Business Hours
 Banks: 08:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday; limited hours Saturday Post Offices: 08:00 to 12:00 and 13:30 to 17:00, Monday to Friday Government Offices: 08:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday Business Centres: 08:30 to 17:30, Monday to Friday Shops: 14:00 to 18:00, Monday; 08:00 to 18:00, Tuesday to Saturday
Cautions
 Luxembourg is about the safest tourist destination there is in Europe, and perhaps the world. Pick-pocketing, dangerous outdoor activities and road hazards are also real threats in Luxembourg.
Luxembourg City is very safe, even after dark, and you can wander around the well-policed city centre and old town day and night and not feel threatened. As with anywhere, though, try to remain vigilant for pickpockets and don’t carry around excess amounts of cash/cards.
 Mullerthal and the Ardennes in the north of Luxembourg are popular outdoors areas where all sorts of potentially dangerous activities are based. Skiing and rock climbing are the most dangerous activities and visitors should ensure their travel insurance covers them for such activities. Taking extra clothes when visiting these places in the winter is also a good idea as hilltop regions in Luxembourg get very cold in the winter. Police: 112
Electricity
Electricity: 220 Volts, 50Hz
Health
 Health standards in Luxembourg, and particularly in Luxembourg City, are excellent. Hospitals and clinics are world class, most doctors and nurses speak English and those from the EU can receive free medical emergency treatment with a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
 There is no substitute for a good health insurance policy, however, which should cover for all eventualities, including medical needs, accidents, theft, lost luggage and missed travel connections.
Food hygiene standards are good in the Grand Duchy and the tap water is perfectly safe to drink. Those into wildlife who plan on visiting rural areas should be aware that rabies may be present and should receive the appropriate jabs before arrival. Emergency services: 112
Language
 Luxembourgish is a German dialect and the national language of Luxembourg, while French is used in government circles, for literature and on road signs and full-blown German will also be heard in towns and cities to boot. Everyone in public service will speak English, however, yet it is worth learning basic civilities in French if wanting to converse with the locals. There is also a huge international presence in the city and you may find that you never hear the national language at all as most expats and immigrants rarely feel the need to learn it.
Currency
 Like many other countries in the Euro zone, Luxembourg has gone with the euro. Notes can be had in denominations of: €500, €200, €100, €50, €20, €10 and 5 euros, while coins come in €2, €1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cent pieces. There are no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency into and out of Luxembourg.
Currency Exchange
If you are visiting Luxembourg from outside the euro zone, or indeed outside of Europe altogether, then picking up some euros is a good idea before your arrival for convenience.
 Exchanging lots of currency into euros outside of Luxembourg is not advised, however, due to possibly unfavourable exchange rates. Banks within the Grand Duchy offer the best exchange rates, while most major currencies can also be exchanged for euros at bureaux de change at the airport, at major hotels (where rates tend to be worst) and at the main post offices.
Using one’s local debit card to obtain foreign currency from an ATM at the destination is becoming the de facto way to obtain funds while travelling nowadays. Many banks recognise others in the world where ATMs will dish out cash to those with the likes of Switch and Maestro-activated cards. Although charges are often incurred for withdrawals overseas by your bank, and sometimes by the issuing ATM operator, the commercial banking rates are used for the exchange meaning a favourable overall rate.
 Credit cards are also widely accepted at hotels, restaurants and shops all over Luxembourg, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Diners Club, and a growing number of ATMs will also accept these cards on withdrawing cash. Those who prefer the old fashioned method of using traveller’s cheques while on holiday should make sure their cheques are in euros, pounds sterling or US dollars for ease of transfer.
Customs
 Duty-free items can be brought into Luxembourg from outside the EU to the following limits: one litre of spirits, or two litres of sparkling wine and non-sparkling wine; 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 50ml of perfume, or 250ml of eau de toilette; 500g of coffee and 100g of tea; and gifts to the value of €175 for those over 15 years and €90 for those under 15 years.
Etiquette
There are no real special requirements so as not to offend the locals when visiting Luxembourg, although standard manners and respect goes a long way. Learning a bit of French, or even the national language Luxembourgish, is well-received by the locals.
 Men greet by handshaking, women by kissing on cheeks, and if visiting someone’s home always take a small gift, like flowers or wine if going for a meal.
 Smart, casual dress should be the norm in all but the top restaurants in Luxembourg City, but the locals do tend to turn their nose up at those who are badly dressed and dishevelled. Smoking is prohibited in most public places nowadays and it will be made obvious where you cannot do so.
 Although tipping is not obligatory in Luxembourg, taxi drivers, at least in the capital, generally expect a 10 per cent tip while porters should also be tipped a token amount. Try not to haggle in shops and at the market as this is considered very rude.
 Dining Etiquette Smart, casual dress is okay for the vast majority of hotels, cafés and restaurants in Luxembourg, while dining manners are much the same as with elsewhere. Don’t begin eating until everyone has their food, especially when dining with locals, don’t talk with your mouth full and work from the outside in if presented with lots of cutlery for many courses.
A 16 per cent service charge is automatically added to most restaurant bills and you may even find that some establishments will round your bill up. Percentage-tipping when dining out in Luxembourg is not really necessary but leave a tip for good service and quality by all means.
Visa and Passports
 Those travelling from within the EU simply require their valid ID card or passport if their country has not got an ID system in place. A visa is not required for these visitors. Those travelling to Luxembourg from outside the EU, including citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, also only require a valid passport and will get three months in the country. Citizens of other countries should check the travel regulations with a Luxembourg embassy or consulate in their country of origin.
Passports should be valid for at least months beyond the intended date of exit from Luxembourg.
Tourist Information Offices
There are handy tourist information offices in all main towns and cities throughout Luxembourg where information on attractions, as well as free maps, are available.
The Luxembourg National Tourist Office (Office National Du Tourisme) is at Gare Centrale in Luxembourg City; phone: +352 428 2821
Luxembourg City Tourist Office is at 30, place Guillaume II; phone: +352 222 809
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