Liechtenstein

Considered by area, Liechtenstein’s a pinhead, a dust mote, a sand grain: as scaled-down a country as you’ll find in Europe. Take a look at its elevational profile, though, and you’ll find a boldly defined landscape leaping skyward from alluvial lowlands to jagged Alpine heights. And then peek at its coffer, which outshines those of countries many times its size (Liechtenstein enjoys one of the highest GDPs per capita in the world).

The tiny Principality of Liechtenstein—which can be regarded as something of a relic of the Holy Roman Empire—burrows between Switzerland and Austria. As neither of those nations have a seacoast, Liechenstein’s a rare “doubly landlocked” country (a distinction shared only with Uzbekistan). Its western and northern extent encompasses the fertile lowlands of the Rhine River, but the rest of the country is mostly the rugged dominion of the Central Alps—specifically the rough peaks of the Rhätikon Mountains, which reach 8,500 feet in the Grauspitz.

That Alpine domain makes outdoor recreation a mainstay of Liechtenstein tourism. In summer, lace up the hiking boots and roam subalpine conifer forests, mountaintop meadows, and craggy ridge crests on an extensive network of high-country footpaths. Delightful mountain huts will put you up along the Liechtenstein Panorama Trail, a 30-mile traverse of the country’s rooftop between the resort town of Malbun and the Rhine. It’s in winter, though, that Liechtenstein’s mountains may call the strongest: Malbun’s one of the great skiing and snowboarding destinations in Central Europe.

The little capital of Vaduz, meanwhile, provides a fine hub for any and all Liechtenstein forays. From the guardian hilltop castle looming above to its well-kept art galleries and museums, it has a rich slate of attractions to explore when you’re not gamboling about the Alps—or exploring the wineries of the Rhine Valley.

Anchored by the complementary natural and cultural landscapes of the Upper Rhine and the snowy Alps, Liechtenstein’s worth a stop on any journey through Central Europe. This itsy-bitsy monarchy feels like a charming mix of its bigger neighbors, and has the scenery to rival both.