Europe > 🇱🇮Liechtenstein
Should You Hire a Car in Liechtenstein? This can be broken down into two similar questions - do you need a car in Liechtenstein (in other words, will your holiday be ruined without one), and is it worth hiring a car in Liechtenstein - i.e. is a car better value than using public transport? We'll weigh up both questions and give you a response generated by Chat GPT, together with our own curated opinion before finally giving a yes or no verdict at the end.
Liechtenstein — Car or No Car?
Liechtenstein is one of Europe’s smallest and wealthiest countries — nestled between Switzerland and Austria, with charming villages, dramatic alpine scenery, and a laid-back, fairy-tale ambiance. But with such a compact footprint, the question arises:
🚘 Should You Rent a Car in Liechtenstein?
Usually, no.
Liechtenstein’s size, excellent public transport connections, and proximity to Switzerland make renting a car unnecessary for most travellers.
🚆 Getting There
Liechtenstein does not have its own airport or railway stations directly connected to the major European network — but it is incredibly easy to access:
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By Train: Regular Swiss trains stop at Buchs or Sargans (🇨🇭). From there, cross-border bus routes take you straight into Liechtenstein.
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Liechtenstein Bus: The country has one of the best small-country bus networks in the world 💚. Green buses run like clockwork, linking all towns and reaching the hiking trails at high elevations.
🚌 Why a Car Isn’t Needed
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The whole country is only 25 km long. You can cross it in under 40 minutes.
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Public buses connect Vaduz, Schaan, Triesenberg, and Malbun every 15–30 minutes during the day.
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Bus journeys in Liechtenstein use the Swiss travel card system — so your Swiss Pass works here too.
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For hikers and day-trippers, buses reach Malbun (a popular alpine village) and Steg without effort.
🚗 When a Car Might Help
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If you’re doing a multi-country alpine loop across Switzerland, Austria, and northern Italy.
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If you have a tight schedule and want to control your stops.
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If you’re staying in a rural chalet up in the mountains.
But even then, parking in Vaduz and other towns is limited and not free.
🌄 Top Things to See — No Car Needed
| Spot | How to Get There | Why It’s Worth It |
|---|---|---|
| Vaduz Castle 🏰 | Short hike from Vaduz centre | Home of the princely family (no entry) |
| Kunstmuseum 🖼️ | Bus or walk in Vaduz | Bold modern gallery in a tiny capital |
| Malbun 🎿 | Direct bus from Vaduz | Alpine hiking and skiing |
| Gutenberg Castle 🏯 | Bus to Balzers | Fully preserved medieval fortress |
| Liechtenstein Trail 🚶 | Accessible in all towns | 75 km historical walking route |
🚗 Practicalities of Car Rental for Liechtenstein
In all likelihood, if you’re planning to visit Liechtenstein by car, you would rent your vehicle at Zurich Airport (ZRH) — the nearest major international hub, just 115 km away. The drive to Vaduz takes around 1 hour 15 minutes via excellent Swiss motorways. While Switzerland is famously expensive, it often offers smoother logistics and a wider choice of rental agencies than its neighbours. However, if you’re looking to save money, renting in Austria — perhaps in cities like Innsbruck, Salzburg or Graz — can be noticeably cheaper. You’ll need to factor in longer driving distances and vignette fees for using Swiss motorways, but Austrian rentals can still work out as the better deal if you’re planning a longer Alpine trip.
🧭 Conclusion
🔍 Should you rent a car in Liechtenstein?
❌ No – for most visitors, public buses and Swiss trains are more than enough.
✅ Yes – only if you’re combining it with a larger international road trip.
Car or No Car Rating: 🚍🏔️ Mostly No — save the rental for elsewhere in the Alps and enjoy the easy transport here.
