Liechtenstein is a perfect retreat for outdoor enthusiasts and anyone in search of fresh air with breathtaking scenery. For us, Liechtenstein was a much needed break from a whirlwind two-week European road trip. To be honest, our day hike in Liechtenstein was also needed to work off the countless pretzels and beer enjoyed during two days at Oktoberfest in Munich!
Continue reading for our recommendation on an easy and fun day hike on the Fürstensteig trail-Alpspitz Loop in Liechtenstein:
Hike the Fürstensteig Trail
3 hours – 3.75 miles – Moderate Hike
A loop trail which will return you to the parking lot where you begin, a perfect day hike! Begin on the Fürstensteig trail (a.k.a Prince’s Way) to Kamin (Chemi) to Alpspitz and return to the parking lot. The Fürstensteig is considered the most famous trail in Liechtenstein. We recommend this hike to anyone who loves beautiful views, but isn’t afraid of heights.
Online this hike is described as moderate or difficult, but I rate it as easy to moderate. It is relatively short and has only 1,600 ft in elevation gain, so you do not have to be in the best shape of your life to complete it. The scariest part of the hike is driving along the windy, narrow roads to reach the parking area!
Parking/How to Reach the Trailhead
The parking area is located in Gaflei. If you have your own car, plan to arrive at the trailhead early as the parking lot is small and it will fill up early (especially on the weekends).
Another option is taking a public bus which will drop you off in the parking area. This is a good option if you don’t want to drive on the windy roads or don’t have a car.
Another bonus about this day hike is the super clean public restrooms available at the trailhead. I always have to recommend a clean trailhead restroom when I find one!
Do I need a map?
Initially I was worried about getting lost, but hopefully this post put you at ease. All of the hiking trails in Liechtenstein are clearly marked and well maintained, but we recommend using a map while hiking. You can pick one up at the information center in Liechtenstein’s capital Vaduz.
The Hike
I’ve already mentioned the steep and windy roads on the way to the trail parking which is located at an elevation of 4,763 ft. This means your car (or the bus) has taken care of the steepest part of the hike for you! The highest elevation you will hike to is the top of Alpspitz (6,377 ft).
Begin your loop hike by taking the Fürstensteig trail. The Fürstensteig “Prince’s Way” trail is stunning and definitely better to climb up, rather than down. There are warning signs about watching your footing and advising you are not afraid of heights. The trail width was not as small as I pictured while doing online research and there are handholds available during technical parts.
It is important to follow the signs and stay safe! Walking along the narrow Fürstensteig trail
This trail provides amazing views which is probably why it is so popular. Even with its popularity, it wasn’t overcrowded with tourists during our visit. Many of the hikers on the trail are locals getting morning exercise and fresh air.
At the end of the Fürstensteig trail continue on toward Alpspitz. The next trail we followed headed towards Kamin (Chemi). This trail is really steep! There are switchbacks to guide you to the top with a little bit of effort and perseverance. At the top of Kamin, the cross located at summit of Alpspitz was in view. Another 15 minutes on the trail and you arrive at the summit.
We met more local hikers relaxing at the summit. They were surprised to find American tourists at the top of this mountain. They questioned us on how we found the hike and I described my long and detailed Google search. We enjoyed taking with them and taking photos. They insisted we sign the guestbook located at the top of the mountain and indicate where we were from. Be sure to add your name to the guestbook if you also complete this hike!
After the summit of Alpspitz we continued to follow the trail down the mountain and back to the car. The walk down is steep and you may slip on the way like I did, so be careful! You will eventually find a well maintained switchback section of the trail. This was way more fun to walk down than it would have been to walk up, which is why we recommend following the Fürstensteig trail up the mountain.
We made it back to our car quicker than expected. The hike took us just under three hours. We didn’t even eat our trail snacks and had plenty of water leftover. Since we completed the day hike in the morning, we had the whole day ahead of us to continue exploring Liechtenstein. Check out our Two Days in Liechtenstein blog post to see how we spent the rest of our time in Liechtenstein.
