You want to know
We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us

Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is a landlocked microstate in western Europe. It is bordered by Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east, and France to the south. Its capital, Luxembourg City, is one of the four official capitals of the European Union (together with Brussels, Frankfurt, and Strasbourg) and the seat of the European Court of Justice, the highest judicial authority in the EU. Its culture, people, and languages are highly intertwined with its neighbours, making it essentially a mixture of French and German cultures, as evident by the nation's three official languages: French, German, and the national language of Luxembourgish. The repeated invasions by Germany, especially in World War II, resulted in the country's strong will for mediation between France and Germany and, among other things, led to the foundation of the European Union.

With an area of 2,586 square kilometres (998 sq mi), it is one of the smallest sovereign states in Europe. In 2019, Luxembourg had a population of 613,894, which makes it one of the least-populous countries in Europe, but by far the one with the highest population growth rate. Foreigners account for nearly half of Luxembourg's population. As a representative democracy with a constitutional monarch, it is headed by Grand Duke Henri and is the world's only remaining sovereign grand duchy. Luxembourg is a developed country, with an advanced economy and one of the world's highest GDP (PPP) per capita. The City of Luxembourg with its old quarters and fortifications was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 due to the exceptional preservation of the vast fortifications and the old city.

The history of Luxembourg is considered to begin in 963, when count Siegfried acquired a rocky promontory and its Roman-era fortifications known as Lucilinburhuc, "little castle", and the surrounding area from the Imperial Abbey of St. Maximin in nearby Trier. Siegfried's descendants increased their territory through marriage, war and vassal relations. At the end of the 13th century, the counts of Luxembourg reigned over a considerable territory. In 1308, Henry VII, Count of Luxembourg became King of the Germans and later Holy Roman Emperor. The House of Luxembourg produced four emperors during the High Middle Ages. In 1354, Charles IV elevated the county to the Duchy of Luxembourg. The duchy eventually became part of the Burgundian Circle and then one of the Seventeen Provinces of the Habsburg Netherlands. Over the centuries, the City and Fortress of Luxembourg, of great strategic importance situated between the Kingdom of France and the Habsburg territories, was gradually built up to be one of the most reputed fortifications in Europe. After belonging to both the France of Louis XIV and the Austria of Maria Theresa, Luxembourg became part of the First French Republic and Empire under Napoleon.

The present-day state of Luxembourg first emerged at the Congress of Vienna in 1815. The Grand Duchy, with its powerful fortress, became an independent state under the personal possession of William I of the Netherlands with a Prussian garrison to guard the city against another invasion from France. In 1839, following the turmoil of the Belgian Revolution, the purely French-speaking part of Luxembourg was ceded to Belgium and the Luxembourgish-speaking part (except the Arelerland, the area around Arlon) became what is the present state of Luxembourg.

Luxembourg is a founding member of the European Union, OECD, United Nations, NATO, and Benelux. The city of Luxembourg, which is the country's capital and largest city, is the seat of several institutions and agencies of the EU. Luxembourg served on the United Nations Security Council for the years 2013 and 2014, which was a first in the country's history. As of 2018, Luxembourg citizens had visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 186 countries and territories, ranking the Luxembourgish passport 5th in the world, tied with Austria, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States.

We choose for you
Want something extraordinary? So...enjoy the ride

Luxembourg City
Luxembourg

Luxembourg City is a charming combination of ancient and modern, local and global, simplicity and luxury. This lovely city offers an intriguing blend of history, culture, art and natural landscapes. With many of the European Union offices and departments hosted in Luxembourg City, there is a real multicultural perspective to this city.

The Old Town of Luxembourg
Luxembourg

The old historic town of Luxembourg is an amazing place to wander around. Enjoy spectacular views of the old city with its stone bridges across the river and the former fortress of the old city of Luxembourg.

Luxembourg City History Museum
Luxembourg

The Luxembourg City History Museum is housed within a group of four renovated 17th Century houses. The museum reflects upon not only the history of Luxembourg as a city and a nation, but also the architectural diversity and development of the city and its population since the 10th century. As well as a variety of interactive cultural programs and events, the collection at the History Museum consists of photographs, postcards, ceramics, topographical models and attestations to urban development, as well as a variety of special exhibits used in daily life.

National Museum of History and Art, Luxembourg City
Luxembourg

If you were to judge Luxembourg City on the quality of its museums - never mind its status as one of Europe's most historically important cities - it would still rank extremely high on the list of the continent's must-see cities. Topping the list is the National Museum of History and Art (MNHA). Located in the historic Fish Market area (the old town center), the MNHA's collections - art objects, archeological finds, furniture, tools, coins, arms, and documents dealing with the history of the country - are housed in a stunning new building. 

