If you’re traveling from Switzerland to Austria, consider making an extra stop for lunch in Liechtenstein. Even if you have only an hour or two, you’ll have plenty of time to add one more country to your list and spend time in the beautiful Alps. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Liechtenstein.
In the summer of 2018 we visited Switzerland, Germany and Austria – countries 2, 3, and 4 for the boys. While looking at the map I realized that we had driven past the turn off for Liechtenstein and missed it. So the next year, when we returned to Austria to ski, I made a point to schedule lunch in Liechtenstein on our drive from Zurich.
One of only two double landlocked countries in the world, Liechtenstein is bordered by Switzerland and Austria. It is a principality, ruled by a prince whose castle is perched up in the Alps. As Europe’s fourth-smallest country, it has an area just over 62 square miles. Vaduz is approximately 120 km from Zurich by car and the drive is spectacular.
We knew we’d only have a few hours to spend in Liechtenstein because we still had a long drive ahead, so as we pulled into town, we headed towards the main street of Vaduz, the capital. We easily found parking right on
the street and found a café for a quick lunch. Then we walked down the street, admiring the sculptures, architecture, and views of the Alps.
Be sure to stop by the Liechtenstein Center. Here there is a great deal of information about the country, including history, castles, activities and more. The boys quickly found a throne chair, where they donned a crown, picked up a flag and each took their turn as the Prince of Liechtenstein for a few moments. The Center also offers a wide range of souvenirs for purchase.
We also got our passports stamped. Since the creation of the Schengen Zone, you do not need to show your passport when you enter Liechtenstein, but you can pay a few Euros to get a stamp in your passport as a souvenir. They put our stamp on page 15 because Liechtenstein’s National Day is on August 15th. It’s a great reminder of our day there.
Just down from the Visitor’s Center is the Postal Museum of the Principality of Liechtenstein. Founded in 1930, the Postal Museum is part of the Liechtenstein National Museum. On display are postage stamps issued by the Principality since 1912, as well as the machinery used by postal workers over the past century. Best of all, the museum is free and open daily.
We also visited a wonderful toy shop right in the downtown area, which was full of Legos, Play Mobiles, blocks and other items that intrigued my children.
While we only had time for lunch, Liechtenstein offers many of other options for tourists – including summertime hiking, winter skiing and snowshoeing and so much more. If we had more time, I would have loved to hike part of the 75 km Liechtenstein Trail, which winds through all 11 of the country’s municipalities, or visit one of the many vineyards. You can also hike from Vaduz up to the Vaduz Castle, where the Prince resides. You cannot go inside, but you can take in the views from the top. However, if you happen to be in Liechtenstein on August 15th, be sure to visit the Castle for the National Day celebration.
All in all, we had a great afternoon learning about Liechtenstein’s history, admiring its postage stamps and taking in the gorgeous views and clean air of the Alps. Lunch in Liechtenstein is something that should be on everyone’s travel list.
Have you ever visited Liechtenstein? What was your favorite thing to do there?
