Liechtenstein

The world’s sixth-smallest country, Liechtenstein is situated in the Alps along the Rhine River between Switzerland and Austria. Its capital city is Vaduz, a modern, rather opulent mountain town where you will see plenty of sports and luxury vehicles driving around. I even spotted a Bugatti among them. The country’s wealth is largely attributed to its highly developed financial sector and low corporate and personal tax rates, which makes the country quite appealing to international clients and investors. In fact, there are more registered businesses and jobs than there are people, with around 15,000 people commuting to Liechtenstein for work.

Despite its small size, Liechtenstein has a pretty diversified economy with particularly strong high-tech manufacturing in precision instruments and dental products. While not part of the European Union (EU), it is part of the European Economic Area (EEA), which provides access to European markets while still maintaining a great degree of economic independence. Along with its small population of only around 40,000 people, these combined economic factors result in a high GDP per capita, making Liechtenstein one of the wealthiest countries in the world.

The system of government is a unique blend of a monarchy and democracy. While technically a constitutional monarchy Prince Johannes Adam Ferdinand Alois Josef Maria Marko d'Aviano Pius von und zu Liechtenstein, or “Hans-Adam II” for short, appears to have a firm grasp on power dynamics and enacts laws largely based on referenda.

The Prince has always enjoyed a high approval rating and is said to occasionally hold a meet-and-greet and drink a beer with the public, at the Schloss Vaduz castle above the city where I spent most of the weekend while I was there.

Accommodation is quite expensive, unfortunately. The only hostel there was around $60 a night minimum, but luckily I was able to stay with a lovely couple whom I contacted on Couchsurfing and taught me so much about little Liechtenstein.

There isn’t much to do or see besides hiking and checking out the eclectic pieces of architecture in Vaduz, but it is a nice and serene little country.