Part of our Switzerland guide.
3 places and guides from our Appenzell coverage, gathered into one page.
Related travel guides: How To Get To Mountain Hostel Gimmelwald, What To Pack For A Trip To The Mountains, A Guide To Hiking The Annapurna Circuit Trek In Nepal, Zermatt Travel Guide, and Hiking And The Outdoors In Switzerland.
9 Awesome Hikes In Appenzell, Switzerland: The Hiker's Guide
Appenzell offers nine distinct hiking trails, from gentle meadow walks to challenging alpine ascents, set in the canton’s rolling meadows and rugged peaks. The trails cover beginner-friendly routes and advanced treks, each showcasing the region’s dairy farms, wooden barns, and views of the Säntis massif.
Ebenalp & Aescher Hut Hike In Appenzell, Switzerland
The Ebenalp hike begins with a cable car from Wasserauen to the Ebenalp summit station. A 20-minute downhill trail leads to the Aescher Hut, a cliffside restaurant built into the rock face at 1,450 metres, with a terrace hanging directly over the valley floor. Hikers can continue on a loop passing Seealpsee lake, a natural swimming spot, before descending back to Wasserauen. The full circuit takes 3 to 4 hours, covers 8 kilometres, and has a moderate elevation gain of 400 metres. This route is accessible from June to October, weather permitting.
11 Best Hotels In Appenzell, Switzerland: The Complete Guide
Appenzell’s accommodation ranges from traditional farm stays to boutique hotels in the town centre. The 11 hotels include the Hotel Hecht, a historic property with a spa and regional restaurant, and the Berggasthof Aescher, which doubles as the famous cliffside hut. Other options cover the Hotel Säntis in the village of Appenzell, the B&B-style Gasthaus Bären, and the family-run Hotel Krone. Each property is within a 30-minute drive of the main hiking trailheads, and most offer half-board rates that include a packed lunch for the trails. The guide provides contact details, price ranges (starting at CHF 120 per night for a double room in the low season), and amenities at each hotel.
Hiking and the outdoors in Switzerland
The Appenzell trails link directly to the longer network of Swiss alpine paths, including the Via Alpina route that passes through the canton.
Swiss destinations and experiences in Switzerland
Appenzell offers a compact mix of cultural traditions—such as the weekly Landsgemeinde open-air parliament—and direct access to the Alpstein massif.
Things to do in Switzerland
Hiking the Ebenalp to Aescher Hut trail is consistently ranked as a must-do day trip from Zurich, 90 minutes away by train.
Visit Zermatt, Switzerland on a budget
While this guide focuses on Appenzell, those looking to visit Zermatt, Switzerland on a budget can apply similar cost-saving strategies—using regional trains instead of cable cars, and booking half-board farm stays—which work equally well in Appenzell.
