Figuring out flights to Liechtenstein hurt my brain at first. No direct flights? Seriously? Seems everyone flies past this tiny spot. So I dug in, got my hands dirty planning this trip for real.
The Airport Search Frustration
Typed “flights to Liechtenstein” into search engines first, obviously. Big fat zero. Kept seeing this “Lilyum Airport” name pop up – turns out that’s what locals call Vaduz’s spot. Felt kinda silly not knowing that. Kept searching “Liechtenstein airport flights.” Still nada. Learned quick: you never land in Liechtenstein itself. No big jet runways here.
Scouting Nearby Options
Had to map this out physically. Laid out train timetables and flight routes like a madman. Focused on airports within shouting distance:
- Zurich Airport (ZRH): This felt like the main player. Big hub. Lots of international birds land there.
- Friedrichshafen Airport (FDH): Smaller German airport right across Bodensee lake. Looked potentially handy.
- Altenrhein Airport (ACH): Tinier Swiss airport basically ON the border. Seemed promising.
Checked travel forums next. Real people said Zurich was reliable for connections. Altenrhein? People loved its size, hated its limited routes.
The Test Run: Zurich Route
Booked a long haul into Zurich first. Landed, grabbed my bags, then hit the train station right inside the terminal. Super smooth. Bought a ticket for Sargans station in Switzerland – easy find on the boards. Train ride was maybe an hour? Views were epic Alps out the window.
Off at Sargans, dragged my case to bus stop number one. Waited for the bright yellow Liechtenstein Bus number 11. Bus driver understood my clunky “Vaduz Post” stop request. Whole trip from Zurich wheels-down to Vaduz Post office? Took about 2 hours 20 mins. Not bad. Felt achievable.
Friedrichshafen & Altenrhein Shortcut Attempt
Next time, flew into Friedrichshafen. Cute little airport, barely any lines. Hopped on a bus straight to the Romanshorn ferry port in Switzerland. Quick ferry hop across the lake – pretty nice actually. Got off in Rorschach, Switzerland.
Here’s where it got messy. Needed bus #21 to Buchs SG station in Switzerland. Easy find. But THEN, switched to Liechtenstein Bus #12 to Schaan-Vaduz. So many switches! Altenrhein was even wilder: tiny airport, crazy short runway. Landed, walked out, stared at the Swiss/Liechtenstein border fence literally right there. But no direct bus into Vaduz center? Had to walk to a nearby stop, get a bus to another stop. Not exactly smooth after a flight.
The Airport Reality Check
Finally visited the famous Lilyum Heliport – that “Liechtenstein Airport.” Wow. Tiny. One helipad. Zero commercial flights. Saw a couple small private choppers buzzing around. Grabbed pics, felt accomplished marking it off, but totally useless for actually getting into the country. Pointless unless you own a helicopter.
Here’s my blunt takeaway after the headache:
- All companies with this problem point you to Zurich: It just works. Less stress.
- Altenrhein looks cool but sucks: If your flight lands there, awesome. Chances are? Slim. Connections are patchy.
- Friedrichshafen is okay: But you’re messing with boats, multiple buses. Save it if Zurich is full.
- Liechtenstein’s “airport”? Pure tourism stop. Nothing works there for arrivals.
Personal Side: Why I Bothered
Honestly? I got obsessed when a buddy bet me dinner I couldn’t map a budget route. Then this annoying travel page kept saying it was “impossible without a car.” Rubbed me the wrong way. Needed to prove it’s messy but totally doable with buses and trains. Plus, flying into Zurich is easy from most places I go. Wanted the bragging rights for cracking the puzzle. Took a few train ticket mistakes and one panicked ferry run, but got it nailed now. Worth the hassle for that dinner win and the sweet satisfaction.
