The small nation of Liechtenstein attracts two types of people: Country-collectors who want to add another country to their list and those seeking to discover pristine natural landscapes and incredibly friendly people. But the reason why people travel there doesn’t really matter in the end. As soon as you cross its borders, the tiny mountain principality will enchant you with its charm. We created an overview of the top 9 things to do in Liechtenstein – my 118th country.
Contents:
Top Things to do in Liechtenstein
1 – Get the Museum and Adventure Pass
2 – Go Hiking in the Alps
3 – Have Your Passport Stamped
4 – Taste Wine in the Princely Wine Cellars of the Prince of Liechtenstein
5 – Go Border Hopping
6 – Go Skiing in Winter
7 – Try Some Traditional Food from Liechtenstein
8 – Explore the Capital City Vaduz
9 – Visit the Gutenberg Castle
Map of the Liechtenstein tourist attractions
Where is Liechtenstein and how to get to Liechtenstein?
Where to stay in Liechtenstein
These are the top things to do in Liechtenstein
1 – Get the Museum and Adventure Pass
This Liechtenstein travel tip really comes in first place as the Liechtenstein Museum and Adventure Pass offers an incredible value. At a price of 25 CHF (25USD) for one day, 29 CHF for two days and 39 CHF for three days, you can use the entire Liechtenstein public transport system for free and get access to nearly all the places to see in Liechtenstein.
In addition, the pass offers free ice skating, a cup of coffee, a degustation of two wines in the winery of the Prince of Liechtenstein, a free sled rental, access to an indoor and outdoor swimming pool (depending on the season), a ride on the Malbun railways and a ride on the Citytrain through Vaduz.
The pass is completely free for children under the age of six years. The pass offers some more free things to do and discounts on several more Liechtenstein attractions and activities. You can check them out here.
2 – Go Hiking in the Alps
Liechtenstein is a country of nature that is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes inthe world. Even if you are just there on a short visit, you should find the time for a short hike through the Alps. The Triesenberg Municipality south of Vaduz offers plenty of hiking trails that cater to any fitness level. You can also use the railway in the ski resort town of Malbun in the summer months to get some great panoramic views.
Get to know some locals during your time there.
3 – Have Your Passport Stamped
There are no border controls or any other form of Liechtenstein immigration when you enter the Alpine principality from its neighboring countries. If you are an avid stamp hunter link me, there is still a way to immortalize your visit onto a passport page. The Vaduz tourism office in the Städle Street offers a tourist passport stamp for 3 CHF (3 USD) – this is also free with the Museum and Adventure Pass.
Interesting fact about Liechtenstein: Liechtenstein is the second most visited country in Europe behind Moldova in Eastern Europe. But other than that, Liechtenstein and Moldova couldn’t be any more different. While Liechtenstein is one of the most expensive places to visit in Europe, Moldova was one of the cheapest places I have traveled. Read more about our experiences in Chisinau, the capital city of Moldova.
4 – Taste Wine in the Princely Wine Cellars of the Prince of Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein is not just a center of finance but it also produces some great high-quality wines. The winery of the Prince of Liechtenstein is located just outside of Vaduz and awaits you with some beautiful views of Vaduz Castle. If you have purchased the Museum and Adventure Pass, you can taste two glasses of wine for free.
5 – Go Border Hopping
Liechtenstein is a tiny landlocked country bordered by Austria and Switzerland. The two main towns, Schaan and Vaduz are both located on the River Rhine that serves as the border between Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
The Alte Rheinbrücke (Old Rhine Bridge) is a wooden pedestrian bridge that connects Vaduz with its Swiss neighbors and the perfect spot to go country hopping. The border between the two countries is marked with a sign in the middle of the bridge and you can stand in two countries at the same time.
If you feel like adding another country to your list, jump into a bus or ride your car to Feldkirch in Austria, just 20-minutes from Vaduz.
6 – Go Skiing in Winter
Of course. Skiing and snowboarding is the main activity in Liechtenstein during the winter months for locals and tourists alike. Head to Malbun, the largest of the three Liechtenstein ski resorts and have some fun in the snow.
7 – Try Some Traditional Food from Liechtenstein
You haven’t visited a country if you haven’t tasted its food. So make sure to feast on some delicious Liechtenstein food while you are in the country. Some of the local delicacies are Rösti, a potato fritter dish that is of served as a side dish to Schnitzel. Another famous dish is called Käsknöpfle, something similar to Mac ‘n Cheese but with a different type of pasta. Give it a try and you will love it.
Did you know that the people of Liechtenstein are called Liechtensteiners?
8 – Explore the Capital City Vaduz
Vaduz is the capital of Liechtenstein and its touristic center. The small Alpine town is home to just over 5,000 people – capital city and quaint mountain hamlet in one. Where else in the world can you experience that? Due to its size, it is possible to see all the attractions of Vaduz within a couple of hours.
Here is an overview of the best things to do in Vaduz:
- Ride the Citytrain in Vaduz
The Citytrain is the perfect way to explore Vaduz is you are in Liechtenstein on a day trip from Zurich, Austria or Germany or if you are short on time. The cute little train covers all the things to see in Vaduz in a 35-minute ride and gives a great background on the history of Liechtenstein and its sights. The ride is included in the Museum and Adventure Pass.
- Vaduz Castle
Vaduz Castle is the major touristic landmark of Liechtenstein and overlooks its capital from a nearby hill. Up until today, the castle is the official residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein. Due to its famous tenants, it is only possible to visit the castle from the outside.
