The beautiful little country that's one of the world's richest but gets few tourists

It is famed for its medieval castles, mountain views and being one of the richest countries in the world.

But the principality of Liechtenstein is also one of the least visited countries on the planet with just 85,000 visitors in 2023 so for anyone who enjoys their holidays free of crowds, it may be one to add to the list.

The Lonely Planet describes Liechtenstein as a "pipsqueak" of a country but one made of fairytale stuff, being a country in the middle of the mountains, "crowned" by turreted castles and ruled by a monarch with an "iron will".

Liechtenstein marked its 300th anniversary in 2019 so is a relatively new country, but it boasts a number of attractions, including the hillside castle Schloss Vaduz, Burg Gutenberg and St Florin Cathedral.

While the population is under 40,000, GDP per capita is £148,000 ($184,000), making the tax haven one of the richest countries in the world.

(St. Florin Cathedral in Vaduz (Image: Getty)

Liechtenstein also has a "top notch" dining scene, according to theculturetrip.com, drawing on Alpine and European cuisine. The guide recommends Burg Brasserie, Restaurant Adler, Restaurant Torkel and Michelin-starred Marée in the capital Vaduz.

Travel blog onestep4ward.com describes the city as "a lovely place to spend a few days and eat over-priced but delicious food".

Booking.com's top picks for places to stay in the country include the Hotel Restaurant Kulm in the centre of the beautiful mountain village, Triesenberg.

Hotel TURNA Malbun, family-friendly Gorfion Familotel and Hotel Oberland are also among the travel website's top picks.

(A view from Switzerland towards Liechtenstein (Image: Getty)

Despite being one of the world's richest countries, Liechtenstein doesn't have an airport with the nearest flights hub being Zurich.

Flights from London to the Swiss hub usually take about one hour 40 minutes with Liechtenstein just over an hour's drive away.

Ref: The beautiful little country that's one of the world's richest but gets few tourists (express)