I’ll admit that, like most people, the driving factor behind my spending 2 days in Liechtenstein was simply to cross it off my list. I always try to visit someplace new on the way to Oktoberfest, so little bitty Liechtenstein was an easy choice.
Though my initial plan was simply just a day trip, I ended up spending 2 days in Liechtenstein instead. Though lured in by the possibility of a posh passport stamp, I really was interested in learning more about this place. I mean, is it really all that different from Switzerland, Austria, or Germany? What is there even to do here? (Does the prince need a new quirky American friend? I look great in a tiara… Call me!)
Long story short, I had an amazing time in Liechtenstein and this tiny country has earned a solid spot in my heart. So, allow me to help you spend some quality time here so you can learn to love it too.
Liechtenstein fast facts
Here are a few quick things to know about Liechtenstein before you go:
Liechtenstein fun facts
And some more Liechtenstein fun facts for you:
Helpful map for your 2 days in Liechtenstein
This map contains all the things to do in Liechtenstein I mention in this post (including restaurants, hotels, and logistical concerns). To save this map: Click on the star ⭑ next to the map’s title to save in your Google Maps. To use this map: When you get here, open Google Maps on your phone, click “Saved” at the bottom, then click “Maps.”
How to get to Liechtenstein
Though Liechtenstein lacks its own airport and train station, it’s still pretty easy to get to (and easy to get to other places from). What Liechtenstein lacks in terms of direct air and train travel, it more than makes up for in fluorescent yellow/green buses with friendly drivers who happily break for cattle and wave to people picking apples on the side of the road. (It’s really adorable here, y’all.)
Flying to Liechtenstein (sort of)
If you plan to fly here from, say, the United States, you’ll want to fly into Zurich, Switzerland (ZRH). From here, you’ll need to:
Taking the train to Liechtenstein
After retrieving your bag(s) at the airport, head to the train station inside the Zurich airport. You can try to figure out the next parts on your own, or you can do as I do and just tell the person at the info booth you need to get to Sargans.
They’ll get you the train tickets you need and give you a timetable of where you need to be and when, what trains you need to be on, and which platforms they leave from. The only way this could be easier is if they carried you there on their own back. (I don’t think this is a service they offer, but this is a country of hikers so you never know.)
The train from Zurich Flughafen to Zurich Hbf takes about 7 minutes. You’ll need to get off here and switch trains. The trip from Zurich Hbf to Sargans takes about an hour and ten minutes. At Sargans, exit the station and directly across the street you’ll see where the buses line up.
You can take the train to Liechtenstein from anywhere else in Europe too, you’ll just need to make Sargans, Switzerland your destination and then go from there using the bus mentioned below.
Taking the bus to Liechtenstein
Now, you have a couple of options. Both are quick and easy so just grab whichever one is there when you are. You can take:
Read on for how to take these buses for free, otherwise you can just pay the driver when you board.
You can take the bus to Liechtenstein from tons of other destinations too on the Flixbus. Check out Flixbus schedules and rates here.
Driving to Liechtenstein
If you have access to your own car, you can also drive to Liechtenstein of course. Liechtenstein is a:
Once here, Vaduz has several parking garages in and around the main town center.
Rent a car here if you need one.
Getting around in Liechtenstein
As I’m sure you’re aware, Liechtenstein is a very small country and its capital of Vaduz is simply teeny. You can easily walk to several of the interesting spots, but for everything else they make getting around super easy. The local LIEmobil bus network covers all of Liechtenstein and a little beyond. Look for these bright yellow/green buses.
Where to stay in Liechtenstein
There are several great hotel options in Vaduz and the surrounding areas. Here are some quick recommendations:
See all available Vaduz hotel options here.
Pro tips for your 2 days in Liechtenstein
Here are the most important things you need to know to spend 2 days in Liechtenstein and some helpful pro tips:
1. Pick up some Swiss Francs.
Don’t forget Liechtenstein uses Swiss Francs (CHF) as their currency. Make sure to stop by the ATM in the Zurich airport to pick up cash for your 2 days in Liechtenstein (and any time you may spend in Switzerland too).
