A collection of Liechtenstein travel and backpacking resources including Liechtenstein travel, entry visa requirements, employment for backpackers, and Alemmanic phrasebook.

Backpacking Liechtenstein

Looking for important travel information while backpacking in Liechtenstein? Here you will find information on working in Liechtenstein, entry visas, Liechtenstein hostels, and much more.

Table of Contents

Facts About Liechtenstein

Tucked away between Switzerland and Austria, the independent principality of Liechtenstein covers just 160 square kilometres of Rhine Valley and towering mountains and is home to a mere 34,000 inhabitants. Liechtenstein is the smallest German-speaking country in the world, and it is also the only European country whose border countries are also surrounded by land. Whilst remaining independent Liechtenstein has been politically aligned with Switzerland since Austria abolished the Habsburg monarchy after World War I, and its currency is the Swiss Franc.

Situated in the upper Rhine Valley, Liechtenstein is only 15 miles long from north to south and has very limited natural resources, but despite its lack of geographical wealth, Liechtenstein is one of a handful of countries that has more registered companies than human inhabitants.

Remaining neutral during World War II, Liechtenstein came to the fore in 2001 because of a report alleging that its banks had had dealings with the Nazis during the war. The accusations proved unfounded, and today the country is best known for its status as a wealthy low tax haven, with its inhabitants earning the highest per capita income in Europe. As well as being popular with businesses, Liechtenstein is a busy sporting destination, particularly during the winter when its resorts open for the ski season.

Climate in Liechtenstein

With its mountainous terrain, Liechtenstein is surprisingly mild compared to other alpine climates, with summer lasting from June to September and the ski season beginning in late November and ending in April when the last of the snow melts. Tempered by a warm southerly wind, the climate reaches highs of 25oC during the summer, and its substantial wet spells tend to linger a lot longer than in neighbouring Switzerland or Austria.

Things to do in Liechtenstein

Compared to its neighbouring countries, Liechtenstein has a reputation for being sedate and lacking in things to see and do, but those who enter the tiny principality will find a quiet charm and unspoiled beauty that is lost in more active European destinations. With its range of mountains and valleys, Liechtenstein is a popular country with athletes, offering skating and cycling tours along the Rhine, skiing in the high peaks and some truly spectacular mountain walks. It is also host to an array of birds of prey that nest among the beautiful forests, vineyards and mountains that give the country its unique and natural beauty.

Vaduz

Despite having just two main streets, the tiny village of Vaduz is the capital of Liechtenstein and undoubtedly the principality’s most visited destination. Vaduz houses the country’s three most important museums as well as the fine sixteenth-century castle home of the current Prince Hans-Adam II.

The State Art Collection is host to a historic selection of paintings that were collected through the ages by the Princes of Liechtenstein, as well as a programme of high-quality temporary exhibitions. For the budding philatelist, the Postage Stamp Museum is well worth a visit, containing a collection of over 300 frames of stamps that have been issued since 1912. Open only in the afternoons, the Ski Museum charts the history of skiing over the last 100 years and features Tony Sailer’s 1958 world cup skis, as well as Hanni Wenzel’s 1980 Olympics equipment. The village is marked by gently climbing vineyards and overlooked by majestic mountains which attract ramblers, cyclists and skiers from all over the world.

Triesenburg

To the north, Triesenburg is a tiny region situated on a terrace overlooking Vaduz and the Rhine Valley. The region boasts a beautiful onion-domed church and the Heimatsmuseum which is dedicated to the Walser community, which made the pilgrimage from Switzerland in the 13th century and whose dialect is still spoken within the region today.

Malbun

The ski resort of Malbun is one of Liechtenstein’s most popular destinations. Situated high in the mountains, the premier resort has a snowboarding school as well as a range of slopes for all levels of skiing. The resort is easily reached by buses travelling from Vaduz every hour. As well as skiing there are plenty of other outdoor activities to engage in when visiting Liechtenstein. The snaking banks of the Rhine Valley provide excellent opportunities for cycling and the mountains of Raatikon and Drei Schwestern are popular with adventurous hikers. The country is inhabited by spectacular species of birdlife and wildflowers, and the Fuurstin-Gina-Weg trail is an ideal route for trekking and bird-spotting, particularly in the springtime.

Tours and activities in Liechtenstein

Another good way to get an idea of what to do is to scan the activities offered by Get Your Guide or Viator. They work directly with local tour operators, so you won’t have to scour the internet or roam around town trying to find the best deal.

How to Travel Around Liechtenstein

There is no airport in Liechtenstein but Zurich Airport and Friedrichshafen Airport in Germany are both relatively close to the border. From both airports, there are direct trains to the Swiss border towns of Buchs and Sargans where there are regular buses travelling to Vaduz.

We recommend using a few different flight comparison search engines. Kiwi is a new favourite among travellers. On average, we have found the cheapest flights with them compared to the other websites out there. Of course, it is always worth checking Skyscanner to guarantee you’re getting the best deal. Both websites offer great flexible search options, allowing you to search the whole country of Liechtenstein to find the cheapest airport to fly into, and also see prices for a full month if you’re flexible on travel dates. Another flight search site that can be hit or miss but still worth checking out is Opodo. For our past few trips, it was on their site that we found the flight that we ended up booking.

