Have you ever thought about visiting Liechtenstein? Well, it's truthfully not one of the most well-known countries out there, and a lot of people don't even know it in fact is its OWN country!
Liechtenstein has an area of just 61 square miles, and is home to a population of only 39,000 people, making it one of the smallest and least populated countries in the world.
We did a big road trip around Europe last summer, and spent a couple of days exploring around the country. Now we're here to share all of the details for the best things to do, and everything you should expect before visiting Liechtenstein.
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Where is Liechtenstein Located?
Liechtenstein is located in central Europe, sandwiched between the eastern part of Switzerland and the western part of Austria. It is south of Germany, and is one of the few countries that has no access to any large bodies of water.
Liechtenstein is a tiny country in cerntral Europe.
How to Travel to Liechtenstein
Now you know where Liechtenstein is located, but how exactly do you get there?
Does Liechtenstein Have an International Airport?
Liechtenstein is actually one of the only capital cities in the world that does not have an airport! The closest airport to Liechtenstein is Altenrhein, Switzerland, which is a little under 40 km away. The biggest airport near Liechtenstein is Zurich, which is 82 km away, and a few other airport options are Memmingen, Basel, and Milan.
Cities That Fly to Airports Near Liechtenstein
Cities that fly direct to Altenrhein include Bern, Cannes, Donaueschingen, Dusseldorf, Erfurt, Grenchen, London, Sabadell, Rijeka, Trieste, and Vienna.
The cities that fly direct to Memmingen include Alghero, Alicante, Banja Luka, Belgrade, Brindisi, Bucharest, Catania, Chania, Cluj Napoca, Dublin, Farol, Friderichschafen, Gran Canaria, Helsinki, Iasi, Krakow, Kutaisi, Lanzarote, London, Malaga, Munich, Nis, Palermo, Palma de Mallorca, Ohrid, Paphos, Porto, Pristina, Rome, Sibiu, Skopje, Sofia, Suceava, Targu Mures, Tenerife, Thessaloniki, Timisoara, Tirana, Tuzla, Valencia, Varna, and Zagreb.
Cities that fly direct to Zurich include Abu Dhabi, Agadir, Algiers, Alicante, Almeria, Amsterdam. Antalya, Antwerp, Athens, Baia Mare, Bangkok, Barcelona, Basel, Berlin, Bern, Bilbao, Birmingham, Boa Vista, Bologna, Bordeaux, Boston, Bremen, Brussels, Bucharest, Budapest, Cairo, Cancun, Cape Town, Casablanca, Chicago, Colmar, Cologne, Copenhagen, Dakar, Delhi, Doha, Dresden, Dubai, Dublin, Dusseldorf, Florence, Frankfurt, Fuerteventura, Funchal, Geneva, Graz, Glasgow, Gothenburg, Hamburg, Hannover, Helsinki, Heraklion, Hong Kong, Hurghada, Ibiza, Istanbul, Izmir, Johannesburg, Krakow, Lamezi Terme, Lanzarote, Larnaca, Las Vegas, Leatkirch im Allgau, Liberia, Lisbon, Liverpool, Ljubljana, London, Los Angeles, Lugano, Luxembourg, Maastricht, Madrid, Malaga, Male, Malta, Manchester, Marsa Alam, Marseille, Miami, Milan, Mnichovo Hradiste, Montreal, Mumbai, Munich, Munster, Muscat, Naples, New York, Nice, Nimes, Northolt, Nuremberg, Oslo, Palermo, Paris, Payerne, Philadelphia, Phuket, Port Louis, Porto, Prague, Pristina, Pula, Reykjavik, Rhodes, Riga, Riyadh, Saanen, Salzburg, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Sarajevo, Sevilla, Shanghai, Sharm el Sheikh, Singapore, Skopje, Split, St. Gallen, St. Moritz, Stockholm. Stuttgart, Tallinn, Tel Aviv, Tenerife, Thessaloniki, Timisoara, Tirana, Tokyo, Toronto, Valencia, Venice, Vienna, Vilnius, Warsaw, Washington, Wroclaw, Zagreb, Zanzibar, and Zweibrucken.
