Does the price ever put you off taking public transport? In Luxembourg, tourists and residents can ride buses, trains and trams for free.
Luxembourg, Europe’s seventh smallest country, is sandwiched between Belgium, France and Germany. In February 2020, the country made public transport completely free.
The only exception to the rule is first class travel which still has to be paid for. Passengers do need to carry a form of identification to show if a conductor asks for one.
Tourists can travel all over the country, including to rural areas and border towns, on the free network.
Luxembourg’s free transport scheme is funded from tax revenues. François Bausch, the country’s deputy prime minister, said: “There is greater equity in this because those who pay little tax pay nothing or very little in this system, it’s really free. And those who pay more tax, obviously, they have a price that is perhaps a little higher.”
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One of the reasons for the scheme was to reduce dependence on cars. In 2020, Luxembourg had the EU’s highest car density with 696 vehicles per 1,000 people compared to an average of 560.
As a result, the small country had a huge traffic problem. Luxembourg has some of Europe’s cheapest petrol, making driving an attractive option for its residents.
The cheap petrol means that “‘fuel tourists” even cross the border to fill up their car, creating congestion on Luxembourg’s main roads.
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Despite the free travel, Luxembourg is still having an issue persuading its residents to choose the train or bus over their car.
According to Bloomberg, congestion on Luxembourg’s roads in May 2022 was largely equal to or higher than in May 2019, before the free scheme started.
Part of the problem is that almost 50 percent of Luxembourg’s workforce lives outside the country due to high housing costs. These workers would still have to pay for part of their journey if they used public transport.
However, for tourists, the free travel means there’s no need to fork out for car rental in Luxembourg. Top attractions include Vianden Castle and the historic walking area at Le Chemin de la Corniche.
Nature lovers can take a hike along the Mullerthal Trail or visit the Jardin Des Papillons to admire the colourful butterflies.
Prefer to explore on foot? Check out Europe’s most walkable city, a gorgeous destination in southern Spain.
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