This is why you should road trip through Liechtenstein

Ever heard of this small country? Maybe not, but I’m here to tell you why a road trip through Liechtenstein should be added to your travel list. It may seem like an odd thing to add, especially if you’ve never heard of the country but if you find yourself in Switzerland or Austria you need to add this little country.

The country is mostly German-speaking and has a monarch who lives in the famous Liechtenstein castle located in Vaduz. The entire country is only 160 square kilometres large, although believe it or not it’s not the smallest country in Europe, it comes in fourth!

We rented a ca in Basel, where we were staying at the time and make the trek to Liechtenstein. Needless to say we were pleasantly surprised with the trek. I had really added Liechtenstein to our itinerary because I was in a rush to finish my goal of reaching 30 countries before 30 (finally did it!). Adding small countries like Liechtenstein definitely helped to increase that count so this was a must.

The Drive

Your road trip through Liechtenstein will take you through many of the Swiss Alps. Because we did the trek in the summertime we were lucky to have beautiful weather and lots of greenery. The roads in Switzerland are also exceptionally well maintained which makes the drive even easier.

As a note, Switzerland and Liechtenstein drive on the same side of the road as North America so if that’s what you’re used to, you shouldn’t have any problems driving. Many of the rules of the road are the same as well. Unlike many other European countries, the Swiss and residents of Liechtenstein (do they have a particular name?) seemed to be less aggressive and respectful.

You can take public transportation from Basel to Liechtenstein but Ben and I are both huge fans of road tripping. Not only can you see more but you can also stop wherever you want – this is especially important if you’re trying to get the best spots!

Once you get to Liechtenstein, you’ll be driving in and around mountains a lot so just be careful on the road. While it may be tempting to watch the scene go by, pay attention to the road! You’ll be able to find spots to rest as you drive so take those opportunities to get a glimpse of the landscape.

Vaduz

We didn’t have too much time on our hands to see everything that Liechtenstein has to offer unfortunately so we tried to stick to one area and see as much as we could.

Our first stop was Vaduz. This is one of the biggest cities in Liechtenstein and definitely the most famous spot for tourists. Coming in from the border of Switzerland it’s likely the first spot you’ll hit. Because it was a nicer day out there were a few tour groups around but not too many that it was an unpleasant experience.

You can choose to park your car at the bottom of the mountain and hike up to the Vaduz castle, or you can drive up and park a little ways past it. Because we were unfamiliar with the area we drove up and parked at the designated spot just a little ways above the castle. I actually preferred this because as we walked down we were greeted with some stunning views. Plus, we took some time and walked down the mountain anyways so we got the best of both worlds.

Because the Vaduz castle is the living residence for the Prince of Liechtenstein you’re not actually allowed to go inside the grounds. There is a gate that is generally locked for the public so you’re not able to go inside but you can peak in through the grates and get a good idea of the beautiful gardens inside.

If you walk a little further down the mountain along the designated path, there are some spots where you can get stunning photos of the landscape below.

Triesenberg

After spending some time around the castle we decided to be brave and make our way further up the mountain towards Triesenberg. I’m a bit of a nervous driver especially on mountains but I’m definitely glad we made the trek. The views as you climbed higher and higher were absolutely stunning.

If you’re a hiker, there are a number of hikes you can do in Triesenberg. When we made it to the top and a popular spot for the start of many hikes we saw a number of people getting ready to head out. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the right gear with us so we just sat for a half hour enjoying the view but it was a beautiful one.

On our way down we stopped at a restaurant in the mountains, Mountain Inn Masescha. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten anywhere with such unbelievable views. The food was a little on the expensive side so we only got an Apple Strudel but even that was absolutely delicious!

Leaving the restaurant feeling refreshed, full and ready to head back we got in the car and started to make our way back down the mountain. There are a number of really cool spots you can see in Switzerland on your way home, but that’s a post for another time!