Luxembourg

General

Luxembourg is a member of the EU.

Time

The time in Luxembourg is the same as Amsterdam, Paris and Rome and one hour ahead of London.

Languages

Luxembourgish, French and German. English is also widely understood.

Border formalities

Many formalities and agreements about matters such as necessary travel documents, car papers, requirements relating to your means of transport and accommodation, medical expenses and taking pets with you do not only depend on the country you are travelling to but also on your departure point and nationality. The length of your stay can also play a role here.

We advise you to consult the relevant authorities before your departure about:

which travel documents you will need for yourself and your fellow passengers
which documents you need for your car
which regulations your caravan must meet
which goods you may import and export
how medical treatment will be arranged and paid for in your holiday destination in cases of accident or illness
whether you can take pets. Contact your vets well in advance. They can give you information about the necessary vaccinations, proof thereof and obligations on return. It would also make sense to enquire whether any special regulations apply to your pet in public places at your holiday destination. In some countries for example dogs must always be muzzled or transported in a cage.

You will find plenty of general information on www.europa.eu but make certain you select information that is relevant to your specific situation.

For the most recent customs regulations you should get in contact with the authorities of your holiday destination in your country of residence.

Currency

The currency in Luxembourg is the euro. Approximate exchange rates September 2016: £1 = € 1.18

Credit cards

You can pay by credit card in many places.

Opening times/Public holidays

Banks

Most banks are open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 16:30.

Shops

In general, the shops are open from Tuesday to Saturday from 9:00 to 18:00. On Mondays the shops don’t open until 14:00.

Public holidays

New Year’s Day
Easter
1 May (Labour Day)
Ascension Day
Pentecost
23 June (National Day)
15 August (The Assumption)
1 November (All Saints)
Christmas

Communication

phones

The mobile network works well throughout Luxembourg, There is a 3G network for mobile internet. You can make international calls from payphones with a yellow sticker.

Wifi, internet

You can make use of a wifi network at more and more public locations, often for free.

Post

Open Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 17:00.

Roads and traffic

Road network

The Luxembourg automobile association ACL has a breakdown service ‘Service Routier’ that operates day and night: tel. 26000.

Traffic regulations

Remember, all traffic in Luxembourg drives on the right and overtakes on the left! Headlight deflectors are advisable to prevent annoying oncoming drivers. Luxembourg uses the metric system, so distances are measured in kilometres (km) and speeds in kilometres per hour (km/h).Traffic coming from the right has priority. Trams always have priority. Buses and school transport have priority when moving away from a bus stop.

Maximum permitted alcohol level is 0.5‰. You must drive with dipped headlights during the day. Drivers may only use telephones hands-free. You can also overtake on the right in one-way streets. Cars must be fitted with winter tyres in winter conditions during the winter months.

Navigation

Notification of fixed speed cameras by navigation systems or mobile phones is permitted. You must place your navigation unit on the left of your screen below, not in the middle of the screen.

Caravans, motorhomes

If driving with a caravan longer than 7m and following another caravan, you must leave a space of 50m. There are plenty of service stations for motorhomes in Luxembourg.

Maximum allowed measurements of combined length

Height 4 metres, width 2.55m and maximum length 18.75 (of which the trailer maximum 12m).

Fuel

Fuel in Luxembourg is cheaper than in most other countries. Lead-free petrol and diesel are widely available. LPG is available in a limited number of places.

Filling stations

Filling stations on the borders are usually open 24 hours, as fuel prices are less expensive. Other service stations are usually open until 20:00. You can usually pay by credit card at service stations.

Tolls

Roads in Luxembourg are free of tolls.

Emergency number

112: national emergency number for fire and ambulance
113: emergency number for police

Camping

Toilet facilities in Luxembourg are of above average quality. More than half of the campsites are classified using a star rating from 1 to 5 stars. The categories apply only to campsites that voluntarily cooperate in the scheme.

There are still some campsites that have chosen to remain with the ‘old’ classification, based on categories. Take note: there are high quality campsites that have chosen not to be included in any classification system.

Overnight camping on the roadside and free camping in cars, caravans or motorhomes is prohibited. Camping on farms is permitted with permission of the farmer and provided no more than 3 tents each with 2 adults are pitched on the same property.

Practical

You will need a world adaptor for electrical equipment.
It is safe to drink tap water in Luxembourg.