Switzerland · 2026 itinerary
Appenzell 3-Day Itinerary
A day-by-day plan for Appenzell: the best attractions in order, where to eat, how to get around — with free hotel briefings for your stay.
Arrive & Explore the Highlights
The open-air political square where citizens vote each April by raising their swords. Surrounded by guild houses and the striped Appenzell Banner. A great spot to sit on a bench and watch life go by.
🕐 Always open
Free entry💡 If you visit on the last Sunday in April, you'll witness the Landsgemeinde vote — it's free and unique, but get there by 11am to see the procession.
Hotels near Landsgemeindeplatz (Town Square) →A level 2km path along the River Sitter from the edge of the village to the Eggerstanden hamlet. You pass wooden footbridges, grazing cows, and small farms selling cheese directly from their doors.
🕐 Always open
Free entry💡 Pack a Swiss army knife and buy a half-wheel of Appenzeller cheese (CHF 8–12) from the farm at the far end — they offer a taste before you buy.
Hotels near Paradeplatz to Eggerstanden Walking Path →Berggasthaus Ahorn · ££
Böhli · ££
Deeper Into Appenzell
A perfectly preserved medieval village with painted house facades, carved wooden signs, and a cobbled main square (Landsgemeindeplatz). The entire town centre is walkable in under an hour.
🕐 Always open
💡 Arrive before 9am on a weekday to see the weekly farmers' market set up — it's locals-only and quiet, with better photo light.
A compact folk museum in a classic Appenzell house showing traditional costumes, cow bells, and butter churns. Good for understanding why the Appenzell breed of brown cow lives on steep slopes.
🕐 Tue-Sun 10:00-12:00, 14:00-17:00 (closed Mon)
💡 Skip the audio guide; the English captions on exhibits are sufficient. Best ten-minute stop is the upstairs room with hand-painted furniture.
Gasthof Frohe Aussicht, Schwende (AI)
Badi Appenzell
Final Favourites & Departure
A working brewery that makes Appenzeller Bier. The self-guided tour costs CHF 5 and takes 30 minutes, showing copper kettles and a bottling line. A tasting of o
💡 Skip the expensive beer spa. Instead, buy a CHF 3 'Bierverschnitt' (beer-and-lemonade mix) in the shop — locals drink it after hiking.
Migros Restaurant
Hotel Kaubad
Getting Around Appenzell
Cheapest option, but the PostBus from St. Gallen to Appenzell is a local route with narrow winding roads – scenic but queasy for some. Bring a book; there's no WiFi on PostBus. Last bus from St. Gallen departs 20:00.
Fixed fare 320 CHF – cheaper than metered taxis. Use appenzell-taxi.ch and book at least 24 hours ahead. Ask for a German-speaking driver; they'll show you shortcuts via Herisau that avoid St. Gallen traffic.
Use the SBB app and select 'AIL' route: tram 12 from airport to Zurich HB, then direct IC train to St. Gallen. The final narrow-gauge train to Appenzell is privately run – your SBB ticket covers it. Arrive at Alte Metzg by turning right out of the station, it's the third building on Hauptgasse.
Buy a SuperSaver ticket online in advance to cut costs to around 52 CHF. The last leg from St. Gallen to Appenzell is on a narrow-gauge line with great views of the Alpstein – sit on the right side heading out of St. Gallen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 3 days enough for Appenzell?
Three days covers the main highlights well. You can see the key attractions like Landsgemeindeplatz (Town Square) and get a genuine feel for the city. For a more leisurely pace or to explore neighbourhoods in depth, a 5-day trip is better.
What is the best time to visit Appenzell?
See our full best time to visit Appenzell guide — it covers weather month by month, peak vs. shoulder seasons and how to avoid the crowds.
Where should I stay for this itinerary?
A central location saves transit time between sites. Top options include Pilgerherberge, Haus Ebneter B+B, Schlafen im Stroh. See the full ranked list with free briefings for each.