Tucked between Switzerland and Austria, Liechtenstein is one of Europe’s smallest countries. Like its surrounding region, it has dramatic alpine forests, charming villages that are ideal for a short weekend trip. Vaduz is the small country’s compact capital.
How long should I stay in Liechtenstein
Though Liechtenstein is a popular day trip for people, the charming microcountry is a great place for a relaxed and active stay. Some of the longer hikes in the nearby Rätikon mountain range are several hours long, meriting at least a one-night stay in the country. Though surely some of the other villages are worth a stop, Vaduz is the most reasonable place to stay for a night or two owing to the larger availability of accommodations and restaurants.
How to get to Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein has no airport so most travelers coming into the area arrive by train, bus, or car. For example, the train from Zurich to the Schaan-Vaduz train station is about an hour. From there, you can take a local bus that takes you to Vaduz city center in under 15 minutes.
We arrived by car, which was relatively simple. The country has no highway vignette requirements although if you’re driving through Austria or Switzerland on the way there, you have to be mindful that you have the toll vignette for those countries. Traffic in Vaduz is equivalent to that of a small town, which is infinitely better than almost all other European capitals.
Things to do in Vaduz
Go for a stroll on the Städtle
The Städtle is a large pedestrian street that makes up the heart of Vaduz. It’s lined with small cafes, souvenir shops, and interesting public art. One of the most charming things about Vaduz is that it’s quaint but full of modern and abstract sculptures, like an open-air museum. This is where you’ll find the local town hall (Rathaus), which is still used as an office for the mayor and municipality. The street also houses the city’s museums. Don’t miss the Tourist Office where in addition to souvenirs and hiking maps, you can get your passport stamped.
Hike to Vaduz Castle
Vaduz Castle is the private residence of the princely family of Liechtenstein. Though you can’t tour the inside, the hike up to see the exterior among the backdrop of alpine mountains is worthwhile and not too strenuous as far as hikes go. The marked trail (Schlossweg) starts in Städtle and is less than a kilometer and a half uphill. Just be sure to hike past the castle so you can see the iconic view down. A good target in the trail is the Franz Josef II Memorial. You can complete the whole out-and-back hike in about 30-40 minutes.
Drink princely wine at Hofkellerei des Fürsten von Liechtenstein
One of the coolest things about Liechtenstein is that you can actually visit the Princely Wine Cellars of the Prince of Liechtenstein. Though you can walk around the vineyards on your own and just pop in for a tasting, they also offer organized tours and tastings twice daily so you can learn more about the wine produced at the princely winery. The people are extraordinarily nice, and the wine was lovely. Just make sure to contact them in advance about scheduling a tasting, because they also host events which can sometimes interrupt the tasting schedule.
Visit local museums
Among some of the most popular local museums is the Postal Museum, which is a big hit among stamp collectors due to the rarity of stamps from Liechtenstein. The art around the city is a wonderful preview of what you’ll find inside the Kunstmuseum of modern and contemporary art. It’s connected to the Hilti Art Foundation museum, which the combo ticket gives you access to. If you’re more interested in learning about local culture and history, the Liechtenstein LandesMuseum, which is the national museum of Liechtenstein gives you a closer look at artifacts and models from Liechtenstein’s history including wildlife, folk traditions, and everything you want to know about the princely family.
Go for a hike in the mountains
The forested hills above Vaduz make for a beautiful and serene hike with multiple viewpoints over the city and country as a whole. For instance, as an extension of the hike to Vaduz Castle, you can continue on Schlossweg to Burg Shalun, also known as Wildschloss. Along the way to these castle ruins, you’ll come across the Aussichtsplattform Walderlebnispfad observation deck. The hike up is anywhere from 4-5 km each way.
If you prefer a more challenging hike, you can undertake the Fürstensteig hike. If you start in Vaduz, the total roundtrip distance from Vaduz is almost 12 km, which would take all day. However, the official trailhead is in Gaflei, which you can reach by car or bus and start from there. The hiking route is not for the faint of heart and parts of the trail are secured with wire ropes and railings.
Check out seasonal events
The square in front of the Liechtenstein Rathaus is the site of many seasonal markets including the autumnal and spring markets and the Christmas markets, which unlike other cities, only lasts for two days. If you’re visiting in the summer, a good place to unwind after a long hike is at the Lömagarta beer garden, which is only open Thursday to Saturday from May to September. The beer garden occasional hosts special events including day raves and music festivals.
Don’t let Liechtenstein’s size give you the impression that there’s nothing to do there. Though it’s compact, there’s plenty to discover in the small alpine nation.
This article is also featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Vaduz.
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