Hello,
We will be traveling to the Appenzell region on our trip to Switzerland next September. (I know it's pretty far ahead, but i want to be sure I've thought the trip thru well to make the most of our time!)
Our plan is to arrive in Zurich at 8:30AM on a Tuesday and take the train directly to St. Gallen, see the Abbey and the library before heading to Appenzell or another small town in the area. We'll be needing to leave the area 2 days later.
Can you give me a good idea of things/towns to incorporate into our time in the region? We are 65 and can walk well, but major hiking isn't possible. Can you tell me what little towns would be good to visit and some ideas of good, but budget-conscious places to stay?
We enjoy scenery, local music, cultural experiences, festivals, local markets, cool architecture, meaningful museums, etc. We have extremely limited German speaking ability. Hoping to catch the cow descent somewhere in the country during our stay!
Thanks for any and all help you can give!
Shirley
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32350 posts
Shirley,
I don't have answers to all your questions, but have a few comments that might be useful.
Are you arriving in Zürich at 08:30 after a long international flight. If so you may be jet lagged and may not have the energy to tour the Abbey in St. Gallen.
Appenzell is a good place for a "home base" in that area. It's a beautiful smaller city with a somewhat unique culture. As I recall there are local folk music festivals every Thursday night, but it's been a few years so that might have changed. THIS is the band that was playing when I last visited.
You might want to have a look at the RS Switzerland guidebook for suggestions on light hiking in that area. I'm also in my '60s and could manage a short hike to Ebenalp. You may find this helpful.
I stayed at Hotel Adler and would certainly recommend it. The room had a nice Swiss decor, was very comfortable and I thought the food in the restaurant was good. They have a bakery on the premises too.
I'm not sure you'll be able to plan for a "cow parade" during your visit, as I don't believe those take place on a specific day. You'd have to check with the hotel staff as they may be able to provide more information on that. I was able to see the cow parade in Lauterbrunnen one year, but that was mostly a matter of luck.
Good luck with your planning!
Posted by
OP
Matthews, NC, USA
130 posts
Thanks so much! This is very helpful, especially the specific links!