Kirchberg (reached via the Pont Grand Duchesse Charlotte - the capital’s most impressive bridge); it’s home to a thriving international finance centre, many European institutions and Luxembourg’s biggest cinema complex and shopping mall.

See Luxembourg’s striking sandstone rock formations, particularly in the northeast’s Müllerthal.

Further east, in the town of Echternach, see a colourful religious dancing procession, which takes place annually on Whit Tuesday, attracting pilgrims from the world over. The town’s seventh century Benedectine Abbey (now housing a museum) and the St Willibrord Basilica are well worth visiting, as is the distinctive 15th-century Town Hall.

In Vianden, be impressed by a magnificent castle, built between the 11th and 14th centuries. The castle overlooks the town from a 450m (1,476ft) elevation that can be reached by a chairlift. Vianden also has a wild boar sanctuary, and another castle can be visited at Bourscheid nearby.

In the medieval market town of Clervaux, visit the 12th-century castle - now home to government offices, the tourist office, a small war museum on the 1944-1945 Ardennes offensive (the famous ‘Battle of the Bulge’), and a renowned collection of documentary art photography, the Family of Man, by Edward Steichen.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.


Top Things To Do

Wine and dine al fresco in Luxembourg-Ville’s charming main square, the Place d’Armes. The area known as the Grund, near the River Alzette, also has many lively cafes and restaurants; it can be reached via a lift down through the ancient rock.

Tramp around the Müllerthal region, Luxembourg’s ’Little Switzerland’. Dense forests, crystal-clear brooks and spectacular rock formations combine to make this one of the country’s most popular areas for walking and hiking. The main resorts are Beaufort and Larochette, both of which have hilltop castles.

Explore the scenic beauty and quiet of the Ardennes region, referred to locally as Eisléck. The area consists of forested plateaux, wooded hills and lush valleys. Head for the small town of Esch-sur-Sûre, a well-known resort surrounded by the River Sûre (Sauer).

Harness up and go rock climbing; there are some good ascents and facilities available near Berdorf in the Müllerthal region.

Splash out on some watersports: located within the Upper Sûre National Park (an area of outstanding beauty) is the country’s drinking water reservoir, where a barrage dam (the Staudamm) makes a beautiful lake.

Indulge yourself in a wine-tasting tour in the southeast. The River Moselle flows through Luxembourg’s main wine-producing region (referred to as ‘the Moselle’ or d’Musel). Boat-cruises on the river are also available.

Visit breweries and sample more of the region’s alcoholic produce in the towns of Diekirch and Wiltz.

Pamper yourself with thermal health treatments, and enjoy the sports and leisure facilities in the spa town of Mondorf-les-Bains.

Visit the small village of Schengen, where the Moselle marks the meeting of three countries (Luxembourg, France and Germany), which has become internationally known after the ‘Schengen Agreement’ was signed here in 1995.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.


Going Out

Food and Drink

Luxembourg cooking combines German heartiness with Franco-Belgian finesse. The preparation of trout, pike and crayfish is excellent, as are the pastries and cakes. Delicious desserts are prepared with local liqueurs, and a dash of quetsch, mirabelle or kirsch is added to babas or fruit cups. Most aspects of restaurants and bars are similar to the rest of Europe. Luxembourg’s white Moselle wines resemble those of the Rhine, but are drier than the fruitier wines of the French Moselle. Beer is another speciality and is a traditional industry.

National specialities:
• Carré de porc fumé (smoked pork and broad beans or sauerkraut).
• Cochon de lait en gelée (jellied suckling pig).
• Jambon d’Ardennes (famous smoked Ardennes ham).
• Tarte aux quetsches (quetsch plum tart).
• Omelette soufflée au kirsch.

National drinks:
• Bofferding, Diekirch Mousel and Simon (beer).
• Eau de vie (45 to 50% alcohol).

Legal drinking age: 17.

Tipping: Bills generally include service, but a rounding up is often given.

Nightlife

Visitors to Luxembourg can enjoy a variety of evening entertainment from theatre performances, classical music concerts, opera and ballet, to nightclubs, cinemas and discos. For more information, contact the Luxembourg City Tourist Office (see Contact Addresses).

