Cities and Resorts in Liechtenstein

The Principality of Liechtenstein proudly neighbors Austria and Switzerland. Local “chips” are picturesque nature, the dwarf capital of Vaduz and the famous Rhine river valley, and also the Malbun ski resort. Attractions, castles, photos and prices – all about Liechtenstein.

The tiny state of Liechtenstein, which miraculously fits between Switzerland and Austria, is an absolutely fabulous place. Firstly, the monarchy is still strong here, and the principality is named after the ruling dynasty: only the rulers of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Saudi Arabia were awarded such an honor. Secondly, the local architecture is like an illustration to a romantic medieval ballad: castles, chapels and other ancient sights are all over the place.

And the backdrop for all this splendor is the endless emerald valleys, snow-capped peaks, dense forests – ready-made scenery for The Lord of the Rings, only much closer and more accessible than New Zealand. People come here to ski, wander in the labyrinths of elegant streets, visit museums, taste wines and cheese, have fun at folklore festivals, completely forgetting about the calendar: traditions and eras are firmly intertwined in Liechtenstein.

20 more cool facts about Liechtenstein: no currency, no language, but a lot of money.

Regions and resorts of Liechtenstein

The Principality is divided into two historical regions: Oberland, aka Upper Liechtenstein, and Unterland, Lower. The first consists of 6 communes, the second – of 5, each of which includes a maximum of a couple of villages. There are only two cities in the classical sense: Vaduz, the heart of the Oberland, and Shang, which has overtaken it in terms of population by “as many as” 300 people.

An acquaintance with Liechtenstein usually starts from Vaduz, where the monumental princely castle, main museums, the only university and the residence of the archbishop are located. The city, leading the history from the 12th-13th centuries, is one of the few capitals in the world where there is no railway station or airport. But for the sake of amazing landscapes, historical monuments and the best hotels, restaurants and shops in the principality, you can also overcome the path with transfers.

The center of Unterland Schellenberg is the smallest town in the country, hidden on the northwestern ridge of Eschenberg. It is named after a knightly dynasty from Bavaria that has owned it since the 13th century, but these lands have a much older history: traces of Neolithic settlements have been found along the mountain paths.

The largest commune is Shan, where the only railway station in the principality is based. Switzerland is a stone’s throw from here, so in winter skiers and snowboarders come here, in summer – fans of horse riding and walking. There is a theater in Shan, whose performances thunder across half of Europe, and also several nightclubs and bars, rather unexpected for pastoral Liechtenstein.

Not far from Shan, at an altitude of 1600 m above sea level, the ski resort of Malbun is located. Until recently, the picturesque surroundings were used exclusively as agricultural land, but about a century ago, local residents nevertheless discerned their tourism potential. Today, trails, cable cars, hotels are equipped here – everything for a first-class winter holiday.

Gamprin is famous for its religious monuments: the monastery of St. Luke and the grotto of Mary of Lourdes, an object of worship for Catholics, have been preserved here. On the territory of Eschen, the remains of ancient settlements were found, including defensive walls from the time of the Roman Empire. Triesenberg was founded by farmers from the Walser Mountains, and some elders still speak their dialect. Triesen, full of mansions and churches, has been home to the Liechtenstein nobility for centuries. And northern Ruggell is the only city located not on a mountain slope, but in a valley near the Rhine Delta.

Climate

The climate of Liechtenstein is alpine, temperate continental. In the Rhine Valley, protected from cold winds, the weather is milder, there is less rain than in mountainous areas. The main amount of precipitation occurs in autumn and winter, but they do not interfere: the warm dry wind föhn, which blows from the peaks for several days in a row, creates comfortable conditions for recreation. See Citypopulationreview for weather information.

In summer, the air can warm up to +26…+27 °C, although the average July temperature is +19 °C. Standard winter indicators are +2…+4 °C, at night the thermometer drops to -2…-4 °C. In the high mountain resorts it is frosty even during the day, and in the dark, frosts down to -10 ° C are possible at all.

Sometimes a hair dryer stops being friendly, blows roofs off houses and uproots trees, but this happens extremely rarely.

Actual information: weather forecast for the main resorts of Liechtenstein for the coming days.

Resorts in Liechtenstein