When you read the word “Liechtenstein”, I’m sure the last thing your picture is a mountainous country in the middle of the Alps. For example, when Ciara hears the word, she thinks of a prison…her nor I have no idea why lol.

However, if you’re anything like me (i.e., normal), Liechtenstein is probably just another fun word to say, like…bumblebee tuna or baked potato.

But what if I told you that Liechtenstein is a country that provides some of the best 360 views in all of Europe? Hard to believe since it’s only a speck on the map, right?

When it comes to central European hiking locations, the big-name countries always take the cake: Switzerland, France, Italy, and Austria. And rightfully so. These countries have all kinds of beautiful little towns composing some of the most picturesque landscapes on earth.

I mean how can you compete with Oeschinensee Lake in Switzerland or Schrecksee Lake in Germany? Hard, yes. But far from impossible.

Read on as I recount my journey along Princess Gina Way, a last-minute hiking decision that led to a totally-cheesy-yet-awesome new profile picture on my Facebook account lol.

Wait, did I just pass it?

I am the king of taking advantage of the 4-day weekend. Thanks to the US Military’s family day and Federal Holiday combos, I’ve been able to visit Athens, Rome, Ischgl, Nice, Barcelona, and other countries with the right amount of planning and patience.

Sometimes though, you just have a regular-ol-weekend to make some memories. So you might be asking yourself, “with only 48 hours, is it really possible to see Liechtenstein?” It most definitely is.

Liechtenstein is only 62 square miles in size. That means the entire country could fit inside Rhode Island almost 20 times. Or, to further blow your mind, the city of Los Angeles is about 8x larger than Liechtenstein. So yes, you can definitely see the entire country in a weekend lol.

It was a Friday night when I pointed my compass south and made my way to an Airbnb in Liechtenstein. Did I drive right by it on my first attempt? You bet I did lol.

With my gear unpacked and the sun well on the other side of the world, I was ready to hit the hay for an awesome day of exploring soon to follow.

Sooo, what’s there to do here?

If you Google, “what to do in Liechtenstein”, you’ll be returned the following results: Vaduz Castle, Vaduz Cathedral, and The Liechtenstein National Museum in, guess where? Vaduz lol.

By that logic, you could argue that Vaduz is the only thing to do in Liechtenstein.

I wholeheartedly disagree.

I was determined to find something to do in Liechtenstein other than checking out it’s capitol city of Vaduz. With the weather being absolutely perfect, I decided that, if the country is almost 50% mountainous, then there must be some incredible hiking to be found.

So, I opened my All Trails app, found a nearby trailhead, and began moving towards the town of Malbun. Along the steep and curvy road to Malbun, I passed by Vaduz Castle, one of the 5 things worth visiting in Liechtenstein according to the internet. I parked my car and hopped out and explore for a moment.

Vaduz Castle

Upon first approach to the castle, I felt my mind slowly slipping back in time to when knights and archers would have occupied the grounds. In my mind I could see them standing guard along the tops of the castle towers, searching for adversaries along the ridgeline.

As I began circling the castle, traversing along the immaculate landscape, I fell in love with the beautiful location upon which it rested. The trees had begun giving way to the fall temperatures and were on the verge of turning bright yellow, the grass still a deep green. Smells of decaying leaves and pine needles filled the air, enhanced by the sound of rolling thunder and the occasional flash of lightning.

The cold, cloudy weather that loomed over the valley only aided my imagination. The lack of cars driving along the nearby cobblestone road gave way to the natural ambience of birds in the trees and horses pulling up grass with their dull yet powerful teeth.

I could’ve easily enjoyed the moment for at least an hour but, mother nature had other plans and began sprinkling me with a light yet soon-to-be powerful thunderstorm. I strolled along the wooden fence for a few hundred meters before reaching my car and continuing on to my long awaited hiking trailhead. Even from a distance, it’s clear that this is a place steeped in history, a symbol of power and strength from a bygone era

The town of Malbun

As I pulled into the Town of Malbun, I was surprised to learn that Malbun is actually a small ski town! Now, don’t get your expectations too high about skiing in Liechtenstein; there’s only 5 ski lifts and 23km of on-piste skiing lol. Nonetheless, skiing or riding in Liechtenstein is a thing.

