How to Get the Most Out of Kronberg with Kids

Family Fun Factor
1 hour ago
6 min read

Kronberg: Family mountain with fun activities in the valley: Fairytale World (Märliwelt), Mountain Coaster (Bobbahn), Rope park (Seilpark) and a fun 7.2 km puzzle trail (Rätselwege) up the mountain (no strollers).

Kronberg | Canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden (Switzerland)

The "it" factor

What makes it special:

Easy access: Right by the parking and the train station.
Fairytale World (Märliwelt): Mega-playground with water play, pull rafts, sand zone, trampolines, climbing frames, and four-elements marble runs. Stroller friendly.
Gemstone “gold rush” station: Pick up a gemstone bag at the ticket office and sieve out your “precious” finds to take home.
Rope Park (Seilpark): Age 6+; harnessed and supervised course with lots of zip-lines and climbing elements.
Mountain Coaster (Bobbahn): Age 3+; two-seater sleds where you control the speed — gentle or speedy, your call.
Puzzle Trail (Rätselwege): 7.2 km app-guided quest with a rentable explorer kit (stencils, blindfold, rollers, compass). Do it downhill (gondola up, walk down) or uphill (walk up, gondola down). No strollers
Beautiful views at the top: Alpstein/Säntis panoramas and outlooks toward Lake Constance.

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Kronberg Walk-Through Video

Check out our step-by-step story on Instagram!

The fun factor

Kronberg is not only a mountain in Appenzell but also the home of the charming figures Jacobi and Arnika – two friendly mascots who guide families through stories, trails, and adventures, making the whole place especially magical for kids. It’s truly a great family mountain.

Down in the valley, right next to the gondola, you’ll find Märliwelt (Fairytale World): a mega playground packed with fun activities, a rope park for little climbers from 6 years up, and even a thrilling mountain coaster. A short gondola ride up opens into an alpine paradise – on one side you’re treated to sweeping views of the Alpstein massif with Säntis towering above, while on the other side the landscape stretches out toward Lake Constance and the rolling plateau. To top it off, there’s a fantastic puzzle trail: kids get special gear to rent and follow quests guided by an app, which can be done downhill or uphill. An absolute win for a family day out!

Here are our top 4 Fun Factors of Kronberg family mountain

Hit the Fairytale World (Märliwelt)

Just next to the train station and parking area you’ll find Märliwelt – Fairytale World, an Alpine mega playground brought to life by Arnika the fairy and Jacobi (officially described as a gnome, though with his cape he looks more like a prince to us!). It is suitable for any age. A little tip: if you also plan to do the hike, save it for later, because once the kids step inside Märliwelt it’s nearly impossible to get them out again.

The playground is split into several zones: a water area with a raft kids can pull themselves across a tiny lake (always a hit), a sand zone, climbing frames, trampolines, and marble runs themed around the four elements. One touch we’ve never seen anywhere else: when you buy a wooden marble, it comes with a set of stickers so kids can decorate it themselves. Our little one loved it – and we enjoyed a few quiet minutes while she carefully applied her designs.

Something truly unique we hadn’t come across anywhere else was the gold rush station. At the ticket office you can buy a bag of sand, then head to a special setup where kids use sieves to wash away the sand and reveal hidden “precious gems.” They even get a little pouch to store their treasures. Our daughter was so proud of her sparkling finds that she packed them up and took them straight to kindergarten the next day to show off to her friends. It’s a simple activity, but it adds a big sense of adventure and discovery.

There’s more than enough to keep kids busy here, no matter the weather. On warm days, they’ll almost certainly end up playing in the water area—and it doesn’t take long before they’re properly wet. Our tip: pack a change of clothes and a towel, it makes the rest of the day a lot easier. On cooler or cloudy days, the sandpit, climbing frames, trampolines, and marble runs make sure there’s still plenty of fun.