If you want the flexibility to stop in smaller towns between the major cities, you can use AutoEurope to compare offers from the major car rental agencies in the region. Before deciding, read more about what to expect of driving in Europe.

Health and Safety in Liechtenstein

As with travel to all other countries abroad, it is vital that you get travel insurance before you leave. A relatively low-risk country, backpackers should be aware of overexposure to the cold and to the deceptive heat of the sun in the mountainous areas, but with the highest peak standing at 2,600m, there is little danger of altitude sickness.

Entry visa requirements for Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein’s border regulations are the same as those of neighbouring Switzerland and there are no entry checks crossing over the border from Switzerland. Nationals from the European Union, as well as the USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand do not need a visa for visits of up to three months, but for longer visits visas will need to be applied for.

Foreigner work permits and backpacker jobs in Liechtenstein

Although Liechtenstein is not part of the European Union it is included in the mutual “free movement of workers” agreement which means that citizens from the United Kingdom and any other E.U country, including Iceland, Norway and Switzerland are entitled to work without a permit for up to three months. Once the three months are up, visiting citizens are then required to register with the Liechtenstein police in order to apply for a residency permit.

The Official Language of Liechtenstein

The official language of Liechtenstein is a colloquial dialect of German known as Alemannic which is derived from the German Alemmani alliance of tribes, and also known as Swiss German because it is spoken in the German region of Switzerland. Spoken Alemannic has some variations of grammar and pronunciation from standard German but the written language is the same and Liechtenstein inhabitants have no problems communicating with standard German speakers.

Liechtenstein Hostels and Budget Accommodation

One of the richest per capita countries in Europe, Liechtenstein is not the cheapest of backpacking destinations. There is a range of accommodation options across the country from mountain huts and inns to hotels, most of which are found in the capital town of Vaduz. Most affordable, however, are Liechtenstein’s three campsites situated in Mittagspitze, Triesen and Bendern. There is also the ‘Youth Hostel Schaan-Vaduz’ which nestles between the towns of Schaan and Vaduz offering beds for up to 110 visitors in a variety of room sizes. The hostel costs from 20 Euro per night for a shared dormitory and is a cheap and accessible way of exploring the mountains surrounding the Schaan and Vaduz regions.

We have had good experiences finding hostels on HostelWorld. They have the largest inventory of hostels worldwide, and with over 10 million reviews and ratings from other travellers, you know exactly what to expect.

Another good way to find accommodation in Liechtenstein is by checking hotels.com and  booking.com. With both sites, you’ll not only find hotels, but also homestays, hostels, and other unique accommodation. We have discovered some great finds and have appreciated the ability to book ahead. You can use their advanced filtering to narrow your results by budget, location score, overall review score, and amenities. Many of the places on booking.com also offer free cancellation, which takes the pressure off the planning phase of your trip.

Useful links for backpacking in Liechtenstein

  • GAdventures – guided small group tours in Liechtenstein, great for solo travelers or for those interested in a more adventurous trip that would require a guide
  • DiscoverCars The world’s leading rental car search engine to rent a car in Liechtenstein 
  • Kiwi and Skyscanner – Flight comparison search engines to find the cheapest flights to Liechtenstein and within the country
  • GetYourGuide and Viator a collection of local tours and activities in Liechtenstein. Also offers Skip the Line tickets for crowded attractions
  • Tiqets – Website selling entrance tickets and skip-the-line tickets for major tourist attractions in Liechtenstein
  • HostelWorld – #1 hostel search website to find accommodation while backpacking Liechtenstein. Thousands of hostels and millions of reviews from fellow travelers
  • Booking.com – a commonly used booking site for accommodation in Liechtenstein. Find hostels, hotels, and other unique accommodations in Liechtenstein with advanced filtering and millions of reviews
  • World Nomads Travel Insurance – Comprehensive travel insurance for long and short trips when backpacking Liechtenstein 
  • Eurail – Rail Passes for travelers who plan on doing lots of train travel in a short period of time. Single-Country passes for Liechtenstein as well as Multi-Country passes available
  • Omio – Train, bus, and flight search for Liechtenstein and all of Europe. Offers online booking and mobile tickets

There you have it, the ultimate Liechtenstein backpacking guide. We hope you have found all the information you need for backpacking around Liechtenstein.

Next up:

Backpacking in Switzerland

Backpacking in Germany

Backpacking in Austria

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A guide for backpacking around Liechtenstein. Get important travelers information when it comes to Liechtenstein including visa requirements, employment opportunities, common Alemmanic phrases and translation, as well as Liechtenstein hostels

 

2 responses to “Liechtenstein Travel and Backpacking Guide”

  1. Pat Mazza says:

    A round of applause for your blog.Much thanks again. Much obliged.

  2. Great, thanks for sharing this article.Much thanks again. Great.

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