Liechtenstein is one of the smallest countries in the world, so even its capital (Vaduz) only has about 5,000 residents. That doesn’t mean Vaduz doesn’t offer plenty to do, however!
Although it is possible to visit Vaduz as a day trip from either Switzerland or Austria, I would recommend spending at least one night in the city. We stayed at a lovely Airbnb (honestly one of the best I’ve ever experienced) in Triesenberg, a small village in the hills above Vaduz that is easily accessible by bus from the city center.
We stayed in Vaduz for two nights, but in case you only have one night, here’s a sample itinerary to help you make the most of your 24 hours in Vaduz. (This itinerary assumes you arrive in the evening, spend the night and leave the next afternoon/evening. If you’re arriving at another time of day, shift the order of activities accordingly. Also, if you are visiting on a day trip, this itinerary would still be possible albeit a little rushed.)
Evening
Get your passport stamped.
The only bad thing about the Schengen zone for a traveling American is the lack of passport stamps you can collect. 😉 In Liechtenstein, you can get your passport stamped at the tourist office or other shops around town for 3 CHF. The tourist center is also a great place to pick up a free map and ask any questions you might have. (If you arrive too late and the office is already closed, make this your first stop in the morning before heading up to the castle.)
Enjoy dinner with a view of Vaduz.
Head up to Triesenberg (take bus #21 from Vaduz) for dinner with a view. We enjoyed dinner on the patio at Restaurant Kainer [view pictured above]. The homemade butter they serve with the bread is delicious! Triesenberg also has many accommodation options if you decide not to stay in Vaduz (including the great Airbnb we booked).
Morning
Hike up to Vaduz Castle.
The royal family still lives in the Vaduz Castle, so you cannot visit the interior, but you can hike up to castle for a nice view of the valley. The hike is fairly short (but steep) from the center of Vaduz; we recommend doing this in the morning before it gets too hot and before the viewing point is too crowded with people. Our favorite part of the hike was the educational signage along the trail to teach us about the history, government and economy of Liechtenstein.
Now it’s time to have brunch/lunch. Honestly, Liechtenstein was a bit expensive for our budget, and we’d already eaten similar cuisine in Central Europe, so we preferred to buy sandwiches or salads from the grocery store during our short stay. Therefore, I have no restaurant recommendations in Vaduz for you, but consider checking out Liechtenstein’s tourism website for descriptions of traditional dishes you might want to try while visiting.
Afternoon
Taste wine at the prince’s cellars.
I waited until the afternoon to include wine tasting, but you could do this before lunch, too. 😉 Located just a short walk from the city center, Hofkellerei des Fürsten von Liechtenstein (the Wine Cellar of the Prince of Liechtenstein) is the winery of the royal family. They make wine from their vineyards in Liechtenstein and Austria. We tasted four wines for 9 CHF per person, then spent some time taking photos in the vineyards (notice the castle up on the hill beyond?). The whole visit lasted just under one hour.
Visit the Red House.
On your walk back into the Vaduz center, take a detour to the “Red House” to admire the architecture. This walk is quite lovely and will take you through several vineyards and a charming residential area [pictured at the top of the post].
Peruse the Postal Museum for free.
When we were in Vaduz, the Postmuseum was only open 1 to 5 p.m. on weekdays, but according to the website, it is now open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hopefully the website is up-to-date! As a snail mail fan, I thought the collection was interesting, but to each their own. 😉 The best feature, IMHO, was a touch-screen monitor that allowed you to navigate a detailed timeline of the history of postage stamps and the postal service in Liechtenstein. There are also drawers and drawers of stamps for your viewing pleasure [pictured above right], so you can spend as much or as little time as you like in this museum.
Browse the stacks at the National Library.
As a public librarian, I love visiting libraries on our travels. You might know this already. 😉 But even if you don’t usually think of libraries as a neat thing to see on your travels, I have a secret about the National Library of Liechtenstein: It has the best view of St. Florin Cathedral! Check out my photo above right if you don’t believe me. If you are staying in Vaduz for longer than a day or two and want some downtime, the library also has a decent selection of English books and plenty of cozy, natural-light-filled corners that look perfect for reading.
Take a hike.
If you still have extra time in Vaduz (or if you’d prefer an alternative option to visiting a museum and/or library), head back up to Triesenberg to explore the many trails in the hills above Vaduz. Learn more about hiking in Liechtenstein on the country’s tourism website.
By now, it is probably time for you to move on to your next destination if you’re only spending one night in Vaduz. I hope you enjoyed your time in Liechtenstein, and I hope this guide was helpful.
Have you visited Vaduz (or elsewhere in Liechtenstein)? Do you have any recommendations not mentioned here? Share in the comments!
I used to stay in Liechtenstein during the summers growing up. I have wonderful memories of hiking to the Pfalzerhutte, skiing in Malbun, eating Kutteln at the stubli in Steg, ice cream in hotel Steg, Turna, and many other restaurants, and buying milk on a farm in steg
Thank you for sharing, Christiane! Sounds like there’s a lot more for us to do when we go back to Liechtenstein some day. 🙂