Zurich To Liechtenstein; A One Day Trip To Vaduz, Liechtenstein

Nestled in between Switzerland and Austria, Liechtenstein is the fourth-smallest country in Europe. Measuring just 160 square kilometres, this tiny country delivers big on stunning scenery and magical landscapes. It is also one of the richest countries in the world. The only way to travel into Liechtenstein is, with no airport, via car or bus from Austria or Switzerland. Its close proximity to Zurich makes it a fantastic day trip from the city. Not only for the novelty purpose of going to a new country, which the majority of avid travellers will understand but also to experience the superb alpine landscape that Liechtenstein has to offer. While visiting a different country for one day may sound like a tall order, the excellent transport system in Switzerland makes getting from Zurich to Liechtenstein and back in one day an absolute breeze.

This is a complete guide on taking a one-day trip from Zurich to Liechtenstein, focusing on exploring Vaduz, the capital city of Liechtenstein. Despite being the capital city, in the miniature country that Liechtenstein is, Vaduz has a population of only 5,696 people. It is also not the largest city in the country but is the seat of parliament and home to some of the best things to do in Liechtenstein. This guide will take you through how to get to Liechtenstein from Zurich, the best things to do in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, where to eat and where to stay in Liechtenstein if you’re planning on staying longer. So, if you’re looking for a complete itinerary of how to spend one day in Liechtenstein, then you have come to the right place.

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How To Get From Zurich To Liechtenstein

Let’s begin with how to get from Zurich to Liechtenstein. There are a few options, but the easiest option, by public transport, is to take a combination of train and bus. Unfortunately, there is no train station in Vaduz, so taking a bus into Vaduz from elsewhere is the only option. Start your journey by taking a train from Zurich HB (the main train station in Zurich) to Sargans. The train is comfortable, spacious and takes 55 mins to reach Sargans from Zurich.

At Sargans, change to the no.11 bus, which runs to Vaduz Post in around 30 minutes. The bus stops are outside the train station, but if you can’t work out which one is the correct one, you can ask a member of staff inside the station, and they will let you know which bus stop to go to. This is the easiest and quickest method of getting to Vaduz from Zurich. There are other options which involve more connections, however this route has only one change, making it far easier. With one change the journey should take 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes. Trains leave Zurich for Sargans every 30-60 minutes, and buses leave Vaduz Post back to Sargans every 30-60 minutes also.

We recommend booking your tickets in advance to save you time when in Switzerland. You can either book a saver ticket, which means you will need to get the exact train/bus time that you book, or you can book an anytime ticket, where you can travel at any time, on any train/bus on that route, on that particular day. The anytime tickets are also refundable, whereas the saver tickets are not. An anytime ticket for the route we have suggested will cost approx CHF 41.00 ($45), you can save up to CHF 6 ($7) per ticket if you pay for a saver ticket instead.

If you’d rather stay on the train as much as possible, you could travel from Zurich HB to Schaan-Vaduz train station, with one or two changes on route. From Schaan-Vaduz train station, Vaduz is a 10-minute bus journey away. However, from our research and thoroughly researching train times, we felt that the Zurich-Saragans-Vaduz Post was the easiest and quickest route and we were also able to book the full journey, including the bus, in one ticket online.

We booked our tickets through Trainline Europe, which offers all the same tickets as the main Swiss train website, but in an easier to understand format. Through the Trainline, it’s super easy to see all the train departure times, journey times, changes and prices, which is why we always use it to book trains in Europe and the UK. Ideally, you should allow yourself at least 4 hours to explore Vaduz, depending on what you plan to see and do, so aim to get the train no later than 09:30 in the morning. We do not recommend visiting on a Sunday as the majority of shops will be closed and, on Mondays, although shops will be open, some of the museums are closed.

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Arriving Into Liechtenstein – Breakfast In Vaduz

The bus into Vaduz will drop you at Vaduz Post, located in the heart of Vaduz and the perfect point to start exploring Liechtenstein’s capital city. For those that are interested, you can purchase an Adventure Pass for Liechtenstein at the Tourist office. The pass costs CHF 25 ($27) per person for one day and includes free entry into some museums and attractions, as well as a free souvenir passport stamp and certain drinks at local establishments. We did not purchase the pass, as we didn’t feel that we would make the most of it, however, it’s a great investment for those already thinking of doing some of the activities available in the pass. There are two and three day passes available too.

If you need some energy to fuel your full day in Vaduz, then head to Balu Bäckerei Konditorei, a bakery located in the centre. They have a great range of pastries, cakes, larger meals and drinks to choose from and are open every day from 07:00 on weekdays and 08:00 at the weekend.

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Morning – Things To Do In Vaduz, Liechtenstein

Explore The Town And See The Red House

The first thing we like to do when we get to a new place is to wander around the town and get a feel for where we are. Vaduz is small, so this doesn’t take too long, but is still worth doing to see the size of the town and what is on offer. You can watch our Vaduz, Liechtenstein walking tour video on our Youtube channel and follow our route from the map below and download it to your phone. This is a great way to make sure you see all the best sights in Vaduz.

Before getting stuck into the proper activities for the day, make sure you also see the Red House, located slightly out on a limb, up the hill in Vaduz. The house was originally built in 1338 and got its name from the dark red colour that it was painted in the middle of the 19th century. Unfortunately, it is not possible to go inside the house but it’s worth the climb up to see the house in its beautiful surroundings.

