St. Gallen (St Gall or in German Sankt Gallen) is a beautiful destination in Switzerland

Near Zürich and Liechtenstein, you’ll find the charming city of St Gallen to the south of Lake Constance (German: Bodensee) in beautiful Switzerland. Although the city is not a touristy type of place, the architecture is something that might interest a lot of world travelers. You will find buildings in both modern and more traditional styles. The city has a few ‘hidden gems that most travelers are a bit aware of, so let’s go explore:

The video below is an overview of the (east) City. Even though you might not understand the language, you will still be able to enjoy the beauty of everything on offer. It will give you an idea of what to expect.

The Abbey Library of St Gall

Visit the Library and the lapidarium of the convent.

The Abbey Library of St Gall – ‘The Abbey Library of St.Gallen is the oldest library in Switzerland and one of the largest and oldest monastery libraries in the world. Its extraordinarily valuable book collection documents the development of European culture and the St.Gallen monastery from the 8th century until the abbey was abolished in 1805.’

What is the city known for

The Abby of St Gall / St Gallen Cathedral

St Gallen is home to the Abbey of St. Gall / St. Gallen Cathedral (also known as the Cathedral of St Gall). This beautiful complex includes a monastery, an interesting library, and a twin-towered cathedral. A visit to the Abbey of St Gall is definitely something you should have on your itinerary.

The Abbey Library of St Gallen is definitely worth a visit and simply something you just have to see. Certainly on my list of ‘must see libraries around the world‘.

The Abbey District of St.Gallen has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.

Things to do

Visit the Botanical Garden
Wildlife Park: Peter and Paul – Fantastic views over the valley and great entertainment for the family
The Kunstmuseum / Museum of art
Naturmuseum St Gallen / Natural History Museum
Sternwarte St. Gallen – Visit the Capella observatory of the canton school at Burggraben, St.Gallen.
St Georgen Strasse Spielplatz -Playground for the little kids
Drei Weieren Lake – Public recreation area and swimming opportunity
St Laurenzen Kirche on Marktgasse in the Old Town
Textil Museum (Textile Museum)
Werdenberg:

Visit and explore nearby Werdenberg with its beautifully decorated buildings. Balconies with petunias and geraniums, stunning craftsmanship, and hand-painted wording and decorations on buildings, immediately draw your attention. The area is also filled with beautiful gardens in the summertime and the area is known for its old town buildings with bay windows.

Do a Historical Walk through St. Gallens’ Old Town with a Local

Historical Walk through St. Gallens Old Town with a Local

Discover the historical side of St. Gallen with a passionate local who wants to share all the best-kept secrets of St. Gallen with you! Our excursion will start at the Vadian statue. You will learn about the various architectural styles from different time periods and find out how the city has changed over time. From visiting churches to discovering the history behind the old city gate or the Cathedral, you will encounter unique sites that an ordinary tourist tour won’t show you! Read more about Historical Walk through St. Gallens Old Town with a Local.

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Ready Made Tour Packages / Holidays

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Discover the mountainous beauty of Switzerland's soaring Alpine peaks, medieval cities, and UNESCO–listed treasures.

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READ MORE – You might also be interested in: St Wolfgang in Austria

Getting Around

The nearest recommended international airport is Zurich (ZRH) which is 60.8 km away.

From Zürich to St Gallen: 1 hr (86,2 km) via the A1, by car.

Getting to St Gallen from Zürich is easy if you have your own vehicle.

It will be a good idea to rent a car as the city is quite big and you might want to explore the region of the Bodensee (Lake Constance) while you’re there. But while in the city itself, the transport infrastructure is excellent and you will not have a problem getting around without a car.

Other airports nearby:

Altenrhein (ACH) Airport is 15.6 km away.
Memmingen (FMM) (90.2 km)
Basel (BSL) (139.4 km)
Stuttgart (STR) (141.5 km)

Where to Stay

Book your accommodation

Here are a few suggestions, but you can browse the Hotellook Website for more options in any price range.

Hiking in St Gallen

There are loads of hiking options in the area and hiking is very popular amongst locals as well as tourists.

St. Galler Brückenweg / St. Gallen Bridge Path

This 8.2-kilometer hiking trail starts at the train station in St. Gallen – Haggen and leads to Spisegg. What is special about this route? The fact that it passes 18 viaducts, (wooden and concrete bridges and suspended walkways) along the river landscape of the Sitter and Wattbach nature reserve (Sitter and Wattbachlandschaft), makes it a beautiful hike. There are various restaurants along the way and the route is well signposted.

Wenigerweiher

A cute and peaceful pond area along St Georgen Strasse. On the west side of the pond, a jetty with a small house at the end protrudes into the water. Unfortunately, the little house is not accessible, but it still makes a very nice Instagram photo spot. From here you can also do the Philosophentalweg and many more. The area offers trails from light early morning walks to trails for the more confident hiker. In my opinion, autumn is a beautiful time of the year to enjoy St Galler’s hiking trails.