2. Pick up an Adventure Pass
Liechtenstein’s all-inclusive Adventure Pass saves you tons of money on sightseeing (and more) and gets you free rides on public transportation all over the country so you’re not just dropping francs on francs on francs. Plus, there’s free wine!
The Adventure Pass includes:
- Free admission to Liechtenstein’s top attractions and museums
- Free Liechtenstein passport stamp – the country’s most prized souvenir
- Some surprise free gifts
- Tons of free entertainment options
- Some free tours
- Free coffee and beer at various cafés and two free wines at the Prince of Liechtenstein’s winery
- Free admission to the bird of prey show at the Falknerei Hotel Galina
- Free transportation on the entire LIEmobil bus network that covers all of Liechtenstein as well as getting here from Switzerland and even into Austria.
You can purchase an Adventure Pass at the tourism office in Vaduz or ahead of time online. (Doing so ahead of time means you’ll be able to use it for the free transportation from Switzerland before you even get to Liechtenstein.) Get more info here.
Many thanks to Liechtenstein Tourism for providing me with an Adventure Pass for my 2 days in Liechtenstein so I could maximize my time here. As always, all opinions are my own.
3. Venture out of Vaduz
If you were visiting on a day trip, you’d probably be forced to spend all your time within Vaduz. But with two days here you’ll be able to get out and explore more of the country. (And I highly recommend you do!)
Compact as it is, getting around more of Liechtenstein is super easy. The LIEmobil buses are on time to the minute and you can get from Vaduz to either end of the country in less than 15 minutes. Can Disney World say that? Methinks not. (Read that in Donald Duck’s voice for full effect.)
While you should spend a good amount of time in Vaduz, it’s outside the capital where you can experience the most Alpine-ness of this Alpine country.
Where to go
You can head south to the city of Balzers and Gutenberg Castle. This is Liechtenstein’s other castle, the one you can actually visit. You can spend some time trekking with llamas in Triesenberg or hiking the Liechtenstein Trail which covers the entire country. Or do as I did and head up into the mountains in Malbun.
Even if all you do is ride the bus around Liechtenstein, that’ll be entertainment enough. You’ll see so many amazing views, witness everyday life here, and you may even get caught in a cattle-related traffic jam.
4. You can’t wing it here
Even if you’re used to traveling on the fly, you’ll need to do some pre-planning for your 2 days in Liechtenstein. Because it’s so small and the tourists so few, you’ll find the window of opening times for attractions (etc.) are just as tiny. In Liechtenstein, you may find:
5. Prepare for an expensive 2 days
Because where there are Swiss Francs, there are people going, “Wait, that costs how much??” If you’ve ever been to Switzerland, you already know the sticker shock of which I speak. Liechtenstein is the richest country per capita, after all. It does have one of the highest standards of living in the world. But I think it goes without saying that, in Liechtenstein, you get what you pay for. And this place is noice.
Your 2 days in Liechtenstein may not be a budget trip, but it doesn’t have to be insanely expensive either. Many of the top activities (hiking and other outdoorsy things) are free and the public transportation can be too. Definitely consider picking up an Adventure Pass.
I’ve also found that the food portions in Liechtenstein are huge so, if you’re traveling with someone else, you can totally split meals here to save some cash.
How to spend 2 days in Liechtenstein
This list of what to do in Liechtenstein contains all the best things to see and do, where to find some amazing views, and more. Enjoy!
1. Get your passport stamped
One sad reality about travel these days is that almost no country stamps passports anymore. Tragedy, I know. But there’s still one place you can get one—Liechtenstein.*
Though there’s no official border crossing to get you from Switzerland to Liechtenstein (as well as no airport or train station in which to arrive), you can still get a Liechtenstein passport stamp here. And it is cu-ute!
Getting one is easy—all you have to do is head to the Liechtenstein tourism office, pay a few francs, and they’ll stamp it for you. Or, just get the Adventure Pass and you’ll get it for free.
