Vaduz

Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein, is one of the smallest and most curious capital cities in Europe, a compact, walkable town in the Rhine valley beneath its hilltop castle, home to only a few thousand people. Its car-free centre, the Städtle, packs in a surprising amount: the striking modern Kunstmuseum and Hilti art museums, the neo-Gothic cathedral, the government and parliament buildings, and the famous Postage Stamp Museum, a nod to the tiny nation's outsized philatelic fame. Visitors can also collect a passport stamp as a souvenir of the principality. Small, tidy and prosperous, Vaduz offers a quick but charming taste of this unusual micro-state.

History

The name, first recorded as de Faduzes, is of Romance origin like most names in the Rhine valley, from an Old Rhaeto-Romance word for "aqueduct", itself from the Latin aquaeductus (Wikipedia, Vaduz).

What you'll find

• The Städtle - the car-free pedestrian centre.
• The art museums - the striking modern Kunstmuseum and Hilti.
• The Postage Stamp Museum - the nod to Liechtenstein's philatelic fame.
• The cathedral and views - the neo-Gothic cathedral beneath the castle.

When to go

May to October, for the mildest, greenest weather, ideal for exploring the compact centre on foot and combining it with a walk up toward the castle or into the surrounding hills and vineyards; the town is easily seen in a few hours. The national day on 15 August is a festive time, with the prince opening the castle gardens.

Before you go

Vaduz is tiny and quiet, more a prosperous small town than a bustling capital, so it offers a brief, pleasant visit of a few hours rather than a full day of sights, and it can feel more like a financial and administrative centre than a lively destination. As a charming, walkable and unusual micro-capital, though, with good modern art museums, its clifftop castle backdrop and the novelty of one of the world's smallest sovereign nations, Vaduz is a delightful curiosity.

Nearby

Vaduz Castle, the Alpine resort of Malbun and the Rhine valley are close by.

Key facts