The country has the lowest visitor numbers in Europe (Image: Getty)
This summer will see the usual wave of Brits heading to the continent to enjoy their favourite destinations. Around 17 million will head to Spain and its sunny islands, with France, Italy, and Greece not far behind.
But there’s much more to Europe than the Mediterranean, and some European countries get far fewer visitors. One tiny country that’s often overlooked saw just 228,579 nights spent in tourist accommodation in 2024, a far cry from the hordes descending on Benidorm, but while it’s abundant in natural beauty, some travellers have branded it ‘boring’.
Few people venture over the border to Liechtenstein (Image: Getty)
Landlocked Liechtenstein is hardly somewhere you’d call a classic holiday destination. It doesn’t have beaches or big tourist attractions, and many people don’t even notice it on the map squeezed between Austria and Switzerland. Still, it’s among the world’s smallest countries and boasts beautiful Alpine scenery, castles worthy of a Disney movie, and an impressive selection of museums.
However, some visitors who’ve gone off the beaten path to venture into Liechtenstein have branded it a bit, well, boring. Kami, a Polish blogger who visited the tiny country dubbed it “the most boring country I’ve ever been to” and said she didn’t blame people for not visiting as “I couldn’t really find anything exceptional to even like [about] the place”.
A Reddit thread entitled “Liechtenstein (and why I think it isn’t really worth it)” seemed to back up her claims, with the poster writing: “There isn’t anything wrong with it, but there isn’t anything special about it.” Many posters have suggested it’s better explored as a day trip rather than making a specific journey.
Vaduz Castle has a fairytale vibe (Image: Getty)
Liechtenstein doesn’t have an airport, so most travellers arrive at Schaan-Vaduz station just north of the capital, with scenic trains running through the Alpine scenery from Austria. But don’t count on travelling throughout the country by train – Liechtenstein only has three train stations.
Luckily, there are buses and taxis from Schaan-Vaduz, and most tourists’ first port of call is the fairytale-style Vaduz Castle, still the official residence of the Princely Family of Liechtenstein. While its gates are firmly shut to commoners, it’s worth visiting the grounds to enjoy sweeping views of the Rhine Valley.
In the shadow of the castle, the capital of Vaduz is a compact city that’s a blend of modern architecture with Alpine touches. Visitors can explore the Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein, a modern art museum set in a boxy black building, but full of colour and contemporary artworks inside.
There are a small number of attractions such as the Kunstmuseum (Image: Getty)
The smaller Liechtensteinisches LandesMuseum focuses on the natural and cultural history of Liechtenstein, while the Kathedrale St. Florin has a neo-gothic style and features grand stained glass windows and dramatic carvings.
Nearby Malbun is the country’s main ski resort, and typically opens from mid-December to early April. Uncrowded and with family-friendly trails, it’s the perfect place for bringing young kids thanks to Malbi-park, an area that has a ski school, practice lifts, and other handy facilities to give them their first taste of the slopes.
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