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Where is the country of Luxembourg located? Luxembourg is a small country in western Europe. It is surrounded by Belgium, Germany and France. Luxembourg has a temperate maritime climate. This is because Luxembourg, like the Netherlands, is influenced by Atlantic systems, which determine the weather in Luxembourg for a large part of the year. Only when a very strong easterly or south-easterly current starts, the ocean water has little influence on the weather in Luxembourg. This can happen, for example, when there is a large, steadfast high pressure area over Germany or Denmark, through which air is supplied from the (south) east. In winter this often results in cooler weather with clear skies, in summer very warm air can be supplied. This air can be a bit more unstable.

Two parts of Luxembourg

Although the same climate type applies throughout Luxembourg, it often makes a difference whether you are in the north or the south of the country. Partly due to the Ardennes and the Moselle, you can see that the country is split in two climatically. The south is somewhat drier and has slightly warmer summers. This makes viticulture possible in this part of Luxembourg, especially in the Moselle valley. In the north there is a slightly greater chance of the supply of depressions, with the accompanying precipitation. That is why the annual precipitation here is somewhat higher than in the south. Think of an average precipitation sum of about 1200 millimeters in the northern parts of Luxembourg, while in the south you have to count on ‘only’ 800 to 900 millimeters per year. This means that Luxembourg is slightly wetter than the Netherlands across the board.

Temperatures

The winters in Luxembourg are on the cool side, with the risk of extreme cold being limited. It can indeed freeze quite a bit in the winter, even during the day, but in general you can call the winter season in Luxembourg quite mild. The afternoon temperatures average above freezing, except for the higher areas. Night frost is quite common throughout Luxembourg in winter. It often remains in the lower parts during light to sometimes moderate frost. It can cool down a bit further in the hills.

From March you can see the average temperatures climb up. By the end of March, double-digit afternoon temperatures are already normal, while the number of days with night frosts is decreasing. From May there is a significant chance of spring-like temperatures. What you will experience, especially at the beginning of May, is that the temperature difference can be quite large within 24 hours. It is quite possible that 20 degrees will be tapped during the day and that the mercury will drop to freezing due to the clear sky at night.

June, July and August make up the summer in Luxembourg. These are the warmest months, with maximum temperatures on average between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius. In general, it is slightly warmer in the south of Luxembourg than in the north. The difference is usually a degree or two. In the summer there can be days with tropical temperatures of 30 degrees or even higher. Often such weather conditions do not last that long. A heavy rain or thunderstorm can bring an abrupt end to a local heat wave.

At the end of August, the temperatures gradually decrease again. In September you can still have a nice late summer day. From mid-September, the chance of summer temperatures (at least 25 degrees Celsius) decreases rapidly. The first frost can occur in October.

Precipitation

Luxembourg’s maritime climate includes a reasonable amount of precipitation. If you look at the precipitation statistics per month, it is noticeable that the rain, snow and other precipitation are fairly well spread over the calendar year. Summer is a bit wetter because of the higher intensity of summer showers. In the autumn you see more precipitation, which is mainly caused by the longer duration of the precipitation periods. In winter there is regular snow. You have the greatest chance of snow and other winter precipitation in the months of January and February. We must disappoint anyone who wants to go winter sports in Luxembourg. Despite the reasonable altitudes (up to over 500 meters) and the chance of snow, Luxembourg has no ski areas.

Climate figures

The figures below are based on long-term average climate statistics. The temperatures are displayed in degrees Celsius (°C).

Best time to visit Luxembourg

Do you want to know when is the best time to travel to Luxembourg? You can determine the best time to travel to a destination based on the weather and climate. In addition, there are other factors that are not directly related to the weather and that can influence the best travel periods for a travel destination. Think, for example, of holidays or festive periods, which makes traveling more interesting or not, because daily life comes to a standstill as a result. The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a small country in western Europe. Due to the proximity of the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean beyond, Luxembourg has a temperate maritime climate that has features of a continental climate. Although Luxembourg is not that big in terms of area, there are some differences in the average weather picture. With an average annual precipitation sum, the north of the country is up to about 1200 millimeters wetter than the south, where the amount of precipitation is often limited to about 800 to 900 millimeters per calendar year. That’s because Atlantic disturbances are better able to reach northern Luxembourg.

Best months

The period from mid-May to mid-September can be seen as the best time to travel to Luxembourg. The temperatures are often pleasant and this is the sunniest period of the year. Precipitation falls roughly evenly throughout the year. As there are no really wet or dry months in Luxembourg, precipitation is not used as a parameter when determining the best time to travel.

Autumn colours

From September the temperatures drop and it is more often cloudy than in the previous months. You would think that it would be better not to travel to Luxembourg, but then you would miss a beautiful natural phenomenon in this country: the autumn colors. In the month of October you can see the trees and shrubs transform from green to the most beautiful autumn colours. The brighter red hues in particular appeal to tourists. The best time to see this colorful mix of colors varies a bit from year to year. Usually you can take the first or second week of October as a guideline. Luxembourg City is also known as one of the best cities in Europe to see the autumn hues. This is because the city itself contains quite a lot of greenery, which makes the colors stand out more.

Winter sports

The limited altitude and the not super cold winters mean that you will search in vain for winter sports opportunities in Luxembourg. You may come across Baraque de Fraiture during your search for ski resorts in Luxembourg. Only this area is not in the country of Luxembourg, but in the province of Luxembourg in Belgium. This ski area, which is located at an altitude of 565 to 651 meters, has about two kilometers of blue slopes. There are also four trails that together offer 45 kilometers of cross-country skiing opportunities.