Day Trips & Excursions: Vaduz

Accessible Locations Within Day-Trip Distance

Malbun, Liechtenstein: Liechtenstein's popular mountain resort village, high in the Alps. A great destination for hiking in summer and skiing/snowboarding in winter. (~30-minute bus ride from Vaduz).

Balzers, Liechtenstein: A municipality in the south of Liechtenstein, home to the impressive Gutenberg Castle. (~15-minute bus ride from Vaduz).

More Nearby Towns

Schaan, Liechtenstein: Liechtenstein's largest municipality, just north of Vaduz. It home to the country's main cultural center, Theater am Kirchplatz (TAK). (~5-minute bus ride from Vaduz).
Feldkirch, Austria: A charming medieval Austrian town just across the border. It boasts a beautiful, well-preserved old town, a historic market square, and the impressive Schattenburg Castle. (~20-minute bus ride from Vaduz).
Sargans, Switzerland: A major train hub in Switzerland, serving as the main access point for train connections to Zurich, St. Gallen, and other Swiss cities. (~15-minute bus ride from Vaduz).
Buchs, Switzerland: Another Swiss town directly across the Rhine River from Schaan. It has train connections and additional shopping opportunities.

Travel Options & Itineraries

Planning your excursions from Vaduz.

Transportation Options

All listed destinations within Liechtenstein (Malbun, Balzers, Schaan) are easy to access by the LIEmobil public bus network directly from Vaduz Post. Feldkirch, Austria, also directly accessible by LIEmobil bus from Vaduz.

Further Connections

Sargans, Switzerland: a bus connection point from Vaduz, from which you then take Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) trains to other Swiss destinations.
Buchs, Switzerland: reached by a short bus ride from Schaan-Vaduz train station, or by bus directly from Vaduz.
For most day trips within Liechtenstein and to nearby Feldkirch or Sargans, independent travel is highly recommended. Liechtenstein's public transport system (LIEmobil buses) is excellent, punctual, and covers the entire country effectively.

Organized vs. Independent Travel

Independent travel offers maximum flexibility regarding your schedule and interests.

Considerations

Organized tours specifically for intra-Liechtenstein trips are less common.
Tours from larger Swiss or Austrian cities (like Zurich or Innsbruck) may include Vaduz as part of a broader itinerary covering multiple countries or regions.
For specific activities like paragliding, book directly with an operator, not a general tour.

Suggested Itineraries

Malbun Excursion

Allocate a half to full day, depending on planned activities.
Morning bus to Malbun. Enjoy hiking (e.g., a portion of the Fürstensteig for experienced hikers, or gentler trails around the village).
Have lunch at a mountain restaurant.
In winter, enjoy skiing or snowshoeing. Return to Vaduz in the late afternoon.

Feldkirch & Balzers

Feldkirch, Austria: A half day is sufficient for exploring the old town and Schattenburg Castle. Take bus from Vaduz to Feldkirch. Explore charming pedestrian old town, market square, and climb to Schattenburg Castle for historical insights and views. Enjoy lunch in Feldkirch. Return to Vaduz in the afternoon.
Gutenberg Castle (Balzers): Allow 2-3 hours for the visit, including travel time. Bus from Vaduz to Balzers. Walk up to Gutenberg Castle to explore its public areas (chapel, rose garden) and enjoy the views.
Consider booking a wide range of day trips and excursions with GetYourGuide for seamless travel experiences.

Travel Metrics

Malbun visit:Half-full day
Feldkirch visit:Half day
Gutenberg Castle visit:2-3 hours
Bus ride Vaduz-Schaan:5 min

Bus ride Vaduz-Feldkirch:20 min
Bus ride Vaduz-Sargans:15 min
Rhine River Valley views:Panoramic
Vineyard strolls:Scenic

Travel Tip

Public transport is highly efficient for exploring Liechtenstein and nearby areas.

Natural Escapes

Liechtenstein's natural beauty offers numerous opportunities for serene outdoor experiences.

Protected Areas

Liechtenstein places a strong emphasis on environmental protection and biodiversity. Several designated nature reserves, like the Ruggeller Riet Nature Reserve, managed to conserve flora and fauna.

Alpine Areas around Malbun

Beyond the ski slopes, Malbun and its surroundings feature numerous hiking trails, lush Alpine meadows in summer, and stunning mountain scenery.

Scenic Mountain Views

The prominent Three Sisters Mountains an iconic part of Liechtenstein's landscape, visible from many parts of the country.

Mountain & Rural Landscapes

Discover the diverse landscapes.