You cannot afford to miss
All you need to know is

Location

Located in the continent of Europe, Luxembourg covers 2,586 square kilometers of land, making it the 180th largest nation in terms of land area.

Transportation

The Grand Duchy has well developed public transport network. It boasts a dense railway network connecting the most important cities and towns in the country.

Public bus transportation covers a good part of people's mobility requirements.

In addition to the national bus network, many municipalities also offer public transport services such as the City Bus within their own area. Arrangements such as the Late Night Bus are intended to increase and diversify the offer nationally.

Languages Spoken

According to an EU survey, the mother tongue of roughly 70% of Luxembourgers is Luxembourgish (or Lëtzebuergesch, as they write it). This seems simple at first: Germans speak German, the French speak French, so, therefore, Luxembourgers speak Luxembourgish. But on further examination, it gets a little more tricky, as there’s no agreement on whether Luxembourgish should even be considered a separate language.

Currency

The currency of Luxembourg is the Euro (EUR). As well, the people of Luxembourg are refered to as Luxembourg.

Visas

very foreigner must, before entering the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, hold a valid and recognised travel document.

Nationals of certain countries must also have a visa, commonly known as the ‘Schengen visa’.

The Schengen Visa is a short-stay visa (maximum of 3 months during a period of 6 months) for business, tourism, family visits, etc.

It must be applied for from Luxembourg consular services before departure.

Electricity

Electricity sector in Luxembourg describes electricity issues in Luxembourg. Luxembourg is a member of OECD and European Union. Luxembourg imports most of its energy. Luxembourg is the EU country with the second smallest forecast of renewables in 2020. Luxembourg has one of the highest emissions of carbon dioxide per person in Europe.

Vaccinations

Some vaccines are recommended or required for Luxembourg. The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for Luxembourg: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza.

Emergency Calls

Ambulance/medical emergency: 112

Emergency vet: 112

Fire: 112

Fire brigade, Luxembourg City:  44 22 44

Police:  113

Suicide/crisis helpline: 45 45 45

When to visit
Best time to visit the destination

It depends what you want to do, your bad-weather gear, your tolerance for rain, etc.

It rains here. A lot. And it is rarely super warm. Today is August 10, 0900h in the morning, and it is 12C/54F. 50% chance of rain by 1400h. Winters tend to be mild — we are not usually overwhelmed by snow.

What to do?
Don’t miss to challenge your world

The Bock Casements, Luxembourg City

Luxembourg's Bock cliff, with its fortifications and cannon-loopholes, is where you'll find the entrance to the famous Casemates (Casements du Bock), a 21-kilometer network of underground passages hewn from solid rock. Capable of sheltering thousands of defenders, as well as equipment, horses, workshops, kitchens, and slaughterhouses, the Casements - some of which date back to Spanish rule in 1644 - cover an impressive 40,000 square meters. 

Grand Ducal Palace, Luxembourg City

A must-see landmark in Luxembourg City, the Grand-Ducal Palace is a gorgeous Renaissance building dating from 1572 that serves as the official residence of the country's reigning monarch, Grand Duke Henri. It was built as the city's original city hall in 1572 - a role it served until 1795 - switching eventually to its present use as the Grand-Ducal Place in 1890. 

The Walls of the Corniche, Luxembourg City

The spectacular Walls of the Corniche (le Chemin de la Corniche) in Luxembourg City have been called "the most beautiful balcony in Europe," towering as they do over the old city in the river valley below. It's here you'll find the big Gate of the Grund dating from 1632. Its ramparts reveal several aristocratic houses and refuges, as well as the ancient convent of the Dominicans and St. Michael's church (AD 987).

Place Guillaume II, Luxembourg City

Luxembourg's Place Guillaume, one of the city's largest open spaces, is the former site of a Franciscan convent that has since been converted into a pedestrian zone. In the center is the equestrian statue of William II, King of Holland and Grand Duke of Luxembourg. It's also where you'll find the lovely Town Hall and the famous Trémont's lions, as well as the city's popular weekly market, famous for its flowers and plants, as well as local produce.

You ask, we answer
FAQs about Luxembourg

What to see on a 5 day stay in Luxembourg?

Here is an example itinerary for somebody staying five days in Luxembourg.

- Spend the first and second day in Luxembourg city. For ideas on what to see, see https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g19034…

- The third day, visit the picturesque village of Vianden, famous for its castle. For transport details, see https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g19035…

- The fourth day, go for a hike in the Mullerthal area, known for its spectacular rock formations. For details, see

support@tripxv.com

Have questions?

support@tripxv.com

24 / 7 customer support