Language

Luxembourg is officially a trilingual country, with Luxembourgish, French, and German the primary languages. Most locals tend to speak to each other in Luxembourgish; however, French and German are more common in written language, with French used in official writing. Much of the population also speaks proficient English, while certain minorities speak Portuguese.

Currency

Along with a number of other European countries, Luxembourg joined the euro currency in 1999 in favor of the Luxembourg franc. €1 is divided in to 100 cents. If you’re flying direct to Luxembourg, currency can be exchanged at airports, banks, and hotels. ATMs are found on most major streets and squares in the capital, while credit cards are accepted in the majority of establishments. It is advised to alert your bank before making transactions abroad.

Time

The country is in the Central European Time zone, which is one hour ahead of GMT (+1 GMT) and two hours ahead (+2 GMT) between the last Sunday in March and the last Sunday in October.

Electricity

Luxembourg uses electricity at 220-240V with the European standard Europlug and Schuko plug sockets. If you plan on using electrical appliances that operate on a different voltage, a transformer is required, while appliances that have different plugs will need an adapter.

Communications The dialing code for Luxembourg is +352, while only certain areas of Luxembourg City, Diedrich (45), and Han/Lesse (84) require an area code. The duchy’s main mobile network operators include Lux GSM, Tango, and Voxmoboile. Mobile phone coverage is excellent in most areas of the country. Outside of the capital, internet cafés are hard to find; however, most hotels provide wireless internet.

Duty-free

Duty-free alcohol, perfume, tobacco, and other products are available to passenger departing from Findel-Luxembourg International Airport. Custom allowances depend on the country of entry; however, when entering the country from other EU nations, visitors are permitted to bring 800 cigarettes, 20 liters of alcohol below 22 percent, and €430 worth of other goods. Many visitors purchase duty-free products in Luxembourg, as they are much cheaper here than in other EU countries.

Tourist Office

National Tourist Office, Luxembourg City: +352-42-82-82-10 or http://www.visitluxembourg.lu

Embassies in Luxembourg

US Embassy, Luxembourg City: +352-46-01-23 Canadian Consulate, Luxembourg City: +352-2627-0570 Chinese Embassy, Luxembourg City: +352-43-69-91 French Embassy, Luxembourg City: +352-45-72-71 German Embassy, Luxembourg City: +352-45-34-45-1

Emergency

Ambulance/fire services: 112 Police: 113