The Vaduz Citytrain, the capital in 35 minutes on wheels

Little tourist trains aren’t usually my thing, I’ll admit. But in Vaduz the Citytrain makes sense for one very specific reason. The best of the capital isn’t on the museum street; it’s up in the vineyards and in that shot of the Red House with the castle behind, and the train gets you there without the climb in 35 minutes.

Times and prices for 2026

The season runs from 1 April to 31 October 2026. Individual travellers get two departures a day, at 13:00 and 16:30, every day. Groups book the rest, between 9:00 and 17:00. Tickets cost CHF 12 for adults and CHF 5 for children aged 4 to 16, and a family ticket for two adults and up to three children is CHF 30. Pair the train with the castle film and it’s CHF 22 and CHF 10.

This is where plenty of people pay more than they need to. The ALL INCLUSIVE Adventure Pass, at CHF 25 per day, covers the Citytrain, and the WELCOME pass, handed out free by some hotels to overnight guests, knocks off 20%. If you’re also doing museums and buses, I’d run the numbers with my guide to the Liechtenstein Adventure Pass.

The route

The municipality describes the loop itself. It leaves the centre, climbs through the Mitteldorf past small vineyards to the Red House, carries on across fields and meadows to the inner Rhine dyke, passes the Rheinpark Stadion and returns to the Städtle. The stop I care about is the Red House in Vaduz, where the train pauses so you can hop off for the photo with the castle behind. The operator says its drivers are always happy to take a group picture too.

Along the way, a GPS audio system knows where the train is and tells you about what you’re passing, from the country and the princely family to history and current affairs. The operator mentions 41 languages, English included. The municipal website gives a different figure, 29, so I’ll go with the operator’s, since they run it.

Where to catch it

At the coach terminal beside Vaduz Town Hall, at the northern end of the Städtle. The ticket desk is there, run by the operator together with the tourist board, and tickets are also sold online from its website. The nearest bus stops are Vaduz, Städtle and Vaduz, Post.

Is it worth it, or should you walk?

It depends on who you are. With young children, someone who struggles to walk or just one day for everything, I’d take it, because it saves a climb and gives you in half an hour what takes longer on foot. For anyone who walks well and has a free afternoon, the stroll through the Mitteldorf in Vaduz is free, lets you stop wherever you like and brings you to the Prince’s winery in time for the tasting.

There are other versions for groups only. The Wingert Tour, about 60 minutes, stops at the Prince’s vineyard with a glass of white and a glass of red, and costs CHF 510 for up to 20 people. The operator also runs extended versions of the classic loop for groups of at least 20, with names like «Die Fürsten von Liechtenstein», «Liechtensteiner Schätze» and a «Gold» package, combining the train with other visits in the centre. For a company or club trip, I think it’s the easiest way to show a lot of people Vaduz in little time. And in Advent the operator announces a free fairy-tale outing, the «Märlizögle», with no further details on its website. Out of season I haven’t found published departures for individual travellers, so in winter I wouldn’t count on it.

Fitting it into your day

On a day trip from Zurich, the 13:00 train slots in nicely after lunch and leaves time for the castle film at the Altes Kino. The 16:30, on the other hand, gets you to the Red House in the late afternoon light, which is the best for the photo. Given the choice, I’d take the later one. Either way, buy your ticket at the desk by the town hall a little before departure, or online from the operator’s website, rather than through a third-party tour.