Vaduz dreams where the clouds find rest.

– Unknown author.

August 2026

Having been to neighbouring Switzerland so many times, I never thought of crossing over to Liechtenstein till now. From the Cote d’Azur, I overnight in Milan and reach Vaduz in early afternoon. The size of a city like Washington DC, the sixth smallest country in the world with a grand total population of 4,000 actually has one of the world’s highest GDP. The abundant jewellery stores are Swiss-like, but the Alpine microstate is a monarchy, ruled by a powerful prince who has the power to veto laws and dismiss the government.

For once, the itinerary is ultra-simple. I stroll along the main street, checking out the cool Kunstmuseum as well as the colourful collection of centuries-old stamps at the Post Museum. A fifteen-minute hike takes one to the iconic, picture-perfect castle with a bird eye’s view of the entire valley. Descending back to the city centre, you find the Town Hall, government buildings, the cathedral, and plenty of gelateria.

Ten days after my visit, Liechtenstein is on the news: royal succession rules are finally changed to allow women to ascend the throne. As the last country in Europe to give women the right to vote (in 1984!) and having welcomed its first female prime minister, Brigitte Haas, last year, ending centuries of male-only inheritance brings the principality closer to modern gender equality norms.

Beyond Vaduz, there are plenty of things to explore from castles to ski resorts, and some of the best views to the Alps. May the road take me back to these trails!

This is part of my P193 project with the goal of visiting all countries in the world, beginning with Europe and Central Asia, bringing the current country count to 128!

Andorra: the Nobility of Time

Mythical Marseille

Edenic Cote d’Azur

Belarus: A Last Frontier

Moldova: A Journey in Time

Kazakstan

Turkmenistan

Uzbekistan