Climb The Hill To Vaduz Castle

One of the best things to do in Vaduz and, generally the one best things to do in Liechtenstein too, is to see Vaduz Castle. The castle is the palace and official residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein. As a result, it is not possible to go inside the castle, but viewing it from the outside is still totally worth it. It was originally built in the 12th century, but has been extended, and restored several times since. Steps from the bottom of the hill, in the town, lead up the side of the hill, into a zig-zag path, and to the castle. This is the best way to get to the castle on foot.

Admire The Breath-taking Views Over Vaduz

After enjoying sightseeing at Vaduz Castle, take in the truly stunning views from the hilltop over Vaduz and Liechtenstein. With a backdrop of Swiss mountain peaks, the scenery is breath-taking and is something we found ourselves staring at for quite some time. The hilltop has a few benches dotted around the top and on the walk up too, so there are plenty of opportunities to take it all in.

Visit The National Museum

Once you’ve made the journey down from the castle, take some time to visit the Liechtenstein National Museum (Landesmuseum). The building that the museum resides in was built in 1438, so it is a piece of history within itself. Alongside a selection of temporary exhibitions, the permanent displays of the museum include archaeological finds from Liechtenstein, exhibits about the history, everyday life and culture of Liechtenstein, and displays related to the natural landscape and wildlife of the country. If you want to learn more about Liechtenstein and the history behind this small, magical country, then this is a great place to do so. A standard entry ticket into the museum costs CHF 10 ($11) per person, CHF 7 ($8) for concessions or is free for children up to 16 years old. The museum is open from 10:00 to 17:00 Tuesday to Sunday and closed on Mondays.

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Stop For Lunch In Vaduz

After a busy morning getting from Zurich to Liechtenstein and exploring Vaduz, it’s time for a much-needed break. For lunch, we recommend going to New Castle, a restaurant in the city centre that offers a range of local dishes for reasonable prices. The interior is warm and comfortable and the food is delicious. On weekdays, they offer a set day menu alongside the larger menu too. Please note that the restaurant is closed on Sundays.

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Afternoon – More Sightseeing in Vaduz

Visit The Post Museum or KunstMuseum

Well rested and full of tasty food, visit either the Post Museum or Kunst Museum after lunch, or both if you’re willing. Both are located in the heart of Vaduz, so are super easy to get to. The Post Museum offers visitors an insight into the history of Liechtenstein’s postal service and has numerous displays of stamps issued in Liechtenstein. The Kunst Museum is Liechtenstein’s modern art museum and holds the international and contemporary art collection of the country, with works dating from the 19th century to the present day.

The Post Museum is open every day from 10:00-17:00 and admission is free. Standard entry tickets for the Kunst Museum cost CHF 15 ($16.50) per person, or CHF 10 ($11) for concessions, and are free for children under 16 years old. The Kunst Museum is open from 10:00- 7:00 Tuesday-Sunday and is closed on Mondays.

Get A Souvenir Passport Stamp At The Tourist Office

You cannot leave Liechtenstein without getting a souvenir stamp in your passport at the Vaduz tourist office. The stamp costs CHF 3 ($3.50) and is the perfect way to remember your trip and a must-do for any avid traveller! The tourist office is open every day from 09:00-17:00. The tourist office also has free maps and a great selection of souvenirs to buy including food, drinks, magnets and keyrings, if you’re looking to buy some gifts.

See The Parliament Building And Vaduz Cathedral

The last thing to do in Vaduz is to see the Parliament and council buildings and Vaduz Cathedral. The Parliament and council buildings sit next to each other in stark contrast, one being a much older, ornate building and the other a modern, bold architectural statement. Just a minute or so walk away is Vaduz Cathedral. Built-in the late mid-late 1800’s, the cathedral, also known as St Florin Cathedral, is a landmark of the city.

We’ve packed a lot into a day trip from Zurich to Liechtenstein but now you can say you have fully explored the capital of Vaduz. We enjoyed seeing the capital of Liechtenstein for a day, we hope you do too. If you’re looking for more travel information on Zurich, then check out our Zurich travel guide, complete with information such as where to stay in Zurich, the best time to go, things to do and how to get around.

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More Things To Do In Liechtenstein If You Plan To Stay Longer

If you’re staying in Liechtenstein for longer, then a few other things to do in Vaduz and Liechtenstein are:

• Visit the Old Rhine Bridge, located on the river near Vaduz between Liechtenstein and Switzerland

• Visit Burg Gutenberg Castle in Balzers. The castle chapel and rose garden are open from May to October and are free to go inside on Sundays. The outer area of the castle is available to visit all year round.

• Go skiing in the winter or hiking in the summer, depending on when you visit. Liechtenstein is well known for both great skiing and hiking and has numerous activities and areas related to both across the small country.

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Where To Stay In Liechtenstein

If a one day trip from Zurich to Liechtenstein isn’t long enough for you and you would rather stay in Vaduz, Liechtenstein overnight, as a more leisurely trip to this tiny country, then here are a few of the best options for overnight accommodation. Bear in mind that Liechtenstein, like Switzerland, is a fairly expensive country, so even ‘budget’ accommodation options here are quite expensive:

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