Liechtenstein (LI)

Liechtenstein is a tiny constitutional principality nestled between Switzerland and Austria — one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world — yet it punches far above its 39,000-person weight as one of the wealthiest nations on earth per capita.

Capital: Vaduz

Region: Europe

Language: German

Currency: CHF (Fr)

Cost of living: Very expensive (index 92)

Emergency: 112

Getting Around

Transport options for living in Liechtenstein.

Public Transport Overview

Liechtenstein's public transport system is operated by LIECHTENSTEINbus — a network of yellow buses serving all 11 municipalities and connecting with Austrian and Swiss networks. Given the country's tiny size (25km north-south), buses reach everywhere within about 30 minutes. The system integrates with the Vorarlberg (Austria) Vmobil network and Swiss PostAuto. A national public transport pass (Liechtenstein Pass) offers unlimited travel on LIECHTENSTEINbus lines. The country has no motorway and no national railway of its own — but the Schaan-Vaduz railway station (on the Austrian ÖBB network) provides train connections.

Main operators:

LIECHTENSTEINbus — national bus network serving all 11 municipalities (yellow buses)ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways) — trains stop at Schaan-Vaduz station (connection to Feldkirch and Swiss SBB network)PostAuto Switzerland — connects to Swiss St Gallen and SargansVmobil (Vorarlberg, Austria) — integrated ticketing with LIECHTENSTEINbus for cross-border travelSBB (Swiss Federal Railways) — via connections at Buchs SG and Sargans

🎫 Transit Passes

Liechtenstein Day Pass (Tageskarte) CHF 8 (adult, 2026)

Unlimited travel on all LIECHTENSTEINbus lines for one day.

💡 Excellent value given the country's small size. Available from drivers or at automated ticket machines at main stops.

Liechtenstein Monthly Pass CHF 60/month (adult, 2026)

Unlimited travel on all LIECHTENSTEINbus lines for one calendar month.

💡 Strongly recommended for residents commuting within Liechtenstein by bus. Cannot replace a car for those commuting to Austria or Switzerland.

Vmobil Vorarlberg Network Pass From €1/year (Klimaticket Vorarlberg baseline supplement)

Covers buses and trains in Vorarlberg, Austria — including cross-border LIECHTENSTEINbus zones.

💡 Essential for workers commuting from Vorarlberg into Liechtenstein. Also covers Feldkirch-Schaan train route.

Swiss Half-Fare Card (Halbtax) CHF 185/year (Swiss SBB)

Half-price on all Swiss public transport (SBB trains, PostBus, trams) and many Liechtenstein connections.

💡 Available from SBB (sbb.ch). Highly recommended for residents who regularly travel to Switzerland for medical care, university, shopping, or leisure.

Taxi & Rideshare

Taxis in Liechtenstein are expensive — comparable to Switzerland. A typical trip within Liechtenstein costs CHF 20–50. There are no Uber-style rideshare apps operating domestically. Taxis must be pre-booked by phone; street hailing is essentially non-existent. Main companies: Taxi Vaduz (+423 232 22 22), various private operators. Austrian taxis from Feldkirch are also used by cross-border workers.

Rideshare (Long-distance)

No major domestic rideshare platform. Carpool arrangements among colleagues are common given the small size. The MitFahrzentrale (carpool matching) concept is used informally. Swiss BlaBlaCar operates for longer cross-border journeys.

Cycling

Cycling is a realistic mode of transport for the Rhine valley floor — the terrain is flat between Vaduz, Schaan, and Triesen. Cycle paths follow the Rhine and connect most municipalities. The EuroVelo 15 Rhine Cycle Route passes through the entire country. E-bikes are extremely popular given the hilly terrain for those venturing away from the valley. Bicycle theft is rare (unlike in Switzerland or Denmark). The mountain terrain in the east makes cycling impractical for most non-athletes.

Intercity Trains

Liechtenstein has no national railway. The Schaan-Vaduz train station is on the Austrian ÖBB Vorarlberg Railway. Connections: Feldkirch (Austria) in approximately 15 minutes (onward to Bregenz and Zurich); Buchs SG (Switzerland) in approximately 10 minutes (onward to St Gallen and Zurich). From Buchs, the Swiss SBB network connects to all major Swiss cities. Zürich HB is reachable in approximately 75 minutes total journey. The nearest major airport (Zurich) is approximately 90 minutes by train.

Driving

Liechtenstein drives on the right. There is no motorway — the country is too small. Main road is Route 16 running north-south through the Rhine valley. Speed limits: 50 km/h in villages, 80 km/h on open roads. There are no toll roads within Liechtenstein. The open border with Switzerland means no border stop — cars pass freely. The Austrian border crossing at Feldkirch-Tisis involves standard Schengen zone crossing (no passport control for EEA). A Swiss motorway vignette (CHF 40/year) is required for driving on Swiss motorways — available at petrol stations and post offices.

Airports

Liechtenstein has no airport of its own. The nearest airports: Zurich Airport (ZRH) — approximately 90 minutes by car or 90+ minutes by public transport; the main international hub for Liechtenstein residents. Friedrichshafen Airport (FDH, Germany) — approximately 75 minutes by car; serves European low-cost airlines. St Gallen-Altenrhein Airport (ACH, Switzerland) — approximately 30 minutes by car; small airport with limited routes. Vienna, Munich, and Milan are also within day-trip distance by car.