How to Get Around Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein has no airport and no passenger railway of its own; visitors arrive by train to Buchs or Sargans in Switzerland or Feldkirch in Austria and continue by LIEmobil bus, the national operator whose network runs throughout the country and as far as those three towns. Fares are by zone: a short-distance ticket 2 francs, one zone 3 francs (day ticket 5), two zones 4 (7), three zones and more -- the whole country -- 5 francs (day ticket 9); a single is valid 30 minutes in one zone, an hour in two, two hours from three. Tickets are sold by the driver on every bus and at the customer centre in Schaan, and no bus takes cash: all common debit and credit cards work contactlessly. Children under six travel free, under-16s and half-fare card holders at the reduced rate.

Driving is Swiss in its rules and Alpine in its conditions. A Canadian or other foreign licence is valid, though rental agencies may want an International Driving Permit; a warning triangle is compulsory; the priority-to-the-right rule applies at intersections even on secondary roads and, the Canadian advisory says, surprises foreign drivers into accidents; road conditions and safety are excellent, but mountain roads are winding, not always ploughed, and snow chains are recommended in winter. Switzerland handles immigration and customs for Liechtenstein, so the Rhine bridges are open crossings.

Entry

Liechtenstein follows Schengen rules and Switzerland handles its immigration and customs. A passport must have a date of issue less than ten years before arrival and an expiry date at least three months after the planned departure from the Schengen area; visa-free stays are 90 days in any 180 for British and other eligible passports, counted across the whole Schengen area. The EU's Entry/Exit System is being implemented across Schengen: on a first visit travellers may have fingerprints and a photo registered at the border, free of charge, and should allow extra time; the record is valid three years.

LIEmobil buses

Single and day tickets: short distance CHF 2; one zone CHF 3 single, CHF 5 day; two zones CHF 4 / CHF 7; three zones and more CHF 5 / CHF 9. Reduced rates for children up to the day before their 16th birthday, half-fare card holders, dogs, bikes and groups of ten or more; free for accompanied children under six and holders of a GA pass. Validity of singles: short distance 10 minutes (up to five stops), one zone 30 minutes, two zones one hour, three or more two hours, bicycle two hours. Bought from the driver or at the customer centre in Schaan; no cash, all common debit and credit cards. The annual pass is CHF 370 (reduced CHF 280) for all zones and is valid throughout Liechtenstein and to Feldkirch, Buchs and Sargans.

Roads

Priority to the right at intersections, even on secondary roads. Warning triangle compulsory. Foreign licence valid; an International Driving Permit may be required by rental agencies. Winter: winding mountain roads not always ploughed, snow chains recommended, water, food, warm clothing and medicines in the vehicle. Spring and summer rains can bring flooding and landslides that make roads impassable. Roadside assistance 140.

Emergency numbers

112 for all emergencies; police 117; medical assistance and ambulance 144; fire 118; REGA Swiss Air Rescue 1414. There is no Canadian government office in Liechtenstein.