Heidiland & Liechtenstein Day Trip from Zurich

Vaduz, capital of Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein is a principality of about 160 square kilometres wedged between Switzerland and Austria, with fewer than 40,000 inhabitants. It is one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world, and it uses the Swiss franc and has an open border with Switzerland, so no passport check is needed on the way in.

In Vaduz, the capital, your free time begins on the Städtle, the pedestrian main street lined with museums, cafés and modern architecture. Above the town, Vaduz Castle is still the private residence of the Prince and is not open to visitors, but the view of it from below is one of the classic photos of a day trip to Liechtenstein. The tourist office can stamp your passport as a souvenir.

Heidiland and the Heidi village near Maienfeld

Heidi, written by Johanna Spyri and published in 1880, tells of an orphan girl who lives with her grandfather on an Alpine pasture above the small town of Maienfeld. The book became one of the best-selling Swiss works of all time, and the region around Maienfeld now proudly calls itself Heidiland.

Above the town lies the Heidi village, with a chalet furnished as in the story, a small museum and a petting area with goats. Entry to the Heidi House is optional and paid separately. Even without going inside, the meadows and mountain views feel just like the pages of the book, and children in particular love this stop on a Heidiland tour.

Rapperswil, the town of roses

Rapperswil sits on a peninsula at the upper end of Lake Zurich and is known as the town of roses, with thousands of rose bushes in its public gardens that bloom from June to autumn. Its medieval castle, founded by the counts of Rapperswil in the 13th century, crowns a rocky hill above the harbour.

From the castle terrace you look across the lake to the long wooden footbridge that links Rapperswil with Hurden, following an old pilgrims' route. The old town's arcaded lanes and lakeside promenade make this a charming first glimpse of eastern Switzerland on your way out of Zurich.

The Ricken Pass and Lake Walen

Between Lake Zurich and the Rhine valley, the coach crosses the Ricken Pass, a gentle mountain road through the green hills of the Toggenburg region, dotted with farmsteads and grazing cows. It is a slower and more scenic route than the motorway, chosen to show you rural Switzerland.

The journey also runs alongside Lake Walen, where the sheer limestone cliffs of the Churfirsten rise almost vertically from the water. Your guide shares stories about the regions you pass, and Wi-Fi on board lets you share photos along the way. The order of stops can vary from day to day.