Approximate Border Location
Border Countries
- 🇱🇮Liechtenstein
- 🇦🇹Austria
Border Cities
- 🇱🇮Schaanwald
- 🇦🇹Feldkirch
Wait Times
Minimal (open border)
Operating Hours
24/7
Crossing Types
Road crossing
Border Type
Land border
Peak Times
Morning commute
Daily Crossings
Unlimited
Currency Exchange
CHF, EUR
Safety Information
Very low risk
Languages Spoken
German
Accessibility Features
Basic ramps
About Schaanwald & Feldkirch
Schaanwald to Feldkirch-Tisis: Liechtenstein’s Quiet Back Door to Austria
High in the alpine valley where Liechtenstein squeezes between Switzerland and Austria, a small road and a couple of bus stops mark the Schaanwald to Feldkirch-Tisis border crossing. You leave the world’s sixth-smallest country and step straight into the Austrian state of Vorarlberg with almost zero drama. This is the only road border Liechtenstein shares with Austria, and it feels more like crossing from one village to the next than entering a new nation.
History Carved by Mountains and Treaties
The border follows old medieval paths and was fixed when Liechtenstein became independent in 1806. For decades Austrian and Liechtenstein customs officers sat in little huts collecting duties on coffee and cigarettes. Liechtenstein joined the Schengen Area in 2011, the huts were abandoned overnight, and today only faded signs and an occasional stone marker remind you a frontier ever existed.
Before Crossing
Crossing borders gets messy sometimes, think political flare-ups or gates shutting fast. Good travel insurance is a must for handling doctor visits, trip disruptions, or security scares. Don’t get caught unprepared. To find a policy that’s got your back, check out reliable plans today for peace of mind.
Open 24 Hours with No Checks
There are no fixed hours and no staff. Cars, buses, cyclists, and hikers cross day and night, every single day of the year. Random police patrols happen once in a blue moon, mostly looking for stolen vehicles. Tourists almost never see anyone in uniform.
Austria to Liechtenstein (Most Common Direction)
From Feldkirch station in Austria take Liechtenstein Bus route 11 or 14 (every 15 to 30 minutes) and ride just 10 to 15 minutes to the Schaanwald stops. Or drive the L52 road; the actual border line is marked by a tiny sign and a change in the road surface. Walkers and cyclists use the smooth paved path that runs parallel. You are legally in Liechtenstein the moment you pass the sign, no stamp, no questions.
Liechtenstein to Austria
From Schaanwald or nearby Tisis simply reverse the trip. The same buses run back to Feldkirch station where you connect to Austrian trains or continue deeper into Vorarlberg. The ride is short enough that many locals commute daily without ever thinking about passports.
Transport That Barely Notices the Border
Liechtenstein Mobil buses accept both Swiss francs and euros; buy tickets on board or with the LIEmobil app. Austrian trains from Feldkirch reach Zurich in 1 hour 20 minutes or Innsbruck in 2 hours. Driving takes under five minutes end-to-end. Cyclists love the flat valley route along the Rhine and the Ill River.
Hassles? Almost None Exist
No scams, no touts, no fake officials. The only tiny annoyance is mobile data briefly switching between Liechtenstein and Austrian providers, which can trigger roaming alerts if your plan is strict. Otherwise this crossing is as peaceful as alpine borders get.
Weather and Seasons
Summer offers perfect cycling weather and long daylight. Winter brings snow but the road and buses keep running reliably. Spring and autumn give crisp air and fewer visitors. Rain or shine, nothing stops the flow here.
Nearby If You Want to Linger
Schaanwald itself is tiny but has a good supermarket right on the border (cheaper Austrian prices on one side, Liechtenstein selection on the other). Feldkirch old town is a 10-minute bus ride away with medieval walls and cozy cafés. Hikers can head up to the Three Sisters peak for panoramic views over both countries.
Last Thought
This is Schengen at its friendliest: same language, same mountains, same relaxed alpine lifestyle on both sides. Hop the bus or pedal across, grab a coffee in Feldkirch, and remember that some borders are just lines on a map that people stopped caring about a long time ago. If you want a souvenir stamp, detour to Vaduz tourist office; here you will not even find a sign big enough for a selfie.
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