Vaduz, Liechtenstein

Overview

The German-speaking doubly landlocked principality is a microstate nestled right between majestic Central European Alps of Switzerland and Austria. It has one of the lowest crime rates in the world, does not have an army, and does not have an airport. So, how did we get there?

Vlog

Travel Itinerary

How to get to Vaduz

The way we went there was by driving our car through the border in Sevelen, Switzerland on Rheinstrasse, crossing the Rhine River straight into Vaduz, the capital city of Liechtenstein. There are no border checks.
Here are other ways you can enter Liechtenstein:

From Switzerland

Going from Switzerland is possibly the most common way as it border the capital city, Vaduz and has more entry points than the other neighboring country, Austria.

By car:
– From Buchs, cross the Rhine River on Rheinstrasse into Schaan, the most populous city in Liechtenstein. 

– From Sennwald, crossing the Rhine River into Gamprin or Ruggell just a few kilometers north.

By train and/or bus:
Take any of these trains from Zurich HB directly to Buchs
– IR13 ~2 hours 5 minutes
– Railjet (rjx) ~1 hour 8 minutes
– EC ~1 hour 8 minutes 

Alternatively, take any of these trains from Zurich HB directly to Sargans:
– InterRegio IR13 ~2 hours 15 minutes
– IR35 ~1 hour 2 minutes
– InterCity IC3 ~55 minutes

Then, at either Sargans or Buchs train station, switch to Liechtenstein’s bus network LIEmobil and you can go to different Liechtenstein destinations from there. 

From Austria

Austria and Liechtenstein mostly share a mountainous border, so entry points are limited but here are some: 

By car: 
This is the fastest and most flexible option.
– Drive via the A14 motorway toward Feldkirch, then cross into Liechtenstein.

– Example: From Innsbruck to Vaduz takes less than 3 hours.

By train + bus:
This is the most common option.
– Take a train from cities like Vienna (2-3 hrs), Salzburg (3-4 hrs), or Innsbruck (6-7 hrs) to Feldkirch (Austria).

– From Feldkirch, take a short bus ride (about 15–20 minutes) into Liechtenstein’s capital, Vaduz.

On foot or bicycle:
From Feldkirch, you can cross two ways: one on Egelseeweg and the other on Hubstraße. 

It’s flat, scenic, and very safe. No real “border control” stops since both countries are in the Schengen Area but make sure to still bring your ID documents. 
Ref: https://en.tourismus.li/reiseland/anreise-mobilitaet.html

Vaduz

DAY 1 – VADUZ

This trip happened in January 2024.

It may have been a short day trip to Liechtenstein but it was very worthwhile. 

We came from Sevelen, Switzerland by car, crossed the Rhine River on Rheinstrasse and smoothly entered Liechtenstein with ease without any border control.

We parked at the Vaduz Post office parking lot and walked the rest of our trip. 

Although we did not stop by any museums, we passed many of them that are worth visiting with their positive reviews. They are all more or less next to each other! 

Our main aim was to walk up the Vaduz Castle which overlooks Vaduz and the Swiss mountains. From the parking lot, it took us around 40-50 minutes to reach the castle and we actually took our sweet time stopping and clicking pics. The castle could actually be reached within as little as 20 minutes if walking non-stop. It goes uphill throughout but it never really gets steep, by my definition, so overall an easy walk. Unfortunately, entry is not permitted as it is a private residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein and his family, so we can only enjoy it from outside. If you’d like to have a private guided walking tour where all of your questions about Liechtenstein, Vaduz, the history, etc. get answered, you can book a spot here for your group!

While Liechtenstein is less diverse than its neighbors, on the way back, we spotted a Sri Lankan street food place selling kottu roti next to Vaduz on Ice. 

We did not stay in Vaduz or anywhere in Liechtenstein overnight, but if you plan to do so, these are the recommended places according to reviews: 

🏨BUDGET: Hotel Vaduzerhof
MID-RANGE: Residence Hotel
HIGH-END: Park Hotel Sonnenhof, Relais & Chateaux

That was all for our little day trip in Vaduz, Liechtenstein! 

Budget

EXPENSE TYPE	DETAILS
ACCOMMODATION	We did not stay for the night there but here’s a breakdown of the average accommodation costs: Budget: ~CHF 80–150/night Mid-range: ~CHF 150–300/night High-end: ~CHF 300–600+
FOOD	Budget meal: ~CHF 15–25 Mid-range restaurant: ~CHF 25–50 per person Fine dining: CHF 70–150+
TAXI	Base fare: ~CHF 1.6 Per km: ~CHF 5 (typical estimate) Short ride within town: ~CHF 15–30
PUBLIC BUS	Short ride: ~CHF 3–5 Day pass: ~CHF 9 (covers whole country — common option) Local Vaduz bus (within town): FREE
E-BIKE RENT	Half day: ~CHF 30–50 Full day: ~CHF 50–80
TOUR BUS	City train / tourist bus: ~CHF 10–20
GRAB/UBER/BOLT	Not common or widely used in Liechtenstein

Best Time To Visit

Late June – Early September	– Warm, pleasant temperatures (~18-25°C/64.4-77°F.)- Long daylight hours and lots of sunshine especially in July- Ideal for walking, hiking, and exploring- Peak time: July–August
April-May and September-October	– Mild temperatures, still good for sightseeing- Fewer tourists and lower prices- Beautiful scenery (spring blooms or autumn foliage)
December–February	– Ideal only if you want snow- Cold (-5°C to 5°C or lower) with snow- Good for nearby skiing (e.g., Malbun)- But fog, short days, and limited sightseeing

Apps To Download

APP NAME	PURPOSE	PRICING
Maps.me	Map	Free app with in-app purchases for tours. Be sure to download the locations you’ll cover while you have access to the Internet.
SBB Mobile	Transportation	Free app to purchase bus & train tickets with timetable information service for Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
Moovit	Transportation & Route Planning	Free app with paid subscription features. Real-time bus tracking (LIEmobil network). Route planning across Liechtenstein Offline maps available
Gemeinde Vaduz	Local Updates & Events	Free app throughout. It shows opening hours, services, alerts, and municipality info.

Pack For Vaduz, Liechtenstein

What to pack specifically for Vaduz, Liechtenstein:

• Clothes appropriate for the weather. Light clothes with short sleeves are comfortable during the summer months of June to August, while thick warm jackets would be needed in the winter months such as December to March.
• Sunscreen as you’ll most likely enjoy the outdoor views.

More Details