Bonnevoie

The complete guide to Bonnevoie

Population and area: district figures of the City of Luxembourg, end of 2025.

History in brief

Bonnevoie grew as a working quarter beside the railway. When the central station opened in 1859 on the Bourbon plateau, the land south-east of the tracks filled with housing for railway workers, craftsmen and families who worked in the city's growing industries. Bonnevoie was long administered with Hollerich, as part of the town of Hollerich-Bonnevoie, before the merger into Luxembourg City in 1920. Local tradition links the area to a medieval chapel dedicated to Saint Irmina.

In the early 1990s, the City launched a major regeneration of the quarter, completed in its first phase in 2002. The Rue de Bonnevoie, previously dominated by three lanes of traffic, was reorganised, and the Place Léon XIII became a genuine square with fountains, benches and trees, facing the parish church.

Two quarters in one

Officially, Bonnevoie is two districts: Bonnevoie-Nord/Verlorenkost and Bonnevoie-Sud. Together they are home to around 18,000 people, which makes Bonnevoie the most populous area of the capital. The northern part, closer to the station and the Verlorenkost, is denser and busier. The southern part becomes progressively calmer and more residential towards Howald and Hesperange.

Streets and landmarks

The Rue de Bonnevoie is the quarter's spine, lined with shops, bakeries, cafés and small businesses. The Place Léon XIII is its centre. On the edge of the quarter, close to the station, stand the Rotondes, two railway roundhouses built in 1877, each 52 metres across, which once housed steam locomotives. After years as warehouses and a bus garage, they were renovated and reopened in 2015 as a cultural centre for theatre, concerts, exhibitions and workshops, with a café and terrace. The Stade Achille Hammerel, home of Racing FC Union Luxembourg, is in the northern part of the quarter. The Verlorenkost area, on the slopes towards the Alzette valley, has green spaces and views across to the old town.

Housing and the rental market

Bonnevoie's housing is mainly apartment buildings, many from the first half of the twentieth century, alongside post-war blocks and recent construction. Many older buildings have been divided into smaller units and shared flats, which makes Bonnevoie the city's strongest market for rooms. Prices are generally below the central plateau quarters for comparable space.

For newcomers, that combination explains its popularity: rooms and small flats are available, rents are more realistic, and the station is walkable. Our article on living in Bonnevoie goes deeper into the rental picture.

Shopping, food and daily services

Bonnevoie has what much of Luxembourg City lacks: an everyday commercial street used by the people who live there. Supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, bakeries, butchers, hairdressers and restaurants from many countries line the main streets. Some of the city's best-known bars are here, particularly in the northern part.

Families, schools and green space

Primary schools serve both parts of the quarter. Green space is modest in the dense northern streets and more generous towards the south and the Verlorenkost slopes. Families often choose the southern streets for their calmer atmosphere while keeping the quarter's services.

Getting around in practice

The T1 tram links Bonnevoie to the central station, the old town and Kirchberg in one direction, and to Howald and Cloche d'Or in the other. Several bus lines cross the quarter. The central station, with national and international trains, is within walking distance of the northern streets. All public transport is free. Parking is difficult in the older streets; residential permits help but do not create spaces.

Before you sign: what to check in Bonnevoie

• North or south. Decide whether you want the busier streets near the station or the calmer south.
• Noise. Bars, the railway and main roads affect some streets. Visit in the evening.
• The building. Older buildings vary in insulation and heating. Ask for the energy certificate.
• Shared flats. If you are signing a joint lease, read our guide to colocation rules.

Who lives in Bonnevoie

Bonnevoie is home to about 18,009 residents on 3.07 km², a density of roughly 5,867 people per km², which makes it the 4th most densely populated of the 23 quarters in our guides. Around 28% of residents hold Luxembourgish nationality, lower than the city-wide share of about 31% (137,696 residents at the end of 2025, according to the City of Luxembourg). Like the capital as a whole, it is a genuinely international place to live.

A walk through Bonnevoie

A walk through Bonnevoie begins at the station, because that is where the quarter starts. Cross under the railway and you are in Bonnevoie-Nord / Verlorenkost, the smaller northern part, then continue south along the Rue de Bonnevoie, the busiest street of the quarter, lined with shops, bakeries, bars and restaurants from many countries. The tram runs along the Route de Thionville, linking the quarter to the station in one direction and to Howald and Cloche d'Or in the other. Side streets fill the space between the two with nineteenth- and twentieth-century apartment buildings, small squares and local businesses. Towards the south and east, Bonnevoie-Sud becomes more residential, and towards the Alzette valley the streets drop steeply towards Pulvermühl and the Grund.

Bonnevoie through the year

Bonnevoie is lively all year. Its bars and restaurants keep evenings busy even in winter, and because many residents are young professionals and families with international roots, the quarter never empties the way office districts do. It is close enough to the old town to walk to the winter market and summer festivals, and far enough to avoid their crowds. The tram makes it easy to reach Kirchberg's concert halls or the Stade de Luxembourg on match days.

Advantages and trade-offs

Bonnevoie compared with its neighbours

Population and area: City of Luxembourg district figures, end of 2025. Luxembourgish share rounded.

Practical tips for your first weeks in Bonnevoie

• View homes in the evening to judge street noise, especially near the Rue de Bonnevoie.
• Compare north and south: the northern part is closer to the station, the southern part calmer.
• Check the heating and windows in older buildings; they vary a great deal.
• Use the tram to Cloche d'Or or Kirchberg rather than a car; it is free and direct.

The Aura view

Bonnevoie is the quarter we recommend most often to people arriving alone for a job: practical, connected, lively and more affordable than the plateau. It is not polished, and it does not pretend to be. That is precisely its charm.