Shopping

Special purchases include beautiful porcelain and crystal. Villeroy & Boch’s crystal factories in Septfontaines are open to visitors. A regional speciality is earthenware pottery from Nospelt, where in August there is a fortnight’s exhibition of local work.

Shopping hours: Mon 1400-1800, Tues-Sat 0800-1800.


Climate

Warm weather from May to September and snow likely during winter months. The north (the Ardennes region) tends to be wetter and colder than the south.

Required Clothing

Waterproofs are advisable at all times of the year.


Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2008-December 2009 period.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day. 
4 Feb** Carnival.
24 Mar  Easter Monday.
1 May May Day.
1 May Ascension. 
12 May Whit Monday.
23 Jun National Day.
15 Aug Assumption. 
1 Sep** Luxembourg City Kermesse.
1 Nov All Saints’ Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec St Stephen’s Day.

2009
1 Jan New Year’s Day. 
Feb*/** Carnival.
13 Apr  Easter Monday.
1 May May Day.
21 May Ascension. 
1 Jun Whit Monday.
23 Jun National Day.
15 Aug Assumption. 
1 Sep** Luxembourg City Kermesse.
1 Nov All Saints’ Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec St Stephen’s Day.

* Date to be confirmed.

Note

(a) **Applies to the City of Luxembourg only. (b) Official public holidays falling on a Sunday may be deferred to the following Monday, for a maximum of two holidays. Exact details should be confirmed with the tourist office or the embassy (see Contact Addresses).


Health

Diphtheria

Special Precaution: No

Hepatitis A

Special Precaution: No

Malaria

Special Precaution: No

Rabies

Special Precaution: No

Tetanus

Special Precaution: Yes

Typhoid

Special Precaution: No

Yellow Fever

Special Precaution: No

Health Care

If suddenly taken ill or involved in an accident during a visit to Luxembourg, free or reduced-cost necessary treatment is available for European travellers - in most cases on production of a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Comprehensive insurance is advised for all other nationals.

Note

Further Health Information

We advise you to check health requirements for the country you are traveling to with your GP, practice nurse or travel health clinic as health requirements and vaccinations can change at short notice.

Money

Currency

Euro (€) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.

Currency Exchange

Foreign currencies, traveller’s cheques and cheques can be exchanged at banks, bureaux de change, the airport, railway stations, the post office and major hotels (generally at a less advantageous rate).

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa and others are all widely accepted, as well as Eurocheque cards. Many retailers require a minimum (eg €10-25) before accepting credit/debit cards. ATMs are common.

Traveller's Cheques

Widely accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller’s cheques in Euros, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.

Banking Hours

Generally Mon-Fri 0830-1630, with limited hours on Saturday.


Passport/Visa

British

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: No

Australian

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: 2

Canadian

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: 2

USA

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: 2

Other EU

Passport Required: 1
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: No

Passport Note

Luxembourg is a signatory to the 1995 Schengen Agreement.

2. It is advisable to have a return ticket, but not obligatory. If a visitor is not in possession of a return ticket, proof of sufficient means of support may be required.

Passports

Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all nationals  referred to in the chart above except:
(a) 1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.

Visas

Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for periods not exceeding three months and as long as the passport is still valid for three months beyond length of stay.

Notes: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).

Visa Note

90-day visa-free stay commences from entry in to any country in the Schengen area.


Contact Addresses

Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in the UK

27 Wilton Crescent, London SW1X 8SD, UK
Tel: (020) 7235 6961.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1145 (visa section; applications); Mon-Fri 1145-1200 (visa collections).

Luxembourg National Tourist Office in the UK

122 Regent Street, London W1B 5SA, UK
Tel: (020) 7434 2800.
Website: www.luxembourg.co.uk

Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in the USA

2200 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 265 4171.
Website: www.luxembourg-usa.org

Luxembourg National Tourist Office in the USA

Luxembourg House,17 Beekman Place, New York, NY 10022, USA
Tel: (212) 935 8888.
Website: www.visitluxembourg.com


Travel Advice

Warning

Most visits to Luxembourg are trouble-free but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate international terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.

This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organisations for the latest travel advice.

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Tel: 0845 850 2829.
Website: www.fco.gov.uk

US Department of State
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel




Disclaimer
We've tried to make the information on this page as accurate as possible, but it is provided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. You should verify critical information with the relevant authorities before you travel.