Visiting Liechtenstein: what to do in one or two days

Wedged between Switzerland and Austria, Liechtenstein covers just 160 km²: a princely castle above Vaduz, demanding art museums, vineyards at the foot of the mountain, then a winding road up to Malbun and ridge trails high above the Rhine valley.

Why visit Liechtenstein?

Liechtenstein is a German-speaking principality of 160 km² with no airport, tied to Switzerland by a customs and monetary union: you pay in Swiss francs. A member of the Schengen area since 2011, it fits easily into a trip through the Alps of central Europe.

What to discover in Liechtenstein?

Vaduz and the Rhine valley

The capital, a small town of around 6,000 people, can be explored on foot in half a day: the Kunstmuseum with its black basalt facade, the national museum, the postal museum and the Hofkellerei, the prince's wine estate where you can taste Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Vaduz Castle, home to the princely family, is not open to visitors, but a path of about twenty minutes climbs to its walls for the view. Below, the Rhine cycle path runs along the border with Switzerland.

Malbun and the high mountains

About 30 minutes' drive from Vaduz up the hairpins of Triesenberg, the resort of Malbun, at around 1,600 metres, offers a small family ski area in winter and serves as a hiking base in summer. The Fürstensteig, a ridge trail laid out in the late 19th century, starts at Gaflei and follows exposed sections fitted with cables: for walkers with a head for heights only, from June to October. For a bigger ski area, the Vorarlberg resorts in Austria are less than an hour's drive away.

The Liechtenstein Trail and the south

Opened in 2019 for the principality's 300th anniversary, the Liechtenstein Trail crosses all eleven municipalities over about 75 kilometres, divided into stages of moderate difficulty. In the south, it passes through Balzers and Gutenberg Castle, perched on a rocky mound, then Triesen and its vineyards. A free app tells the story of the places along the way, and LIEmobil buses bring you back to your starting point at the end of each stage. Allow three to four days for the full route.

Cities to visit in Liechtenstein

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Not to miss in Liechtenstein

Four must-sees for a country that is quick to explore but rewards those who head for the heights.

Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein

A modern and contemporary art museum housed in a block of concrete and black basalt, next to the Hilti Art Foundation in central Vaduz.

Gutenberg Castle

A medieval castle overlooking Balzers from a rocky hill, visible from afar in the valley and open for guided tours or events.

Fürstensteig Trail

A ridge route cut into the rock, with cables and airy sections, offering plunging views over the Rhine valley and the Swiss Alps.

Souvenir passport stamp

A stamp put in your passport at the Vaduz visitor centre for a small fee, since the border with Switzerland has no controls.

Frequently asked questions

How do you get from Zurich to Vaduz?
By train, allow about one to one and a half hours to Sargans or Buchs, then 15 to 25 minutes by bus to Vaduz, with regular connections. By car, the Swiss A13 motorway runs along the border and the capital is about 1 hour 15 from Zurich airport outside traffic jams.
Can you visit Vaduz Castle?
No, it remains the private residence of the reigning prince and his family. The only exception is 15 August, National Day, when residents and visitors are invited into the castle gardens. The rest of the year, you have to settle for the view from the path leading up to its walls.
Where can you get your passport stamped in Liechtenstein?
At the Liechtenstein Center, the tourist office in central Vaduz, which adds a souvenir stamp for a few francs. It has no official value, since the border with Switzerland is open and unchecked, but it remains one of the most popular souvenirs.
Is the Fürstensteig dangerous?
It requires a head for heights: the trail runs along cliffs in places, secured with cables but exposed. Allow about three hours for the loop from Gaflei, wear good shoes, and avoid it in wet weather or outside the snow-free season, from June to October.
Is Malbun suitable for beginner skiers?
Yes, its compact area, with mostly easy and intermediate slopes, and its ski school make it a family resort. Experienced skiers soon run out of terrain and prefer to add a day at a bigger resort in Vorarlberg or Graubünden, less than an hour's drive away.

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