Getting around on a trip abroad is often a hidden cost we forget to factor in. But in one European destination, public transport is free for everyone – even tourists.
In Luxembourg, the wealthiest country in the European Union and the richest in the world if you look at GDP per capita, people ride buses, trains and trams for free.
While the move is nothing new – transport has been free since February 2020, in a bid to cut carbon emissions – it’s not something everyone knows about.
No need to book or reserve seats, no fumbling with cards, or phones, or cash, no fretting about zones or pricing structures. Where do we sign up?
Passengers are required to carry identification to show if a conductor asks for one, but provided you have that, you can travel the length of the country – an end-to-end expedition that takes around three hours – for nothing.
The only exception to the rule is first class travel – which, as you’d expect, will still cost you.
Sign up to The Getaway newsletter
Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here.
Getting there is nearly as cheap. Travelling on Wednesday, July 9, Metro found one-way flights from London for £28.
But if Luxembourg doesn’t do it for you, there are other European destinations that offer the same free transport perk.
Bern, Switzerland’s federal city, allows visitors who stay overnight in the city to travel for free on public transport in zones 100 and 101. That means unlimited trams and buses to the best outdoor pools, nature parks and gelaterias.
Malta has a similar form of limited free transport, which entitles travellers to ride free on all day routes, night routes and special services across Malta and Gozo.
How to spend a weekend in Luxembourg
It’s been historically overlooked, but we here at Metro Travel think odd little Luxembourg deserves some attention.
Sandwiched between France, Belgium and Germany, this multilingual hub of commerce and European governance is also the world’s only grand duchy and the home of the continent’s most bizarre local festivals.
Luxembourg City’s diminutive size makes it an ideal weekend break destination, and because it lacks the grandeur of Paris or Rome, the streets are never clogged with crowds, even in summer.
In fact, you could arguably see the whole country if you had three days;by car, it takes less than 90 minutes to drive from top to bottom, and Luxembourg’s only airport is just 5km from the highly walkable capital.
Every trip to Luxembourg should start in the city at Chemin de la Corniche, an elevated path known as Europe’s most beautiful balcony that captures sweeping views of the Alzette river.
From there you can delve into the enclave’s chequered history, at the cliffside Musee d’Histoire de la Ville de Luxembourg and the UNESCO-protected Bock Casemates, a network of underground tunnels where canons stick out from walls.
Stop to refuel with a beer in the buzzy Rives de Clausen district, where historic breweries have been turned into hipster bars.
Luxembourg is home to 11 Michelin-starred restaurants, plus two with a Bib Gourmand each. There’s a solid helping of affordable veggie and vegan eateries, such as Marguerites (for breakfast) and Charles Sandwiches (for lunch).
Beyond the city walls, there are beautiful walking trails and the rolling vineyards of the world-famous Moselle Valley.
Just 20km from the capital, the region is home to riesling, chardonnay and gewürztraminer. Good thing you’ve got that free public transport to cart yourself home on.
Further afield, a short train north will take you to Mullerthal, an idyllic forested region with hilly landscape often referred to as Luxembourg’s Little Switzerland.