Outdoor Regions

Malbun, main mountain escape, offering extensive outdoor activities year-round.
Exploring northern municipalities like Mauren, Eschen, Schellenberg, for quieter, traditional rural villages.
Cycling paths often through agricultural landscapes.

Seasonal Wonders & Waterways

Natural phenomena and scenic river views.

Highlights

Winter Snow: Alpine areas, especially Malbun, blanketed in snow (Dec-Mar).
Wildflowers: Late spring and early summer bring colorful wildflowers to Alpine meadows.
Rhine River Valley: Broad, flat valley with panoramic views framed by imposing Alps.

Natural Facts

Ruggeller Riet:Protected Wetland

Malbun elevation:1600 m

Three Sisters visibility:Widespread

Rhine Valley characteristics:Flat & Wide

Winter season:Dec-Mar

Wildflower season:Late Spring-Early Summer

Nature Exploration Tip

Embrace the outdoors for pristine natural beauty.
Explore designated nature reserves and Alpine areas.
Respect trails and local flora/fauna.
Use designated paths to protect the environment.
Always carry out what you carry in.

Cultural Excursions

Explore Liechtenstein's culture and history beyond the capital.

Gutenberg Castle Balzers

This well-preserved medieval fortress offers a captivating historical experience. Unlike Vaduz Castle, parts accessible to the public, including its chapel and rose garden.

Castle Features

Well-preserved medieval fortress.
Accessible chapel.
Beautiful rose garden.

Schellenberg Castle Ruins

In the northern municipality of Schellenberg, the remains of two medieval castles provide insight into the region's feudal past and commanding views.

Aspects

Remains of two medieval castles.
Insight into feudal past.
Commanding views.

Walser Museum Triesenberg

Located in the charming mountain village of Triesenberg, this museum dedicated to the unique history and culture of the Walser people.

Museum Focus

Located in Triesenberg mountain village.
Dedicated to Walser people's history.
Glimpse into traditions, architecture, and language.

Rural Villages

Explore villages like Triesenberg, Mauren, and Schellenberg to witness traditional Liechtenstein life.

Village Character

Often charming churches.
Traditional houses.
Offer a slower pace compared to Vaduz.

Pilgrimage Sites

Liechtenstein does not host major international pilgrimage sites like Lourdes or Santiago de Compostela.

Local Churches

Numerous local churches and chapels throughout the principality.

Spiritual Centers

Serve as spiritual centers for the local community.

Quiet Contemplation

Offer quiet places for contemplation.

Cultural Immersion

Venture beyond Vaduz to discover Liechtenstein's historical roots and local traditions.

Multi-Day Extensions

Liechtenstein's central location in Europe makes combination with surrounding countries seamless.

Nearby Regional Extensions

Switzerland

Easily combine your Liechtenstein trip with an extension to Eastern Switzerland: St. Gallen (UNESCO World Heritage Abbey Library), Appenzell (traditional canton), Zurich (finance, shopping, cultural attractions).

Austria

Extend your trip into Austria's Vorarlberg region: Bregenz (Lake Constance, floating stage opera festival), Dornbirn (architecture, inatura museum), Montafon Valley (hiking/skiing).

Logical Next Stops

Zurich, Switzerland (convenient, museums, shopping, dining). Lucerne, Switzerland (picturesque, Chapel Bridge). Innsbruck, Austria (Tyrol capital, mountains, history). Bregenz, Austria (lakeside, cultural events). Southern Germany (Lake Constance region, Bavarian Alps).

Transportation & Routes

Excellent train and bus connections facilitate travel between Liechtenstein and its Swiss and Austrian neighbors.
From Sargans (Switzerland), you have direct train lines to major Swiss cities.
From Feldkirch (Austria), train and bus connections open up routes into Austria.

Regional Exploration

Alps & Lakes Route (7-10 days): Start in Zurich, Switzerland.
Train to Sargans, then bus to Vaduz (2-3 days exploring Liechtenstein).
Bus to Feldkirch, then train to Bregenz on Lake Constance (1-2 days).
Ferry/train around Lake Constance to Lindau (Germany) or Konstanz (Germany/Switzerland) (1-2 days). Return to Zurich or continue into Southern Germany.

Eastern Switzerland & Liechtenstein Route 5-7 days

Start & Culture

Start in Zurich. Train to St. Gallen (1-2 days, explore Abbey Library, old town).

Tradition & Country

Train to Appenzell (1-2 days, traditional Swiss villages, rolling hills). Train/bus to Vaduz (2-3 days exploring Liechtenstein).

Departure

Return to Zurich for departure.

Longer Travel Tip

Liechtenstein serves as a convenient hub for exploring the wider Alpine region and neighbouring countries.

Day Trips & Excursions