Liechtenstein Travel Guide: Things to Do, Where to Stay & Travel Tips

If you visit the tiny Alpine principality of Liechtenstein, you could be forgiven for thinking you’d stepped into a fairytale. Picture-book mountain views, cliffside castles, and cows grazing in lush green pastures greet you at every turn.

But don’t let its small size fool you. Liechtenstein may be the world’s sixth-smallest country, but it’s no lightweight. This wealthy European microstate boasts one of the highest GDPs on earth thanks to strong finance and high-tech manufacturing sectors including its unexpectedly quirky claim to fame as the world’s leading exporter of false teeth.

The capital, Vaduz, is equally surprising. With a population of under 7,000, it’s more like a small town than a European city. There’s no historic centre. Instead, you’ll find pristine streets, a tiny parliament building, and an open-air sculpture and art trail winding through its thoroughly modern pedestrianised centre.

Ignore the rumours that Liechtenstein is “boring”. Look a little deeper and take time to explore beyond Vaduz. We spent two full days in the country, which we thought would be plenty, but we could have spent longer. But learn from our mistake, Many restaurants, supermarkets and shops are closed on Sunday. And there’s a lot closed on Monday too. So maybe don’t visit on those days as we did,

Read on for the best things to do in Liechtenstein, plus essential tips to save time and money in this beautiful, mildly eccentric microstate.

This guide may include a few affiliate links. If you choose to buy something through one of them, I may earn a small commission (at no cost to you). Thank you for supporting One Small Bag.

How long should you spend in Liechtenstein?

Can you “do” Liechtenstein in a day? Well, yes, quite a lot of it, actually. But you may appreciate it more if you stay overnight. Two days are ideal. Here are some suggested itineraries for one, two, or more days in Liechtenstein.

Map of Things To Do in Liechtenstein

These may also be useful for your trip to Liechtenstein.

• Liechtenstein to San Marino by Public Transport: A Four-Country Overland Adventure
• Explore the remaining European microstates

Liechtenstein Pass

Several options with different but similar names, including a free one if you stay overnight. I’ve explained it all here.

1 Rathausplatz: Head for the heart of Vaduz

Rathausplatz is the civic heart of Vaduz, framed by the Town Hall (Rathaus) and surrounded by cafés and sculptures. It’s a big traffic-free space used for public events. You’ll see some surreal horse statues, Tre Cavalli by Swiss sculptor Nag Arnold, outside the Rathaus, and you’ll also find the departure point for the Vaduz Citytrain.

2 Städtle: Spot the Sculptures

Wander through Vaduz’s pedestrianised centre, and you’ll find it’s sprinkled with eccentric sculptures. There’s something wonderfully surreal about strolling through a spotless alpine capital and bumping into a metallic horse, a squashed rhinoceros, or a car raised on human legs!

The sculptures are part of Vaduz’s open-air art collection, which began in the 1980s. Over the years, works by international and local artists have been installed throughout the Städtle (the main pedestrian street), turning the centre into an informal sculpture park. Here are some pictures of a few of them.

3 National Museum: Visit The Crown Jewels and Get Your Passport Stamped

Liechtenstein has quite a few museums for a country this size, and if the city centre attractions take you more than a couple of hours, you’ll need to visit some or all of them. The National Museum covers all things Liechtenstein. It includes the Liechtenstein Treasure Chamber and other important artefacts connected to the Liechtenstein dynasty. It’s closed on Monday.

You can get your passport stamped with a Liechtenstein stamp at the souvenir shop, since you won’t be getting one at the Liechtenstein border. It’s the official Liechtenstein design and purely commemorative. Technically, your passport is a government document, not a scrapbook, so if you’re worried, skip it or ask for the stamp separately on paper or in a souvenir booklet. Both Liechtenstein and San Marino offer novelty passport stamps – useful to know if you’re looking for a matching set.

4 Postal Museum: Discover why Liechtenstein is world-famous for stamps

This tiny, charming museum celebrates Liechtenstein’s world-renowned printing techniques and artistic stamp-making skills. It’s filled with every stamp created in Liechtenstein since 1912. This museum is open every day, unlike the other 3 museums.

Keep an eye out, too, for the giant postage-stamp mosaic outside the Liechtenstein Centre, a nod to the country’s passion for stamps. You can buy a combined museum ticket here if you’re making a day of it.

5 Kunstmuseum and Hilti Art: More Modern Art

If you don’t visit on Monday, you could add both these art galleries to your list. If you do visit on Monday, you can take your time to enjoy the modern art sculptures dotted about for free instead.

6 Peter-Kaiser-Platz: Visit Liechtenstein Parliament

Named after Liechtenstein’s 19th-century historian and statesman Peter Kaiser, this square is the country’s political centre and home to the Parliament Building, a striking modern building, completed in 2008. Guided tours are available when the parliament is not in session, and an opportunity to watch when it is.

The Regierungsgebäude, a grand 1905 Government Building with painted façades and coats of arms is also in this square.

