Western Europe · EuropeLiechtenstein
Discover Liechtenstein - a doubly landlocked Alpine principality of 39,000 people wedged between Switzerland and Austria, with a royal castle, zero national debt, and more registered companies than citizens.
Where Is Liechtenstein?
Liechtenstein is a country in Western Europe. Its capital is Vaduz.
- Capital Vaduz
- Population 41K
- Area 160 km²
Liechtenstein is one of those countries that people forget exists until someone mentions it in a pub quiz. Wedged between Switzerland and Austria in the Rhine Valley, it is the sixth smallest country on Earth, doubly landlocked (meaning all its neighbors are also landlocked), and home to roughly 39,000 people. It has no airport, only a few small stops on an Austrian railway line, and the entire country is about 25 kilometers long.
And yet it works extraordinarily well. Liechtenstein has the highest GDP per capita of any country on the planet by some measures, zero national debt, more registered companies than citizens, and an unemployment rate that occasionally dips below 2%. The prince lives in an actual castle on a hill above the capital, and unlike most European monarchs, he has real political power. The country industrialized by making false teeth and sausage casings, graduated to precision instruments and ceramics, and now runs primarily on finance and manufacturing. It is prosperous, clean, staggeringly beautiful, and so quiet that the national football team plays in a stadium that seats 6,000.
At a glance
Largest cities in Liechtenstein
Vaduz
Schaan
Balzers
Triesen
Eschen
Famous people from Liechtenstein
Hans-Adam II
PoliticsReigning Prince of Liechtenstein since 1989, one of the wealthiest monarchs in Europe with an estimated fortune over $7 billion
Hanni Wenzel
SportWon two Olympic gold medals and a silver in alpine skiing at Lake Placid 1980, Liechtenstein's greatest athlete
Paul Vogt
PoliticsKey figure in saving Liechtenstein from annexation during World War II, preserving the principality's independence
Tina Weirather
SportWorld Cup alpine skiing champion, daughter of Hanni Wenzel, continuing the family's skiing dynasty
Marco Buchel
SportAlpine skier who competed in six Winter Olympics, Liechtenstein's most prolific Olympic competitor
Traditional cuisine of Liechtenstein
- Kasknopfle
- Liechtenstein's national dish - small dumplings baked with cheese and onions, similar to Spatzle but richer
- Ribel
- Traditional cornmeal dish cooked with butter and milk, served sweet with fruit or savory with cheese
- Hafalaab
- Thick cornmeal porridge that was historically a staple food, now served as a traditional side dish
- Sauerkase
- Sour milk cheese unique to the Alpine region, made without rennet using a centuries-old method
- Schnitzel
- Austrian-influenced breaded cutlet widely popular, reflecting the shared culinary heritage with neighboring Austria
- Prince of Liechtenstein Wine
- Wine from the prince's own vineyards in Vaduz, primarily Pinot Noir, available only locally
Nature and landmarks in Liechtenstein
- MalbunMountain
- Liechtenstein's only ski resort at 1,600 meters, a small family-friendly area in the southern Alps
- Drei SchwesternMountain
- The Three Sisters - a mountain ridge at 2,053 meters forming the border with Austria, Liechtenstein's most iconic peaks
- Ruggeller RietNational Park
- Protected wetland nature reserve in the Rhine plain, one of the most important bird habitats in the region
- FurstensteigMountain
- Legendary mountain trail with fixed rope sections along cliff edges, offering panoramic views of the Rhine Valley
- Vaduz CastleLandmark
- The 12th-century hilltop residence of the Prince, the defining silhouette of Liechtenstein's capital
Sports in Liechtenstein
- Alpine Skiing
- Ten Olympic medals despite a population of 39,000, making Liechtenstein the most successful Olympic nation per capita
- Football
- FC Vaduz competes in the Swiss league system, occasionally reaching the Europa League qualifiers
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Regular Winter Olympics competitor with strong Nordic skiing tradition
Did you know?
Liechtenstein is the world's most successful country per capita at the Winter Olympics, with 10 medals for 39,000 people
It is one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world (the other is Uzbekistan)
There are more registered companies in Liechtenstein than there are citizens
The country has no military and hasn't had one since 1868, when the army was disbanded because it was too expensive
Liechtenstein and Switzerland share one of the most open borders in the world - there is essentially no border control
The entire country is roughly the size of Washington, D.C.
You can rent the entire country for $70,000 per night through Airbnb (a promotional stunt that became oddly real)
Read more about Liechtenstein
Can you find Liechtenstein on a map?
Drop a pin where you think it is and see how close you got. A few rounds and you will place Liechtenstein and its neighbours without a second thought.