Visiting Liechtenstein on a Tour
If you happen to be in Zurich, and just want to pop into Liechtenstein for the day, you can actually take a day trip from Zurich to Liechtenstein! It'll take you to a majority of the highlights, and you won't have to worry about your own transportation or planning.
Here are a few different options:
Visiting Liechtenstein by Train
Surprisingly enough, the capital of Liechtenstein is not connected by train. However, the town of Shaan, which is just a few miles north of Vaduz does have a train station. The station has rides from Keldfirch in Austria, and in Buchs in Switzerand.
Visiting Liechtenstein by Bus
The easiest way to get to Liechtenstein is by taking a bus to Vaduz. Here are a couple of the most popular routes you can look into:
- Munich to Vaduz (3 hours 2 minutes)
- Zurich to Buchs to Vaduz (2 hours)
- Milan to Vaduz (4 hours 40 minutes)
Renting a Car to Visit Liechtenstein
When we visited Liechtenstein we were doing a road trip around Europe. This is certainly the easiest and quickest way to visit, and you can rent a car from most major cities that are nearby.
Being such a small, but spread out country, there is plenty of free parking areas, and roads are well kept. You do not need a vignette, and don't have to worry about tolls inside the country, making it a great option for visiting Liechtenstein.
Entry Requirements for Visiting Liechtenstein
Now that you know how to get to Liechtenstein, let's make sure that you are legally allowed to visit!
Do You Need a Visa to Visit Liechtenstein?
As Liechtenstein is part of both the EU and the Schengen Zone, it has the same rules and regulations as the other surrounding countries. People whom are from the EU have free access to work and travel in Liechtenstein without any issues. Those who are not a part of the EU, but are not required to obtain a Schengen Visa, can enter without a visa, but will need to adhere to the 90/180 rule. (The US, UK, and Australia all can enter without a visa).
The good news is, that the only way to enter Liechtenstein is via one of the bordering countries. So as long as you are already inside the Schengen Zone (Austria and Switzerland are also both in it), you won't be going through customs or anything.
The 90/180 Rule
All countries who are apart of the Schengen Zone have free travel amongst eachother. That means that tourists are able to visit a total of 90 days to all of the countries combined. This is important to know, because if you plan on going to other countries that are in the Schengen Zone before Liechtenstein, you will have to subtract those days of travel allowance.
For example- you are going on a road trip, and spend 85 days traveling through France, Spain, and Italy (which are all in the Schengen Zone). This means you now only have 5 days left to spend in the Schengen Zone, or days you could stay in Liechtenstein. After leaving, if you have used all 90 of these days, you will then have to spend 90 consecutive days outside of all Schengen countries before you will be able to re-enter. The 90/180 rule states that you are able spend 90 days in the Schengen Zone within a 180-day period.
We spend a great amount of time in Europe each year, so we always use the Schengen Visa Calculator to make sure that we stay within the allowed time period. (It is a serious offense if you even spend one day over, so it's crucial that you make sure to stay in compliance).
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Visiting Liechtenstein: Local Adjustments
Whenever traveling to a new country (especially around Europe) there are a lot of things you may need to adjust to. Some of these things include the country's language, currency, or the tipping culture. Here are a few of them you should know before visiting Liechtenstein.
What Language is Spoken in Liechtenstein?
The official language spoken in Liechtenstein is German.
Can You Speak English in Liechtenstein?
We did find quite a few people that spoke English in Liechtenstein, but we would suggest learning a bit of the basics in German as well.
What Currency is Used in Liechtenstein?
The currency used in Liechtenstein in the Swiss franc. Currently (January 2024) every 1 USD is equal to .91 Swiss franc, every euro is equal to .96 franc, and 1 pound is equal to 1.1 franc.
Do I Need Cash in Liechtenstein?
