St. Gallen

Gateway to eastern Switzerland, home to the UNESCO-listed Abbey Library, and a base for combining Appenzell, Mount Säntis and Lake Constance.

St. Gallen is the capital of the canton of St. Gallen in northeastern Switzerland, about 85 km east of Zurich and 10 km south of Lake Constance, at an altitude of roughly 670 m. It is the cultural and economic hub of eastern Switzerland. The city takes its name from Gallus, an Irish monk who settled here as a hermit in the 7th century; the Benedictine abbey that grew up afterwards was one of Europe's most important centres of learning in the Middle Ages, and the Abbey District (the cathedral and Abbey Library) was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. In the 19th century St. Gallen was world-famous for its embroidery and lace, and the more than 100 painted oriel windows in the old town and the Textile Museum still bear witness to that boom. A visit falls into three parts. First, the old town and Abbey District: the library, cathedral, oriel-lined lanes, the Stadtlounge (the open-air "city lounge") and the Textile Museum are all within walking distance and take half a day to a full day. Second, the Appenzell region south of the city: Appenzell village, Ebenalp and the cliffside Aescher guesthouse, the Seealpsee, Säntis and Hoher Kasten make up the classic mountain circuit of eastern Switzerland, each worth most of a day. Third, Rorschach on Lake Constance to the north, where boats sail to lakeside towns in Germany and Austria. The best time to visit is June–September, when mountain cable cars and huts are fully open and conditions are ideal for hiking; autumn brings the traditional cattle descents from the alpine pastures, and in December the old town is hung with star-shaped lights and a Christmas market fills the square in front of the abbey. In winter some cable cars close for maintenance and the Aescher guesthouse shuts. Getting there: about 1 hour by train from Zurich, and about 1 hour direct from Zurich Airport; the Appenzell Railways reach the Appenzell region in about 45 minutes. Plan on 2–3 days: one in the city and one or two in the mountains. The Swiss Travel Pass covers regional trains and gives discounts on some cable cars. Photography is not allowed inside the Abbey Library, and visitors must wear felt overshoes.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries