The first thing the people of Vaduz want you to know is that they are not Swiss; their town is the capital of Liechtenstein. Of course, you'd be forgiven for thinking so: The currency is Swiss, as is the Alemannic dialect of German, the educational system, customs control and even political representation at times. But to Liechtensteiners, it's a matter of convenience, not their cultural identity.
The second thing to know about Vaduz is the correct pronunciation: It's "Va-DOOTS," rhyming with "boots." It's surprising how new Vaduz is, with most of the city built after World War II. The one glaring exception is the fairy-tale-like castle, home to the reigning Prince Hans-Adam II.
It doesn't take long to see the main sights of Vaduz. Starting at the government building in Peter-Kaiser-Platz, Stadtle, the pedestrian street, runs north through the main entertainment and tourism district. It's about 20 minutes to walk from start to finish, but there's enough along the way to keep busy for a few hours.
Start at the striking Parliament House designed by German architect Hansjorg Goritz. It's steeply sloped like a medieval merchant house but is most definitely modern; the ocher brick structure has become a tourist favorite since opening in 2008. Guided tours are available upon request.
A few hundred yards north, the Treasure Chamber, which opened in March 2015, brings visitors closer to the principality's rulers. The museum exhibits items from the royal collection, including ceremonial weapons, Faberge eggs, artist Koloman Moser's original designs for Liechtenstein's stamps (prized by collectors) and even moon rocks (a token of gratitude from NASA for the country's help in the Apollo 11 and 17 moon landings).
But the true highlight of Vaduz is the boxy, black basalt Kunstmuseum, which has a small but impressive art collection across three floors, including works by Umberto Boccioni, Max Ernst and Pablo Picasso.
Two locations are not to be missed for local food and drink. The first is the Hofkellerei wine cellar, drawn from the "princely vineyards" just outside the building where the grapes benefit immensely from the southwestern exposure to the sun and cooling Alpine breezes: ideal conditions for chardonnay and pinot noir.
The second is up the hill at the Park Hotel Sonnenhof, where the outdoor Eagle's Nest is home to Michelin-starred cuisine by chef Hubertus Real, who makes a stupendous raviolini stuffed with veal and spinach as well as a creme brulee with French vanilla ice cream and passion fruit sauce. It's only overshadowed by the stunning castle view.
It's also the perfect location to find the true Liechtenstein character. Most diners prefer to relax with their glasses of fine wine rather than check their watches. Indeed, for those who live and work in Vaduz, time seems measured by solar movement, not ticking seconds, and that is definitely not Swiss.