Europe
A tiny Alpine principality of castles, vineyards and mountain trails.
Liechtenstein is a narrow strip of the Rhine valley and Alpine slopes squeezed between Switzerland and Austria, small enough to cross in half an hour. Vaduz is watched over by the prince's castle and has the Kunstmuseum's modern art collection, while vineyards climb the hillsides and the ski village of Malbun sits high above the valley.
The pace is calm and orderly, with hearty Alpine food such as Käsknöpfle, local wine and well-marked hiking routes, including the Liechtenstein Trail that crosses the whole country. There is no airport, so most people arrive via Zurich or nearby Swiss and Austrian stations. June to September is best for hiking, and winter brings family-friendly skiing in Malbun.
June, July, August, September.