Säntis cable car
Overview
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Hint
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Intro
The journey in the big Säntis cable car from Schwägalp across the rocky ridges to the mountain station is an impressive experience in itself. And once you reach the “weather mountain”, the view of six different countries will take your breath away.
The railway line to Wasserauen constructed at the beginning of the last century was actually the first section of a planned railway up the Säntis. The railway line never got further than the valley town, however, and so the cable car from Schwägalp to the top of the Säntis was opened in 1935. From the valley station, you glide almost weightlessly up to the imposing summit in around 10 minutes. At 2,502 metres above sea level, on clear days the mountain provides breathtaking views of France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
The Säntis also plays a key role in weather forecasting –
a weather station was first installed on the mountain way back in 1882. An experiential world brings the impressive natural phenomena and their elementary effects to life. A second experiential world – “Säntis – the Ice World” – was opened in 2020. Visitors learn all about snow, ice, ice crystals and glaciers through a series of fun activities and displays.
In summer, numerous special experiences such as full moon trips, sunrise ascents or Säntis-Spitzegnoss evenings attract visitors to the mountain.
Information
Altitude: 2,502 metres
How to get there: Train to Urnäsch or Nesslau, PostBus to Schwägalp, cable car to the Säntis
Views: Across the Appenzell region and the Alpstein mountain range to Lake Constance, Vorarlberg, the Graubünden Alps as far as the Bernina, in particular the Churfirsten range and beyond them the Tödi, Finsteraarhorn, Pilatus and Rigi, and across the Swiss Plateau to the Jura and Black Forest
Attractions: Identify mountains and valleys from the viewing terraces, enjoy splendid sunrises and sunsets, full moon trips, a night on the Säntis
Food and drink: Large, modern Säntisgipfel restaurant
Alter Säntis mountain inn (summer only)
Accommodation: Alter Säntis mountain inn: Double and multi-bed rooms, dormitories (summer only)
Hotel Schwägalp: Double rooms and tourist dormitories
Groups: Rooms for events at the summit and at Schwägalp (extensive event brochure available online)
Alter Säntis has space for 90 guests (function room)
Winter: Säntis cable car runs all year round (brief closure for maintenance, usually in January/February, check the timetable)
Swiss Travel Pass/GA travelcard: Discounted mountain ascent with Swiss Travel Pass/GA travelcard. Buy your tickets at the station.
Special comments: Charter trips can be arranged outside of the normal timetable with advance notice
General information
| Season |
All year
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| Time required |
2 to 4 hours (half day)
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| Suitable for |
Children, Families, Groups, Individual, Couples
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| Accessible |
Wheelchair accessible
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| Weather |
Indoor and outdoor
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| Category |
Nature
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Group & pricing information
| Info URL | https://saentisbahn.ch/ |
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Discover the surroundings
Contact
Säntis-Schwebebahn AG
Schwägalp
9107
Schwägalp / Säntis
Phone
+41 (0)71 356 65 65
kontakt@saentisbahn.ch
saentisbahn.ch
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