Public transportation in Luxembourg

The essentials you should know about Luxembourg's transport

Transport in Luxembourg is a unique phenomenon, so there is quite a lot to talk about. Here are the key aspects worth exploring before travelling to the Grand Duchy.

Luxembourg Airports

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4, rue de Trèves, BP 635 L-2016, Luxembourg

+352 2464 0

DAILY

00:00 – 24:00

If you look up from the city center at any point of the day, your chances to spot a plane in the sky are fairly high. Most likely, you will get to the Grand Duchy for the first time by plane. Air travel in the country is operated by the Directorate of Civil Aviation (DAC).

It is located five kilometers away from the capital and is mostly used for flights to the major cities of Europe.

Two biggest state airline offices are based at Findel Airport: Luxair, the country's largest civilian carrier, and Cargolux, dealing exclusively with cargo transportation. Other operating airlines include both traditional airlines and low-coster airlines that fly all over the world: Aegean, ITA Airways, British Airways, Easy Jet, Hahn Air, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Ryanair, Swiss, Turkish Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, VOLOTEA and W!zz Air.

Luxembourg Trains

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Pl. de la Gare, 1616 Gare Luxembourg

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One of the ways to move around the country is by train. Railroad travel is operated by CFL, the Luxembourg National Railway Company (Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois).Trains make it easy to get around the country, as well as serve in case you need a cross-border trip to Belgium, France or Germany. The short-length train trips are a popular way to spend weekends: by visiting museums, tourist attractions, or shopping outlets in and out of the country.

The price factor of train travel in Luxembourg is not its only advantage - trains are also incredibly dependable and accurate, scoring at a high 92,1% in punctuality. This could be one of the reasons why the number of passengers has significantly risen in the last 20 years, amounting to about 85% more commuters.

If case you need help or assistance, on-duty service staff on stations (Luxembourg, Ettelbruck, Wasserbillig, Esch/Alzette, Belval-Université, Pétange and Rodange) can help you on your trip. When using other train stations, you will need to get in touch with CFL assistance services before your trip:

• For local traveling — at least 1 hour before the departure;
• For international traveling — at least 48 hours before the trip.

Though railroad travel is free of charge on the territory of Grand Duchy, some rides are still covered with a fee, for example:

• First-class seats for passengers over 12 years old;
• Cross-border trains to Belgium, France, and Germany.

Though Luxembourg is multicultural, all announcements made while traveling by train are exclusively in French, one of the official languages of the country.

Short-distance trains

For convenience, passengers of railroad transport are usually advised to download the CFL Mobile app. It gives real-time information on bus and train schedules, possible routes, perturbations, and fares conditions. You can also buy tickets there.

Fixed timetables for certain national routes can also be found on CFL’s official website. Additionally, you can prepare for your journey by searching for specific departure and/or arrival destinations, as well as the timing, number of changes or minimum/maximum distance of your liking for the trip.

Long-distance trains

Choosing a train as international means of transport in Luxembourg can be both affordable and practical.

Furthermore, to save money when traveling in Europe, you can opt for second-class rather than first-class, as the prices for first-class tickets tend to be generally higher.

Train service allows residents and non-residents in the Grand Duchy to travel to bordering countries for the lowest rates possible — each day the trains depart from Luxembourg City Gare (located at Place de la Gare L-1616 Luxembourg) to France, Germany, and Belgium. You can see the international train timetable and buy tickets on the TGV website.

The luxury of free public transport of Luxembourg ends at the country's borders. This means that cross-border passes and tickets are necessary for international journeys. There are inspectors groups on international trains. All violators receive hefty fines, which can reach several thousand euros.

Buying a train ticket in Luxembourg

It is necessary to have your ticket with you when traveling across the border from Luxembourg. You can buy tickets using mobile apps, or the ticket service — all the stations have both classic ticket offices and ticket booths.

If you use cash, keep in mind, that the train ticket machines are not suitable for money exchange. Banknotes of 5, 10, 20 or 50 euros, can be used in the terminals at various stations in the Grand Duchy. While 100 euros banknotes will only be accepted if the trip cost is 40 euros or more.

Luxembourg Buses

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The buses are practically the national means of transportation in Luxembourg. They are considered the best way to travel not only between the cities but also between the communes and the city center. There are various routes, that work on different schedules.

There are currently 31 bus lines In Luxembourg City and their routes are well-developed.

Almost like regional trains, buses provide residents and commuters with cross-border routes.

Trams in Luxembourg

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Another way to travel around the city with comfort and for free is by city trams.

The tram line has been running since late 2020, provided by Luxtram (curated by The Ministry of Sustainable Development and Infrastructure)

It is easy to notice the tram stops in the city: they are well equipped with glass constructions and benches and have digital information panels, which say how many minutes you will have to wait until the next tramway comes. All the announcements are made in Luxembourgish, but the tram stop names are also announced in French.

Special attention during the development process has been put on overlapping the bus stops with tram lines, making it easier to switch public transport in Luxembourg. The main public transportation hub is considered to be the Hamilius bus and tram stop in the center of the city.

