Liechtenstein is one of the unique countries in Europe, landlocked between Austria and Switzerland. It is the 4th smallest in Europe and the 6th smallest in the world. It is apparently the 2nd least visited country in the whole of Europe. It has an area of just over 160 sq kms and a tiny population of around 40000. If there is a country that you can possibly travel across entirely by foot, this has to be the one. It is infact so small that the signs actually show the walking times.

During our 10 day trip to Germany and Austria in Oct 2023, we decided to visit Liechtenstein as a day trip. This was our easiest chance to tick the country off our list and we took it. Needless to say, it requires Schengen visa to enter the country and Swiss Franc is the official currency while Euros are accepted too. All the pre travel planning details can be found in this post covering things like visa, forex, sim cards etc. This post is going to focus on our day or rather few hours we spent in Liechtenstein.

Liechtenstein is an alpine country with lots of forested area. There are mainly 2 things to see in the country – Vaduz, its capital city and the mountains where you can hike and experience sunset from the top. If you are here for only few hours, Vaduz should be your main focus. You can park your car at one of the few parking garages near the city center and take a stroll through the pedestrian center of Vaduz. With it’s cafes, museums, trendy shopping and the financial sector, its hard to believe that a such a small town can have such a cosmopolitan feel to it. Vaduz is also starting point for The “Via Alpina” – the classic trek across the Swiss alps.

From the center of Vaduz, its a short walk up the mountainside to Vaduz Castle. The principality of Liechtenstein is a 300 year old constitutional monarchy where the Prince of Liechtenstein is the head of the state and Vaduz Castle is the official residence of the royal family.

If you are a wine enthusiast, you can make a short visit to the Prince of Liechtenstein winery. The vineyards southwest facing slopes and mild climate make it one of the best wine growing regions in the Rhine valley.

To access Liechtenstein’s highest mountains, head to Malbun. It is Liechtenstein’s only ski resort, but in summer, it’s hiker’s haven and starting point for some spectacular mountain trails.

Liechtenstein is generally an expensive place, including for food. But if you are in the mood to try something different, consider the Liechtenstein’s national dish – “Käsknöpfle“. A simple dish made of flour, eggs, water, salt and pepper and finished with local cheese, fried onions and apple puree on the side.