7 Take the Tourist Train

I don’t normally take these trains, but as I walked up the hill to the castle on a hot day, and it passed us by, I wondered why I didn’t. You can buy tickets at the departure point at Rathausplatz. They go several times a day during the summer months. If you’re not going to take a walk into the countryside, this is the way you will see some of the real Liechtenstein as you pass green fields, cows, and spectacular mountain backdrops. You’ll also pass the Rheinpark Stadium (national football stadium). It was also our departure point for the Italian Lakes and Milan on FlixBus.

8 Cathedral of St Florin (Vaduz Cathedral): Take a look inside

The Cathedral of St Florin stands just below Vaduz Castle and often appears in skyline photos of the capital. Built in the late 19th century in the neo-Gothic style, it’s in active use.

Step inside to see stained-glass windows and a tomb dedicated to members of the princely family.

And when you’ve exhausted the tiny city centre, here are the things to do a short walk out.

9 Ebenholz and the Red House (Rotes Haus): En route to the castle

The Red House is one of Vaduz’s most photographed landmarks. It’s on the edge of the residential district, Ebenholz. You’ll likely pass it if you’re walking up to the castle or taking the tourist train. It’s a deep-red gabled building with a pointed tower and a vineyard cascading down the slope below. It dates back to the 14th century, though its current form is largely 19th-century. Today it’s a private residence, so you can’t go inside.

But while it’s very pretty, there are plenty of strange, quirky, and photogenic houses as you walk up the hill toward the castle, plus some real oddities in the gardens too. There’s plenty else to photograph along the way.

10 Vaduz Castle (Schloss Vaduz): Climb to the entrance

This dramatic castle perched above Vaduz is perhaps the image most people have in mind. It’s the residence of the Princely Family, so the public can’t enter, except by invitation, on Liechtenstein’s National Day (August 15th). Walking up to it to take a look is still worthwhile. If you don’t fancy the climb, the tourist train goes up the hill too.

And just in case your sat nav has other ideas, don’t confuse Vaduz Castle with Burg Liechtenstein at Maria Enzersdorf in Lower Austria or Schloss Lichtenstein in Baden-Württemberg, Germany

11 Prince of Liechtenstein Winery: Visit for Fine Wine and Dining

The Prince of Liechtenstein Winery (Hofkellerei des Fürsten von Liechtenstein) is just outside Vaduz and very close to the Red House. It’s the largest and best-known winery in Liechtenstein. Visit the vineyards and the Torkel Michelin restaurant. It’s on the Liechtenstein Trail too.

12 Alte Rheinbrücke (Covered Wooden Bridge): Stand in Two Countries

One of Vaduz’s best little spots is the Alte Rheinbrücke, the old covered wooden bridge across the Rhine, linking Liechtenstein and Switzerland. It’s about a 20-minute riverside walk from the centre of Vaduz, and we particularly liked this stop.

Halfway across, you’ll see the iconic border sign, so you can get your selfie with one foot in each country, if you like. I read that I would be amazed by the view as I arrived in Liechtenstein, via the bridge, but my eye was drawn to a rather perfunctory building that might be an ambulance station. So maybe getting a bit carried away there?

13 Liechtenstein Trail: Walk or cycle all or part of it

Fun fact: Liechtenstein has the highest density of hiking trails in the world – yes, even more than Switzerland or Austria. The Liechtenstein Trail runs for about 45 miles (72 km) from north to south, linking all 11 municipalities with an optional extension higher into the Alps to the ski resort of Malbun.

We hiked from Schaan to central Vaduz via the Old Bridge and along the river. But the whole Liechtenstein Trail looks tempting. The trail is well signposted, with the familiar yellow Swiss hiking markers and a dedicated app lists more than 150 points of interest, with notifications as you approach each one. These include castles, churches, historic villages and a few wineries, too. There’s also a longer cycling version. You don’t need to tackle the whole thing; you can dip in and out. Plus, a luggage transfer service can transport your baggage from hotel to hotel, so you don’t have to.

These are the things we missed because we didn’t spend long enough in Liechtenstein. Really, we should learn to allow more time, because there’s never enough. Here is our ‘Still To Do’ list. I’m seriously considering coming back for the Liechtenstein Trail and also to visit Malbun.

14 Take a Trip to Malbun Ski Resort (Open All Year)

The ski resort of Malbun is open year-round; there are so many things you can do in the area without skiing.

• Take a ride in the chairlift to the top of the slopes for Alpine views
• Several family-friendly activities, such as a toboggan run, llama and alpaca trekking, and minigolf
• Themed trails, including the Swing Path. Perfect for your Instagram shots with spectacular alpine backdrops. With an extensive network of trails, it’s an opportunity to hike through stunning, untouched nature
• Visit or stay at Hotel Falknerei Galina. Your opportunity to get up close and personal with birds of prey

And it looks like the line 21 bus takes you from Vaduz to Malbun in about 10 minutes. I’m genuinely sorry I didn’t find time for this.

