Eu 3+ doped transparent glass ceramics embedding SnO 2 nano-crystals were prepared by melt quenching and subsequent heating. Site selective excitation experiments revealed that some Eu 3+ ions were incorporated in the SnO 2 lattices by substituting Sn 4+ ions, whereas the rest located in the oxide glassy matrix. Interestingly, it is found that the Eu 3+ ions residing in the SnO 2 lattices exhibited much longer luminescent decay lifetime than those in the glassy matrix. Measurements on the photoluminescence excitation and photoluminescence spectra demonstrated the occurrence of energy transfer from the SnO 2 nano-crystals to the Eu 3+ ions. The influences of Eu 3+ content, and furthermore, their location on the energy transfer process were discussed.