Liechtenstein is the smallest sovereign state to border both the Alps and the Rhine River.
The principality lies in the Alpine Rhine valley between Switzerland and Austria. Its western boundary follows the Rhine, while the country’s eastern side rises into the Rätikon range of the Alps. This geography gives Liechtenstein a very small but varied landscape.
Liechtenstein has no coastline and is one of the world’s doubly landlocked countries: reaching an ocean requires crossing at least two other countries. Vaduz sits near the Rhine valley, below the country’s mountainous eastern side.
Switzerland and Austria also border the Alps and the Rhine, but neither is as small as Liechtenstein. Slovenia reaches the Alps but does not share the same combination of a Rhine border and sovereign territory.