The canton of Appenzell in north eastern Switzerland is an ideal location both for visiters looking for endless hiking opportunities as well as for people planning to spend a relaxing vacation with the backdrop of the Alpstein mountains.

A) Appenzell Town

Leave your car in the parking area of the town center and walk around the quaint town to see the vibrant cute buildings with beautifully painted facades. The town center also has many restaurants and bakeries. The "Drei König" bakery is one of my favourites where we bought a lot of tasty bakery items!

Also, do visit the beautiful St. Mauritius Church just off the Hauptgasse (the main street) with beautiful art decors inside- the perfect place to sit in peace for a while. Behind the church there is a cemetery as well which adds to the quiet and serene atmosphere of this place.

B) Ebenalp

This famous mountain summit can be reached by a cable car ride of approx 6-7 minutes from the Wasserauen cable car station. The cable car station is just next to the Wasserauen railway station. Wasserauen is located about 7.5 kms from Appenzell town center. There are also paid parking lots near the cable car station incase you want to drive.  

Ebenalp is a perfect starting point for scenic hikes in summer. Since we went there in February, it was a heaven for skiing. Given that I am not the most adventurous type of person and the path to the top from the cable car drop-off point was quite steep, I had to keep myself confined to the base (just outside cable car drop-off point) itself! But the white paradise there was also sufficient to make me happy!!

During summer you can hike up to the popular Wildkirchli Caves and the Berggasthaus Äscher. In winter, these places are all closed due to heavy snow. Hence, we couldn't visit them but hopefully next time during summer.

C) Hike around Wasserauen

• A popular hike route from Wasserauen is the one which leads to Seealpsee. Since these routes were all closed during February, we spent some quality time hiking around along one of the trails for a kilometer or so to admire the scenic beauty of this idyllic location. 

4. Useful Tips

• Comfortable and sturdy shoes: In whichever season you travel, always carry sturdy shoes since a lot of walking will be involved in these regions.

• Cuisine: Appenzell is known for its cheese, sweet pastries and also Appenzeller Bier! Also, try the famous Swiss fondue if you travel in winter. 

• Base location: You can stay in Appenzell town center or also in surrounding regions. We stayed at Panorama Hotel Freudenberg which is on a slight elevation and around 5-10 minutes walk from the town center. From the hotel, we could get a lovely view of the Appenzell town below at a distance.