7 tips and sights for a great weekend in Liechtenstein

Advertising: Contribution in cooperation with the Swiss Youth Hostels

“Do you ever write an article about Liechtenstein?” you have asked me a few times in recent years. In fact, I’ve crossed our smallest neighbouring country a few times by train, but apart from that, I’ve never been to Liechtenstein. It’s high time to change that.

When the lovely people of the Swiss Youth Hostels asked me if I would like to explore one or the other youth hostel again this year after last year’s cooperation, my reaction was not long in coming: Yes, Logo! This is THE opportunity to take a look at the Schaan-Vaduz Youth Hostel, which has just opened for this summer season, and at the same time use it as a base to finally get to know Liechtenstein better. After the limited travel options of the past few months, this detour felt like a little exotic trip abroad.

Let’s go to Liechtenstein

Be warned at this point: Despite its manageable size, there is a lot to experience in the Ländle. And when it comes to the densest network of hiking trails in the Alpine region, Liechtenstein is even one step ahead. More than 400 kilometres of hiking trails invite you to explore the diverse cultural and alpine landscape between the Rhine Valley and the Rätikon on foot. We would have loved to complete the Three Sisters Trail with the Fürstensteig – the Liechtenstein hiking classic par excellence. But there was still far too much snow for that in the first half of June. Even though we were denied the summit assault this time, we have brought back seven no less great tips for an active weekend in the Rhine Valley from our weekend in Liechtenstein.

1. Via the Liechtenstein Panorama Trail to the Gafadura Hut

Of course, we couldn’t resist lacing up our hiking boots. We looked around for alternatives at lower altitudes and picked out a route suitable for early summer, including a stop at a hut and beautiful panoramic views towards the Alpstein. From Schaan train station – whose colourful bus plaza design can certainly be classified as a sight – we take the bus to the small village of Planken. From here we follow a partial stage of the Liechtenstein Panorama Trail, which leads in a total of 4 stages from Malbun to Ruggell over the mountain ranges of the Ländle, uphill to the Gafadura hut. The forest path climbs steadily and is pleasant to walk.

Alternatively, you can also cycle up the forest road with the bikes. After the obligatory stop at the hut, we follow the hiking trail through the wooded hills to the Maurerberg. From there it zigzags back down into the Rhine Valley. Depending on your physical condition/condition, it is recommended to do the trail in the opposite direction (hike less uphill) and/or take your poles with you.

Key data of the hike to the Gafadura Hut

Below you will find the key data of the hike including the route. The Gafadura hut is located at 1,400 metres above sea level and is open continuously from May to mid-October.

Starting point	Planken, Saroja bus stop (790 m above sea level)
Reachability	Accessible by public transport
Length	10.3 kilometres
Elevation gain	↗ 776 m 1,113 m ↘
Duration	ca. 4:00 p.m.
Destination	Schaanwald, bus stop Zuschg (470 m above sea level)
Catering	Stop at the Gafadura Hut (hut of the German Alpine Club)

2. Leisurely walking tour of Vaduz

With an area of 160^km2, Liechtenstein is one of the smallest countries in Europe. According to Wikipedia, only San Marino, Monaco and Vatican City are smaller. Accordingly, the main town of Vaduz is also manageable, the centre of which is affectionately called “Städtle” by locals.

To see the sights scattered around Vaduz, we will go on a short tour. From the bus stop Vaduz Quäderle we walk along the Hintergass to the Vaduz Oberdorf, where the Red House is located. On this way you will also pass the Torkel restaurant. Unfortunately, we were too late with the reservation – otherwise we would have loved to try the restaurant, which is located in the middle of the princely vineyards and has been awarded 16 Gault Millau points.

The Red House is privately owned and can only be visited from the outside. From here, however, it is not far until we reach the “Städtle”. If you walk along the pedestrian zone, you will come to the government building and the state parliament, which was completed in 2008, at its southern end. In combination with the princely residence, which sits enthroned on a rock needle high above, this forms an impressive backdrop.

“Hoi,” I am greeted at the end of our city tour at the “Dolce Vita” ice cream parlour, which is located opposite the Vaduz Postal Museum. And I realize that I feel more at home here than in Zurich. Funnily enough, I use the Liechtenstein dialect word for “hello” myself. The branch of the regional ice cream manufacturer is worth a stop, especially on hot summer days – the ice cream is delicious!

3. Check-in at Schaan-Vaduz Youth Hostel

The Schaan-Vaduz Youth Hostel is located five minutes by bus from the town in the municipality of Schaan. For 40 years, there has been a youth hostel here at Under Rüttigass 6, on the idyllic outskirts of Schaan. As early as 2015, the two municipalities of Schaan and Vaduz decided to replace them with a new building, which was opened this spring after 18 months of construction. The new hostel belongs to the “top” category (the youth hostels differentiate between “simple”, “classic” and “top”) and offers a total of 32 rooms.

