Appenzell

A small, traditional town of painted wooden façades below the Alpstein range in north-east Switzerland, known for its cheese, its herb liqueur and the open-air cantonal assembly held each April. Above it, the Ebenalp cableway leads to the Wildkirchli caves and the Aescher guesthouse built into a cliff, and the Seealpsee lake is a walk below. Reached by the narrow-gauge Appenzeller Bahnen from Gossau or St. Gallen. Cow processions to and from the high pastures fill late spring and September.

Highlights

• Painted façades on the Hauptgasse
• Aescher guesthouse under the Ebenalp cliff
• Wildkirchli caves
• Seealpsee lake walk
• Säntis summit views
• Appenzeller cheese at the show dairy
• Landsgemeinde open-air vote (last Sunday of April)
• Alpine cow processions in September

Things to do

• Ebenalp lift, Wildkirchli caves and the Aescher cliff innMay–OctMorning · 4h
• Walk down to SeealpseeAfternoon · 2h 30m
• Appenzell town and its painted housesAfternoon · 1h 30m
• Appenzeller Show Dairy in SteinMorning · 1h 30m
• St. Gallen Abbey LibraryMorning · 2h

Tours & tickets

When to go

Best time: May – October

• Alpine cow processions (Alpabfahrt) — In September and early October herders bring the cows down from the high pastures, garlanded with flowers and great bells, with village markets on the day. Dates are set locally, often only weeks ahead.