Villas in Urnäsch
Urnäsch suits walkers and anyone curious about Appenzell customs, with the Säntis above it and the Silvesterchlausen each winter. The homes sleep three to six and most have a garden. Nightlife is limited, and the big ski areas are elsewhere.
- Villas
- 6
- From, per week
- £560
About Urnäsch
Urnäsch is a farming village at 832 metres in the Appenzell Hinterland, on the river of the same name, and its territory, the largest by area in Appenzell Ausserrhoden, reaches all the way to the Säntis summit. The main street is a protected row of old houses, and one of the oldest houses on the Dorfplatz holds the Appenzeller Brauchtumsmuseum, with its alpine hut and painted 1817 hunger chest. Shopping is basic: a Coop supermarket, two bakeries, butchers and dairies. Evenings are rural and quiet, with Herisau and St. Gallen the places for a night out. The homes are spread around the village rather than in one street; most have a garden, and they sleep three to six.
Is Urnäsch right for you?
- Best for
- Walkers and families after a traditional Appenzell village
- Not for you if
- You want big-resort skiing or evenings out, since Urnäsch has only small lifts and its nightlife is rural and mostly local.
Near Urnäsch
Schwägalp and Säntis
Postbus 791 takes the Schwägalp pass road towards the Toggenburg; the Säntis cable car leaves from Schwägalp, which has a cheese dairy too.
Appenzell
Appenzell, in Innerrhoden, is one of the classic day trips from Urnäsch, along with the cheese dairy at Stein.
St. Gallen
The abbey district, with its cathedral and library, makes a good day trip from Urnäsch.
Getting to Urnäsch
Zurich is the nearest international airport, about an hour and a half away by train. Urnäsch is on the Appenzeller Bahnen line from Gossau and Herisau. The main road comes in from Herisau, and a car helps for the trailheads, though postbuses reach starting points such as Rossfall and Kräzerli.
When to go to Urnäsch
Summer is for hiking and the alpine season, with herds driven up in May and June and back down in August and September, often slowing traffic. Autumn brings cattle shows. Winter has a small ski lift, sledging on the Kronberg and the Silvesterchlausen on 31 December and again on 13 January.
Villas in Urnäsch
2-Bedroom Home, Urnäsch
Urnäsch, Eastern Switzerland, Switzerland
6
2
0
BBQDishwasherInternet+5 more
from£211
per night
5-star property
1-Bedroom Home, Urnäsch
Urnäsch, Eastern Switzerland, Switzerland
3
1
0
ParkingDishwasherGarden+7 more
from£103
per night
5-star property
Chronbach
Urnäsch, Eastern Switzerland, Switzerland
4
1
0
BBQParkingGarden+5 more
from£90
per night
5-star property
Tiererlebnishof Windegg
Urnäsch, Eastern Switzerland, Switzerland
6
2
0
BBQParkingGarden+7 more
from£80
per night
4-star property
Bömmeli,Appenzell AR
Urnäsch, Eastern Switzerland, Switzerland
6
3
0
BBQParkingFireplace+9 more
from£186
per night
Alpen-Paradies Edelweiss Urnäsch
Urnäsch, Eastern Switzerland, Switzerland
4
2
0
GardenWashing MachineInternet+5 more
Urnäsch villa holidays: questions answered
When is Silvesterchlausen in Urnäsch?
Twice each winter: on 31 December, or the day before if that is a Sunday, and again on 13 January, the old New Year's Eve of the Julian calendar. Groups of Chläuse with bells visit farms in the morning, the village at midday and inns in the evening.
Can you ski at Urnäsch?
On a small scale. Skilift Urnäsch runs in winter, with a beginner lift and ski school at Osteregg, plus cross-country trails at Urnäsch and Schwägalp. For a large ski area, look further afield.
Is the Brauchtumsmuseum in Urnäsch worth a visit?
Yes, if you want to understand Appenzell life. Set in one of the oldest houses on the Dorfplatz, it holds Silvesterklaus bells you can try, a furnished alpine hut, music rooms and some 8,000 objects, including 148 carved cows.
How do you get to Urnäsch from Zurich airport?
Take the train. The journey from Zurich, the nearest international airport, takes about an hour and a half, finishing on the Appenzeller Bahnen line via Gossau and Herisau into Urnäsch.
Nearby towns to Urnäsch
Written by the TrustedVillas team. Last reviewed November 2026.
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