Gais

Travel Guide

Gais
Gais
Gais
Gais
Gais

Discover some of Switzerland’s finest Alpine scenery and majestic views of the Rhine Valley when staying at this attractive rural village.

Gais is a laid-back village nestled within the Alpine foothills of the Appenzell Outer Rhodes canton. Escape the crowds and enjoy the tranquility of gently rolling hills, sweeping mountain valleys and verdant woodland. Hike to hilltop lookouts, ride cable cars to imposing massifs and ski at welcoming resorts. Gais is an agricultural center that became known in the mid 1700s for its medicinal whey cures.

Admire baroque-inspired buildings, gable-roofed and half-timbered houses lining quiet streets. The village won the prestigious Wakker Prize in 1977 for its architectural preservation. Highlights include an 18th-century church and the large Hotel zur Krone. The Stoss Monument memorializes a 1405 battle when local residents threw stones and branches at invading Austrians. Browse a collection of works by Johann Ulrich Fitzi at the Village Square Museum.

Follow hiking trails departing from the village and travel deep into pristine Alpine countryside. Breathe in fresh air as you cross sprawling meadows around the 4,104-foot (1,251-meter) tall Gäbris peak. Marvel at sweeping views over the Appenzell Alps, Lake Constance and Austria’s Vorarlberg mountains. Go cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at Starkenmühle and tobogganing at Altstätten.

South of Gais the jagged peaks of the Alpstein region reach toward blue skies. Find excellent hiking trails at Ebenalp, Kronberg and Hoher Kasten. Take the scenic cable car to 8,209-foot (2,502-meter) tall Säntis, the tallest Alpstein massif. Ski and snowboard at Ebenalp-Schwende Ski Area and Kronberg Ski Area.

Be sure to visit the nearby villages. Appenzell is famous for its fresco-decorated buildings such as Hampi Fässler House. Learn about beer making on a tour of the Appenzeller Brewery. Schwende and Trogen afford superb panoramas of forest-covered hills.

Reach Gais easily via train services from St. Gallen and Zurich, among other major Swiss cities. You can also get here by train from Bregenz, Austria and Konstanz, Germany. Relax after a day of outdoor activities in the comfort of a traditional alpine lodge. Gais is German-speaking, although as the town is a tourist destination English is quite common.

PLAZA Hotel Buchhorner Hof

PLAZA Hotel Buchhorner Hof

Friedrichstraße, 33, Friedrichshafen
The price is P6,716 per night from Aug 17 to Aug 18
P6,716
P7,558 total
Aug 17 - Aug 18
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Friedrichshafen. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (354 reviews)
"Comfortable lodging in a historic building in an excellent location steps from the train station and across the street from Lake Constance. Excellent service. Outstanding breakfast in a beautiful setting."

Reviewed on Jul 12, 2025

PLAZA Hotel Buchhorner Hof
Hotel Walhalla

Hotel Walhalla

4 out of 5
Poststrasse 27, St. Gallen, SG
The price is P7,186 per night from Aug 17 to Aug 18
P7,186
P8,038 total
Aug 17 - Aug 18
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in St. Gallen. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (897 reviews)
"Lovely hotel, location to the train excellent, room very clean and comfortable and spacious. Breakfast good but layout and finding a table wasn’t always easy."

Reviewed on Aug 3, 2025

Hotel Walhalla
Hotel City Krone

Hotel City Krone

4 out of 5
Schanzstr. 7, Friedrichshafen, BW
The price is P8,827 per night from Aug 24 to Aug 25
P8,827
P9,817 total
Aug 24 - Aug 25
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Friedrichshafen. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (690 reviews)
"We only stayed one night, I wish we had stayed more. It was a lovely town! The staff were so friendly!"

Reviewed on Jul 23, 2025

Hotel City Krone
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Village by Maier - kontaktloser Check-in

Village by Maier - kontaktloser Check-in

3.5 out of 5
Maderspergerstraße 9, Hohenems, Vorarlberg
Stay at this 3.5-star aparthotel in Hohenems. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and daily housekeeping. Popular attractions Jewish Museum and Schubertiade are located ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (196 reviews)
"Need to improve the cleaning of the kitchen"

Reviewed on Dec 1, 2024

Village by Maier - kontaktloser Check-in
Business Hotel Maier

Business Hotel Maier

3.5 out of 5
Montfortstraße 6, Goetzis, Vorarlberg
Stay at this 3.5-star apartment in Goetzis. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a fitness center. Popular attractions Alamannen Museumsdorf and Stoffels Saw-mill ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (108 reviews)
"Brand new place with great amenities"

Reviewed on Feb 19, 2025

Business Hotel Maier
Relaxed Urban Living

Relaxed Urban Living

4 out of 5
Mühlegasse 6a, Dornbirn, Vorarlberg
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Dornbirn. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a rooftop terrace. Popular attractions Dornbirn City Museum and Marktplatz are ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (8 reviews)
Nice and clean flat with parking in basement.
"Nice place close to Bregenz. The pool is very cold though. Easy key collection through automatic box at the place and easy parking underneath."

Reviewed on Jul 26, 2025

Relaxed Urban Living
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.