Liechtenstein

As you cruise along the Rhine River, you might suddenly realize you have crossed into an entirely different country without ever hitting a border post. One moment you are in Switzerland and the next you are in the fourth smallest nation in Europe. Looking up from your steering wheel, the first thing you see is Vaduz Castle, a gray stone fortress that looks like it was plucked straight from a storybook and placed on a jagged cliff high above the town. Driving through Liechtenstein feels like being a guest on a private royal estate. The country is only 25 kilometers long and 12 kilometers wide, meaning you could technically drive from the southern tip to the northern border in about 20 minutes. But you will definitely want to slow down. The roads wind through alpine meadows where the grass is perfectly manicured and the air smells like fresh pine. There is a strange and beautiful magic to this place. It is a land where high tech global companies sit right next to ancient vineyards owned by the Prince himself. You can park your car in the capital of Vaduz, walk a few blocks to get your passport stamped for a small fee and then look up to see if the royal family is home by checking if the flag is flying over the castle turrets. It is a tiny mountain kingdom that proves the best things often come in the smallest perfectly polished packages.