Top Things To Do & Best Hikes in Appenzell
While tourists flock to Zermatt and the Berner Oberland, Appenzell remains surprisingly quiet.
The mountains may not be as high or the valleys as deep, but the sharp ridges and serrated rock edges make this an excellent hiking destination.
It’s also accessible. Cable cars provide easy access to excellent hikes, breathtaking views, and scenic huts carved into the rock.
If you’re a fan of the dramatic spiky peaks and alpine meadows like those of the Italian Dolomites, then Appenzell might be a great destination for you.
Here’s our complete guide to Appenzell and the areas that surround it including what to see, the best hikes, and where to stay.
WHERE IS APPENZELL?
Appenzell is in the northeastern part of Switzerland, 15 kilometres from the Austrian border. It lies at the foot of the Alpstein Mountains in the region of Apenzellerland about 1 hours’ drive from Zurich.
It is famous for its eponymously named ‘Appenzeller cheese’ and for the stunning beauty of its countryside.
WHEN TO VISIT APPENZELL?
June to the end of September is the best time to visit Appenzell.
The summer season in the high Swiss Mountains can be short. Snow often covers the trails on the 4,000m high mountains, and the huts and cable cars can remain closed until July.
However, the mountains in Appenzell are not as high, only reaching 2,500m. This means that the summer season can last much longer.
The main cable cars are open all year and the mountain huts open from May until October.
You might find snow on the higher trails until June or July. Snow can come again in September. However, you can hike many of the lower paths from June to October.
Appenzell is also much less busy than its more famous rivals (Zermatt and the Berner Oberland), so even in peak summer, it doesn’t feel too crowded.
WHAT TO DO IN APPENZELL
1 – AESCHER HUT & WILDKIRCHLI
Aescher Hut is the iconic image of Appenzell.
Beneath a 100m high cliff, this lovely wooden guesthouse perches on a narrow ledge. It seems to almost hang in the air as the dramatic scenery of the Alpstein mountains stretches below.
The hut was built 160 years ago by farmers. They needed a place to rest while their goats grazed on the hill. Today, the hut offers accommodation, delicious food and drinks, and a fantastic outdoor mountain terrace. It’s one of the best you’ll find anywhere.
The hut is only a 25-minute hike from the top of the Ebenalp Cable Car and almost anyone can undertake the walk.
Along the way you’ll pass through a dark cave (bring a phone with a torch) and a hermitage called Wildkirchli, where Priest Ulmann lived as far back as 1658.
It’s a great spot for lunch but it can get busy, so try to arrive a little early. The hut is open from May to the end of October.
