Liechtenstein might be on your radar for your upcoming trip to Europe.
This tiny country might be worth a visit, or not. I help you asses and I point out the pros and cons.
I'm focusing on Liechtenstein as a whole. That means the microstate and also the main attraction, which is the capital city, Vaduz.
If you want to check out the individual offerings, I have compiled a list of things to do in Liechtenstein.
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Pros — Reasons to visit Liechtenstein
Museums & Art — Art is given a lot of importance in Liechtenstein, especially in Vaduz. The city is known for contemporary, accessible art. A major point of interest for art enthusiasts is the Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein. Everybody visiting Vaduz will be confronted with modern art due to prominent street art installations such as “The African king”.
Historical Importance — The history of Liechtenstein is not all that well known, but it's an intriguing one. So, while other area nearby, such as Tyrol, were assimilated centuries ago, the status of Liechtenstein moved from a county to an independent sovereign country. Not many can claim such a status today. You can visit the Liechtenstein national museum to learn more about the principality and how it came to be.
Liechtenstein Produces Wine — The principality has been known for its top quality wines. You can visit the Hofkellerei, which is the princes own winery. A highlight: The princess Marie of Liechtenstein at times organizes wine tours.
Car-Free City Center — The capital of Liechtenstein, Vaduz, is completely car-free, which is great if you want to take a short undisturbed stroll across the city. The parking garage is just a 3 minutes walking distance from the city center.
English is common enough — There is zero guarantee that English is ever spoken by the natives in any given country in mainland Europe. It's merely a fact. BUT, the people in Vaduz seem to be used to switching between Swiss German and English. Things are described in English at museums, which is a huge plus point in my opinion!
Rural Liechtenstein is gorgeous — You shouldn't forget Liechtenstein is located in the European alps, just right next to Switzerland and Austria, so naturally the panoramas are most inspiring. We drove up to Triesenberg, one of the 8 villages in Liechtenstein, and the views from there were just awe-inspiring. I have another secret tip for you, explore the Ruggeller Riet nature reserve.
Hiking Paradise for Peaceful Souls — Of course, hiking and spending time in nature should be a prime reason for anyone who's looking to spend more time in Liechtenstein. While everybody else is heading to ultra-popular locations in the Swiss alps, such as Lauterbrunnen, you will most definitely appreciate the quiet ambiance that Liechtenstein has to offer. A big tip is Malbun, which doubles as a ski resort!
Makes for a great Day Trip — Honestly, most visitors get to Vaduz on a day trip itinerary. Many come over from Zürich, Switzerland. Others travel from Austria across Liechtenstein towards Switzerland on a road trip with a rental, and hangout in Liechtenstein for the day.
You have Liechtenstein Ancestors — The odds will be small, but yes, you might want to visit if one of your ancestors hailed from Liechtenstein!
Casinos — 8 larger casinos alone are located in Liechtenstein and if you continue your trip across to Austria, you will find another bunch lined up, including the famous Casino in Bregenz.
Money Matters — It's not a secret that upper-class people come to Liechtenstein for banking purpose or to open a trust. I thought it was convenient that you could pay in Swiss Francs and Euro in Liechtenstein stores and restaurants.
You love Hilti power tools — One of the top power tool brands in the world is Hilti and Hilti is made in Liechtenstein. The factory is located right after the Austrian border, and I highly recommend heading to the Hilti outlet store in Schaan. You can guess that I love quality power tools!
You can get a novelty Passport stamp — So, we did that, we got a Liechtenstein passport stamp. Liechtenstein doesn't have an airport!
Cons — Why you might want to skip Liechtenstein
It's expensive — Liechtenstein is almost as expensive as Switzerland, and most things cost as much as in western Austria. It's one of the most expensive places in the world, and you definitely should come with money. This place is not for small budgets.
The country is tiny — The country of Liechtenstein is the 6th smallest country in the world. It's much smaller than Luxembourg. To give you an idea, it takes about 30 minutes by car to cross the entire country from north to south, which by the way is the longest side. This is the reason why there is not much to do in Liechtenstein.
You visit once, but most probably not twice — The country lacks individuality or anything special that screams Liechtenstein. It's feels like Austria or Switzerland, but it's neither, and perhaps that's the most distinguished point. You almost expect something more when you visit, such as a typical European old town or a special landmark.
You can't visit the Liechtenstein castle — Now, that was the most disappointing revelation for us. The medieval castle sits right above Vaduz, the capital, but you can't visit because the ruling prince and his family reside in the castle. Even if you drive up with the car, you quickly learn that there are no viewpoints or decent photo points where you can stop to take a memorable picture of the castle and yourself. BUT, Liechtenstein has a bunch of other castles and castle ruins that you should add to your itinerary if you like to see medieval forts and castles.
The people in Liechtenstein — Most of the people that you will encounter in Liechtenstein are not from Liechtenstein. They are all Austrians working in Liechtenstein. This isn't an issue, but if you are trying to immerse yourself in a culture, this won't really work in Liechtenstein. But again, it's a miniscule country and technically, neighboring Austrians are not that much different from the local population.
Which visitors frequent Liechtenstein?
You will come across four types of visitors in Liechtenstein.
Type 1: They are visiting Liechtenstein as part of a day trip tour from Zürich, Switzerland. This is the majority of people because a tour usually includes 20 people, which fills up the quiet city of Vaduz.
Type 2: These are the people that transit through Liechtenstein, traveling from Austria to Switzerland and vice versa. Liechtenstein makes for a good stop.
Type 3: This group includes, hikers and nature lovers, families with kids on a farm and winter sport enthusiasts. They all spend a few days in the mountains of Liechtenstein.
Type 4: The ones who come for money. This might be a banking or an investment opportunity, or someone who's doing a casino run.
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