Last Updated on June 25, 2025
I’ve always been fascinated by small countries. And in Europe, there’s a wealth of them. Six, to be precise.
These half-dozen little jewels – officially known as “microstates” – are Vatican City (the smallest in the world), Monaco, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Andorra, and Malta.
I had previously visited Vatican City, Monaco, and San Marino. So, when my husband and I were off to Europe recently, we set our sights on Liechtenstein, the 25km (15 miles) – long Principality nestled between Switzerland and Austria.
And we weren’t disappointed.
A Liechtenstein Principality Primer
Liechtenstein is small as countries go, only about the size of Washington, DC. And its entire population of 40,000 or so is only about half of that of Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Still though, it’s a principality known throughout the world. And being a “Principality,” means that a Prince, not a King, heads the royal family. The current head of Liechtenstein’s semi-constitutional monarchy is Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein, Duke of Troppau and Jägerndorf, Count of Rietberg, and Sovereign of the House of Liechtenstein. It’s quite a bit to fit on a business card.
The country’s official language is German, although everyone we met spoke perfect English, as well as a couple of other languages. It’s a beautiful little country known for its medieval castles, alpine landscapes, and villages linked by networks of trails. Its capital, Vaduz, is a cultural and financial center.
Liechtenstein has established itself as a major financial center, particularly for foreign entities. Its low tax rates, loose corporate governance rules, and strict bank secrecy have attracted international funds and businesses.
It also has a manufacturing sector, which is a significant contributor to its economy, particularly in areas like precision instruments, machinery, and pharmaceuticals. Its close ties with Switzerland have contributed to its economic stability and security.
First Impressions of Liechtenstein
One’s first impression of Liechtenstein is of a clean, orderly, and idyllic place. The transition from Switzerland to Liechtenstein is unnoticeable, since both countries share the same terrain and sense of order. The country is on the eastern border of Switzerland, between the Rhine and Austria, and is a place that feels very inviting to travelers.
It’s also a very easy and short day trip from Zurich, the closest airport. In fact, from Zurich’s Bahnhof it’s only a 1 ½-hour comfortable train ride to the capital of Vaduz. Upon arrival there, you transfer to a bus for a short ride to the center of the small city.
You can take a tour from Zurich to Vaduz but you can easily manage the trip on your own. While there are some quaint hotels in the city – frequented by those who want to spend more time there, especially during ski season – Vaduz is the perfect size for a one-day visit from Switzerland.
An Overview of the City
The first place to start your day-trip tour of Vaduz is at the Liechtenstein Center, the city’s tourist office. We found the office’s staff helpful and informed, and ready to answer all our questions. And in addition to getting information on local attractions and purchasing a few souvenirs there, you can also obtain a unique passport stamp. Although you do not need a passport to enter Liechtenstein, I had my passport stamped as a unique reminder of my visit.
We took a trolley ride about Vaduz, which is worthwhile to do for a preliminary overview on a day trip. This 30-minute tour took us around the city and through the residential areas. It’s a lovely ride and an excellent way to take pictures and get a feel for Liechtenstein’s quality of life.
From the trolley, my husband was able to take a great shot of the 12th-century Prince’s Castle, which allowed us to forgo making the long trek up the hill where the Castle is located. That was fortuitous since we later learned that the Castle is closed to visitors.
Places of Interest
After we visited the Tourist Center, we spent most of our time on Aulestrasse and Stadtle Street, the two main pedestrian streets of Vaduz. Along them you’ll find plenty of shops, restaurants, museums, and other places of interest.
Talking with people working in the shops and elsewhere, we found it many were Swiss or Austrian, rather than Liechtensteiners. It appears that since the neighboring countries are so close commuting is not an issue.
Located near the Tourist Center and along Aulestrasse is the Postal Museum. Liechtenstein is proud of its history of unique stamps and its postal service. A branch museum of the Liechtenstein National Museum, the Postal Museum exhibits every stamp issued by the Principality.
Our next stop was the Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein to view its collection of international modern and contemporary art. Although the changing collection exhibits works amassed by the Princes of Liechtenstein, only a small portion of the collection is exhibited at any one time. The bulk of the collection is in Vienna, at the family’s Palais Liechtenstein, their principal residence. The museum is sponsored by the Hilti Art Foundation, a major Liechtenstein-based manufacturer of power tools, headquartered in the country.
Despite the Museum’s surprising collection of modern art, the surprise of the visit for me was its Japanese restaurant. While we were there, they were preparing for lunch, and since it was fully booked, it was obviously very popular.
Liechtenstein’s Incredible National Museum
Another museum well worth visiting is Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, Liechtenstein’s National Museum. In addition to providing an insight into the geology, history, and folklore of the Principality, it also houses an exceptional natural history collection. Dedicated to the wildlife of Liechtenstein, it is on par with the world-renowned Museum of Natural History in New York (not in size but in quality of its presentation). In fact, my husband and I spent much of our time studying the lifelike wildlife exhibits, all of which were beautifully presented.
In addition to its exhibits, the museum’s building, a former tavern and customs house, is also surprisingly interesting and adds to the charm.
Additional Sites
There are other sites worth mentioning in Vaduz which were highly recommended by the Tourist Center, but which we did not visit due to our self-imposed time restraints.
We chose not to take the Schlossweg, the walking path to Vaduz Castle, the landmark of the Principality. Although it offers an excellent view of the city and the Rhine Valley, the Castle is closed to the public. It can, however, be clearly seen from many places in the city.
On the other hand, you may want to visit the Hofkelerei, the Princely Cellars in Vaduz. The next best thing to meeting the Prince, it offers wine tastings and the sale of products from the Prince’s vineyards.
Two other local sites open to visitor are the Kathedrale, or Cathedral, and the Landtagsgebaude (Parliament Building), both located on the main street.
Shops and Eateries
Walking along Aulestrasse, we found several watch stores, many of which sold high-end Swiss watches. Interestingly, no prices were listed in the windows.
And although there are also art galleries and clothing stores, the usual touristy shops are limited. Liechtenstein is a wealthy country and the capital reflects that.
While there were pizzerias and cafes scattered about, my husband and I decided we instead wanted to sit down for a “proper lunch.”
We soon found the Altenback Restaurant and Bar, which looked appropriate. The interior was very inviting, with a long bar in the front section of the restaurant, separating it from the formal dining area. The menu was perfect for a sit-down lunch, offering a selection of salads and hot meals.
The only inconvenience was the service.
When we entered, just before noon, the restaurant was empty, but we weren’t served for more than 30 minutes, while others who had entered after us were served. When asked why, we were told by the manager that those with reservations were served first, and we came after them. I wish they had informed us from the beginning.
Another eatery for a cappuccino and a pastry we tried in the late afternoon was the excellent Balu Backerei Konditorei. It was a charming place with good coffee, and its apple pastry was warm and just sweet enough…making it the perfect ending to another small-country experience.
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