You can rely pretty much on your credit card while in Liechtenstein, as pretty much everywhere accepts them. Unlike some other European countries, you won't find a ton of outdoor markets or local vendors on the streets, so you really shouldn't need any cash at all.
Is Liechtenstein an Expensive Country?
Unfortunately Liechtenstein is far from a budget-friendly country. It's almost as expensive as Switzerland. The only difference is you don't need to take a bunch of overpriced cable cars to get everywhere.
Liechtenstein can certainly be done on a budget, by swapping some meals for food at the supermarket, and staying at the one hostel in Vaduz.
Electrical Outlets in Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein uses the same plug types as the rest of Europe, which are types C, E, & F. The standard voltage in Liechtenstein is 220 V and is as a standard frequency of 50 Hz.
Can You Drink the Water in Liechtenstein?
The water in Liechtenstein is very clean and you can drink it straight from the tap. We suggest bringing a reusable water to fill up yourself, rather than buying the pricey bottled water. Be aware in restaurants though- even when you ask for tap water, they'll charge you for it! We had a friend get charged 5 francs at one place!
Tipping Culture in Liechtenstein
Tipping is not expected in Liechtenstein, but most people tip between 5 and 10%. Many restaurants will actually add a service charge on the bill, which in case you won't need to tip extra at all.
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Why Do People Visit Liechtenstein? Things to Do in Liechtenstein
Now that you know the basics for visiting Liechtenstein, we're going to go over all of the reasons people visit, and the best things to do in Liechtenstein.
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Things to Do in Liechtenstein #1: Visit the Castles
Defiitely the most notable attractions across the country of Liechtenstein are its castles. Here are the top ones to check out.
Vaduz
This is the biggest and most popular castle in the country, which is the residence of the prince of Liechtenstein.
Located right in the capital, it is perched up on a hill, and offers great views of the city below. Unfortunately when we were visiting Liechtenstein the castle was under construction so we were unable to visit, but we were able to walk around it.
Obere Burg
Located in the small town of Shellenburg is an old castle that is now in ruins. It is free to roam, and has beautiful views around it.
Burg Gutenberg
This was our favorite castle in Liechtenstein, and is located in the far south of the country. It is in the small town of Balzers, with great views of the town below, and it also has a winery right in front of it, really making it a picturesque place to add to your list while visiting Liechtenstein.
Things to Do in Liechtenstein #2: Explore the Towns
This country doesn't have a ton of major landscamrks, but one of the things we loved about visiting Liechtenstein was exeriencing the charming little towns. Here are the ones you'll want to check out.
Vaduz
Vaduz is the capital of Liechtenstein, and the center of the action of the country. It's not your typical European capital, as truly there isn't a TON to see and do. Nonetheless, this is the most popular place to visit for those going on a day trip to Liechtenstein.
Some of the things you can check out while in Vaduz are its cathedral, the castle, and the Red House.
Triesenberg
Just up the road from Vaduz is a quaint town set in the hills of Liechtenstein. It's dotted with small wooden cabins, and has a small center with a plaza and church. If you're looking for some beautiful views and local vibes, then this is definitely the place for you.
Shellenburg
When it comes to diving into history, Shellenburg is one of the places you can check out while visiting Liechtenstein. While it's by no means an incredibly impressive area, it does have some cultural and historical value that you can appreciate.
These are the top sites to see while in Shellenberg:
- Bäuerliches Wohnmuseum: a farmhouse musuem from 1518
- Obere Burg: a castle now in ruins
- Ruine Alt-Schellenberg (Untere Burg): the lower the two castles
Malbun
This is a town that is up in the mountains of Liechtenstein, and is known for its ski resort. While it may be a bit sleepy in the off season, it is a super cute town to see with its wooden cabins and flowers everywhere.
Balzers
Balzers is definitely our favorite town we saw while visiting Liechtenstein. With it's beautiful castle and the mountain backdrop, it really does feel like a fairytale.
Balzers is one of the prettiest towns to see while visiting Liechtenstein.
