Appenzell, Switzerland: A Perfect 5-Day Itinerary for "Soft Travel" & Alpine Culture Lovers

Morning:

Arrive in the car-free village of Appenzell. Check into your hotel and take a gentle stroll through the Hauptgasse. Observe the intricate, hand-painted facades of the wooden houses.

Afternoon:

Visit the Museum Appenzell (located in the town hall) to understand the “soft travel” philosophy through local embroidery and folk art. Afterward, walk 15 minutes to the Appenzeller Brauerei Locher for a tasting of Quöllfrisch beer.

Evening:

Dine at Restaurant Gass 17. Try the Chäs-Chnöpfli (local cheese dumplings).

Pro tip: Keep an eye out for the “Ledi”. The traditional wagon used to move cattle. In late summer/early fall, you might catch a spontaneous cattle procession right through the village.

Morning:

Take the 15-minute train to Wasserauen, then ride the Ebenalp Cable Car (6 minutes). Walk down through the prehistoric Wildkirchli Caves to the Aescher Cliff Restaurant.

Afternoon:

Instead of rushing back, hike down the well-marked path to Seealpsee (approx. one hour). The reflection of the mountains on this alpine lake is the definition of “soft travel.”

Evening:

Enjoy a quiet dinner at Restaurant Marktplatz. Pair your meal with a glass of Federweiss (local white Pinot Noir).

Travel time: 20 mins total transit from Appenzell Village.

Morning:

Travel 10 minutes to Stein and visit the Appenzeller Show Dairy (Schaukäserei). Witness the secret herbal brine process that makes this the most flavorful cheese in Switzerland.

Afternoon:

Embark on a section of the Appenzeller Cheese Trail. This custom route from Stein to Urnäsch takes you through rolling meadows and past traditional farmsteads.

Evening:

Dine at the Michelin-recommended restaurant inside Hof Weissbad. Their farm-to-table approach focuses on hyper-local ingredients sourced within 20km.

Travel Time: 15–20 mins via local PostBus or train.

Morning:

Travel to Schwägalp (30 mins) and take the cable car to the summit of Säntis (2,502m). On a clear day, you can see six countries from the observation deck.

Afternoon:

Return to the valley for a “soft travel” experience: an Appenzell Herbal Walk. Many locals still forage for the 42 herbs used in the local Alpenbitter liqueur.

Evening:

Farewell dinner at Restaurant Adler in Appenzell. Order the Appenzeller Siedwurst (boiled sausage), a protected regional specialty.

My personal take: Don’t skip the summit even if it’s cloudy at the bottom. Often, you’ll find yourself standing on a “sea of clouds” with the peaks poking through like islands.

Morning:

Visit a local Sennensattler (leather craftsman) to see how the ornate brass-studded belts worn by local farmers are made by hand.

Afternoon:

Take a final, slow walk to the Lourdes Grotto in Weissbad, a place of immense quietude and local pilgrimage.

Evening:

Depart via the Appenzeller Bahnen toward Zurich or St. Gallen.

Additional days & alternative experiences:

Schauhandwerkzentrum: Spend a day in Urnäsch at the folk-craft center learning traditional woodcarving.

Winter Wonderland: If visiting in January, witness the Silvesterklausen, a hauntingly beautiful masks-and-bells festival.

Kronberg Bobsled: For a touch of gentle adrenaline, visit the Kronberg family mountain for the 1,000m power-toboggan run.