2. Glide 1.2 km on Ziplines

For kids 6+, there’s a zip-line/rope park (Seilpark) inside and around the Fairytale World, where you’re fully harnessed and clip in to move from one structure to the next. Our daughter loves parks like this, but as she wasn’t six yet we couldn’t try it—still, it looked fantastic. Key facts: total course length 1,644 m (incl. 1,210 m of zip-lines), 25 zip-lines and 55 climbing elements, longest free zip-line 107 m, and the highest point 11 m above the ground.

3. Ride the Mountain Coaster

For thrill-seekers from age 3, right next to the Fairytale World, at the bottom of the gondola station, there’s a Mountain coaster (Bobbahn). You sit in a bobsled on rails, get pulled uphill, and then glide back down—you control the speed, so it can be as gentle or as fast as you like. Each sled fits two people, which makes it perfect with kids. Our daughter always chooses to ride with Dad—apparently he goes faster and makes funnier noises!

4. Hike puzzle trail (Rätselwege)

There’s also a brilliant puzzle hike—either up or down the mountain. Pick up a trail kit at the ticket office (think explorer essentials: stencils, blindfold, rollers, compass), download the app (the route isn’t signposted; the app is your guide), and follow an easy-to-navigate path. Along the way you’ll solve tasks: some are simple (like building a little stone tower), others need more brainpower and use the special gear from your kit. There are two different puzzle trails to choose from, and you can do them downhill or uphill.

Downhill: take the gondola up first, then walk down to the valley.
Uphill: hike up to the top station, then take the gondola down.

The fitness factor

The hike is 7.2 km with 787 m of elevation change, so we’d recommend it for families with kids who are comfortable with longer distances. The route leads across meadows and forest paths and is not stroller-friendly.

There are two versions with different puzzle games: an easier downhill option, or—if you’re up for a challenge—an uphill option.

There are no big drop-offs, so it feels safe for children to walk on their own.

The views factor

One of the highlights of this hike are the spectacular views. From the gondola ride and all along the trail, you’re treated to sweeping panoramas of the Alpstein range with Säntis towering above, while in the other direction the landscape opens toward Lake Constance and the rolling Appenzell plateau. Meadows dotted with flowers, stretches of shady forest, and the constant backdrop of alpine peaks make it as rewarding for parents as it is fun for kids solving puzzles along the way.

The food factor

There are three options:

Valley Restaurant - Self-service restaurant right by the bottom gondola station and the mega playground.
Mountain Restaurant – A table-served restaurant, just next to the top gondola station and a small playground
Picnic - You’ll find picnic tables and marked grill sites en route and near the Fairytale World

The value factor

2025 Prices

Ticket / Activity	Children (3–15 yrs)	Adults
Märliwelt day entry (incl. trampoline token)	9.–	Free
Wooden marble (Krafttier-Kugel)	5.–	5.–
Gemstone bag (~20 stones)	5.–	5.–
Mini Kombi (Märliwelt entry + trampoline token + Bobbahn ride + choice of wooden marble or gemstone bag)	19.–	–
Maxi Kombi (Märliwelt entry + trampoline token + Bobbahn ride + wooden marble and gemstone bag)	24.–	–
Bobbahn / toboggan single ride (1–2 persons)	6.–	6.–
Cable car round trip	10.50	21.–
Cable car one-way	8.–	16.–
Rope-Park (60 minutes)	22.–	22.–
Rope-Park (120 minutes)	31.–	31.–

📌 More ticket options available

Kronberg Family Mountain | Practical Info

Arrival by car: Park next to the gondola station at the Kronberg Parking (Wees Jakobsbad 178-648, 9108 Gonten )
Arrival by public transport: Take the train to Jakobsbad train station - it is just next to the Fairytale World and bottom (valley) gondola station

Step by step directions:

Valley Restaurant, Fairytale World (Märliwelt), Mountain coaster (Bobbahn), Rope park (Seilpark): Accessible directly from the bottom (valley) gondola station.
Mountain restaurant: Take the gondola up the restaurant is just next to the gondola station.
Puzzle trail: follow the instructions on the app - you can download it using QR code
- Uphill option: Start from the bottom gondola station and climb up to the top
- Downhill option: Start from the top gondola station and climb up