Feel like a prince in pocket-sized Liechtenstein, home to Gothic castles, world-class skiing and an iron-willed monarch. A popular stop for passport and postage stamps, the capital Vaduz is a tiny gateway to a land of falconry, fine museums and staunch Catholics.
The cooking here is similar to Swiss cooking, but with Austrian influences. Gourmet restaurants, guesthouses, alpine cabins and a truly princely wine culture provide for hungry visitors in this land of milk and honey. Vaduz is home to several luxurious hotels, while chalets are available in the mountains. If you want to escape the high prices, try neighboring Austria for cheaper nearby lodgings.
Where to Go
Highlights
Vaduz: is the capital and home to most of the country’s attractions including several fine museums and the Prince’s Wine Cellars.
Triesenberg: is located on a terrace above Vaduz, offering exceptional views over the Rhine Valley. Home to a lovely onion-domed church, there’s also a museum devoted to the Walser population.
Malbun: is Liechtenstein’s premier ski resort. You can take ski and snowboarding lessons here and there are cross-country tracks as well as mountain climbing and hiking.
Neuguthof: is a theme park with a maize maze, petting zoo, playground and BBQ facilities. Good fun for the whole family.
Schädler Ceramics Workshop: lets you look over the shoulders of potters and ceramics painters, and is the oldest arts and crafts operation in Liechtenstein.
When to Go
Liechtenstein has a temperate, alpine climate with four distinct seasons.
Summers (June to August) are pleasant and mild, but considerable wet spells are common and tend to hang around.
Autumn (September to November) is still fine but it starts to become cold.
Winter (December to February) is cold but tempered by Liechtenstein’s seclusion, which keeps the weather cozy but also lets in the warm, southerly wind known as Foehn.
Spring (March to May) is chilly but not a bad time to visit.
Things to Do
Skiing: in Malbun, with two chair lifts, four ski lifts and a natural ice rink. Steg offers cross-country skiing loops with three distances, which are illuminated at night.
Walking tours: kick off at Gaflei, the starting point for the Fürstensteig, a trail that follows the high ridge separating the Rhine and Samina valleys.
Cycling: can be enjoyed in the valleys and lower-lying areas, with 56 miles of cycling paths on both sides of the River Rhine.
Bird-watching: at Birka Bird Paradise, with rare birds from all over the world nesting in this nature reserve.
Falconry: is an exciting experience and can be enjoyed at Galina Falcon Center, where you can get close up and personal with eagles, falcons, hawks and eagle owls.
Sareis chairlift: will lift you to serene heights. Get off at the Sareiserjoch at 2,000 meters altitude, where a mountain restaurant provides an ideal starting point for many hikes.
Getting There
The nearest international airport is in Zurich, Switzerland. From here, you can continue to Liechtenstein by train, bus or car. The Austrian railway station at Feldkirch is well connected with Vaduz by bus. Local buses run between all 11 villages as well as to the Liechtenstein alpine area.
Health & Safety
Safety standards are high and crime virtually nonexistent, while there may be some shady finance dealings going on in this tax haven. Being staunchly Catholic, cleanliness is next to godliness and your main health concerns are likely to be altitude sickness, sunburn and possibly hypothermia for those who are not prepared in winter.