A visitor sees the postcard: the old town, the valleys, the glass towers of the plateau. A resident sees something else: the conversation that switches language mid-sentence, the train that costs nothing, the supermarket that is shut on one holiday and open on another. This guide to living in Luxembourg covers the daily rhythm, not the paperwork.
What languages do you need for living in Luxembourg?
The country has three administrative languages: Luxembourgish (the national language), French and German. In practice, French is very present in shops and services, and English is the common language of many international companies. Many residents are foreign, and changing language in the middle of a conversation is normal. You can get by in French almost everywhere, and a few words of Luxembourgish always land well, as a greeting such as Moien when you walk into a shop.
The language question gets serious with children. Public primary school teaches literacy in German; the details are in schools in Luxembourg for expat children. For adults, the main step is simply asking your commune and employer what they use in writing.
Habits such as greeting people when you enter, or using the formal "you" with strangers and at the start at work, are customs, not rules. Watch what your colleagues do.
How do you get around?
Buses, trams and trains have been free for everyone since 29 February 2020, residents and visitors alike. The only exception is first-class tickets and subscriptions on trains. Keep an ID on you, because it can be asked for by the driver or an inspector. You can take your bicycle on trains for free, space permitting. For cross-border services to Trier, Metz, Brussels, Liège or Paris, check the operator's page, since the national portal does not say whether those are free.
This changes the car equation. Many households live comfortably without one, especially near a station. If you do bring a car, the six-month registration deadline is in driving in Luxembourg.
What are the public holidays and leave rules?
An employee has at least 26 working days of annual leave, plus 11 legal public holidays: 1 January, Easter Monday, 1 May, 9 May (Europe Day), Ascension, Whit Monday, 23 June (National Day), 15 August, 1 November, 25 December and 26 December. A public holiday that falls on a day you do not work can be made up within three months. Employees also have two days of leave for moving house, according to the national portal's practical guide.
Many of your colleagues will be cross-border workers, so meeting times often take commuting into account.
Settling into a new country is easier when someone answers the small questions as they come up: which office, which form, which day it is shut. Moovy can answer them from official sources and tell you when something needs a professional. For paperwork, start with the guide to moving to Luxembourg.
When are shops open?
Opening hours changed this year. According to Guichet.lu, since 19 June 2026 (law of 19 December 2025), shops and crafts may open from 5:00 to 21:00 Monday to Friday and from 5:00 to 19:00 on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and their eves. On 1 January, 1 May and 25 December they remain closed unless a collective agreement allows otherwise, and bakeries and caterers may open from 5:00 to 19:00. Restaurants, bars, cinemas and stations are outside this law. These are the legal limits; each shop sets its own hours within them, so check before you plan a Sunday errand.
What about health in daily life?
Emergency numbers: 112 for ambulance and fire, 113 for the police. Out-of-hours medical houses operate in Luxembourg City, Esch-sur-Alzette and Ettelbruck, from 20:00 to 7:00 and on weekends and public holidays. A duty pharmacy list is available at pharmacie.lu. How you are covered is explained in healthcare in Luxembourg for expats.
Which small habits trip up new arrivals?
- Thinking French is enough for school. It may be enough in the shop, but primary school literacy is in German.
- Not declaring your arrival to the commune. Without that, no residence certificate.
- Buying a second-class train ticket. It is free.
- Skipping home insurance. Liability insurance is mandatory for vehicles, and home insurance is strongly recommended.
- Forgetting that daily costs are mostly about rent. See the cost of living in Luxembourg.
What is it like working and socialising when living in Luxembourg?
The workplace is where the three languages meet most visibly. A meeting can start in English, drift into French and finish in German, and no one will think it odd. If you speak only one of them, say so early and ask people to switch; most will. Colleagues who commute from France, Belgium or Germany plan their days around trains and traffic, so meetings at the very start or end of the day are less welcome than in a city where everyone lives nearby.
Outside work, the country is compact. Many people live in one commune, work in another and see friends in a third, with the free train making that easy. Expect an international mix of neighbours, and do not be shy to introduce yourself; a greeting in Luxembourgish, French or German is always appreciated.
How do you organise the first weeks of living in Luxembourg?
A small routine saves time. Declare your arrival at your commune; once you have the registration certificate, many other steps follow. Ask your employer for the social security declaration. Open MyGuichet.lu access so that you can follow your files online. Learn your nearest medical house and pharmacy before you need them. Then explore: the free transport network makes a day trip to another town an easy test of where you might want to live. The guide to moving to Luxembourg puts these steps in order.
How do you learn the languages when living in Luxembourg?
Most people pick up the language they need most. If you work in French or English, you will manage without much Luxembourgish, but learning some makes small talk, administrative letters and social events easier. If you have children in the public school, German matters more than you expect, because literacy is taught in it. The national portal explains how languages are used at school, and your commune can point you to courses. Do not wait for fluency before taking part: a mix of languages, with a smile and patience, is part of daily life here.
Which services are worth knowing about early?
Three habits pay off. First, keep your documents in order, since most formalities go through your commune and Guichet.lu. Second, save the emergency numbers (112 and 113) and the nearest out-of-hours medical house. Third, learn which of your errands you can do on a Sunday and which you cannot, because the new opening-hours law covers shops and crafts but not restaurants, bars, cinemas or stations. For how tax and social security contributions are taken from your pay, read working in Luxembourg.
If you are still deciding where to settle, best places to live in Luxembourg compares the options. Rules and hours change; verify on guichet.lu before you rely on them.