The tram line connects KIRCHBERG Luxexpo and BONNEVOIE Lycée Bouneweg stops, located in separate parts of the city. In total, there are 17 stops of the Luxembourg tram line: Luxexpo; Alphonse Weicker; Nationalbibliothéik / Bibliothèque nationale; Universitéit; Coque; Europaparlement / Parlement européen; Philharmonie; Rout Bréck / Pafendall; Theater; Faïencerie; Stäreplaz / Place d'Étoile; Hamilius; Place de Metz; Place de Paris; Gare Routiere / Luxembourg Central Station; Leschte Steiwer / Dernier Sol; Lycée Bouneweg.

Since the tram travels on one pathway in just two directions, you don’t need to worry about when you will try to get on it and how to connect.

The full timetable can be found on the Mobilitet APP and Luxtram website.

Recently the state and Luxtram officials announced that they are planning to extend the existing line in Kirchberg and to the Hollerich district by adding 2 more stations towards Hollereich and 3 new stations towards Kirchberg.

If you have doubts about any information on traffic and disruptions considering tram lines, you can contact Luxtram support by email via

Luxembourg Bikes

If you want to opt for an option to conveniently and environmentally friendly travel through Luxembourg but also simultaneously getting your daily exercise in, the town also offers bike rentals! Still, the exercising factor of the bikes is minimal as they are electrically driven, so maybe you should just be craving a breath of fresh air.

Vel’OH

Vel’oh bikes are available 24/7 and its stations for picking up or dropping off the bike are scattered all over the city centre and surrounding areas, counting over 100 stations in total.

Once you have done this, you will be able to get a detailed and clear map of where you can find the nearest stations, how many bikes are available at the time and what their battery percentage is. You can also find a

Taxi in Luxembourg

If you prefer your public transport to take you straight from point A to point B, taxis in Luxembourg are available and can be ordered through several different companies.

There are about 150 taxi companies in the country, and the forthcoming reforms are unlikely to make things any cheaper for ordinary people.

But if you need to catch a leaving train or get somewhere quickly, there is no better way than using a taxi. You can do it by simply raising your hand on the street, by calling a taxi service by phone or by booking it online using a profile.

But if you need to catch a leaving train or get somewhere quickly, there is no better way than using a taxi. You can do it by simply raising your hand on the street, by calling a taxi service by phone, or by booking it online in the app.

In the year 2023, an updated version of the application WebTaxi mobile app was launched. Below, we will provide a detailed description of its features and improvements.

Uber in Luxembourg

Uber just recently launched in Luxembourg and is already gaining popularity among the population. Although local carriers actively opposed the company, the aggregator was able to successfully develop its service within the country.

Carsharing

Carsharing is becoming increasingly popular in Luxembourg, with several companies offering this service. The reason for that is that it is usually cheaper and more eco-friendly: it also helps a lot to ease the traffic in the Grand Duchy.

Some of the most popular carsharing companies in Luxembourg include Carloh and Flex.

Carloh and Flex are two carsharing services in Luxembourg, backed by the CFL. They offer a diverse range of vehicles, including small, medium, and commercial options. With over 60 pick-up locations spread across Luxembourg, including major city centers and public transport hubs, accessing their fleet is convenient and hassle-free.

There are a few carpooling services in Luxembourg as well. This is Klaxit, Blablacar, etc.

Water Transport

Luxembourg has cargo and civilian fleets. There are 60 merchant ships in the country. At the same time, ships from other countries are used in the country as well.

The main water artery in the country is the Moselle river, located on the border between the Grand Duchy and Germany. It provides easy access to the sea and cooperation with other countries, as well as passenger boat journeys for people, who like to travel by water.

Photo by Entente touristique de la Moselle Luxembourgeoise

Traveling by boat is rather considered to be a leisure activity than real transportation means. There are few companies operating on the Moselle river.

For example, «Princesse Marie-Astrid» boat offers different cruises to observe the river and enjoy the ride. The price for the tickets is 20 euros for adults, 10 euros for kids under 12 years, and free of charge for those under 6 years old.

There are no such water resources or a fleet of vessels like in Norway, for example. But it can be a good occasional entertainment for residents and guests. Traveling around the country by land is still much easier.

Funicular

Photo by luxembourg-city.com

Besides buses, trams, and other public transport — Luxembourg has a spectacular cable car or funicular. Established in 2017 it provides fast access to other transport and cycle roads. Waiting time for this rather unusual and entertaining ascend is about 3 minutes, same with the tram. And likewise, it is completely free of charge. It connects the Pfaffenthal district and the Kirchberg Plateau.

Photo from transports.public.lu

The cable car in Luxembourg offers great views: it is surrounded by a forest and during the trip you can observe the city from the top. You will see the bridge of the Grand Duchess Charlotte (also known as Pont Rouge) and the downtown district of Luxembourg City.

The ride only takes about a minute, but it rises (or descends) the passengers for 40 meters. The funicular is located on Avenue John F. Kennedy 1115, Luxembourg.

Public transport apps in Luxembourg

There is no easier way to navigate the public transport system in Luxembourg, than using dedicated mobile apps. Besides Google Maps, you can download some Luxembourg-approved and based mobile applications.

Most of the time they are created by government companies and departments. The variety can be used to navigate the city, check bus timetables and perturbations of railroad work of the public transport, buy tickets and plan trips. The majority of them are available in English and can be downloaded from official resources of your phone system — Google Play and App Store.