As with the new WellnessHostel3000 in Laax or the youth hostel in Bern, an architectural competition formed the basis for the new construction project. The “Einstein” project by the local architectural firm Erhart + Partner emerged as the winner. The strong connection to the place and Liechtenstein runs like a red thread through the interior. On each floor there are illustrations of Liechtenstein’s sights, in the honesty bar you can choose from the local wines and beers and in the house library you will find one or two entertaining books about the Ländle.

A special eye-catcher is the atrium and at sunset you should not miss the roof terrace with a view over the Rhine Valley. In the double rooms, on the other hand, you will find the familiar Jugi standard, whereby the homely wooden floor in combination with the mint green wall colour harmonises wonderfully with the landscape outside. I would like to make a special wreath at this point to the management. We are quite critical guests – especially when it comes to food. But the food here is – in keeping with the category – really “top”! So think twice about whether you really want to go to the town for dinner. You may also miss the wonderful sunset atmosphere, which makes the fields directly in front of the Jugi glow golden.

4. Cycling on the Five Castles Tour

Another advantage of Schaan-Vaduz Youth Hostel is its location directly on the Liechtenstein Rhine Valley Route. The cycle path connects Sargans with Altstätten and can be easily combined with other cycle paths. Another cycle path that leads directly past the Jugi is the Five Castles Tour, which is designed as a circular route. The official starting point of the Five Castles Tour is Buchs in Switzerland – but the tour can easily be started from any location. As the name of the bike tour suggests, you pass five castles on the 42-kilometer loop, which are connected by their history.

We start the tour directly below the defiant residence of the principality, cross the Rhine and leave Liechtenstein behind us for a good two hours. Irritatingly, the cycle path in Buchs is signposted in such a way that it does not even lead directly past the second castle of this tour – Werdenberg Castle. To do this, you have to keep to the right after passing through the pedestrian zone in the center of Buchs and make a small extra loop. Another imposing sight along the way of the bike tour is Gutenberg Castle in Balzers, Liechtenstein.

Key data of the Five Castles Tour

Below you will find the route of our adapted variant of the Five Castles Tour. We omitted the detour to Sargans (and thus a castle) and instead included the detour to Triesenberg (including the associated altitude meters). The round trip, as you can see below, includes 52 kilometers and 1,180 meters of altitude. With an e-bike, it takes about four hours. You can rent e-bikes either directly at the Liechtenstein Center in the city of Vaduz or via Rent a Bike. With a GA or Half-Fare travelcard, you benefit from reduced rental prices.

5. Order Käsknöpfle at the Masescha mountain inn

The main reason why I adapted the Five Castles Tour to our liking was the detour to the Masescha mountain inn above the Walser community of Triesenberg. The mountain inn has one of the most panoramic terraces in the Ländle. And if, as with us, the weather doesn’t play along, then the rainy weather can also be endured very well in one of the rustic parlours. Among the Masescha classics, of course, the Käsknöpfle as a Liechtenstein speciality should not be missing. The journey here requires a bit of sweat (even with pedal assistance), but it’s definitely worth it!

Tip: Reserve a table in advance and pay attention to the opening hours (Monday and Tuesday are closed days)

6. Visit the Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein

In addition to stopping off at rustic restaurants, rain fronts can also be bridged in one of the museums in the town. My favorite: the Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein in combination with the Hilti Art Foundation. The modern museum building is located directly on the pedestrian zone of Vaduz and also houses a casual museum café on the ground floor.

7. Walk along the forest adventure trail to the viewing platform

Last autumn, the completely renovated Vaduz Forest Adventure Trail was opened. The centrepiece of the themed hiking trail, which runs in a 6-kilometre-long loop above Vaduz through the Bannholz/Iraggell area, is the newly built viewing platform. This was made from the wood of 15 Vaduz larches and offers a magnificent panoramic view over the Rhine Valley. The forest adventure trail is both a worthwhile excursion destination for families with children and an idyllic evening walk. We walked from the bus stop Vaduz, Quäderle to the viewing platform at sunset via the forest adventure trail and enjoyed the last rays of sunshine there.

Practical tips for your weekend in Liechtenstein

• Liechtenstein and Switzerland form a common economic and monetary area. As early as 1924, Liechtenstein introduced the Swiss franc as its official currency. GA and Half-Fare travelcards are also valid on regular public transport lines.
• At Schaan-Vaduz Youth Hostel, accommodation prices for one night in a double room with private shower/WC start at 116 CHF* including breakfast. Dinner costs CHF 19.50 for adults.
• *Everyone has the opportunity to purchase a membership and benefit from discounted accommodation rates. For more information, please visit: www.youthhostel.ch/mitgliedschaft
• If, like us, you want to go on a hike or other activity on the day of arrival, you can temporarily store your luggage in the lockers in the basement of the Jugi.
• On the ground floor, Schaan-Vaduz Youth Hostel has a large play area for children and there are two parking stations for electric vehicles on site as well as a bicycle room including charging facilities for e-bikes.
• You can find even more tips about Liechtenstein in the Swiss Youth Hostels blog
• If you prefer to explore the castles of the Rhine Valley on foot rather than by bike, then this might be the right hiking tip for you: Schlossweg Werdenberg – Sargans