Villas in Nesslau
Nesslau suits families and walkers who want a Toggenburg base with a railhead, the Säntis bus and Wolzenalp walks nearby. It is about an hour's drive from Zurich Airport. It sits at roughly 760 metres on the Thur, so the bigger ski areas are a trip further up the valley.
- Villas
- 8
- From, per week
- £450
About Nesslau
Nesslau is a valley village on the Thur and the southern terminus of the Bodensee to Toggenburg railway. It sits beside Neu St. Johann, whose former Benedictine abbey is a heritage site of national significance, and the municipality also takes in Krummenau and Stein. The homes are spread around the village rather than in one street, mostly sized for about six, with gardens common and a few saunas. This is farm and forest country between the Speer and the Stockberg rather than glacier terrain. Evenings are quiet and there is no nightlife to speak of. Alt St. Johann lies about 10 km up the valley from Neu St. Johann, with the ski villages in the upper part of the valley.
Is Nesslau right for you?
- Best for
- Walkers and families wanting a quiet, connected Toggenburg village
- Not for you if
- You want to ski from the door or have bars and shops close at hand in the evenings.
Near Nesslau
Säntis and Schwägalp
A PostAuto bus runs from Nesslau-Neu St. Johann station to the Schwägalp Pass, where the aerial tram rises to the Säntis summit.
Wolzenalp
Nearby hiking and skiing area, used for walking in summer and for skiing in winter, close to Nesslau.
Unterwasser and Chäserrugg
Up the valley, the Iltiosbahn funicular and an aerial tram climb from Unterwasser to the Chäserrugg in the Churfirsten range.
Getting to Nesslau
Zurich Airport is about an hour by car, roughly 71 km. By train allow around an hour and 50 minutes, changing at St. Gallen or at Wattwil and Wil, ending at Nesslau-Neu St. Johann station. Hourly S2 trains make a car optional, but it helps for the Schwägalp and the higher villages.
When to go to Nesslau
Summer and early autumn suit the valley's many hiking paths, the Säntis cable car and the Thur waterfalls. In winter the ski areas at Wildhaus, Unterwasser and Alt St. Johann are up the valley, and Wolzenalp has its own skiing. Nesslau lies at about 760 metres, well below Wildhaus at around 1,100, so check snow before planning a ski week.
Villas in Nesslau
4-star property
Alpenrösli in Nesslau
Nesslau, Eastern Switzerland, Switzerland
9
4
0
BBQParkingGarden+6 more
from£64
per night
5-star property
1-Bedroom Home, Nesslau
Nesslau, Eastern Switzerland, Switzerland
4
1
0
ParkingDishwasherGarden+7 more
from£79
per night
5-star property
3-Bedroom Home, Nesslau
Nesslau, Eastern Switzerland, Switzerland
9
3
0
Air ConParkingDishwasher+10 more
from£108
per night
5-star property
5-star property
Zwinglis Fewo Klärli
Nesslau, Eastern Switzerland, Switzerland
6
3
0
ParkingDishwasherTerrace+8 more
from£108
per night
4-Bedroom Home, Nesslau
Nesslau, Eastern Switzerland, Switzerland
7
4
0
DishwasherFireplaceParking+9 more
Musikloft
Nesslau, Eastern Switzerland, Switzerland
3
1
0
DishwasherFireplaceTerrace+7 more
from£134
per night
2-Bedroom Home, Nesslau
Nesslau, Eastern Switzerland, Switzerland
6
2
0
DishwasherParkingTerrace+5 more
Nesslau villa holidays: questions answered
Can you get to Nesslau by train?
Yes. Nesslau-Neu St. Johann is the southern terminus of the Bodensee to Toggenburg line, with an hourly S2 service. From Zurich Airport the journey takes just under two hours with one or two changes.
How do you get from Nesslau to the Säntis?
Take the PostAuto bus from Nesslau-Neu St. Johann station to the Schwägalp Pass, then the aerial tram to the summit at just over 2,500 metres. It makes an easy day out without a car.
Is Nesslau good for skiing?
Only modestly. Wolzenalp near Nesslau offers some skiing, but the main Toggenburg ski areas are further up the valley at Wildhaus, Unterwasser and Alt St. Johann, so plan to drive or take the bus.
Is Nesslau or Wildhaus the better base?
Wildhaus is the valley's highest village and has ski resorts of its own. Nesslau is lower, has the railway station and suits walkers and families who want easy train links more than lift access.
Nearby towns to Nesslau
Written by the TrustedVillas team. Last reviewed October 2026.
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