Photo by Adrian Michael. The Principality of Liechtenstein is located in the Alps between Switzerland and Austria and is one of the smallest states in Europe and in the world. It is a purely mountainous country and the only urban agglomerations develop around the river valley.
Vaduz is the capital of Liechtenstein , a typical Alpine town not very well known which is located along the right bank of the Rhine river , and hosts the castle and the museums of the Prince, but also other small curiosities. If you want to spend a slightly different holiday, Liechtenstein is waiting for you.
Here are 10 things to see in and around Vaduz .
10 Things to see in Liechtenstein
1 – Das Stadtle
Photo by Andrew Bossi. Das Stadtle is the main street of Vaduz, the hub of the city center . It is characterized by a long street, full of shops and clubs. Here, tourists can relax, eat and shop. But not only! In the city center you can admire various buildings with different architectural styles. Das Stadtle also includes the Government Quarter and the City Hall. Near the latter there is a beautiful bronze sculpture by Nag Arnoldi , entitled “Big horse”. It is life size and represents a horse in 3 different poses.
Stop to admire the government district: walking along Das Stadtle you will first come across the Rathaus Vaduz, the town hall, where you can admire the beautiful bronze sculpture of Nag Arnoldi, which represents a horse in three different poses. Continuing to walk you will reach the small government district, where you will find the headquarters of the Old and New Parliament of the Principality.
2 – Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein
Photo of Ruedi Walti, Basel (Schweiz). The Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein, better known to tourists as the Liechtenstein National Art Gallery , is a museum designed by architects Meinrad Morger, Heinrich Degelo and Christian Kerezblack. Inside there are works ranging from the nineteenth century to the present day and are. Among these masterpieces there are also important sculptures of thecollection of the Prince of Liechtenstein and a part reserved for the exponents of Arte Povera .
Enjoy a chocolate break : bordering Switzerland, Liechtenstein has a strong cobblestone tradition too. And in front of the museum there is the Laderach chocolate shop | Liechtenstein | Vaduz. Here you can taste different types of chocolate and buy your favorites! Get directions
- Where it is : Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein, Stadtle – reachable on foot in 3 minutes from the center
- Hours: Tue-Sun 10 am-5pm, Thu until 8pm, closed Mon.
- Rates : Starting from € 13.00
3 – Vaduz Cathedral
Photo of Dimelina. The Cathedral of San Florin and the main town church. It is the seat of the archdiocese of Vaduz. The building was built between 1869 and 1873 by Friedrich von Schmidt with funding from the Princes of Liechtenstein. The church is in neo-Gothic style with three naves. The cathedral features a tower with four small clocks on its facades .
- Where is it : St. Florinsgasse 15 – reachable on foot in 8 minutes from the center
- Hours: Open every day.
- Rates : free admission
4 – Vaduz Castle
Photo of Presse- und Informationsamt, Vaduz. Vaduz Castle is located at Bergstrasse 2 and is an 18-minute walk from the center. It has belonged to the royal family since 1712, but only since 1938 has it become the official residence. The castle stands on a promontory just above the capital, but unfortunately it is not open to tourist visits .
Once a year, on the occasion of the feast of the principality , the gardens are opened to the subjects to allow them to take part in a special mass held inside the private chapel and at the end of it watch the fireworks.
As already mentioned, it is not allowed to visit the castle, but you can still do ita walk worthy of the best fairy tales . This allows you to skim the beautiful forest on the Gruschaweg and reach the old Walser village of Triesenberg , located higher up. From the beech forest there are “natural windows” that allow you to admire sweeping views of the Rhine valley and the Alpstein: a charm!
The walk lasts a couple of hours and is easy, therefore within everyone’s reach. It is wonderful when done in spring and autumn.
5 – Gasthof Lowen
It is a structure dating back to 1380 . It is now a hotel-restaurant with a particular atmosphere, housed in an ancient building with interesting interiors (including a large old press in one of the stone rooms used as private dining rooms). Here you can enjoy the typical gastronomy of the Principality . In summer it is also possible to eat on the terrace and thus enjoy a beautiful view of the castle.
- Where is it : Herrengasse 35 – Accessible by bus 11
- Hours: Every day from 11:30 to 23
- Rates : –
6 – Ski Museum
More than 100 years of European history of this sport are contained in this museum. A treat for fans . Not surprisingly, during the winter, the mountains of the Principality offer excellent resorts for winter sports lovers.
- Where is it : Near Fabrikweg – Accessible by bus 11, 12 and 13
- Hours: Open Monday to Friday from 2pm to 6pm
- Rates : Around € 5.50
7 – Museum of postage and stamps
A small museum full of stamps that illustrates the entire philatelic history of the Principality . It is free and if you are passionate you could stay inside for a long time given the quantity of stamps on display, some of which are also valuable. There are fun activities for children with sealing wax and cute ink.
- Where is it : Stadtle 37 – reachable on foot in 2 minutes from the center
- Hours: Every day from 10 to 12 and from 13 to 17
- Rates : Free admission
8 – Old Bridge
It is the last remaining bridge among those that in the last century connected Vaduz with the Swiss city of Sevelen. All the other bridges that cross the Rhine were replaced over time by concrete structures. For obvious reasons, it is now forbidden to drive with cars and motorcycles. It was restored in 2009-2010. From inside it is possible to see the border line between Liechtenstein and Switzerland .
9 – Balzers and Burg Gutenberg Castle
Photo by Adrian Michael. It is one of the municipalities of the Principality of Liechtenstein, fourth in order of population. The town is dominated by the Burg Gutenberg, ancient castle of the thirteenth century. It stands on a hill overlooking the town. It can be reached via the Burgweg, the road leading to the building. It is a museum open to the public, with a chapel that can be visited and a rose garden. The castle is one of the best preserved in the Principality .
Take a photo at the Kunstwerk und Fotospot : following the Burgweg, or the road to climb the castle, you will encounter this particular installation, a kind of frame. From here the view over the city and its surroundings is truly wonderful! Get directions
- Where is it : About 16 minutes from Vaduz – accessible by bus and train
- Hours: open from May to October generally 10 am-5pm. In the remaining months of the year only the external courtyard is accessible.
- Rates : starting from € 11.00 / 15.00. Availability of guided tours of 75 min or quick tours of approximately 30 min. All the info on the official website.
10 – Municipality of Eschen and village of Nendeln
Eschen , and known for Pfrundhaus , a 14th century building now used as a showroom for local artists and for its Chapel of the Holy Cross. In addition, an easy half-hour walk begins from this town, which will lead you to enjoy a superb view of the entire surrounding area.
It is also interesting to visit the hamlet of Nendeln , a village famous for its pottery , a tradition that dates back to 1836. Here you can observe this delicate art thanks to a tour that will take you to the workshops to explore ovens and tools of the trade.
- Where is it : About 30 minutes from Vaduz – accessible by bus and train
- Timetables: –
- Rates : Free admission
What to see in one day
The itinerary starts from one of the most beautiful castles in the Principality: the Burg Gutenberg in Balzers, then we move to the center of Vaduz to admire the main attractions through a nice walk. In the afternoon, visit the Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein art museum , and then end the day admiring the view from Vaduz Castle ! Here is the summary of the stages.
- 9:30 – Balzers e Burg Gutenberg
- 11:00 – Center of Vaduz and Das Stadtle
- 12:00 – Cathedral of San Florin
- 15:00 – Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein
- 17:00 – Vaduz Castle
