Essentials

Getting around Luxembourg

6 min read

A modern tram passing the Hamilius stop in central Luxembourg City

Everything is free

Luxembourg is the first country in the world to make all public transport free — trams, buses and 2nd-class trains, nationwide, no ticket needed. You just get on. This includes the CFL trains to every corner of the country, the tram in the capital and RGTR regional buses. First-class train travel costs extra (about $6 a leg) and international trains (to Trier, Metz, Brussels, Paris) require tickets from the border onward.

The tram

Line T1 runs from Luxexpo Kirchberg in the northeast, through the European Quarter, across the Adolphe-Bridge-adjacent viaduct, through Hamilius (city centre) and down to Central Station and beyond to Cloche d’Or. It runs every 6 minutes weekdays, every 10 at weekends. This is the backbone of city transport.

Trains and regional buses

CFL trains fan out from Luxembourg Central to Ettelbruck (for Ardennes), Wasserbillig (for Moselle), Kleinbettingen (for Belgium), Bettembourg (for France) and Esch-sur-Alzette. Journey times are 25-70 minutes. The regional bus (RGTR) network is dense — bus 175 to Remich, 570 from Ettelbruck to Vianden, 500 series for the Mullerthal. Use the mobiliteit.lu website or app for live times.

Taxis, ride-share and cars

Taxis are expensive — $15 to start, $3.50 a km. A short hop across town is $18. Uber does not operate. There's a local ride-share, Cluster Mobility. For day trips off the transit grid (Bourscheid, wine estates late at night), a rental car is worth it — Enterprise and Sixt at Central Station from $55 a day. Parking in Ville Haute is $4-6 an hour.

Walking and biking

The old town is entirely walkable — 20 minutes end to end. The valleys involve stairs and steep climbs, mitigated by the free Pfaffenthal panoramic lift. Vel’oh! is the city bike-share, $2 a day plus per-minute charges. The national cycle network (Piste Cyclable) is 600 km of marked routes.

Frequently asked questions

Is public transport really free?

Yes, since March 1, 2020. No ticket, no tap-in, just board. This applies to all Luxembourg residents and visitors, on trams, buses and 2nd-class trains nationwide.

Do I need to validate anything?

No. There's nothing to validate. Random ticket checks used to happen — they don’t anymore for standard travel. Only first-class train seats and cross-border tickets need validating.

How do I get from the airport?

Bus 16 or 29 from Findel airport to Central Station or Hamilius, free, every 10 minutes, 25 minutes. A taxi is $40-50.

Is a rental car worth it?

Only for late-night wine tastings, remote Ardennes castles or if you’re moving between 4+ hotels. For everything else, free trains and buses cover it.