Gais Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Gais
Gais
Gais
Gais
Gais

Discover some of Switzerland’s finest Alpine scenery and majestic views of the Rhine Valley when staying at this attractive rural village.

Gais is a laid-back village nestled within the Alpine foothills of the Appenzell Outer Rhodes canton. Escape the crowds and enjoy the tranquility of gently rolling hills, sweeping mountain valleys and verdant woodland. Hike to hilltop lookouts, ride cable cars to imposing massifs and ski at welcoming resorts. Gais is an agricultural center that became known in the mid 1700s for its medicinal whey cures.

Admire baroque-inspired buildings, gable-roofed and half-timbered houses lining quiet streets. The village won the prestigious Wakker Prize in 1977 for its architectural preservation. Highlights include an 18th-century church and the large Hotel zur Krone. The Stoss Monument memorializes a 1405 battle when local residents threw stones and branches at invading Austrians. Browse a collection of works by Johann Ulrich Fitzi at the Village Square Museum.

Follow hiking trails departing from the village and travel deep into pristine Alpine countryside. Breathe in fresh air as you cross sprawling meadows around the 4,104-foot (1,251-meter) tall Gäbris peak. Marvel at sweeping views over the Appenzell Alps, Lake Constance and Austria’s Vorarlberg mountains. Go cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at Starkenmühle and tobogganing at Altstätten.

South of Gais the jagged peaks of the Alpstein region reach toward blue skies. Find excellent hiking trails at Ebenalp, Kronberg and Hoher Kasten. Take the scenic cable car to 8,209-foot (2,502-meter) tall Säntis, the tallest Alpstein massif. Ski and snowboard at Ebenalp-Schwende Ski Area and Kronberg Ski Area.

Be sure to visit the nearby villages. Appenzell is famous for its fresco-decorated buildings such as Hampi Fässler House. Learn about beer making on a tour of the Appenzeller Brewery. Schwende and Trogen afford superb panoramas of forest-covered hills.

Reach Gais easily via train services from St. Gallen and Zurich, among other major Swiss cities. You can also get here by train from Bregenz, Austria and Konstanz, Germany. Relax after a day of outdoor activities in the comfort of a traditional alpine lodge. Gais is German-speaking, although as the town is a tourist destination English is quite common.

Hotel Walhalla

Hotel Walhalla

4 out of 5
Poststrasse 27, St. Gallen, SG
The price is ₹9,589 per night from 20 Jul to 21 Jul
₹9,589
₹10,816 total
20 Jul - 21 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in St. Gallen. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (863 reviews)
"Excellent location - one min from train station. Decent breakfast included. Room very nice and clean and modern and spacious."

Reviewed on 14 Jul 2025

Hotel Walhalla
PLAZA Hotel Buchhorner Hof

PLAZA Hotel Buchhorner Hof

Friedrichstraße, 33, Friedrichshafen
The price is ₹13,425 per night from 20 Jul to 21 Jul
₹13,425
₹14,926 total
20 Jul - 21 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Friedrichshafen. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (346 reviews)
"Comfortable lodging in a historic building in an excellent location steps from the train station and across the street from Lake Constance. Excellent service. Outstanding breakfast in a beautiful setting."

Reviewed on 12 Jul 2025

PLAZA Hotel Buchhorner Hof
TouchBed City Apartments St. Gallen

TouchBed City Apartments St. Gallen

3.5 out of 5
Mühlensteg 10a, St. Gallen, SG
The price is ₹4,079 per night from 21 Jul to 22 Jul
₹4,079
₹9,222 total
21 Jul - 22 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in St. Gallen. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a rooftop terrace and dry cleaning or laundry services. Popular attractions Mühleggbahn Funicular ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (173 reviews)
"Very clean, good kitchen facilities. Amazing views across the city. Note there is no lift if you have heavy luggage and are on one of the upper floors, it is quite a challenge."

Reviewed on 10 Jul 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.
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 Wi-Fi, free parking and a fitness centre. Popular attractions Alamannen Museumsdorf and Stoffels Saw-mill ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (102 reviews)
"Brand new place with great amenities"

Reviewed on 19 Feb 2025

Business Hotel Maier
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 Wi-Fi, free parking and daily housekeeping. Popular attractions Jewish Museum and Schubertiade are located ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (187 reviews)
"Need to improve the cleaning of the kitchen"

Reviewed on 1 Dec 2024

Village by Maier - kontaktloser Check-in
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 Wi-Fi, free parking and a garden. Popular attractions Hohenems Palace and Jewish Museum are located nearby.
8.6/10 Excellent! (46 reviews)
"Modern cabin. Quiet neighbourhood. Layout to bunk bed double bed is not convenient for mid age couple to climb up and it is hot up there. No cleaning cloth to clean tables."

Reviewed on 6 Jul 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.

Cities near Gais