Liechtenstein Panoramaweg

Sandwiched between Switzerland and Austria, Liechtenstein is the sixth smallest country in the world. Famous for its private banks and castles, this tiny Alpine principality is also home to a classic hiking trail by the name of the Liechtenstein Panoramaweg (LP). Stretching across the nation’s rugged rooftop, the LP affords spectacular views of the Vorarlberg, Rhine Valley, and Swiss Alps, and is most commonly tackled over two or three days. I hiked the Liechtenstein Panoramaweg in late August 2019.

At a Glance

Distance:  46 km (28.6 mi)**

Average Time: 2 or 3 days 

Start:  Malbun

Finish:  Ruggell 

**Officially speaking, the Liechtenstein Panoramaweg is 46 km long and split over three stages. However, the majority of the third stage between Gafadura Hut and Ruggell takes place in built-up areas along the Rhine Valley floor. I decided to give the urban finale a miss and instead finish my hike in the village of Nendeln (see map below). The total distance was approximately 32 km (20 mi).

Difficulty: Moderate

Season: June to October

Getting There & Away:

• Malbun:  A picturesque mountain village popular with skiers and snowboarders during the colder months. It’s located 30 minutes by bus #21 from the capital of Vaduz.

• Nendeln: Located just north of Vaduz, I took bus #13 to Schaan, and then transferred to bus #11 for the remaining stretch back to Vaduz.  

• The Gateway of Sargans: I arrived in Liechtenstein via the Swiss border village of Sargans. There are regular bus connections between there and Vaduz (32 minutes). Sargans also offers easy access to the impressive Pizol Five Lake Trail and for those interested in something longer, it represents the eastern terminus of the Alpine Pass Route across Switzerland (See “Why the Liechtenstein Panoramaweg?” below).

Maps / Information

• Online Information: The Official Tourism website for Liechtenstein (tourismus.li) is the go-to resource for the Panoramaweg. It contains a basic overview of the trail, GPX/KML files, transport beta, and food and accommodation recommendations. Click on the following links for specific information on each of the LP’s three official stages: Stage 1 – Malbun to Steg; Stage 2 – Steg to the Gafadura hut, and; Stage 3 – Gafadura Hut to Ruggell.

• Other Online Sources: 1. Activity Workshop – This excellent website has a map, Kmz files, and trekking notes; 2. Wanderland.ch – Comprehensive resource for hiking in Switzerland, also has information for the Liechtenstein Panoramaweg including elevation profile, transport details, and an overview map.

• Topographic Map –  Hiking map 1:25’000: Fürstentum Liechtenstein. You can pick up this sheet at the tourism office in Vaduz.

• Food: You can purchase all that you need at one of the supermarkets in Vaduz or Sargans. Additionally, you can also purchase meals and snacks at the various accommodation options along the trail (see below).

Route / Conditions

The Liechtenstein Panoramaweg is an undulating high route across the rooftop of the world’s sixth smallest country. The trail is well maintained and clearly signed with “Route 66” markings throughout its course. It is suitable for hikers of all ages and levels of experience, though a reasonable level of fitness and a good head for heights are recommended.

Stage 1 – From downtown Malbun, the trail climbs more than 700 m (2297 ft) to the summit of Augstenberg, which affords an impressive 360-degree panorama. It soon passes the scenically located Pfälzerhütte (a good overnight option if you make a late start), before descending northward toward the signposted junctions for the village of Steg. As an alternative, hikers can stay on the trail for a short time longer and overnight at the reasonably priced Sücka Berggasthaus.

Stage 2 – Includes the highlight sections of the Panoramaweg – the cliff-hugging Fürstensteig and the spine-tracing Drei Schwestern (“Three Sisters”). Although by no means technical, care should be taken on these exposed stretches, which include metal cables and ladders. In between the Fürstensteig and the Three Sisters, the trail stays mostly on the eastern side of the ridge, affording gorgeous mountain views into Vorarlberg, Austria.

Stage 3 – The final stage begins with a steep drop through the forest to the villages of Planken and Nendeln. As mentioned above, I decided to end my hike at the latter, which is serviced by regular buses back to Vaduz.

Accommodation

• Accommodation: Multiple options along the route. These include Pfälzerhütte (6 km mark), Steg / Sücka (13 to 14 km mark), Gafadurahütte (25 km mark), Planken (29 km mark), and Nendeln (32 km mark).

• Is camping allowed?: Officially speaking, wild camping is illegal in Liechtenstein. Unofficially speaking, there are a handful of areas along the route where a Leave No Trace devotee could discreetly bivouac for the evening without causing too much fuss (i.e. set up at dark and leave at dawn the following morning).

Final Notes

Five Fun Facts about Liechtenstein

1. It’s the world’s leading producer of false teeth.
2. It has the second-highest per capita income in the world after Monaco.
3. With an area of 160 km² (61.78 mi²), it’s nearly seventeen times smaller than Rhode Island, America’s smallest state.
4. After San Marino, it’s the second-least-visited country in Europe.
5. Along with Uzbekistan, it’s one of only two double landlocked nations on earth (i.e. surrounded by countries that are also landlocked).

Why the Liechtenstein Panoramaweg?

I undertook my first hiking trip to the Alps in 1997. It was a 340 km (211 mi) east to west crossing of Switzerland on the Alpine Pass Route. The journey began in the village of Sargans, located on the border between Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Before commencing I distinctly recall gazing at the rugged peaks located northeast of the train station and thinking to myself, “Hmm, Liechtenstein. I bet there are some cool places to hike in those mountains.”

I never forgot that moment. And thanks to a personality which is in equal parts inquisitive, sentimental, and peculiarly adamant when it comes to fulfilling random train station musings, I decided to begin my most recent Alpine hiking journey at the very same place some 22 years later. It turned out my hunch was 100 percent correct; the mountains of Liechtenstein are indeed a wonderful place to experience on foot. And of the more than 120 trails that dot its bucolic Alpine landscape, it’s hard to imagine there are many (if any) to surpass the grandeur and beauty of the appropriately named Liechtenstein Panoramaweg.