Liechtenstein is a small Alpine country between Switzerland and Austria with a population of roughly 40,000 people. For residents and visitors, everyday safety is generally not dominated by serious violent crime, but that does not mean that crime and other risks are absent.
The Liechtenstein National Police handles criminal offences, traffic safety, emergencies and public security throughout the country. The latest police annual report recorded 1,424 offences in 2025, with a clearance rate of 68%. The report also identified burglary, drug-related offences, cybercrime, fraud and serious road traffic accidents among the matters dealt with by police.
Liechtenstein has a relatively small absolute number of recorded offences because of its small population, so raw crime totals should not be interpreted in the same way as statistics from a large country or city.
According to the National Police's 2025 annual report, total crime increased by more than 4% compared with the previous year, reaching 1,424 offences. At the same time, the police clearance rate increased to 68%.
The 2024 police report recorded 1,373 offences, meaning that the number of offences increased by 51 in 2025.
The statistics show that Liechtenstein is not completely free of crime. The police dealt with several different categories of offences during 2025, including:
The 2025 report also noted that burglaries had decreased, while cybercrime in its broader sense increased.
Tourists visiting Liechtenstein should normally follow the same basic precautions they would use when travelling elsewhere in Europe.
The country's small size means that visitors can move relatively easily between Vaduz, Schaan, Triesen, Balzers, the Rhine Valley and the mountain areas. However, the type of risk changes depending on where you are.
Liechtenstein is home to international workers, families and people who move to the country for employment, education or other reasons.
For someone moving to Liechtenstein, everyday safety considerations are similar to those in neighbouring Switzerland and Austria. However, newcomers should also become familiar with local laws, emergency numbers, traffic regulations and mountain safety.
Long-term residents should keep important documents secure and understand the procedures for reporting crimes, accidents or other emergencies.
Liechtenstein does not have large metropolitan neighbourhoods comparable with Zurich, London or Berlin. Instead, the country consists of 11 municipalities, each with residential, commercial and rural areas.
Rather than describing one municipality as universally "safe" or another as "unsafe," it is more useful to understand the different environments found across the country.
Vaduz is the capital of Liechtenstein and an important centre for government, culture, tourism, business and services. The town contains the government district, museums, restaurants, shops and tourist attractions.
Visitors should use normal precautions around busy tourist areas and keep valuables secure, particularly when carrying cameras, phones or travel documents.
Schaan is one of Liechtenstein's main business and employment centres. It combines residential areas with industrial and commercial zones.
The normal precautions for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers are particularly relevant because of the combination of residential, business and traffic areas.
Triesen is a residential municipality located between Vaduz and the mountain slopes. It includes both developed residential areas and access to higher-altitude terrain.
For residents and visitors using hiking routes, mountain conditions should be considered in addition to ordinary urban safety.
Balzers is located in the southern part of Liechtenstein and includes residential, commercial and industrial areas. It is connected to neighbouring Switzerland and has several routes used by pedestrians, cyclists and commuters.
Triesenberg extends into the mountainous part of Liechtenstein. Safety considerations here are different from those in the Rhine Valley because weather, snow, steep terrain and hiking conditions can become important.
Visitors should check conditions before heading into the mountains and use appropriate footwear and equipment.
One of the most important safety differences between Liechtenstein and a typical city is the country's Alpine terrain. A large part of Liechtenstein is mountainous, and the country has numerous hiking routes.
The official tourism organization recommends appropriate hiking footwear for the Liechtenstein-Weg and advises hikers to prepare for the conditions along the route.
Traffic is another practical safety consideration for residents and tourists. Liechtenstein has roads connecting its municipalities and neighbouring Switzerland and Austria, while pedestrians and cyclists also use many of the same routes.
The National Police reported that road traffic accidents increased by 4% in 2025, although accidents involving injuries and the number of people injured declined slightly or remained approximately stable. Two fatal traffic accidents were recorded during the year.
There is no reason to assume that all areas of Liechtenstein are unsafe after dark. Nevertheless, normal nighttime precautions are appropriate.
If walking at night:
Conditions can be different in rural and mountain areas, where darkness, steep paths and limited visibility can create risks unrelated to crime.
Physical safety is not the only issue to consider. The Liechtenstein National Police reported cybercrime as an important area of activity in its recent annual reports.
The 2025 report said cybercrime in the narrower sense had almost halved, while broader cybercrime increased again.
Residents and visitors should therefore also protect themselves online.
The Liechtenstein National Police is responsible for policing and public security in the Principality. Its headquarters are located in Vaduz.
The official National Police website provides information about police services, emergency contacts, current news, traffic information and other public-safety matters.