Things to Do in Liechtenstein #3: Go Skiing
One of the top activities to check out while visiting Liechtenstein is the winter sports scene. Although tiny, the country does have two different ski resorts, one in Malbun, and one in Steg.
Things to Do in Liechtenstein #4: Walk Across the Country
Did you know that you can actually walk across the country of Liechtenstein in just a few hours?! It takes just two hours to ross the width, and 6 to walk the length from top to bottom. We had a car and limited time, but our friends walked across and found it a super fun way to explore the country!
Things to Do in Liechtenstein #5: Take a Hike
If you happen to be visiting Liechtenstein in the warmer months, then you should definitely take advantage of one of the great hiking trails. The most popular one is the Liechtenstein Trail, which is a 75 km winding trail taking you across 11 of the country's municipalities.
If you have several days to spend, and really want to cover the country completely, then this is a fun challenge to take while visiting Liechtenstein.
The Liechtenstein Trail is a great way to explore all areas of the country.
Things to Do in Liechtenstein #6: Visit the Museums
One of the best ways to dive into the culture of Liechtenstein is by checking out one of the various museums. Here are a few of the most popular ones:
- Liechtenstein Nationalmuseum: home to the national history collection
- Liechtenstein Museum of Fine Arts: the state art museum located in Vaduz
- Postage Stamp Museum: a postal museum dating back to 1912
Things to Do in Liechtenstein #7: Visit Steg Lake
Saustee Steg is a lake that belongs to the small town of Steg, which is conveniently located between Triesenberg and Malbun. We didn't see anyone swimming, but it definitely was a nice area to walk around and enjoy some of the pretty nature that Liechtenstein has to offer.
Things to Do in Liechtenstein #8: Sherlock Holmes Murder Mystery Game
Looking for a fun game with friends? The Sherlock Holmes Murder Mystery Game is a challenge with brain teasers, puzzles, funny phototasks & British humor which is located right in the capital.
Things to Do in Liechtenstein #9: Walk with a Llama
Looking for a unique experience while visiting Liechtenstein? Well, we found a fun tour for you! There is a llama walking tour in Triesenberg, where you can walk with these furry animals while exploring the beautiful countryside.
Things to Do in Liechtenstein #10: Go Winetasting
There are a quite a few wineries scattered around the country of Liechtenstein, and tasting the wine from the country is a great way to enjoy the local specialities.
There are 4 different wineries in Liechtenstein that you can visit, where you can learn about the vieyards, as well as try the different wines produced there.
Visiting Liechtenstein: Local Food & Drink
Liechtenstein cuisine is simple and hearty, full of rich stews, soups, and meats. Just like Austria, they also have a lot of great desserts and pastries that are flaky and include fruit.
What is the Main Food in Liechtenstein?
Here are some of the most popular foods that you can try while in Liechtenstein.
- Käsknöpfle: the national dish which is with a type of dumplings topped with onions
- Ribel: a blend of corn and wheat which is similar to porridge
- Leberknödelsuppe: a traditional soup with dumplings and liver
- Dreikönigskuchen: "king cake" which is typically served at parties
- Hafalaab: a side dish similar to polenta
- Kratzer: a sweetened and shredded pancake served as a dessert
- Schnitzel: pounded, breaded, and fried meat
- Luxemburgerli: merengue desserts filled with chocolate or fruit
- Apple Strudel: a traditional baked apple dessert with layers of flaky dough
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How Do You Get Around Liechtenstein?
Liechtenstein is super tiny, and can be explored quite easily. We visited Liechtenstein on a road trip around Europe, and found that having a car is definitely the easiest way to explore the country.
Is Liechtenstein Walkable?
We actually have a couple of friends who decided to walk the entire country of Liechtenstein! From top to bottom is actually one takes 6 hours, so Liechtenstein really is pretty walkable.
Walking across Liechtenstein is a great way to explore the country!
Do I Need a Car in Liechtenstein?
