In November 2019, I took a short trip to Zurich, Switzerland. While there, I decided to make one of my days a day trip to Vaduz, Liechtenstein. This tiny country is nestled in the Alps, right between Switzerland and Austria. It’s a pretty easy day trip to do, but Liechtenstein doesn’t rank very high on the excitement level. That still remains true in its capital city of Vaduz. Despite that, you’ll find a few things to do in Vaduz.
Things to Do in Vaduz
As I mentioned, Liechtenstein doesn’t rank very high on the excitement chart and it definitely didn’t help that I was here on a Sunday in the beginning of winter. My entire visit to Vaduz lasted less than four hours. That said, here’s six things to do in Vaduz before heading back to Zurich.
Hike Up to Vaduz Castle (Schloss Vaduz)
On the top of a hill, overlooking the city of Vaduz, you’ll find Vaduz Castle. If you’re up for a bit of a hike (the castle is on top of a hill), you can hike up to the castle. This gives you not just a close up view of Vaduz’s castle, but also some great views of the city below.
Now, you won’t be able to tour the interior of the castle on your visit. The Prince of Liechtenstein still lives at this castle. But for me, the views of the city of Vaduz and surrounding mountains made up for the hike up the hill.
Wander the Main Street
Vaduz is a town of approximately 5,500 people, so don’t expect a major metropolis. You won’t find the wide boulevards and seemingly endless streets lined with things to do. So your expectations before you commit to hours of wandering.
I grew up on the outskirts of a town of 10,000 people, so I had a decent idea of what to expect from a city center. This city center of this capital city was about the same size as my small hometown in Wisconsin. I felt prepared, but still couldn’t believe how fast I was able see the main city center of Vaduz.
Despite this, I still recommend taking a little time to walk through the city center. See the church and main square and the handful of businesses nearby.
Get Your Passport Stamped at the Tourism Office
For three Swiss Francs, you can get an official stamp of Liechtenstein in your passport.
There is debate about whether or not this is a good idea. Since this is not an official border crossing, this is considered a vanity stamp. Depending on where you travel and which passport you have, border officials may not be happy to see that. In the end, it’s your decision. Plenty of people have gotten the stamp without any issues, but I think it’s still worth pointing out the potential issues.
Visit the National Museum
I visited Liechtenstein on a Sunday, so nearly everything was closed. You could argue poor planning, but this was the only day I had to day trip to Vaduz (and who knows if I’ll ever make it back to this tiny country again). On Sundays, most museums and other sights were closed.
However, if you want to learn more about the history of Liechtenstein, this is the place to do it.
The hours have changed since my visit. If you want to visit the museum, it is open Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays), from 10am to 5pm. Tickets are 8 CHF for adults.
Visit the Postage Stamp Museum
Again, because of timing I was not able to visit this museum, but I’ve read reviews from several people stating that this museum was much more interesting than they originally thought. So, if you’re looking for one more thing to do in Vaduz, check out this museum.
Like with the National Museum, hours have changed since my visit and the museum is open daily from 10am to 5pm. Admission is free.
Take a Hike
Due to its location the Alps, Liechtenstein has hiking trails running throughout the country. One of the best things to do in Vaduz (and all of Liechtenstein) is to get out an explore on foot. Vaduz is not the most exciting city, but it can serve as a great, convenient starting point for some hikes. And the views of the surrounding Alps are amazing.
Signs help to point you in the right direction and give you an estimation of how long it will take. If you’re planning to hike up to the castle, you can use this as the start of your hike.
For more information about the best hikes in Liechtenstein, their official tourism agency has put together a list of 11 great hikes.
How Much Time Do You Need in Vaduz
One day is more than sufficient. My visit to Vaduz lasted just a few hours, but I did not visit any museums. If you plan to visit one, or more, museums, give yourself a little more time. Likewise, if you plan to hike, budget more time.
For the average visitor though, I’d give yourself no more than a half day. There just is not a massive list of things to do in Vaduz.
Getting to Vaduz
Getting to Liechtenstein from Zurich is straightforward. From the main train station in Zurich, board a train to the Swiss town of Sargans. Once you arrive, exit the station and look for a local bus. This will take you to the capital city of Vaduz (as well as some other destinations in Liechtenstein).
The entire journey from Zurich to Vaduz takes about an hour and a half. Enjoy your time on public transport. The scenery is beautiful and the fantastic Alps views that I had throughout my day were definitely the highlight.
If you’re staying in Austria, you can also visit Vaduz via the Austrian town of Feldkirch. The local bus in Liechtenstein connects Sargans and Feldkirch.
Final Thoughts
So is visiting Liechtenstein worth it? I’m glad I went, but I don’t feel like I need to visit Liechtenstein again. There’s just not a lot here. For many visitors, visiting Liechtenstein is just a way to visit one more country. However, if I were to visit again, I’d prioritize hiking and visiting the museums that were closed on my initial visit.
Continue Your Adventure
Switzerland: If you love the scenery, consider venturing into the Swiss Alps and to Jungfraujoch.
Itinerary: I visited Liechtenstein on part of my long weekend in Zurich.
More Small Towns: Vaduz is a small town and if that’s what you love, consider visiting some of the small towns of France’s Loire Valley.