For emergencies, use the appropriate emergency telephone number rather than relying on an online contact form.
For police emergencies.
For fires and fire-related emergencies.
For medical emergencies and ambulance services.
European emergency number.
These emergency numbers are listed by the Liechtenstein National Administration and National Police.
For a serious medical emergency in Liechtenstein, call 144. For immediate emergency assistance, the European emergency number 112 can also be used.
When calling an emergency service, provide your location as accurately as possible and describe the nature of the emergency.
For a fire or other fire-service emergency, call 118.
If you discover a fire:
If you become the victim of theft, fraud, assault or another crime, move to a safe location and contact the police when appropriate.
International visitors should make sure they have appropriate travel documents, travel insurance and access to emergency contact information.
The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs provides country information for Liechtenstein, including current security information and travel advice.
Visitors should also follow local laws and customs and check current official information before travelling.
The Liechtenstein Center in Vaduz is the central tourism information point for visitors. It provides maps, brochures, information and practical advice about activities and attractions in Liechtenstein.
The Liechtenstein Center is located at:
Städtle 39
9490 Vaduz
Liechtenstein
Telephone: +423 239 63 63
The official tourism website identifies the Liechtenstein Center as the central point of contact for visitors and states that its experts provide information and tips seven days a week.
The National Police publishes annual reports containing crime and accident statistics. These reports are useful when evaluating safety because they provide actual recorded offences rather than relying solely on international rankings or general impressions.
The National Police reported an increase of more than 4% compared with the previous year.
The reported clearance rate increased compared with 2024.
For comparison, the 2024 annual report recorded 1,373 offences and a 64% clearance rate.
These figures should be interpreted in the context of Liechtenstein's small population and should not be directly compared with raw offence totals from larger countries.
Basic property-security precautions remain appropriate in tourist areas, restaurants, public transport and other places where people gather.
Burglary remains an area monitored by the police, although the 2025 annual report noted that burglaries had decreased during the reporting year.
Fraud investigations are among the matters handled by the National Police. Residents should be cautious with unsolicited financial requests, suspicious online offers and attempts to obtain personal information.
Cybercrime continues to be an important area of police activity. Protecting online accounts, banking information and personal data is therefore part of everyday safety.
Road safety is an important practical consideration, particularly for people travelling by car, bicycle or motorcycle.
For hikers and outdoor visitors, weather and terrain can present more significant risks than ordinary street crime.
Liechtenstein has a functioning national police and emergency-service system and is a small country with relatively low absolute numbers of recorded offences. However, visitors should still use normal precautions and pay particular attention to road and mountain safety.
Foreign residents and international workers can live in Liechtenstein, but they should follow the same basic safety precautions as other residents and become familiar with local laws and emergency procedures.
Vaduz is the capital of Liechtenstein and contains government, residential, commercial and tourist areas. Visitors should use ordinary precautions with valuables and remain alert around roads and during outdoor activities.
Normal nighttime precautions are appropriate. In addition to crime awareness, visitors should remember that rural and mountain areas can become dark and difficult to navigate after sunset.
Crime does occur. The National Police recorded 1,424 offences in 2025 and a 68% clearance rate. The statistics included property crime, drug offences, cybercrime, fraud, violent offences and traffic-related incidents. :
The police emergency number is 117. The European emergency number 112 is also available.
The medical rescue emergency number is 144.
The fire department emergency number is 118.
Hiking can be an important part of visiting Liechtenstein, but mountain conditions require preparation. Check weather conditions, choose an appropriate route, wear suitable footwear and carry enough water. Official Liechtenstein tourism guidance recommends hiking shoes for the Liechtenstein-Weg.
Call the appropriate emergency number: 117 for police, 118 for fire, 144 for medical rescue, or 112 for the European emergency service. Give your location and follow the instructions of the emergency operator.
The Liechtenstein Center at Städtle 39 in Vaduz is the country's central tourism information point. Its telephone number is +423 239 63 63.
Liechtenstein has a comprehensive police and emergency-service system, and the country's small size means that safety issues can be considered at a much more local level than in a large European city.
However, safe does not mean risk-free. The latest police statistics show that Liechtenstein experiences property crime, fraud, cybercrime, drug offences, violent offences and traffic accidents. Outdoor visitors also need to take Alpine terrain and weather seriously.
For most residents and tourists, sensible precautions are straightforward: keep valuables secure, follow traffic rules, protect your online accounts, check mountain conditions before hiking and know the emergency numbers.
The most useful emergency numbers to remember are: 117 Police, 118 Fire, 144 Medical Rescue and 112 European Emergency.