Vaduz

Vaduz is one of Europe's smallest capitals: barely 6,000 people live here, and above it all looms the castle where the princely family resides. A trip to Vaduz combines art, winemaking, and Alpine scenery in a very compact space – and gives you the chance to cross an entire country in a single day.

Things to See in Vaduz

Vaduz Castle, whose origins reach back to the 12th century, has been the residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein since 1938 and is therefore closed to visitors, but the walk up offers sweeping views across the Rhine Valley all the way to the Swiss mountains. In the Städtle, the car-free promenade in the center of town, you'll find the Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein, housed in a black cube and showing modern and contemporary art, the Hilti Art Foundation, and the Liechtenstein National Museum with exhibitions on history and nature. The Postage Stamp Museum is a reminder that Liechtenstein's stamps are coveted by collectors around the world. The neo-Gothic Cathedral of St. Florin and the Government House shape the look of the town, and a small tourist train runs through the vineyards. Along the Rhine, a levee invites you to take walks and bike rides; the old wooden bridge to Sevelen in Switzerland is the last of its kind spanning the Alpine Rhine.

Landscape, History, and Daily Life

Vaduz lies in the Rhine Valley at the foot of the Three Sisters and the Rätikon range. The principality came into being in 1719, when the lordships of Vaduz and Schellenberg were elevated to an imperial principality, and today it is a prosperous center of finance and industry. On August 15, the national holiday, the princely family invites the public into the castle garden, and there are fireworks in the evening. The mountain village of Malbun, about 20 minutes away, is a family-friendly ski area in winter.

Food, Getting There, and Best Time to Visit

Typical dishes include Käsknöpfle, spaetzle with sharp cheese and fried onions, along with Ribel, a corn-based dish, and wines from the Prince's own winery, such as Pinot Noir (Blauburgunder). Vaduz has no train station; buses connect the town with the stations at Buchs and Sargans in Switzerland and Feldkirch in Austria. The nearest major airport is Zurich. The best time to visit is May through October; in winter, Malbun is the draw.