Why Luxembourg
Two thousand six hundred square kilometres, a quarter the size of Corsica, and yet three distinct regions. Luxembourg City, built on gorges and casemates that are World Heritage listed, is the financial centre. The north, the Oesling, is hilly and forested — the Luxembourg Ardennes. The south-east, the Moselle, is wine country.
The border is everywhere: Trier, Metz, Arlon and Bastogne are all under an hour away. Nearly half the country's workforce are cross-border commuters arriving each morning from France, Belgium and Germany.
May to September for hiking in the Oesling and the Moselle terraces. Winter is damp and mild.
Entry and stay
An EU and Schengen country. An identity card is enough for nationals of the EU, the European Economic Area and Switzerland.
For other nationalities, the European Entry/Exit System (EES) has been in service since 10 April 2026 and digitally records every crossing of a Schengen external border. ETIAS, at twenty euros, is expected in the final quarter of 2026.
Source: France Diplomatie and the European Commission, checked on 22 September 2026.
Getting around
Public transport has been free across the whole country since 2020 — train, tram and bus, for everyone, residents and visitors alike. It is a world first at this scale, and it changes the economics of a stay entirely. Only first class on trains still costs.
The capital's tram links the airport to the centre and the station. Cross-border trains to Trier, Metz and Arlon become chargeable once the border is crossed.
Money
Euro. Cards work everywhere.
The country is expensive for accommodation and eating out, on a par with its dearest neighbours, but free transport offsets part of the budget.
Before you go
Three languages coexist: Luxembourgish is the national language, French the language of legislation and administration, German that of the press and primary school. A French speaker is understood everywhere.
Fuel, alcohol and tobacco are taxed less than in France, Belgium and Germany: the border petrol stations are a trade in themselves.
The city is seen in a day, the country in three. Many visitors underestimate the Oesling and leave having seen nothing but the capital.