15. Visit the other regions outside Vaduz

• Gutenberg Castle: A beautifully restored hilltop castle at the southern end of the country (Balzers District). Unlike Vaduz, it’s open to tourists at certain times and features a small museum and occasional summer concerts. You can spot it easily from the bus as you arrive from Sargans. It looks every inch the fairytale castle.
• Schaan: The largest municipality in Vaduz and home to many of Liechtenstein’s hotels. St Peter’s church has a Roman excavation. There’s also a brewery with a bar (Brauhaus), but check opening hours before you visit.
• Triesenberg: A mountainside village near Vaduz, accessible by bus. It’s the centre of Walser culture and where you’ll find the Walser museum, an exhibition on the life and customs of the Walser people (an ethnic group who have inhabited pockets of the high Alps in Switzerland, Austria, Italy and Liechtenstein for centuries).

Food in Liechtenstein

Food to Try in Liechtenstein

It’s all about comfort food, with locally sourced ingredients. Look out for these savoury dishes if you would like to try traditional Liechtenstein dishes.

• Käsknöpfle – the national dish. A hearty pasta or dumpling dish made with cheese and topped with fried onions.
• Wurst – smoked sausages
• Hafalaab or Gerstensuppe – two traditional soups, which include vegetables and smoked pork
• Rosti – pan-fried grated potato, similar to a hash brown
• Schnitzel – pan-fried cutlet of meat, covered in breadcrumbs

Sweet choices include strudel, Vaduzer Nuss Torte (a nut pastry), and marzipan cookies.

Michelin Star Restaurants and Fine Dining in Liechtenstein

For such a small country, Liechtenstein does very well for high-end restaurants. If you’re looking for Michelin stars, there’s Torkei Michelin restaurant at Prince of Liechtenstein Winery, or Marée, part of the Park Hotel Sonnenhof in Vaduz. They’re both celebrated for their refined cuisine and spectacular views.

Our Food Experience in Liechtenstein: Honest Truth

Liechtenstein may boast several Michelin-starred restaurants, but our own experience was rather less refined. Partly because we spent Sunday and Monday in Liechtenstein, but while we like good food, we’re not ‘over fancy’.

Still, we managed a culinary tour of sorts.

• Supper and Breakfast at the Youth Hostel – Evening Meal – bar snacks with Brauhaus beer (the actual Brauhaus up the road was closed, along with all the eateries we could find in Liechtenstein), paprika crisps, and roasted almonds. The included breakfast was good and plentiful. We were grateful.
• Balu Bäckerei (closed on a Sunday, open on a Monday) – mainly a patisserie, but in search of something savoury, we opted for a sausage roll and received, quite literally, a sausage and a roll. We also had a takeaway ‘cheesy pasta’ type dish. Käsknöpfle is Liechtenstein’s national comfort dish, traditionally made with small dumplings or pasta, layered with melted cheese and topped with crispy onions. Tasty and welcome, and we ‘ticked off’ two of the main staples of Liechtenstein cuisine, käsknöpfle and wurst (sausage), more by accident than design.
• Liechtenstein McDonalds (open every day – McDonalds never sleeps) – Not normally much of a fan, but needs must, and this one must be the classiest McDonalds in Europe. It was our introduction to McPop miniature filled doughnuts. The nicest thing I’ve ever eaten at McDonalds. Never seen them at home, though I’ve spotted McBaguette, McMacarons and even McBeer elsewhere in Europe. So, a question from me: What’s the most unexpected McDonalds item you’ve found outside your home country?

Where to Stay in Liechtenstein

Budget accommodation doesn’t exist in Liechtenstein. We stayed in the poshest youth hostel we’ve ever encountered. Located between Schaan (the largest population centre) and Vaduz, it’s an easy walk into Vaduz. The number 11 bus stops outside, too. If you start your journey in Sargans (on the Swiss border), you can go straight there via Vaduz city centre. Our double private room was comfortable and spotless. Stripping the bed at the end of the day was the only required duty at the youth hostel. And no questions about our eligibility as ‘old people’ either.

For other options, here’s an interactive map. Places to stay in central Vaduz are limited, so you’ll most likely need to look outside the centre.

How to get to Liechtenstein

For buses, use the LIEmobil app to check times and pay. The bus will be free if you are staying overnight and your accommodation has issued you with a digital Welcome Adventure Pass.

Alternatively you can get to Liechtenstein by organised day trip or by car.

Where to Next

Thinking about visiting some more tiny European microstates? Here’s some more.

• Beyond Duty-Free Shopping – 21 Best Things to Do in Andorra
• 15 Things to do in Liechtenstein and the capital, Vaduz
• Things to do in Monaco: And why it’s not as expensive as you think
• Best Things to Do in San Marino (and Why You’ll Want to Stay for Sunset)
• How to Visit the Vatican: Tickets, Tours & What to Expect
• Liechtenstein to San Marino by Public Transport: A Four-Country Overland Adventure

For another take on the ‘tiny country’ theme, here’s a day trip to the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR) – known as Transnist,a, nestled between Moldova and Ukraine.

I hope you enjoyed reading this. If you have any questions or comments, do let me know in the comments. Thank you for reading my blog.

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