Best things to do in Vaduz

Learn about Liechtenstein's philately and the history of its postal services at Postal Museum, which opened in the 1930s. The founder, Consul H.W. Sieger, donated a valuable philatelic collection to the museum. The main focus is on postage stamps issued by the principality of Liechtenstein since 1912. You can view designs, test prints, needle plates, and the machines used by postal workers in the past. You can also see the philatelic collection, a collection of stamps from Universal Postal Union countries, artwork by stamp designers, and the postal history library.

Learn about the history, culture, and landscape of the principality of Liechtenstein at Liechtenstein National Museum. Three main buildings showcase 42 exhibit rooms displaying many historic artifacts, as well as a natural history collection. Dating back to 1438, the museum building itself has a long and varied history. It has served as the Princely Tavern, a customs house, and the government seat. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe visited the tavern on his travels in 1788. The museum is included in the Swiss museum pass.

Discover the centuries-old tradition and history of the Liechtenstein Princely family at Vaduz Castle. The official residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein, the castle sits on a hillside 120 m (394 ft) above the town. The previous owners, the Counts of Werdenberg-Sargans, presumably built it as a fortress in the 12th century. The castle is closed to visitors, but you can walk from the main street of Vaduz up to the castle along the Princess Gardens. Or take a guided tour of Vaduz, learn how the castle came into the ownership of the Princely family, and hear what role Napoleon played in the country's history.

Discover the history of modern and contemporary art, mainly through sculptures and installations, at Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein. Stand in front of this "black box," and see how its hand-carved surface reflects the surrounding landscape of the Rhine Valley. Enter, and you'll find that inside the black box sits a perfect white cube. Six exhibit rooms are arranged around two diametrically opposed staircases. The collection features abstract, minimal, and conceptual art, Arte Povera, symbolism, futurism, surrealism, the individual mythologies of Joseph Beuys, and much more. The museum collection happens to be the national art collection of the principality of Liechtenstein.

Visit the burial site of the Liechtenstein Princely family at Cathedral of St. Florin. Friedrich von Schmidt built this parish church in 1874 on the site of earlier medieval foundations, and it features colorful stained-glass windows over the altar. Look for the graves of Prince Franz Joseph II--the father of present ruling Prince--and his wife, Countess Georgina von Wilczek. The Neo-Gothic church is the center of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vaduz and has held the status of cathedral since 1997.

Learn about the diversity of the sixth-smallest independent nation in the world at Liechtenstein Center, the official tourist office. Although a pretty basic site, you can use the multimedia technology and film footage to find out everything you want to know about Liechtenstein. The geographical center of the state sits just next to the center, and you can see a replica of the original "Km. 0. + 0. Km." stone, which marks the point from which all road distances were measured. Get the official stamp in your passport to prove that you have been to this tiny nation.

See the medieval Gutenberg Castle, where archeological digs have uncovered the 12 cm (5 in) Mars von Gutenberg figurine. The hillside has been inhabited since the Neolithic period. The castle is perched on a hill about 70 m (230 ft) above the nearby village. Park at the foot of the hill, and climb a path that leads through vineyards up to the castle. The short walk provides views of the neighboring countryside and castle ruins. You can visit the castle's chapel and its rose garden. The bailey is open throughout the year, but the castle interior is closed for visitors. Guided tours need to be scheduled in advance.

Taste award-winning, high-quality wines befitting a royal heritage at Wine Cellars of the Prince of Liechtenstein. Walk along the wine trail, where 12 signs describe the year, from vine to wine, in German along with illustrations. Have a lunch on the sunny terrace of the nearby restaurant owned by the prince, which features an ancient, wooden wine press in the center. Keep out an eye for royal celebrities; the prince and his family occasionally dine here. The wine-tasting is free. Note that everything here is done in the German language.

Take Sareis Chairlift to experience bird's-eye views of Liechtenstein and neighboring Austria from 2,000 m (6,562 ft) above sea level. Ski and snowboard in the winter, or hike to the Pfälzerhütte hut in the summer. The red runs from the top offer relatively undemanding cruising paths and pistes. When you get hungry, you can dine at the large sun terrace of the nearby restaurant. You may want to rent a three-wheeled go-cart so you can bump your way down the gravel path back to Malbun. You cannot park next to the ski lift, so either ski over from the other nearby lift, or take the bus.