If skiing’s what you’re after, watch my video here about what it’s like to ski in Ischgl, Austria!

Fun fact, in 1968 (the same year as my first car if you can believe it), Malbun’s ski resort was accidentally struck by five Swiss artillery shells, damaging a few of the chairs!

The cloudy sky that had socked itself into the valley between Liechtenstein and Switzerland had given way to a welcomed partly cloudy sky, and I was overjoyed.

So, I parked my car at the Parkhaus Malbun, rode the zipline at the Kinderspielplatz (twice), snapped a few photos of the Friedenskapelle chapel, and began making my way along the Fürstin Gina Weg trail.

The Fürstin Gina Weg trail

Unlike most hikes through the Alps or hiking through the Rocky Mountains, this trial began with a gradual incline that followed along a road.

I say “unlike” because most hikes, like Schrecksee Lake in Germany, the trail consists of a rapid ascent that forces your lungs and glutes to go from 0 to 60 in the blink of an eye lol.

Nevertheless, it was a hike in the mountains so, the incline slowly started to pick up, commensurate with my heart rate and the amount of lactic acid in my thighs. Though I’m not one to take frequent breaks along a hike, I couldn’t help but stop every 100 yards or so given the fantastic views all around.

Stitched into the sky ahead of me was a jagged ridgeline, gradually rising until its crest at Augstenberg, the mountain that I was bound to summit. Behind me, some 10-12 kilometres away, was the southern face of a mountain range that subtly disappeared into the clouds I began my morning under.

However, the shadows created by all the small huts and houses that comprised the town of Malbun gave the most memorable view of the day. As much as I’d like to describe the photo, I think I’ll just drop it below for you to see for yourself 🙂

Weather still cooperating, I pressed on towards the summit in hopes of some magnificent views of the Alps. The houses and huts grew smaller and smaller as I forged along the trail until they became small, almost pixelated icons in the valley below.

At about the three or four mile mark, I crested a ridge that seemingly dropped off hundreds of feet below me, opening into a magnificent valley. My stomach grew queasy as I stood on the razor thin ridgeline overlooking the ledge I was to walk on towards the summit.

However, like a true influencer (which I totally am not lol), I saw a perfect spot to take a brand new profile picture. The gloomy sky stretched on endlessly until it reached the mountains far off in the distance. A light dusting of snow, likely from a few nights prior, was beginning to stick to the peaks of the surrounding mountains, creating thousands of amazingly intricate shadows.

After my self-indulgent photo op was over, I was happy to pack my camera away for a while and simply enjoy the trial. I was careful to watch my steps along the ridgeline as it felt a slip in either direction could end badly. Not nearly as bad as climbing Long’s Peak in Colorado but, still a tad scary nonetheless lol.

The higher I ascended, the easier it was for my breath to be taken away. Not only by the altitude itself, but by the incredible mountainous views in every direction. The best part was that everywhere I looked, I was peering into a different country!

To the south I could see Austria, the North, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein below me. It was an such a unique experience; one I’ll never forget.

I traced the trail the summit and knew I only had a few hundred yards until the hardest part of the hike was over. Encroaching the peak, I noticed a massive cross planted at the top, standing strong like a ship’s mast. It seemed like the perfect place to sit and rest my weary legs so, that’s exactly what I did.

Sitting at the top of a random mountain after a decision to randomly hike in a place I decided to visit on a random weekend, I thought, “this is carpe diem”. I couldn’t help but adore the life I was living, right there in that moment; one of carelessness, security, power, and freedom all at the same time.

I was the only one on the mountain that day. Nobody to struggle to get around, nobody shouting “on your left!” to get around me, just the mountain and me; a match made in heaven.

Long story short: I had a perfect day.

Liechtenstein FAQs

Where even is Liechtenstein?

Liechtenstein, Europe’s 4th smallest country, is nestled right in the heart of the Alps with Switzerland to the west and south, and Austria to the east and north. If you’re driving through this part of the world, or taking a train, you’d miss it if you blinked.

However, the reason it drew my attention is because about half the country is mountainous, meaning endless hikes and fantastic views await.

