Vaduz

Vaduz is the capital city of Liechtenstein and has a population of 5,700 (2019). It's home to the prince's castle and his museums, and thus the main point of interest for visitors to this small country. However, some people consider it to be a rather disappointing hodge-podge of unattractive modern buildings, cranes and farmland, so while it is a European capital, it may not be of interest to some visitors for more than a quick stop.

Understand
Vaduz is the capital of Liechtenstein, but not its largest city: Schaan is slightly larger. German language sources like to point out that it lacks Stadtrecht and is thus the only capital of a European state that is legally a village.

By public transit
ÖBB, the Austrian federal railway company, runs trains to (near Schaan) from Buchs SG station in Switzerland and from Feldkirch in Austria.

Trains from Vienna, Zurich and Chur arrive at the (the main Swiss town on the Liechtenstein border). Buses run every 15 minutes from to Schaan and Vaduz. Tickets can be purchased on the bus for Fr. 3.40 and it only takes about 10 minutes to Schaan and another 5 to Vaduz.

If you're coming by rail from Switzerland, it may be quicker and cheaper to take the train as far as Sargans (rather than Buchs), from where it's possible to catch a bus (see below) straight to Vaduz. Consult the SBB timetable to find out what'll be quickest when you're travelling. There are lockers at the Sargans station so you can leave your luggage there. This link provides a plan of the station showing the lockers and where to catch the bus from.

The Liechtenstein Buses number 12 service runs from Sargans railway station to Buchs railway station via central Vaduz and Schaan railway station. It leaves from outside each station approximately every 20 minutes. The buses are yellow-green in colour. A fare to Vaduz is Fr. 5.80 from Sargens and Fr. 3.40 from Buchs. Consider getting a whole network day pass (Fr. 12) or week pass (Fr. 24) if you are making many journeys on Liechtenstein Buses, though two single fares (e.g. from Sargens or Buchs to Vaduz and Vaduz onward to Feldkirch) cost less than a day pass.

From Feldkirch railway station in Austria, look for the distinctive off-yellow Liechtenstein Buses. Numbers 11 and 14 head straight to Vaduz and number 13 goes to Buchs railway station, by-passing Vaduz, so you'll have to change at the Schaan railway station interchange.

By car
You can also drive into the town - it's well signposted. There is plenty of parking.

Get around
Vaduz is very small and walking around the city and the areas around it will not take very long.

The municipal borders of Vaduz are a delight of European feudalism run amok, as it contains seven exclaves seemingly randomly spread across the national territory. This will have almost no practical importance for most visitors.

See




A short walk towards the river will offer visitors the chance to experience some great views of the mountains surrounding the city. The old covered bridge which spans the Rhine River provides an interesting way to cross the border between Liechtenstein and Switzerland. The unpainted, weathered wooden bridge is rustic in appearance. It accommodates foot or bicycle traffic only, cars are prevented from approaching. Drivers may find it tricky to pull off. Cars on this road are headed to the Swiss Autobahn, a few hundred metres across the river directly west of the bridge. Please use care. These motorists may not tolerate the casual traveller on a busy road. There is no means to access the bridge from the west by car. The road that would appear to lead to the western end of the bridge is the aforementioned Swiss Autobahn.

From the centre of Vaduz follow Zollstrasse (towards the football stadium) until you reach the river. There are no border checks.

Do

 * Watch football at

Buy
The main shops in Vaduz sell tourist trinkets all branded in Liechtensteinian and Swiss colours. There are plenty of flags, t-shirts and cuckoo clocks available. People who enjoy collecting passport stamps are able to get an official Liechtenstein Tourist Office stamp at the Tourist Information office. The cost was Fr. 3 in July 2018. This is unique as there are no border crossings at either of Liechtenstein's frontiers. Postage stamps and postcards can be bought at the post office opposite the tourist office as well as most other shops.

There is also a small retail village between Vaduz and Balzers. This is home to a McDonalds, and a sports clothes shop among other things.

Eat
The main square is behind the bus station in the middle of Vaduz. There are a number of cafes and restaurants offering hearty Liechtensteinian, Swiss, and Austrian fare at reasonable prices.

Budget
Liechtenstein isn't a cheap place to eat. More low-priced options are in Feldkirch just across the Austrian border. It's 15 km by car. The train departs from Schaan. And the more frequent city bus goes from Vaduz there.

Sleep
Frankly, you'd be mad to spend the night in Vaduz when you could ascend into the mountains and enjoy the breath-taking views from places such as Triesenberg or Malbun.

Go next

 * Links to the A13 motorway in Switzerland (which runs alongside the border) are clearly signposted.
 * The medieval town of Feldkirch in Austria is 15 minutes away, and has a lot of charm.