Vaduz is the capital city of Liechtenstein and has a population of 5,429 (2015). It's home to the prince's castle and his museums, and thus the main point of interest for visitors to this small country, which is a shame because it is a rather disappointing hodge-podge of unattractive modern buildings, cranes and farmland. While it is a European capital, it is unlikely to interest a tourist for any length of time.
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 technically a village.
- Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein. Has an interesting collection on the ground floor and in the style of Tate Modern has a changing modern exhibition on the first floor.
- Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum. The national museum has events and exhibits of history, natural history, and stamps.
- The Prince's Wine Collection. Available to view by a vineyard on the northern edge of Vaduz.
- Schloss Vaduz. The official residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein. Excellent views of the surrounding area can be gained by taking the short walk up to the Castle which hangs above Vaduz. The walk is gentle and goes up the side of the hill and through the woods and emerges at the side entrance to the Castle. It is not possible to enter the grounds of the castle, but walking around the perimeter is fine. In winter it can be very slippery, so if visiting at this time it is best to wear suitable footwear to avoid accidents.
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 meters 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.
- Postal Museum. Hosted in the "Engländerbau", Liechtenstein's first steel frame building.
- Red House. A red house with a stepped gable dating perhaps to the early 16th century.
- Schalun Castle. The ruined remains of a castle.
- Vaduz Cathedral. As Vaduz has been seat of an archdiocese since 1997, this 19th-century church is now the small country's only cathedral.
- City Hall. Older and perhaps more architecturally interesting than the building housing the national parliament.
- Government House. Official seat of government of Liechtenstein and also the erstwhile seat of parliament. Construction dates to 1903-1905.
- Landtagsgebäude. The official seat of parliament since 2008, this building may look a bit bland on the outside, but it is where Liechtensteinian politics (well, the parts not decided by the Fürst anyway) is made.
Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein. Has an interesting collection on the ground floor and in the style of Tate Modern has a changing modern exhibition on the first floor.
Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum. The national museum has events and exhibits of history, natural history, and stamps.
The Prince's Wine Collection. Available to view by a vineyard on the northern edge of Vaduz.
Schloss Vaduz. The official residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein. Excellent views of the surrounding area can be gained by taking the short walk up to the Castle which hangs above Vaduz. The walk is gentle and goes up the side of the hill and through the woods and emerges at the side entrance to the Castle. It is not possible to enter the grounds of the castle, but walking around the perimeter is fine. In winter it can be very slippery, so if visiting at this time it is best to wear suitable footwear to avoid accidents.
Postal Museum. Hosted in the "Engländerbau", Liechtenstein's first steel frame building.
Red House. A red house with a stepped gable dating perhaps to the early 16th century.
Schalun Castle. The ruined remains of a castle.
Vaduz Cathedral. As Vaduz has been seat of an archdiocese since 1997, this 19th-century church is now the small country's only cathedral.
City Hall. Older and perhaps more architecturally interesting than the building housing the national parliament.
Government House. Official seat of government of Liechtenstein and also the erstwhile seat of parliament. Construction dates to 1903-1905.
Landtagsgebäude. The official seat of parliament since 2008, this building may look a bit bland on the outside, but it is where Liechtensteinian politics (well, the parts not decided by the Fürst anyway) is made.
- FC Vaduz, Rheinpark Stadion. The soccer club in Vaduz.
FC Vaduz, Rheinpark Stadion. The soccer club in Vaduz.
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. Postal 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.
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.
- Old Castle Inn, Aeulestrasse 22, +423 232 10 65. In the centre of Vaduz. It is impossible to miss and offers authentic food at a reasonable price and with a pleasant atmosphere.
Liechtenstein isn't a cheap place to eat. If you want something budget and have a car, drive to Feldkirch just across the Austrian border.
Old Castle Inn, Aeulestrasse 22, +423 232 10 65. In the centre of Vaduz. It is impossible to miss and offers authentic food at a reasonable price and with a pleasant atmosphere.
- 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.