While the easiest way to get around Liechtenstein is certainly by car, you don't necessarily need one. It will definitely take longer to get around if you use public transportation, but it is an option, especially if you plan on staying right inside the capital.
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Where to Stay in Liechtenstein
The best place to stay in Liechtenstein is in the capital, Vaduz. This is where you'll find the most amout of restaurants and shops, as well as having public transportation opportunities to the rest of the country. We particularly would recommend the Vaduz Youth Hostel for young travelers or those on a tighter budget.
If you're looking for a quiet getaway, there are a ton of cute cabin stays spread across the country, and if you have a car, we love this as an option!
Want to know something crazy? Liechtenstein actually allows visitors to "rent the country" for 70,000 euros a night! The country has enough room to accommodate up to 900 people, so if you're looking to host a big event this may be your place!
Liechtenstein has a lot of cute cabin stays.
Safety Visiting Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. and really is a safe destination! You can freely walk around day or night, and not have to have any security-related concerns.
Is Liechtenstein Safe for Solo Female Travelers?
The first time that I visited Liechtenstein I did it as a solo female traveler! I felt completely safe the entire time. We definitely suggest staying in a hostel in Vaduz, so that you can also meet other travelers while visiting Liechtenstein.
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Other Things to Know About for Visiting Liechtenstein
Now that you know the best things to do while visiting Liechtenstein and how to get around, let's go over a few final details.
What Type of Climate is Liechtenstein?
Liechtenstein has a continental apline climate. It experiences all 4 seasons, with warm and sunny summers, and cold, snowy winters. If you head up into the mountains, you'll find that tempertures can dip down a bit, especially at night.
The Best Time for Visiting Liechtenstein
The best time for visiting Liechtenstein depends on what interests you the most. We personally love Liechtenstein in the summer for its hiking, or in the winter when it's beautifull covered in a blanket of snow and is open for the ski season.
What to Wear in Liechtenstein
Being located in the mountains, it can get pretty chilly in Liechtenstein, especially at night. We suggest bringing comfortable clothing, sneakers, and layers for the outdoor adventures around the country.
Packing For a Trip Visiting Liechtenstein
Here are a few things you should consider for visiting Liechtenstein
- Sunscreen
- Reusable Water Bottle (we use this water bottle from Cafago because it holds the temperature)
- Flip Flops (we personally always get Havaiana flip flops, as they are comfy and long lasting)
- Sneakers (for hiking)
- Zippered Bag or Backpack - take a look at these backpacks for travelers!
- Power Bank (we use Anker power banks, as they are super long lasting and sturdy)
- Drone (We use the Mavic Mini Pro 3 because it's super light and doesn't sacrifice quality)
- Travel Adapter (if you aren't from Europe)
- Travel toiletries (our favorites are from Sheer Alternatives because they're all natural and 100ml)
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How Many Days in Liechtenstein is Enough?
You can easily see all of the main highlights of Liechtenstein in one day. However, if you'd like to dive into the hiking scene or immerse more in the culture, we'd suggest spending a few days there.
Is Liechtenstein Worth Going to?
We'll be honest- Liechtenstein definitely isn't a country worth saving an entire trip for in our opinion, nor making a massive detour for. It is extrmely pricey, and doesn't have anything super special that you wouldn't be able to find in the neighboring countries of Austria or Switzerland.
We certainly think it has some charm to it though, and is a nice area to stop if you are in the area.
Liechtenstein is worth visiting for a couple of days if you're in the area.
So what do you think? Will you give Liectenstein a go? We're interested to hear your experiences, so let us know down below!
Want to learn about some incredible nearby hikes in Switzerland? Make sure to check out the articles of Saxer Lucke and Schafler Ridge, which are just across the border from Liechtenstein. You can also check out all a variety of other European travel guides that we have to offer.
Ready to start planning your trip? Looking to make your travels more affordable? Well, we're here to help! Scratch Your Mapa Travel Planning has been designed to sasve you both time and money, while helping you explore more authentically.
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