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5 Reasons Why You Should Visit Liechtenstein

Most people don’t know where Liechtenstein is in the map, nor spell it rightly. It’s obviously not popular but that doesn’t mean it has nothing to offer tourists. So where exactly is Liechtenstein? First and foremost, it is not a country but a sovereign principality squeezed in between Austria and Switzerland. It’s so small that it only has 160 square kilometer of land area but most of these are gorgeous Alpine countryside. Let us introduce 5 reasons why you should visit Liechtenstein.

VADUZ & GUTENBERG CASTLES
The quaint capital city of Valduz is home to Vaduz Castle, located in the heart of the city atop a steep hill. This is still a functioning castle and houses the Prince of Liechtenstein and the Royal Family. It’s not open to the public so when you come and visit you have to admire it from afar.

In the south of Liechtenstein lies another majestic castle, Gutenberg Castle, but this castle you can visit and explore for it is remarkably preserved. Strategically erected on top of a hill, and boasts Neolithic treasures, and an exquisite rose garden.

PRINCE’S WAY
For adventurous spirits, immerse in the beautiful Alpine scenery while hiking along the Prince’s Way, one of the many paths through the Ratikon Mountains. It offers a stunning view of the famous Three Sisters Mountains and the lush green valleys of Liechtenstein.

RED HOUSE
This iconic house and tower in Vaduz is painted a vibrant red and is one of the sites that you visit when you ride the Citytrain. Vaduz is quite small so you can ride the train for 30 minutes and get to visit the famous spots of the old downtown and pass by the vineyards and the refreshing countryside.

MALBUN
This little principality is a great place for winter sports especially skiing. Malbun is a classy ski resort village in Liechtenstein and is a magnet for local and international tourists during winter season. High on the 1600-meter Alpine ridges, Malbun is a wonderland for visiting families with three lifts that can haul skiers to a dazzling height of 2,000 meters and a Malbi Park Kinderland for little kids and beginners.

HOFKELLEREI
Enjoy drinking princely wine, beer and whiskey in the Prince of Liechtenstein’s Wine Cellar or locally known as Hofkellerei. Thanks to the superb condition in the Rhine Valley, the vineyards there produces excellent and award-winning wines. The stone cellar and banquet hall is a perfect place to unwind over a glass or two of a Chardonnay or Pinot Noir.

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5 Cool Places to Visit when in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina was a war-stricken country in the early 1990’s, but more than two decades after the horrifying atrocities, they have rebuilt. No more war zone, crumbling buildings, and hungry survivors, instead, what lies in the city streets are skyscrapers and big shopping centers with billboards of the latest fashion. Tourism had increased each year and if you have plans of visiting the country, read through the 5 cool places to visit when in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

BOSNIAN PYRAMID
People might think that only Egypt and Mexico have the claim to ancient pyramids but no one would think that Bosnia and Herzegovina is home to the oldest man made pyramid dating back to 30,000 years ago. It’s still a big controversy up to now because most experts won’t accept the fact that this is the biggest and oldest pyramid in the world dwarfing even the Pyramid of Giza.

TITO’S NUCLEAR BUNKER
This top-secret nuclear bunker carved in the intestines of the adjacent mountain. A seemingly innocent small house is the entrance to this underground bunker that can house 350 officials for up to 6 months. For 26 years, Josip Broz Tito orders the creation of this secret bunker and was completed in 1979. Now an art gallery, walking down its thick hallways will also take you back to Yugoslavia in 1950’s.

STARI MOST
One of the most popular landmark of the country, Stari Most meaning Old Bridge, is a beautiful bridge that was ruined during the war but was now reconstructed. A UNESCO World Heritage, this bridge was built more than 400 years ago but was destroyed during the 1993 war, only in 2004 was it rebuilt. And if you want to see something crazy and adventurous, watch as some daring locals do bridge jumping. Annually there is a big Bridge Diving Competition held here and it’s one big weekend party for locals and tourists.

KRAVICA WATERFALL
A breathtaking masterpiece of nature, the Kravica Waterfall, is the mini version of Argentina’s Iguazu Falls. This 75-meter waterfall is in the heart of the Perucica forest, known to be the last primeval jungle of Europe. Go swimming in its natural water pools and inject some thrill by trying the rope swing.

SARAJEVO ROSES
Wherever you go in this country, you will definitely see war relics and monuments, a proof that no matter how devastating the war was, the people still commemorated it because many of their loved ones have sacrificed their lives. A daily average of 300 shells would bombard the towns and leave craters on the streets of Sarajevo. Many of these battle scars are filled with red paint to mark casualties and these are now called the Sarajevo Roses because of the rose pattern it resembles.