Things to Do in Liechtenstein

From Vaduz Castle overlooking the capital to Alpine hiking trails - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.

Travel guide - last updated September 2026

Liechtenstein is the sixth-smallest country in the world, a microstate between Switzerland and Austria that most visitors see as a half-day stop rather than a standalone destination - Vaduz, the capital, is walkable in under an hour, with the reigning prince's castle visible on the hillside above it throughout. Here are 4 places worth building a trip around.

Top attractions

The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.

🏰

Vaduz Castle

The residence of Liechtenstein's ruling prince, overlooking the capital from a hillside - not open to the public inside, but a defining backdrop for the city and a short hike up for the view.

📍 Vaduz

🚉 The castle is a private residence and closed to visitors, but the path up from Vaduz takes 20 minutes and the terrace view over the Rhine valley is open - buses stop at Vaduz Post below.

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Liechtenstein National Museum

Covers the country's history, culture and natural environment in a compact, walkable exhibition at the heart of Vaduz.

📍 Vaduz

🚉 The museum is on Stadtle in central Vaduz, a two-minute walk from the Vaduz Post bus stop, which every LIEmobil route serves.

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Alpine Hiking Trails

Despite its tiny size, Liechtenstein has an extensive network of marked Alpine trails, including the Fürstensteig, a narrow ridge path with cable-secured sections for added safety.

📍 Liechtenstein Alps

🚉 Buses climb from Vaduz to Triesenberg, Malbun and Steg - Malbun at 1,600m is the trailhead for the Furstensteig, and the bus is the only way up short of driving.

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Vaduz Old Town

A small, walkable center with government buildings, art galleries (including the Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein) and cafes, easily covered in a couple of hours.

📍 Vaduz

🚉 Nearest station: Schaan-Vaduz, one stop over the border on the Austrian line from Feldkirch, then bus 11 for five minutes into the pedestrianised centre.

Mark Liechtenstein, get the stamp

🇱🇮LIECHTENSTEINVISITED

🇱🇮LIECHTENSTEINLIVED

🇱🇮LIECHTENSTEINWISHLIST

In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.

Open MyPassportStory

Planning questions

How many days do you need in Liechtenstein?

A single day covers Vaduz and a short hike well - it's most commonly visited as a day trip from Zurich, Innsbruck or elsewhere in the Swiss/Austrian Alps rather than a standalone stay.

What's the best time to visit Liechtenstein?

June-September has the best weather for hiking the Alpine trails. Winter brings skiing at Malbun, the country's small ski resort.

Is Liechtenstein good for a first-time visit?

Yes - it's tiny and easy to see in a day, though there's no airport or train station within the country, so arrival is by road or a short bus connection from Switzerland or Austria.

Do I need a visa to visit Liechtenstein?

Liechtenstein is part of the Schengen Area, so citizens of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and many other countries can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; other nationalities need a Schengen visa arranged in advance. Check the official visa information for your nationality: liechtenstein.li.

What are some things to do in Liechtenstein on a tight budget?

Walking Vaduz's old town and hiking the Alpine trails cost nothing beyond getting there, and since it's typically visited as a day trip, there's no accommodation cost to factor in at all.

Can I rent a car in Liechtenstein, and what licence do I need?

You can, but the country is 25km long and the LIEmobil bus network covers it end to end, including the climb to Malbun. Most visitors rent in Switzerland or Austria and drive in - there is no border check. EU, EEA and Swiss licences are valid as issued; other visitors need an International Driving Permit alongside the home licence. Minimum age is usually 21 with a surcharge under 25. A Swiss motorway vignette covers the approach roads and is included with cars hired in Switzerland. Official information is published by the government at llv.li, with visitor guidance at tourismus.li.