24 Hours in Liechtenstein Itinerary (Day Trip from Innsbruck)

11/16/2023

Welcome to Liechtenstein, not just one of Europe's smallest countries, but one of the smallest countries in the entire world. With incredible mountainous views and fairy tale castles, the entire country is only about 15 miles long from North to South - and only about 4 miles wide. If you're planning a visit to Liechtenstein, chances are it's only for one day - especially if you've taken a look at the prices of places to spend the night in Liechtenstein. Not to worry, all our top recommendations are completely doable within just 24 hours!

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Before you Drive to Liechtenstein...

We went ahead and rented a car from Innsbruck, where we were staying, for our day trip to Liechtenstein. Although driving in Liechtenstein and Austria are pretty straight forward - they both drive on the right side of the road just like the United States - there are a few things worth knowing that'll help make your road trip to Liechtenstein just a little easier.

Drive on the Right - Like I mentioned above, Liechtenstein drives on the right - just like Austria, Switzerland and the United States. This makes it pretty easy for those of us that drive on the right side. ;)
Renting a Car - If you're renting a car, we encourage you to check and make sure that driving the car over borders into Liechtenstein is ok with the rental company before you book. This is usually written out in the rental agreement, or you can just call and ask the rental agent beforehand.
International Drivers Permit - Like many other countries, you'll need an IDP to drive in Liechtenstein. These are usually pretty easy to get - we simply visited an AAA location, paid a $20 fee, and had our IDP ready to go within a few minutes! (Make sure to do this before your trip!)
Crossing Borders - Although we drove through a border crossing when going from Austria to Liechtenstein, there was no stop or check procedure when we arrived, we've heard that sometimes there can be, so make sure to bring your passport with you just in case!

If you do decide to stay a night in Liechtenstein, then we recommend checking out the Parkhotel Sonnenhof, located right near downtown Vaduz!

7 Best Things to Do in Liechtenstein

If you're looking for an epic 24 hours in Liechtenstein, you've come to the right place. If you're staying the night in Liechtenstein or arrive earlier than us, you can of course spend a bit more time at each stop, we went pretty quick given we had to drive back to Innsbruck that night. Even though we go into each spot in more detail below, here's what our 24 hours in Liechtenstein looked like :

Noon - Arrive from Innsbruck. Begin by taking in the views of the Vaduz Castle.
1 pm - Spend some time exploring town, our top recommendations are the Vaduz Cathedral, the Postage Stamp Office, and the Tourist Information Center. (see why below)
4 pm - Before heading out towards the Gutenberg Castle, stop for a quick walk over the Bridge to Switzerland!
6 pm - On your way out of Liechtenstein, stop at Restaurant Berggasthaus Masescha for some incredible views and delicious food!

1. Vaduz Castle
This stunning castle overlooking the entire country is currently the permanent residence of the Prince, and unfortunately isn't actually open to the public (don't worry - we learned the hard way, watch the video below for some laughs). However, even though the castle has been the home of the royal family in Liechtenstein since 1938, there's an excellent hiking area that gives you some awesome views of Vaduz Castle. When driving up the hill, you'll see a small parking area about a half mile past the castle - after you park here and hike down towards the castle, you'll come across a large park with some hiking and walking trails called the Schlosswiese Park.

2. Vaduz Cathedral
Located in the center of town in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, and also called the Kathedrale St. Florin - the "Vaduz Cathedral" is the largest church in the entire Liechtenstein area. Built in 1874 in the neo-classical style, this cathedral is free to visit and is absolutely beautiful on the inside. When we went, we were the only two people there!

3. Postage Stamp Museum
Located just a few blocks from the Vaduz Cathedral, this free museum is a great stop if you're looking for something unique to do on your visit to Liechtenstein! With all kinds of collections dating back to 1912, you can wander around the museum which also has a few interactive exhibits, and even a spot to mail home a post card to friends or family back home!

4. Restaurant Berggasthaus Masescha
A restaurant nestled high in the mountains of Liechtenstein, 1,240 meters high to be exact, this incredible restaurant boasts having the best views in all of Liechtenstein. It's even said that you can see the entire country of Liechtenstein from this spot on a clear day. Not only that, but they have an excellent, albeit a bit spendy, dinner menu. We got the Deep Fried Cod and the Wiener Schnitzel and can say with 100% honesty they were some of the best we've ever had. We've also heard they are known for their excellent Maria's Apple Cake - something we sadly missed and are saving for next time. ;) **note - this restaurant often requires reservations, so make sure to check their website before hand!

5. Passport Stamp at Tourist Office
Another unique spot in Liechtenstein - it turns out you can actually get your passport stamped with the real Liechtenstein passport stamp at the local tourist office in Vaduz! Getting this special stamp will set you back €3 per stamp, but it's a great way to add this to your passport collection if you're driving in from Switzerland or Austria!

6. Gutenberg Castle
Located in the southern end of Liechtenstein, on a tall hill just above a vineyard - this stunning castle is a must stop during your visit to the area. Plus, the views from the castle are incredible with mountainous views and the rest of Liechtenstein laid out below you. Built in the 12th century, the grounds are open year round to visitors for free - however, if you want to visit the chapel or rose garden then you'll have to visit on a Sunday between 10 am and 5 pm from May and October. If you're looking for a guided tour, then you'll have to request a tour online at least two weeks in advance.

7. Bridge to Switzerland
The last stop on our list is the iconic walking bridge connecting Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Finished in 1901, the Alte Rheinbrücke connects the two countries for walkers, bikers, people on horseback, really anyone (but no cars or motorized vehicles). It took us about 5 minutes to cross, and there's a fun little sign in the middle over the Rhine River - plus it's pretty fun to say you simply walked over to another country!

Watch our Adventures in Liechtenstein here!