What you need to know
Because the Liechtenstein passport stamp is not an official passport stamp, it falls under the category of “souvenir” stamps. And having “souvenir” stamps in your passport can potentially invalidate it and open you up to prosecution. Remember: Your passport is an official government document that’s not to be fiddled with, not a sticker book from the Magic Kingdom, despite how much it resembles one.
I have heard of people having trouble entering foreign countries when authorities discovered these fake stamps in their passports (what they consider forgeries). But these accounts have always taken place when traveling to places like China and Russia, to the surprise of no one.
Other places with souvenir passport stamps include: Machu Picchu, Checkpoint Charlie, the Galapagos Islands, and Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, Wales. That’s a literal town in Wales, not my cat walking over the keyboard.
Liechtenstein’s special case
However, even though the Leichtenstein passport stamp is given inside the tourism information center, and for a fee at that, the Liechtenstein tourism office has a government decree that allows them to give out the passport stamp. I also spoke to a tourism official who assured me they have never received reports of any problems as a result.
Still want one?
If you don’t want to risk invalidating your passport, you can always get the stamp on a separate piece of paper or whatever else. You could also bring an expired passport to stamp. If your current passport is nearing its end and you won’t be using it again to travel, you’d probably be okay too.
Personally, I still had a few years left on my passport but decided to just do stamp my official government document anyway. I had no plans to visit any communist nations any time soon so… whatever. I crossed tons of borders after that and no one ever noticed it.
Now though, I’m not sure I’d risk it, but mostly because I just have more anxiety now in general. (Even though border crossings rarely even involve a human checking your credentials anymore.) I’d probably just bring one of my old passports instead.
2. Hike up to Vaduz Castle
From the center of Vaduz, you can hike up to Vaduz Castle. But because the Prince of Liechtenstein actually lives here, you can’t go inside. But you can get up close and the walk here is delightful.
From the town center, follow the road up Beckagässli, to the left of the Brasserie Burg. From here, simply follow the signs towards the Schloss. The walk from the center to the castle will take you about 18 minutes.
Along the way are amazing viewpoints and informational panels about Liechtenstein, the castle, and the royal family. The path is super steep, gravely, and full of dirt so make sure you wear some decent shoes.
3. Walk over to Switzerland
From the center of Vaduz you can actually walk over to Switzerland. But why should you do this? Simply because you can, of course.
A short walk along a quiet creek and past some cow pastures will take you to Alte Rheinbrücke, the old bridge over the Rhine River. This covered bridge dates back to 1901 and is the only remaining wooden bridge over the Rhine.
The bridge is entirely vehicle-free (but not livestock-free so watch for poo) and you can get a shot of you standing in two countries at once because you’re a huge dork who’s totally into that kinda stuff.
4. Try some local cuisine
Liechtenstien being the Alpine country that it is means one very important thing—cheese! During your 2 days in Liechtenstein, be sure to try such signature foods as:
5. Visit the Treasure Chamber
The Liechtenstein Treasure Chamber is a small museum that houses some of the most important of the country’s treasures: fine art, a huge collection of Fabergé eggs, medieval relics, literal moon rocks, and, naturally, the prince of Liechtenstein’s opulent crown.
Entering the Treasure Chamber
Actually getting into the Treasure Chamber is an adventure in itself but as long as you read this beforehand, you’ll be fine. I get the bejeezus scared out of me on my travels so you don’t have to! You’re welcome.
At the Liechtenstein National Museum ticket counter, I handed my Adventure Pass to the employee and she handed me back a gold coin. She told me to take it to the building that’s two buildings down and I’d “know what to do.” (Spoiler alert: I did not know what to do.)
That building was the Treasure Chamber and inside the main entrance is a small vestibule not unlike those that hold ATMs. There was a box on the wall with a sign that said to insert the coin, which I did without having any clue what would happen next.
Immediately the wall next to me opened up. Now I’ve seen enough sitcom murder mysteries to know that when a secret passageway opens in the wall, you walk into it. So walk into it I did. Just then the wall abruptly closed behind me, sealing me inside what was little more than a pitch black 4’ x 4’ room.
