Transport

Getting Around Luxembourg: An Honest Transport Guide

5 min read

Tram passing through Kirchberg with modern architecture in background

What actually exists here

Luxembourg City has one tram line running from Luxexpo in the north through Kirchberg, over the Pont Rouge, past the central station and down to Cloche d’Or. It is clean, quiet, runs every 3-6 minutes, and is free. Buses fill in everything else — a dense network operated by AVL in the city and RGTR nationally. Trains connect the capital to Esch-sur-Alzette (25 minutes), Ettelbruck (30 minutes), Clervaux (about an hour) and out to Trier, Metz and Brussels.

There is no metro, no underground, no water taxis. The famous Pfaffenthal panoramic elevator and the Grund funicular are also free and count as public transport. Taxis exist but are expensive — expect 15-$25 for a short city ride. Uber does not operate. Bolt has a limited presence.

When free transport is genuinely useful, and when it isn’t

For a day exploring Ville Haute, Grund and Clausen you barely need transport at all — the historic core is walkable in an hour. The tram matters if you are sleeping in Kirchberg and eating downtown. Trains matter for day trips to Vianden (change at Ettelbruck for the bus), Echternach (bus from Luxembourg City, about 50 minutes) or the Moselle wine villages.

Where free transport disappoints: the Mullerthal hiking trails, small Moselle vineyards, and Vianden Castle itself all require a final bus leg that only runs every 60-90 minutes and stops early. Renting a car for a day makes rural Luxembourg vastly easier. Cycling is decent in the city with the Vel’oh bike-share, but hills between the plateau and Grund are steep.

Getting from the airport

Findel airport is 6 km from the centre. Bus 16 runs every 10 minutes to the central station via Kirchberg, takes 25 minutes and is free. Bus 29 also serves it. A taxi is 25-$35. There is no train station at the airport itself, and no shuttle service worth booking in advance — the bus is genuinely fine, with luggage racks. From the central station (Gare), the tram or a five-minute bus ride takes you to Ville Haute.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to buy anything to use the tram or bus?

No. Just board. First-class train seats and some cross-border trains to Trier or Metz still require tickets, but all second-class domestic travel is free.

Is renting a car worth it?

For city-only trips, no. For Vianden, Mullerthal, and Moselle wine villages, yes — a rental for one or two days transforms rural access.