CH · Canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden · 47.33°N 9.41°E

appenzell

Painted village houses, sharp local cheese and green foothills below the Alpstein peaks.

Best time
May–June is green and good for walks on the lower pastures; July–September opens up the high trails. In September, decorated cows are brought down from the summer pastures; winter snow closes most of the hiking.
How long
2 days
Getting there
Fly with one stop to Zurich, usually via Singapore, Dubai or Istanbul, about 15–17 hours all in. The train takes about 2 hours, changing at Gossau or St Gallen. Switzerland is 6 hours behind KL in summer and 7 in winter.
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CH · Canton of Appenzell Innerrhodenappenzell47.33°N 9.41°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Painted village houses, sharp local cheese and green foothills below the Alpstein peaks.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingAppenzellCH, Canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden
KLappenzell
≈ 9,922 km from KL, as the crow flies
Aerial View of Appenzell

Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Appenzell is a small, traditional village of brightly painted houses in one of Switzerland's most rural cantons, where citizens still vote by show of hands in the square each April. Beyond the main street, green hills roll up to the jagged Alpstein mountains.

Makan

  1. Appenzeller cheeseA spicy hard cheese washed in a secret herbal brine; the show dairy in nearby Stein lets you watch it being made.Map ↗
  2. Appenzeller BiberFlat honey gingerbread filled with almond paste, often with a picture pressed on top.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. HauptgasseThe main street, lined with painted wooden façades, bakeries and cheese shops.Map ↗
  2. Ebenalp and the AescherA cable car from Wasserauen to Ebenalp, then a short walk down through the Wildkirchli caves to the Aescher, a guesthouse built into a cliff.Map ↗
  3. SeealpseeA green lake under limestone peaks, about an hour's uphill walk from Wasserauen.Map ↗
  4. Museum AppenzellEmbroidery, costumes and painted furniture that explain the region's traditions.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Seealpsee is a real climb from Wasserauen, and the path down from Ebenalp past the Aescher is steep, so wear proper shoes.
  • Halal meat is hard to find in the village; bring food from Zurich or St Gallen, or stick to cheese, bread and the bakeries.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.