Just landed - wondering what gives the better rate in Luxembourg: ATM withdrawal or airport exchange counter?
Best approach in Luxembourg is to use ATMs from banks like BGL BNP Paribas or Spuerkeess. Budget €80-100 daily depending on meals and activities. Exchange a small amount at the airport if you want quick taxi money, but get the bulk via ATMs. Always choose to be charged in euros, not your home currency, to avoid dynamic currency conversion fees. Airport counters add hidden charges that aren’t worth it.
Luxembourg Airport’s exchange counter was disappointing. I changed €100 and later realized I’d lost about €10-15 compared to what an ATM would’ve given me. That’s basically the cost of two lunches. With a budget of €100 per day, it annoyed me to start off losing money. ATMs around the city clearly worked better. Unless you desperately need cash, avoid the airport counter - it’s not worth the markup.
I landed in Luxembourg City and swapped €30 at the airport for a taxi. The rate wasn’t great. Later, I used a Spuerkeess ATM in town and got a much fairer conversion. Meals cost me around €15-20, and transport another €5, so my daily budget of €90 stretched further with ATM withdrawals. The airport exchange was overpriced compared to city ATMs.
Luxembourg uses the euro, and ATMs give better value than airport exchange counters. Luxembourg Airport desks charge a steep margin, while machines from BGL BNP Paribas or Spuerkeess offer fair euro withdrawals close to market rates. If you’re budgeting €80-100 daily for meals, buses, and sightseeing like the Old Quarter or Grund, withdrawing from an ATM is cheaper. Airport counters are best for very small sums.