This is fine
Just as I was about to scream for help, I was able to make out something on the wall that implied I wasn’t going to die a horrible death because another wall was about to open up. And open up it did.
The side wall of my tiny black cell opened up into a slightly larger all-black room that was lit as dimly as possible yet filled with sparkly treasures. Though I could barely see where I was walking since my eyes hadn’t acclimated yet, I was 100% sure I was in there alone. *So… I’ll just be taking this crown now kthanksbye.*
Eventually an employee entered to answer my questions and, most likely, make sure I didn’t walk off with any priceless royal thingamabobs. To exit, I repeated the process on the other side.
6. Take a ride on the Citytrain
I’m usually not about riding those cheesy red tourist trains you find in some cities. But, I had 2 days in Leichtenstein to kill and, like, who cares anyway! This is a fast, breezy, and interesting way to see some of Vaduz’s highlights.
The ride lasts just 35 minutes and takes you to places like Old Vaduz, past the Vaduz vineyards, to the famous Red House, and to some panoramic viewpoints. Plus, it’s included in the Adventure Pass so you might as well! More info here.
7. See the Red House
Whether or not you get there by Citytrain, you should definitely stop by and see the Red House. This is the oldest house in Liechtenstein and dates back to 1338. It’s privately owned and not open to the public, so yeah, just go look at it. Liechtenstein is quite proud of it.
8. Visit the Prince of Liechtenstein Winery
The Court Winery of the Prince of Liechtenstein is open to the public and they offer lots of great wine tasting experiences and more. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Rhine Valley are what you can find here, and free wine is even included in the Adventure Pass.
9. Drink some local beers
If wine’s not your thing, you can opt for some local beer instead. I have a few great beers from the local craft brewery Liechtensteiner Brauhaus. They have an excellent taproom located in the town of Schaan and you can find their beers all over Vaduz too.
10. Visit a cool museum
In addition to the Treasure Chamber, there are several other interesting museums you can visit during your 2 days in Liechtenstein. (All are included in the Adventure Pass.) Check out:
11. Visit Gutenberg Castle in Balzers
Another gorgeous mountainside castle in Liechtenstein you can see is Gutenberg Castle in the town of Balzers. But this time you can go inside!
This castle that dates back to the 12th century functions as a museum rather than a royal residence. But the best parts are the views from here. More info here.
12. Take the chairlift up to Sareis and Malbun
My absolute favorite thing I did during my 2 days in Liechtenstein was take the chairlift up to the villages of Sareis and Malbun.
Visiting Malbun
To visit Malbun, take the #21 bus from Vaduz Post to Malbun Zentrum (the last stop on the line). You can wander around this adorable town, fill up your water bottle with fresh Alpine water, meet some sheep, and even watch the awesome birds of prey show.
You order the drinks and the expert falconers show you all the incredible birds they have and all the cool shit they can do. They’ll even bring the birds around so everyone can see them closeup. This is such a fun activity! (And it’s included in the Adventure Pass.)
Visiting Sareis
Back at the Malbun Zentrum bus stop, you can take the chairlift to the top of the mountain; this is Sareis. There are tons of hiking trails around this area which you can walk, or you can do like me and head straight for lunch on the patio at Berggasthaus Sareis. Gorgeous views, excellent service, and obscene portion sizes await you.
15. Take a tour with a llama or alpaca
If you would like to do some light hiking here during your 2 days in Liechtenstein, one unique way to do it is with a llama at your side! Llama hiking is popular here in Liechtenstein, and there are several tour companies that offer this experience. Check out these options:
16. Check out Vaduz Cathedral
While walking around downtown Vaduz, be sure to check out Kathedrale St. Florin. I find the architecture pretty unique as far as cathedrals go, especially the strange muppet-like gargoyles.
What to pack for your 2 days in Liechtenstein
Here are a few particular things you should be sure to pack for your 2 days in Liechtenstein:
More info for your trip to Liechtenstein
Like this post? Have more questions about visiting Liechtenstein? Let me know in the comments below. Have a great trip!
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