Europe
Liechtenstein is one of the world's smallest countries and one of its most overlooked, a tiny principality wedged between Switzerland and Austria in the Rhine Valley, still ruled by a resident royal family, and home to some surprisingly excellent hiking, a compact capital with genuine charm, and the peculiar satisfaction of collecting a passport stamp from a nation most people couldn't find on a map. It's an easy add-on from Zurich or Innsbruck and worth far more than the hour most visitors give it.
Things to Do
Vaduz, the capital, takes about two hours to walk end to end, Vaduz Castle sits on the hillside above town (it's a private royal residence, so only the exterior is accessible) and the Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein houses a surprisingly strong contemporary art collection. The national museum traces the history of the principality with more depth than you'd expect. The principality is registered to more companies than it has residents — barely 40,000 people, but more than 70,000 corporate entities, many no more than a nameplate in a Vaduz office. The real draw for active travelers is the hiking, the trails above Vaduz into the Liechtenstein Alps offer exceptional views across the Rhine Valley into Switzerland and Austria, with marked routes ranging from easy valley walks to serious mountain terrain. The Fürstensteig ridge trail is the classic route and requires a head for heights.
Best Time to Visit
May through October is ideal for hiking and the full Alpine experience. Summer (June–August) is the most popular period with warm temperatures and all trails open. Late spring and early autumn offer quieter trails and dramatic light. Winter brings skiing at Malbun, Liechtenstein's small but charming ski resort, one of the few places in the world where you can ski in a separate country from where you're staying and be back for dinner the same day.
Where to Stay
Vaduz has a small selection of hotels, but many travelers stay in nearby Sargans (Switzerland) or Feldkirch (Austria) and visit as a day trip, both are under 30 minutes away by train or car. If you want the novelty of actually sleeping in Liechtenstein, book early, accommodation options are limited by the country's size. The tourist office in Vaduz offers a free passport stamp service, which is worth the five-minute stop regardless of where you're staying.
Budget: Hotel Schlössle Vaduz, small, simple, and the most affordable proper hotel in the capital, a few minutes from the castle hill.
Mid-range: Hotel Vaduzerhof, comfortable mid-range right on the pedestrianised Städtle, opposite the tourist office for the passport stamp.
Luxury: Park Hotel Sonnenhof, Relais & Châteaux member above Vaduz with Rhine Valley views, the country's only true luxury hotel.
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Hidden Gems
The village of Triesenberg above Vaduz is home to a Walser community, a Germanic group that migrated to the Alps in the Middle Ages and maintained a distinct dialect and culture, with a small museum dedicated to their history that's genuinely fascinating. The wine produced in Liechtenstein's Rhine Valley vineyards is almost entirely consumed domestically and almost entirely unknown outside the country, the Hofkellerei (royal winery) produces small quantities of Pinot Noir that are worth seeking out. And the trail from Vaduz up to the castle and continuing into the hills above town is almost always empty, even in peak summer.
