Luxembourg’s history goes back to Roman times when it was the site of a fortress and later a strategic point on the road to Spain.

Luxembourg has a culture which is a blend of romance and Germanic Europe.

Luxembourg is the capital and largest city in the Grand Duchy. It is only Grand Duchy in the world and is ruled by a grand duke. According to the International Monetary Fund, it has the world’s highest per capita GDP (gross domestic product).

You can visit Luxembourg or the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg as it is officially known, from France, Germany or Belgium, as it borders all three.

What to see

The city is a World Heritage site and is a lovely mix of new and old. Today Luxembourg is the headquarters of a number of European institutions.

You can explore most of the city by foot. So don’t miss the promontory, The Bock, Petrusse Casemates which has underground passages, the Museum and the Palace of the Grand Dukes.

The Boulevard Royal which was once a moat for the fortress is now home to a large number of banks.

When to visit

Luxembourg has what is called an oceanic climate, that is, warm summers and cool winters. There is hardly any dry season and the precipitation is the same throughout the year.
You can visit Luxembourg right through the year as the there are no extremes in climate, though summer can get quite hot.

Where to stay

There are the regular chain hotels in Luxembourg, so make sure your bookings are in early as to avoid confusion. There are also some excellent guest houses and also home stays where you can enjoy some local flavor.

Luxembourg is more expensive than neighboring France or Germany. Hotel rooms tend to cost more than €100 for a room night. You could stay in one of the cities across the border such as Trier and visit Luxembourg during the day.

What to shop

Luxembourg coins are rare euros, so make sure you have some as mementos.

However, petrol, cigarettes and alcohol are cheaper which makes Luxembourg a must stop for long distance drivers.

What to eat

Luxembourg cuisine has a lot of Central European and German influence. The most popular dish is the judd mat gaardebounen, so don’t forget to order it up. Then there are the potato biscuits which is really yummy. In most restaurants you will find that the cooking has French or Italian flavors.

There are a number of wine tasting festivals on the Moselle River. The white wines which you have to taste are Pinot Gris, Rivaner and Pinot Blanc among others. The local beers which are popular are the Bofferding, Mousel and Battin.

Luxembougers also drink a digestive after dinner. The most common are the Quetsch and the Mirabelle, both made of plum.

What to wear

Make sure you carry a jacket with you as well as some semi formal clothes. It would also be advisable to carry a water proof jacket.

Local transport

You can connect Luxembourg- Findel Internationl Airport from most countries in the European Union. The Ryan Air hub is Hahn which is the airport for low cost carriers and is about two hours away. This airport is connected by bus.

You can arrive into Luxembourg by train from Paris, Brussels Trier and Metz. Driving into Luxembourg is also a good option.

Since it is a small country you can reach any part of the country within an hour.

Money

Luxembourg is well known as a financial capital and there are banks aplenty. You will also find ATMs in most big towns.

Most banks open from Monday to Friday from 9am to noon. Some remain open until 6 pm and some remain open through lunch.

Medical

Most hospitals are open 24 hours. You can refer emergency cases for children under 14, to the Centre Hospitalier. There are 3 big hospitals in Luxembourg City.

There are pharmacies in most parts of Luxembourg City and are open 24 hours. You will need a prescription for over-the-counter medications too.

Please check to see if your travel insurance will cover you outside the US.

Tourist office contact

Luxembourg City Tourist Office is at
B.P. 181
L – 2011 Luxembourg
30, place Guillaume II
L – 1648 Luxembourg
tél: (352) 22 28 09
fax: (352) 46 70 70
e-mail: touristinfo@lcto.lu
www.lcto.lu

Visa

US citizens can enter Luxembourg without a visa for a maximum of 90 days. Passport validity should be for at least three months beyond the maximum stay. You will need a temporary residence permit, if you plan to stay for more that 90 days.

For further information please contact the Luxembourg embassy

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