Just Landed in Luxembourg? Your First 7 Days

Mobile coverage is excellent and 5G is widespread across this small, dense country, with fibre broadband available in most buildings. Prepaid SIMs are easy to buy with a passport, and many newcomers keep an eSIM or a Revolut-style setup until they have a fixed address. Post Luxembourg is the former incumbent with the broadest coverage, while Orange and Tango compete hard on price.

Typical cost: EUR 15-30/month for a plan with generous data and EU roaming; prepaid starter SIMs from around EUR 10-15, and fibre home broadband from roughly EUR 40-60/month.

The euro is used and contactless card payment is standard almost everywhere, including public buildings and small shops. Luxembourg is a major banking hub, but opening a personal account can still require an in-person appointment, your passport, proof of address and sometimes a registration certificate or employment contract, and it can take a week or two.

Opening an account: BGL BNP Paribas, Banque et Caisse d'Epargne de l'Etat (Spuerkeess) and Banque Internationale a Luxembourg (BIL) are the main retail banks, along with ING and Raiffeisen. Digital options like Revolut, N26 and Wise are popular for a fast start and for holding a card before your local IBAN arrives.

Cash: Largely cashless, but keep small notes and coins for bakeries, the twice-weekly markets on Place Guillaume, some independent cafes and vending machines.

Tipping: Not obligatory as service is included by law; rounding up or leaving 5-10% for good restaurant service, or a euro or two for taxis and delivery, is appreciated but never expected.

Every new resident must declare their arrival in person at the commune where they live, which registers your address in the national register (registre national) and is the gateway to almost everything else: banking, tax, benefits and residence documents. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens then request a registration certificate (attestation d'enregistrement); non-EU nationals complete separate residence formalities with the Immigration Directorate, having usually applied for a temporary authorisation of stay before arrival. Bring originals and copies, since offices keep paperwork on file.

Deadline: Within 8 days of moving in for people arriving from abroad, and within 3 days when moving between communes inside Luxembourg.

Where: Your local commune administration (mairie / Gemeng); for Luxembourg City the registration desk is the Bierger-Center at Place Guillaume II (the Knuedler).

Public transport across the whole country is free, including all buses, the Luxembourg City tram and national trains (CFL) in second class, with no ticket required for standard journeys. The network is reliable and integrated, so most newcomers manage without a car in and around the capital, though the hilly terrain, spread-out suburbs and cross-border commuting lead some to buy or lease a car later. First class on trains and long-distance coaches abroad still require a ticket.

From the airport: Luxembourg Airport (Findel) is about 6 km from the centre; take the free tram or bus lines 16 and 29 (roughly 20-25 minutes to the city and station), or a taxi for around EUR 30-40. There is no dedicated airport train; the tram and buses are the standard public routes.

Housing is expensive and supply is genuinely tight, especially in and around Luxembourg City, so viewings move fast and good listings are gone within days. Many people commute from cheaper areas such as Esch-sur-Alzette or from across the French, Belgian and German borders. Most rentals are found via agencies (agences immobilieres) and portals like athome.lu and immotop.lu, and landlords often expect proof of income of around three times the rent.

Typical rent: A one-bedroom flat in the capital typically runs EUR 1,500-2,200/month, with the citywide average around EUR 1,750; expect EUR 200-300 of monthly charges (charges/frais de copropriete) on top, and lower rents further out.

Deposit norm: Deposit is commonly two to three months' rent, usually placed in a blocked bank account (garantie locative), plus agency fees of around one month's rent plus 17% VAT when you rent through an agency.

Luxembourg has a strong statutory health insurance system run by the CNS (Caisse nationale de sante), which reimburses most care once you are affiliated through employment or as a resident. Standards are high, waiting times are generally short, and many doctors and staff speak French, German, English and Luxembourgish. The main public hospitals include the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL) and Hopitaux Robert Schuman.

How to access it: Affiliation with the CNS is usually automatic once you start work and are declared by your employer; you then receive a social security card by post. You typically pay the doctor upfront and are reimbursed most of the cost afterwards, often within days once your bank details are registered with the CNS.

Insurance: Statutory CNS cover is mandatory once affiliated and covers the bulk of costs; many residents add a complementary mutuelle such as CMCM or a private top-up for dental, optical and fuller hospital reimbursement.

• Greet people with a handshake and a polite 'Moien' (hello) or 'Bonjour'; formality is valued in offices, shops and with officials.
• Switch languages readily: French works almost everywhere, English in business, but a few words of Luxembourgish such as 'Moien' and 'Merci' are warmly received.
• Be punctual for appointments and administrative visits, and book slots in advance wherever possible, as walk-ins are often not accepted.
• Sort your rubbish carefully; recycling and waste separation (Valorlux bags, glass, paper, bio-waste) is strict and taken seriously by neighbours and communes.
• Keep noise down on Sundays and in the evenings, and check building rules, since quiet hours are widely observed in flats and residential areas.
• Dress smartly for work in the financial and EU sectors; business culture leans conservative and professional.
• Address people formally at first (Monsieur/Madame, or Vous in French) until invited to be more casual.

• Many shops and offices close for a long midday break and most are shut on Sundays, so plan errands, groceries and pharmacy visits accordingly.
• Administrative processes are paperwork-heavy and multilingual; keep certified copies, apostilles and translations of key documents ready.
• Rental scams are common given the tight market, so never pay a deposit before an in-person viewing and a signed contract.
• Cross-border tax and social security rules are complex if you live in France, Belgium or Germany but work in Luxembourg; get advice early.
• Public offices and many services expect appointments; turning up without one can mean being turned away or a long wait.