Schwende

Travel Guide

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Schwende
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Visit this peaceful Alpine village, which has access to hiking trails and ski resorts situated within the magnificent Appenzell Alps.

Schwende is a pretty village set in the foothills of the Appenzell Alps and surrounded by lush rambling landscapes. Escape your workday stress and relax amid a region blessed by the hand of Mother Nature. Ride cable cars to sky-high peaks, hike along immaculate trails and ski at friendly resorts. Tour Schwende’s neighboring villages to get a true sense of the Alpine way of life.

Put on your walking shoes and venture into the heart of the Alpstein. Discover forest-covered valleys, flower-filled meadows, tranquil lakes and towering peaks. Find superb trails around the Hoher Kasten and Kronberg mountains or take your shoes off to follow the Gonten Barefoot Trail. Travel via cable car from Wasserauen to Ebenalp. Another cable car takes you to 8,209-foot (2,502-meter) high Säntis, the tallest Alpstein peak.

About a 10-minute drive or 1-hour walk away is Appenzell. While here, stroll down Hauptgasse street and admire the many building façades decorated with frescoes. View striking landmarks such as Appenzell Castle and the tiny Heiligkreuzkapelle church. Learn about local history at Appenzeller Volkskunde Museum and browse art exhibitions at Ziegelhütte Art Gallery. Sample several varieties of beer while taking a tour of the family-run Appenzell Brewery.

Catch a train or hike for 2 hours to Gais. Admire the superbly preserved townscape, characterized by gable-roofed and half-timbered houses. Appreciate the work of Johann Ulrich Fitzi at the Village Square Museum. Enjoy panoramic views over the Rhine Valley and toward Austria’s Vorarlberg mountain range from Gäbris peak.

During the winter months a blanket of snow turns the mountains and hiking trails into popular skiing destinations. Explore groomed and open terrain at Ebenalp Wasserauen-Schwende Ski Area and Kronberg Ski Area. Starkenmühle has great cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Have fun on the toboggan run at Altstätten.

Reach Schwende by taking a train from major Swiss cities, including Bern, Lucerne and Zurich. This is a German-speaking village but English is spoken at the guesthouse and hotels.

Hotel Walhalla

Hotel Walhalla

4 out of 5
Poststrasse 27, St. Gallen, SG
The price is P10,342 per night from Sep 28 to Sep 29
P10,342
P11,310 total
Sep 28 - Sep 29
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! (945 reviews)
Pretty good stay
"Excellent experience"

Reviewed on Sep 15, 2025

Hotel Walhalla
Four Points By Sheraton Panoramahaus Dornbirn

Four Points By Sheraton Panoramahaus Dornbirn

4 out of 5
Messestrasse 1, Dornbirn, Vorarlberg
The price is P7,985 per night from Oct 5 to Oct 6
P7,985
P8,784 total
Oct 5 - Oct 6
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Dornbirn. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,002 reviews)
"Very good"

Reviewed on Aug 14, 2025

Four Points By Sheraton Panoramahaus Dornbirn
TouchBed City Apartments St. Gallen

TouchBed City Apartments St. Gallen

3.5 out of 5
Mühlensteg 10a, St. Gallen, SG
The price is P3,881 per night from Sep 23 to Sep 24
P3,881
P7,375 total
Sep 23 - Sep 24
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in St. Gallen. Enjoy free WiFi, a rooftop terrace, and dry cleaning or laundry services. Popular attractions Mühleggbahn Funicular ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (196 reviews)
Nice location, no parking or AC
"Great location and nicely furnished apartment. Convenient laundry. No AC which made for warm and restless sleeping. Check-in was a little involved but not too bad. NO PARKING. Realistically you have to park in the crowded parking garage down the street. If you found a spot in the garage you would ..."

Reviewed on Aug 30, 2025

TouchBed City Apartments St. Gallen
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! (206 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! (115 reviews)
"Brand new place with great amenities"

Reviewed on Feb 19, 2025

Business Hotel Maier
Chalet Park by Maier Mäder

Chalet Park by Maier Mäder

3 out of 5
Reichshofstraße 11, Mäder, Vorarlberg
Stay at this 3-star chalet in Mäder. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a garden. Popular attractions Alamannen Museumsdorf and Hohenems Palace are located ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (63 reviews)
"Loved the chalet, a small delay meant I had to call the helpline to check in but that was resolved in a really efficient manner Absolutely nothing to complain about"

Reviewed on Sep 4, 2025

Chalet Park by Maier Mäder
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.

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