Visiting Liechtenstein: The World’s Sixth-Smallest Country
We’ve now been to 3 of the smallest 6 countries in the world 🙂 Lichtenstein was visited during our Switzerland road trip and, despite only spending a few hours in the country, managed to see quite a bit.
This trip took place May 2024.
Check out the full vlog here:
We entered Liechtenstein from Austria near the town of Frastanz. The border crossing consisted of a small hut with nobody staffing it, making for a very low-key arrival. As we drove into the country, it felt more like passing through a quiet neighborhood than entering a new nation. We saw local families, children playing outside, and beautiful views of the surrounding valley.
Our first stop was the ruins of Obere Burg. To be honest, there wasn’t much information available at the site or online, so we’re still not entirely sure of its full history. What we do know is that it was free to visit, we had the place entirely to ourselves, and it was fun to explore. You could still make out remnants of rooms, fireplaces, and parts of the old structure.
Next, we headed to Vogelparadies Birka, a bird sanctuary that ended up being one of the highlights of our visit.
Getting there was an adventure in itself. Our GPS directed us down a narrow dirt road that didn’t seem like it could possibly be the correct route. The road was poorly marked, lined with trees, and felt more like a private driveway than a road to a tourist attraction. Thankfully, we trusted the GPS and eventually arrived.
The sanctuary was another free stop and a big hit with the kids. There was a small parking area, a snack bar, walking paths, and plenty of birds to observe. Some of them were surprisingly interactive, following the kids around and providing plenty of entertainment. The birds were also incredibly loud, making the whole experience feel very lively.
There was a great playground on-site as well, which gave us a chance to relax for a while as storm clouds began to move into the area.
Our final stop was Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein.
One of the first things you’ll notice is Vaduz Castle, perched high above the town. While the castle isn’t open to the public, it’s easy to admire from below and serves as an impressive backdrop to the city.
The downtown area was clean, attractive, and surprisingly busy. One thing that stood out to us was just how small the country really is. There is essentially one main road running through much of Liechtenstein, and you can drive across the entire country in less than 30 minutes.
We had originally planned to spend more time exploring Vaduz on foot, but after spending longer than expected at the bird sanctuary and a wildlife park in Austria earlier in the day, we decided to keep our visit short and head back to Switzerland. The traffic in town was also heavier than we expected.
We parked in a garage and spent some time walking around the area near the Liechtenstein Center before making one final stop at a souvenir shop.
During my trip planning, I had repeatedly read that visitors could get souvenir passport stamps in Vaduz. We decided to give it a try.
In hindsight, this may not have been our best travel decision.
First, we didn’t realize the stamps weren’t free until after they had already stamped a couple of our passports. By that point, we just went ahead and got the rest done as well. Second—and more importantly—I later learned that unofficial souvenir stamps can occasionally create complications when entering certain countries.
We haven’t experienced any problems ourselves, but it’s something worth considering before handing over your passport. If nothing else, hopefully our mistake can save someone else a little confusion.
Although our visit was brief, we enjoyed our time in Liechtenstein. It’s a beautiful country with mountain views, charming towns, and a surprisingly relaxed atmosphere. While many visitors simply pass through, we found it to be a fun and worthwhile stop during our Switzerland road trip.
Like this guide? Let us plan your next adventure!
If you need a custom travel itinerary for your next trip, get in touch here!