Everyday practical information for Luxembourg

Three languages, and which to use

• Luxembourgish, French and German are all official.
• Luxembourgish is the national language and what people speak among themselves.
• French dominates in shops, restaurants and administration - it is the safest opener for a visitor.
• German is used in the press and in schools.
• English is very widely spoken, particularly in the capital, where a large share of the workforce is international.
• Menus are often in French, signage in French and German, and nobody expects a visitor to attempt Luxembourgish.

Power

• 230 V, 50 Hz, sockets type C and F.

The commuting country

• Nearly half the workforce lives in France, Belgium or Germany and commutes in daily.
• This shapes everything - the roads at rush hour, the emptiness of the capital in August, the multilingualism.

Practicalities

• Shops close on Sundays and early on Saturdays outside the centre.
• Public holidays are numerous and things genuinely shut.
• The Grand Duchy is a monarchy and National Day on 23 June is the one day the country is unmistakably lively.