Should you visit Liechtenstein?

Obviously, that depends on what you’re into. This post won’t give you a definitive “yes” or “no”, but it’ll give you my perspective on why I believe ‘yes, you should visit Liechtenstein’.

If hiking, romantic winter resorts, castles, and prices that aren’t as high as Switzerland are your thing then yes, you should visit Liechtenstein. If you’re looking for shopping, nightlife, and life in the fast lane, perhaps you should skip this one.

When to visit Liechtenstein

For hiking, visit in the fall, summer, or spring. For skiing, snowboarding, or snow sports, wintertime is obviously the best time. Of note, while Liechtenstein does offer skiing, the only town that actually has a lift is Malbun. Though it’s not going to give you what you’d expect in places like the Dolomites or Ischgl, it’s going to offer an incredibly romantic getaway for you and your partner.

Personally, I’d recommend visiting in the late fall. The cool air will feel great against your skin as you stand on top of one of Liechtenstein’s many mountains and take in the impeccable views of the Alps lightly dusted with snow. When you get into the bottom of the valleys, you’ll be surrounded by orange and fire-red leaves

How to visit Liechtenstein

There are many ways to visit Liechtenstein, and I recommend a car or something you can drive yourself. If you take the train, you’re restricted to visiting the areas public transportation

Is Liechtenstein worth visiting?

In my opinion, absolutely. However, this ultimately relies on what you’re into. If you’re into energetic nightlife, high-end shopping, or otherwise all the things you’d find in a big city, I’d suggest driving right past this country and heading towards Konstanz to the north, Zurich to the west, or Ischgl to the east.

If a romantic getaway, hiking, incredible mountain views, off-roading/ATVing, or anything involving the outdoors is your thing, then yes, Liechtenstein is absolutely worth visiting!

Why visit Liechtenstein

In my opinion, you should visit Liechtenstein if you want a change of pace from your busy lifestyle. Day after day, we become bombarded with e-mails, taskers, social media, and other fabricated stressors that take a toll on our physical and mental health.

Liechtenstein offers you a chance to stroll along a dirt trail and breathe in fresh air while the leaves rustle from a breeze rolling down the mountain sides all around you. It affords you the space to think, and actually hear those thoughts, about life; where you’re at, and where you’re going.

Where to go in Liechtenstein

Most blog posts or Google searches will tell you to go to Vaduz, the capitol of Liechtenstein. Sure, that is probably where you should point your compass but, don’t let Vaduz be the only place you go in Liechtenstein.

If you really want to see a side of Liechtenstein that most people don’t, visit Malbun in the winter, and do a romantic ski trip for you and your partner. Not a large resort at all, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in charm.

For hiking, take the Fürstin Gina Weg (translation: Princess Gina Way) hike from the town of Malbun. On it, you’ll summit Spitz and Augstenberg mountains with the option of stopping for a beer at the Pfälzerhütte on the border of Liechtenstein and Austria.

For photogenic, insta-worthy shots, head up towards Vaduz Castle and park at the Vaduz Castle Parking Area. Then, hop out of your car and take a walk back down the road for about 400m to the large S-curve and face the castle; that’s where you’ll get the best shots

What to see in Liechtenstein

Because I’m biased and I love mountains, I would suggest seeing the Alps while you’re in Liechtenstein. To do this, hike up to the top of Augstenberg from Fürstin Gina Weg (translation: Princess Gina Way) and look in any direction.

However, if you’re only stopping through Liechtenstein for a pit stop, I’d recommend visiting the Vaduz Castle and then the town of Malbun. Vaduz Castle is the home of the Prince of Liechtenstein and was constructed in the 12th century.

The weather-beaten stones that were put together thousands of years ago to create this timeless masterpiece truly are something to behold; only rivaled by the perfectly manicured landscape upon which they rest.

Once you pass Vaduz Castle, head up to the town of Malbun, and take frequent stops to enjoy the majestic surroundings.

Where to hike in Liechtenstein

This can be answered so many ways but, I would say you should summit Augstenberg via Fürstin Gina Weg. If you want to know why I would suggest this one, read my blog post 🙂

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