There are several free parking spots 150 m after the castle and the drive from the town center of Vaduz takes only a couple of minutes. If you don’t have a car, you can easily walk up the hill in about 20 minutes.
- Red House
The Red House is another landmark of Vaduz, located on the main road to Vaduz Castle – you will pass it on your way up and it is worth a quick stop. It was built in the 14th century and is still inhabited today. Therefore, it is also just possible to see the house from the outside.
- Städtle
The Städle is a pedestrian area in the heart of Vaduz and the heart of the city. Start your Städle tour at the Cathedral of St. Florin on the southern end and walk up the 500-meter street to the town hall. Right after the Cathedral, you will see the beautiful government building of Liechtenstein before you pass the tourist information center. During the Christmas season, there is a wonderful Christmas market where you can warm up with a glass of delicious mulled wine.
- Liechtenstein National Museum
If you want to learn more about the history of Liechtenstein, you should not miss the Liechtenstein National Museum. The museum is conveniently located in the Städle pedestrian area and the entrance is included in the Museum and Adventure Pass.
9 – Visit the Gutenberg Castle
Gutenberg Castle is another impressive castle located in Balzers in the south of Liechtenstein. It was constructed in the same period as Vaduz Castle and is open to the public. The courtyard of the castle is freely accessible and guided tours can be organized in advance.
Map of the Liechtenstein tourist attractions
We created a map of the best places to visit in Liechtenstein that you can use for your travel planning. All the Liechtenstein sights mentioned in the post are pinned in the map:
Where is Liechtenstein and how to get to Liechtenstein?
Liechtenstein is one of the smallest countries in Europe bordered by Austria and Switzerland. The two main towns, Schaan and Vaduz are both located on the River Rhine that serves as the border between Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
The Alte Rheinbrücke (Old Rhine Bridge) is a wooden pedestrian bridge that connects Vaduz with its Swiss neighbors and the perfect spot to go country hopping. The border between the two countries is marked with a sign in the middle of the bridge and you can stand in two countries at the same time.
If you feel like adding another country to your list, jump into a bus or ride your car to Feldkirch in Austria, just 20-minutes from Vaduz.
Liechtenstein is located in the Alps bordered by Austria and Switzerland. Due to its small size, Liechtenstein does not have an airport. The closest major international airport near Liechtenstein is located in Zurich, Switzerland, around 110 km (70 mi) from Vaduz.
The fastest and most comfortable way to get from Zurich to Liechtenstein is by car.
Having your own car in Liechtenstein will also give you the opportunity to move around freely and explore the small mountain nation. The ride takes a bit more than an hour.
Alternatively, it is also possible to travel from Zurich to Liechtenstein by train. There are several daily connections between Zurich and Buchs, a Swiss town just across the Rhine River from Schaan, the largest municipality in Liechtenstein. The ride takes a bit more than one hour, depending on your connection. Check out the detailed timetable on the official website of the Swiss Railway. From Buchs, you can either continue on bus to Liechtenstein or walk to the center of Schaan in around 40 minutes.
The bus network in Liechtenstein offers good connections throughout the country so even if you don’t have a car, you can still explore the areas outside of the two larger towns Schaan and Vaduz. With the Museum and Adventure Pass, you can use the entire bus network in Liechtenstein for free.
Thanks to the size of the country, it is easily possible to organize a great day trip from Zurich to Liechtenstein.
An alternative option is to fly into Friedrichshafen Airport in Germany. The airport offers several daily flights to Frankfurt with Lufthansa. From Friedrichshafen you can drive to Liechtenstein on a bit more than one hour. You can also take a train from Friedrichshafen to Feldkirch in Austria and then continue with the Liechtenstein bus to Schaan or Vaduz. The entire journey will take about two hours.
Where to stay in Liechtenstein
There are two great places to stay in Liechtenstein: either you stay overnight in the capital Vaduz, the beating heart of the country. After a long day, you will find any form of entertainment and dining option that you can think of. However, if you are visiting Liechtenstein to get away from the stress of daily life, a stop in one of the small mountain towns of Triesenberg may be best place to stay in Liechtenstein for you.
My recommendations in the mid-price segment for Liechtenstein hotels are:
Landhaus am Giessen in Vaduz
This hotel is located just south of the city center of Vaduz and offers a great value for money. Every room comes with a balcony and the ones on the back offer great views of Vaduz Castle. Ask for it during your reservation process to make the most of your night. Rates for a double room start at € 140 for one night for two people including a delicious breakfast buffet.
Check the rates for Landhaus am Giessen for your dates by clicking here
Hotel Restaurant Kulm in Triesenberg
This hotel is decorated in a traditional Liechtenstein style and offers some incredible views over the mountains ranges around Triesenberg. From here, you have the perfect base to explore the nature of Liechtenstein on your feet or on skis. Rates for a double room start at € 100 including breakfast.
Check the rates for Hotel Restaurant Kulm for your dates by clicking here
Have you been to Liechtenstein? Are you maybe planning a trip there? Let us know in the comment section below if you have any questions or know of any additional tips and things to do in Liechtenstein.
Liechtenstein was my 118th country and the last new one I visited for the year 2019. Want to stay updated about the journey to every country on the planet? Make sure to follow us on Facebook or subscribe to our blog so I can inform you about every new country I get to visit.
Check out my latest post about country number 117 – The Bahamas
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I know almost nothing about Liechtenstein – other then I think it is one of Europe’s smallest countries. Thank you for sharing.