VaduzCapital
Liechtenstein · Country profile
Vaduz is the compact riverside capital of Liechtenstein, the small historic town of the Alpine principality that spreads its gabled old centre, its galleries, its government buildings and its vineyards along the left bank of the Rhine, beneath the great castle of the royal family that crowns the wooded hill above. The seat of the princely state since the medieval lords made their rock their home, it is the political, the financial and the cultural capital of the mini-state of the Alps, famous for its museum of the princely art collection, its street of the modern architecture and its world-renowned postage stamps. The castle, the museum of the art, the centre of the town and the walks along the river anchor the essential visits, while the mountain rides and the trails of the Alps fill the excursions beyond the town. Neat, wealthy and beautifully set, Vaduz is the immaculate capital of the smallest country of the Alpine arc.
About Vaduz
Vaduz is the capital of Liechtenstein. The city's documented population is around 5,700 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Swiss Franc (CHF) and German is spoken; the dialling code is +423.
The Castle of the Prince and the Vineyards of the Hill
The capital is a small, walkable riverside town where the essential days move between the castle hill, the centre and the museum of the art, with the vineyards and the river walks distributing the Alpine calm. The princely castle with its crenellated towers crowning the hill, the government buildings and the folk museum of the town, and the famous stamp museum and the princely art gallery anchor the classic stops, while the pedestrian streets of the centre with their cafes and their boutiques carry the everyday life. The rides and the trails of the neighbouring peaks, and the nearby capitals of the surrounding countries, all minutes away, fill the wider days of a short and lovely stay.
The Museum of the Art and the Stamps of the Post
The climate of the town is the Alpine valley, with the warm summers, the cold winters with their snowfalls on the peaks and their fog in the valley, and the beautiful spring and the golden autumn of the vineyards. The franc is the currency, the German the language, the English and the French the common second tongues, and the walkers come and go through the quiet borders with the neighbours. The castle, the centre and the museums make the core visits, and the mountains and the towns of the region are minutes away. Layers for the valley weather, comfortable shoes and a camera complete the simple kit.
The Bridge of the Rhine and the Trails of the Mountain
The castle of the family, the great medieval fortress with its crenellated towers, its courtyard and its gabled roofs that crowns the vineyard hill above the town, is the home of the ruling prince and the symbol of the whole principality, and although its interior stays private, the viewpoint and the paths of its slope give the finest panorama of the capital. The museum of the art, the striking black cube of the national gallery that houses the princely collections and the works of the region, and the national museum with its history of the small country, anchor the cultural visits, while the famous stamp museum with its display of the miniature philatelic masterpieces made the principality legendary around the world. The pedestrian centre with its cafe terraces and its boutiques, the government palace with its facade, the wine cellars of the princely estate in the vineyards of the town, and the classic gold-and-silver ski runs and the Alpine trails of the mountains that rise beyond the Rhine, complete the essential, immaculate circuit of the Alpine capital. Neat, wealthy and quietly beautiful, Vaduz is a lesson in how a small country can live very well.
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- Country
- Liechtenstein
- Population
- 5,700
- Capital
- Vaduz
- Region
- Europe
- Currency
- Swiss Franc (CHF)
- Languages
- German
- Calling code
- +423
- Country code
- LI
Entry requirements for Liechtenstein
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Liechtenstein for tourism.
Frequently asked questions
Is Vaduz the capital of Liechtenstein?
Yes — Vaduz is the capital of Liechtenstein.
What currency do I need in Vaduz?
The local currency is the Swiss Franc (CHF). Languages spoken in Liechtenstein include German.
What is the dialling code for Liechtenstein?
The international dialling code for Liechtenstein is +423.
Do I need a visa to visit Liechtenstein?
It depends on your passport. Among the origins we track, travellers from Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda and Argentina currently enter Liechtenstein visa-free for tourism. Use the entry requirements tool to check your own nationality and purpose of travel.
Flying out of Vaduz? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.