How big is Liechtenstein and what is its capital

Asks Madeline

A. The Principality of Liechtenstein covers 160 sq km (62.5 sq miles) of land. Its capital is Vaduz.

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Q. Is it a member of the European Union

A. It is not a member of European Union, but it joined the European Economic Area (EEA) in 1995 - so it has some trade agreements with the EU.

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Q. What is its official language

A. German is the official language, although Italian and Turkish are spoken in some areas of the country.

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Q. What is the currency

A. The Swiss franc and the euro. It is one of the most expensive countries in Europe, so not the best place to visit if you're on a tight budget.

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Q. Is Liechtenstein the smallest country in the world

A. No, it is the fourth smallest.

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Q. Can you fly there from the UK

A. Liechtenstein does not have an international airport, the nearest is across the border in Zurich, Switzerland. Flights from London to Zurich take approximately 1.5 hours. Zurich is 80 miles (approximately 1.5 hours by road or rail) from Vaduz and good rail and road transport links connects them. An auto-route connects Zurich with Vaduz (with exits for Balzers, Bendern and Rugell).

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Q. What is Liechtenstein like to visit

A. If you visit during the winter months it is a ski resort (its ski season runs from November to April - its main resort is at Malbun) or during the summer it is very temperate, green and busy as many tourists visit to make the most of its fresh mountain air.

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Its landscape is similar to neighbouring parts of Switzerland and many people passing through mistake it as part Switzerland especially as there are no border regulations between the two countries (as opposed to crossing into Austria from Liechtenstein, where normal passport control is in place).

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Q. When is the best time to visit

A. It depends whether you like snow, if you are a skier then the winter is the best time to visit, otherwise any other time of year is always good although the summer months are very busy. A good time to experience local festivities is on 15 August, national day.

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Q. Can you recommend any good places to visit

A. Unless you are skiing or landscape watching there isn't that much to see in Liechtenstein for the tourist.

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The best place to stay is in Vaduz. This is a small town by the standards of any other European capital, but its two main streets - �ulestrasse and St�dtle - have ample shops, cafes and restaurants to satisfy most visitors.

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It also packs quite a few museums into a small space. The National Museum exhibits artefacts, coins, ceramics, handicrafts and weapons that all contribute to an overall view of Liechtenstein through the ages - as does its audio visual presentation that tells the history of the country.

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Other good museums worth visiting include the State Art Collection (with a substantial amount of the Prince's personal collection on display - including works by Rembrandt, Rubens and Van Dyck), the Postage Stamp Museum, the National Library and the Ski Museum. You will also get a glimpse of the royal castle - pictured above - while in Vaduz, but it is not open to the public as it is the home of Prince Hans Adam II.

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Q. What other towns would you recommend I visit during my trip

A. Some of the other good places to visit include Feldkirch (a small town in Austria, but very close to the border) which boasts a lot of medieval architecture; Triesenberg is very high in the mountains above Vaduz and is a great place to visit (especially in the summer) to take photos of the Rhine valley in all its glory - it also has great hiking trails and a fascinating folk museum; Schann has a great theatre and its well known for its Roman excavations; Triesen is a good place to visit to see its old chapels and Balzers for its castle and churches.

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By Karen Anderson