Zermatt vs Appenzell in September, which is better
A couple is planning a trip in September, traveling from Strasbourg to St Gallen and Appenzell for 2 days, then basing themselves in Grindelwald for 6 days. They're reconsidering whether to go to Zermatt instead of Appenzell and are seeking advice on which choice offers more value for their preferences.
- If you want stunning mountain views and shopping, Zermatt is a great option, especially with the iconic Matterhorn.
- Appenzell offers a more charming, rural atmosphere with green hills and small towns, perfect for sightseeing and light hiking.
- You can easily travel between Interlaken and Zermatt, choosing either a quick tunnel route or a scenic train ride for beautiful views.
- Consider what activities you enjoy most—shopping, hiking, or scenic views—to decide on the best destination.
AI-generated summary-
- Hello, my husband and I have our itinerary set for September, but I’m rethinking some places. We were planning on leaving Strasbourg, France, and taking the train to St Gallen and Appenzell for 2 days. Grindelwd then, will be our base for 6 days. I’m wondering if we would get more “bang for the buck” going to Zermatt for 2 days instead of the Appenzell area. Could I please get some advice?
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This is like asking what the best food to eat is – we need to know what you like to do best: hiking; just taking in the views; doing zip lines, toboggan runs, etc.; sampling local foods? Do you want to avoid crowds? Is shopping high on your list (Swiss watches, souvenirs for friends back home, etc.). Only small towns, or do you enjoy the vibes of large cities with their museums, restaurants, and other attractions. Interested in lake boat rides? Want to do as many mountains as possible? We need input from you – what does “bang for the buck” mean to you?
Hi Rlearley54,
I agree with pvonk. The answer to your question depends on what you’re interested in or looking for in a holiday.
Grindelwald is definitely a good base to explore the Jungfrau region, which offers a lot of hiking options, mountain views, small village settings and lake cruises. Zermatt is well-known for the Matterhorn and as an alpine resort with year round snow at the top. These two destinations are quite popular with tourists and can get a bit crowded in peak visiting season. Appenzell would be a good alternative if you prefer something different but a favourite with the locals. The Appenzell region is known for its rolling green hills surrounded by wonderful peaks and charming towns and villages. So it’s perfect for sightseeing and also hiking.
Hope this helps in some ways. Let us know if you need more info.
Regards,
Anna
I guess an area that might be more charming than the Appenzell area? Some shopping would be fun well, for me).😁Or maybe different from the jungfrau area? While fairly fit, we aren’t big hikers.
let’s do this: knowing we’ll be in Grindelwald for most of the trip (we finish in Lucerne for 2 days), would you recommend Zermatt or Appenzell? And if it’s Zermatt, do you know if we can do a scenic train easily to Interlaken? Thank you!
Hi Rlearly54!
It really depends on your personal preferences :-). I agree with the differences described by Anna. If you want to see more mountain scenery after your stay in Grindelwald, Zermatt is a no-brainer. With the famous Matterhorn dominating the views, it’s certainly different to the Jungfrau Region. And Zermatt offers more than enough shops. You can get from Interlaken to Zermatt by either the quick Lötschberg Base Tunnel to Visp, or the scenic Lötschberger Mountain Railway. Details about both routes are available at https://www.myswissalps.com/lotschberger. The timetable allows you to plan each trip in detail: https://www.myswissalps.com/timetable
If you want to see a more rural side of Switzerland, then Appenzell is the better option.
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