We ran away to Liechtenstein
In this tiny principality, which celebrates three centuries of existence in 2019 , there is no need to choose between city life or retirement in the middle of nature, because it is practically the same.
Its concise dimensions allow **reaching everywhere in a short car trip**. You can also explore its geography **by public transport**. The bus leads to many of the destinations that we propose below. Almost all of them have a stop less than 10 minutes away on foot.
The Triesenberg mountain is a must see.
Why not start admiring the country from above? The mountain of the municipality of Triesenberg brings together some of the main attractions of the country. runs the line 21 by bus, which **leaves from the center of the capital, Vaduz**.
The Berggasthaus Sareis restaurant is the highest point, at more than 2,000 meters and encompasses several of Liechtenstein's attractions in one place. Before even having the menu in your hands, its terrace already offers incredible views of the majestic alpine landscape. Depending on where you look, **your gaze reaches as far as Switzerland or as far as Austria**. Meanwhile, you can enjoy the typical raclette or cheese fondue or a rösti , a recipe made from potatoes.
The place is reached from the town of malbum (Malbun Zentrum bus stop), but you have to go up to the restaurant on a ski lift , not a cable car. The difference is important for those who suffer from vertigo. You travel with your legs dangling and without a closed cabin at a more than considerable height.
At least there is an alternative for those who are not in a hurry: you can go trekking along a path that ends in the same destination . The tour is from just over 40 minutes . The restaurant is open in summer from mid-June to the end of October and in winter from December to the end of March. Because the good thing about the country is that it is a destination that knows no seasons.
The Malbun ski resort is a real spectacle, both in winter and in summer.
In cold season, Malbun ski resort always has snow ; in the months of good weather, you can find a falcon flight show (at the Falknerei Galina hotel) and children's camps. The number of sports that can be practiced in such a small space turn the town into a mini-Olympics: amateur golf, tennis and even archery . No need to go up and down the mountain, there is plenty of accommodation on site.
Halfway between the peak of the mountain and the center of the country, at an altitude of 1,300 meters, is lake ganglesee (bus stop Steg FL, Tunnel) . And it is almost impossible not to experience an emotional detox in it. The murmur of the water and the cow bells are practically the only sounds that are heard, before the emerald green of the water and the typical cabins that dot the landscape. For those who want something more than to observe and breathe, the lake is a regulated fishing zone.
Touring Leichtenstein is entering the heart of nature.
Almost at the foot of the mountain, **the Lama & Alpakahof Triesenberg ** (bus stop Triesenberg, Täscherloch) organize two days of guided hiking . It starts with an encounter with llama and alpaca (yes, they look like Sesame Street muppets, but they are animals with strong personalities) and continue with the walking tour of the cabin where cheese experts from the village of Sücka they make that delicacy which, let's face it, is one of the reasons that has brought us to this area of Europe.
The walking tour, which includes accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner, runs through the Valorschtal valley and ends back in Malbun . It costs CHF300 (€275) for adults and CHF200 (€183) for children under 16. The experience does not have to be so long; Two-hour tours start at CHF70 (€65) for a whole family.
Once again with its feet on the ground, bus line 11 crosses the country from north to south. Vaduz Post is the central area of the capital , where the basic attractions of a day of tourism come together. In addition to a small shopping street called Städtle, there are several museums.
The National (Landesmuseum) , inside a 15th century building, exhibits historical artifacts ; the kunstmuseum , which serves as a contrast to an avant-garde building by Swiss architects Morger, Degelo and Kerez, focuses on modern and contemporary art ; and those who like strong emotions have at their disposal the Philately Museum , which is part of the National Museum and shows the collection of country stamps from 1912 to the present.
Liechtenstein's castles and fortresses look like something out of a fairy tale.
Between museum and museum is nothing less than a Botero: the sculpture of the resting woman . Next to it you can see the Vaduz Castle , the residence of the royal family of the country, located on top of a hill. It is the only way to see it, because it is not open to the public.
The one that can be visited is the Gutenberg castle, to the south and very close to Switzerland (Balzers bus stop, Mälsnerdorf) . It is a summer plan: from May to October . Its chapel and garden can be visited free of charge, although a guided tour is the most practical option for this castle. Weddings and cultural events are also held, so a two-for-one can easily be found.
Just a few minutes north, **luxury relaxation is at Park Hotel Sonnenhof**, one of those places you don't leave for a whole weekend. And not just because they organize wellness weekends , with various massages, dinners and spa included, also for your Maree restaurant . With one Michelin star and the blessing of the Gault Millau guide , offers experiences for all audiences, from daily menus both at lunchtime and dinner, to the most complete tasting. Its table is another way of appreciating the variety that such a tiny country contains: deer, salmon or rissotto (for vegans) form their star dishes.
In the north of the country, which in Lienchestein time is equivalent to a 20-minute drive from the south, is the picturesque village of Schaan and the place that probably produces the best coffee in the entire nation, Demmel Coffee (Schaan bus stop, Laurentiusbad) . It is the personal project of sommelier of the Peter Demmel cafe, with which he has won several international awards. It is a small place that does not open on Sundays, so it is not so easy to find a table, but it is a glass to go. Almost certainly, when you arrive in Austria, it will still be hot.
Every town in Liechtenstein is a paradise to discover.