Page Contributor(s): Helmuth Dekkers, Netherlands
INTRO
Malbun is the highest village in Liechtenstein and the country's only ski resort, sitting at 1,600 m (5,250 ft) in a bowl of peaks near the Austrian border. The climb from Vaduz - Liechtenstein's tiny capital - covers 14.6 km (9.1 mi) and gains 1,197 m (3,925 ft) at an average grade of 8.2%, ranking among the toughest and longest climbs in the entire country.
The road climbs out of Vaduz on a series of hairpins with views back over the capital and its hilltop castle, then settles into a long, steady grind through Triesenberg toward Steg. Around 7 km (4.3 mi) in, the main route passes through the narrow, 740 m Gnalp-Steg tunnel - traffic-light controlled for buses and trucks - dropping into the village of Steg. A hardy alternative bypasses the tunnel via Kulmstrasse, a short, brutally steep side road (signed at 24%) that climbs to the old 1867 Kulm tunnel before descending back to the same point. From Steg, the final 3 km (1.9 mi) into Malbun average just over 10%.
Contributor Helmuth Dekkers first documented this climb for PJAMM, noting the payoff at the top: a wide mountain panorama on a clear day, with the ski lifts and chalets of Malbun spread below the surrounding peaks. Check conditions at the summit before you go with our Weather tool - this is a genuine alpine environment even in summer.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. The climb from Vaduz to Malbun covers 14.6 km (9.1 mi) and averages 8.2%, gaining 1,197 m (3,925 ft) from 404 m (1,325 ft) in Vaduz to 1,600 m (5,250 ft) at Malbun.
The grade builds gradually rather than hitting hard early. The steepest quarter-kilometer, 0.4 km (0.25 mi), averages 13.2%, the steepest 0.8 km (0.5 mi) averages 12.8%, and the steepest 1.6 km (1 mi) averages 11.8%. The last 3 km (1.9 mi) out of Steg into Malbun holds a steady grade just over 10%, which after 11 km (6.8 mi) of climbing already in the legs is where most riders feel this climb the most.
Malbun makes a good base for exploring more of Liechtenstein's small but surprisingly steep cycling scene - the country's other side, a shorter and steeper ascent from Buchs via the old tunnel route, is also worth a look if you have an extra day. Vaduz itself is worth a wander before or after the ride: the capital's hilltop castle (not open to the public, but visible and worth the short walk up for the view) and small but dense old town both make for an easy pre-ride warm-up on foot.
Summer (June through September) is the most reliable window - Malbun's ski lifts double as hiking-season infrastructure once the snow clears, and the village stays open and lively for hikers and cyclists alike. The Gnalp-Steg tunnel and the roads above it can ice over in winter and shoulder-season snow is common well into May at this elevation, so check conditions before planning a ride outside summer.
Malbun's restaurants and small hotels make it easy to turn this into an overnight trip rather than a there-and-back day ride - worth it if you also want time to explore the hiking trails radiating out from the village, including routes up toward the Austrian border just a couple of kilometers away.
ROUTE MAP
