St. Gallen, tucked in the northeast of Switzerland is an unassuming city with much more than meets the eye. With stunning architecture, medieval roots and a thriving university, St. Gallen has so much to offer the mini-breaker and day-trippers alike. So is St. Gallen worth visiting? Check out these 10 things to do in St. Gallen and see why we think it shouldn’t be missed.
This post may contain sponsored content or affiliate links that help support the blog. All opinions are our own.
1.) Check Out the Cathedral
The Cathedral of St. Gallen (or the Stiftskirche St. Gallus und Otmar) is a magnificent baroque behemoth. It is intimately linked to the founding of St. Gallen. In 612 AD, a monk from Ireland passed through the area. He would later be known as St Gall but I guess, at the time, he was just Brohter Gall. He was spreading the message of Protestantism, a less famous reformer than Martin Luther probably everywhere but here. This location “the green wilderness between Lake Constance and Säntis”, he decided, would be the perfect place to set up his hermitage. Over time, other people joined him and church after church was constructed on this spot. St Gall’s remains are now housed in the St. Otmar crypt under the high alter.
The current cathedral, built in the 1750 and 60ss by architect peter Thumb (more on him later). It has stunning baroque interiors, white walls, unique turquoise stucco by brothers Johann Georg and Matthias Giglmouldings and incredible ceiling frescoes. painted by artist Josef Wannenmacher. Cherubs and angels throng the cathedral walls, there are around 800 to count.
There are two other very cool things to look out for, and they originate from around 1400 years apart. If you walk to the right of the bars that separate the high altar from the rest of the naive, you will find an old bell tucked behind the giant colouring. This is said to be a bell brought from Ireland by St Gall. On the other side is the super shiny new font. It is beautifully reflective so you see the ceiling in it, as well as yourself.
2.) Visit the Three Ponds
Travelling from St. Gallen’s old town up to the Three Ponds (Drei Weieren), the Mühleggbahn is a steep, tunnelled funicular that takes just a couple of minutes to travel up the hill. It has been carrying passengers to the Three Ponds area for over 100 years (although the old water weight mechanism has been replaced and it is now electric).
Turn left from the station and walk up the road and you will find yourself at the first of three large outdoor pools. These aren’t natural lakes, rather two of the ponds were created in the 17th century for use in the textile industry and as a water supply in case of fires in the city, They quickly became popular as a place for recreation so three more ponds were dug for swimming in summer and ice skating in winter. These days, there are facilities for the swimming club and plenty of spots for everyone else to enjoy the water. Oh, and don’t let the names Men’s Pond, Boy’s Pond and Women’s Pond deter you, the pools are for everyone. Even the name Three Ponds is deceptive as there are still four.
Running alongside the ponds is an elevated walkway that provides stunning views across the city. Here you’ll find the Grand Tour photo spot, so you know its a good one!
3.) Catch a Concert at St Lawrence Church
St. Laurenzen is the city’s main Protestant church. It is a little overshadowed by the Cathedral next door but don’t skip on this gem. From its decorative tiled roof to the pretty stained glass, it is both introverted and extroverted (not to anthropomorphize it). There has been a church here since at least 12th century. This church was first built in the 1400s but it was renovated in the 1850s with a neo-gothic aesthetic. It feels quite modern inside. The church is only open for a couple of hours in the morning and a couple in the afternoon so make sure you factor this in for your visit. You can check opening times here. In summer, you can climb the tower for a lovely view of the old town around it.
For something special, see if you can snag tickets to an organ concert here. The organ is very unusual. The original was installed in 1973 but three new sections were added in 2023 and the pipes are spread around the church’s interior. It gives any musical performance a surround sound quality.
(If you love organs, don’t miss the Wurlitzer at Kirchgemeindehaus St. Georgen too. You’ll find it near the Three Ponds up on the hill.)
4.) Mosey Through Museumstrasse
Conveniently, St. Gallen has put three of its big cultural buildings along one street (no points for guessing what it’s called). If you are heading this way, expect a long morning or afternoon at the least.
Kunstmuseum
The St. Gallen Museum of Art has three floors of works, featuring both art dating back to the middle ages, and intriguing modern exhibitions. The Neo-Renaissance gallery has been open for over 140 years. You will find a focus on Dutch Golden Age so if that is of interest, be sure to hunt the still life paintings out. You will also have to keep an eye out for the works by Ferdinand Hodler, one of the only Swiss painters featured prominently. More to our taste were the interesting and provocative modern pieces on the ground and top floors, but these will change often so check what is on show during your visit.
Kulturmuseum
Both a city museum and a museum of eastern Swiss culture in general, this museum has a lovely selection of interesting galleries. It has stood here since 1921 when the collection of historical artefacts and art grew too large for one museum. Wandering the falleries takes you from the earliest days of St. Gallen, through the straight-laced Victorian era and those years that seem so tantalisingly close but a world away. Particularly worth seeking out are the historical rooms (a beautiful old bed, a barber shop and a school room for example) and the history of medicine.
Konzert und Theater St. Gallen
Finally, check out the program listings for the concert hall and theatre. You may not speak German but you may come across a music concert that tickles your fancy, and then the language barrier doesn’t matter.
5.) Go Back in Time at the Abbey Library
There is something distinctly magical about beautiful old libraries. We have seen a fair few on our travels but to the Abbey library in St. Gallen takes the prize for the most marvellous. This is a must do on our list of 10 things to do in St. Gallen. The Abbey Library is one of the oldest monastic libraries in the world and the entire collection is around 170,000 texts.
Like something from a Disney fairytale, the wooden bookcases, intricate rococo carvings and dramatic ceiling frescoes give the library a dreamy quality. Wearing the fabric clogs over your shoes may spoil the magical feelings at first but once you are used to them and can start taking in the details of the room. Peter Thumb, an Austrian architect, constructed this room between 1758 and 1767. He is rightfully famous for his rococo work. His cherubs each watch over a bookshelf with a particular focus and are styled as such. The astronomy section has a cherub with a telescope above it, and
As well as the permanent collection, they have a changing exhibition all based around a theme every season. We visited during the food and drink exhibition and this text had some choice words about my favourite boozy beverage.
6.) Discover Fabric History at the Textile Museum
St. Gallen has long been associated with fabric and especially embroidery. From delicate, individualised pieces to vast swatches of cloth, fashion may change but a stunning piece of embroidery will always be in style. The textile museum is part permanent exhibition, part fabric library, and part rotating art gallery. I’ll be real, I wasn’t convinced it sounded that interesting but actually, it’s a fantastic museum. Seeing what can be created with lace and embroidery is amazing and seeing pieces that date back all the way to the ancient Egyptians is crazy cool. There were several beautiful dresses tha I would have happily smuggled home.
As well as these sections, there are a coupe of changing galleries. Here students from the attached fashion school have their work displayed. During our visit we saw an intriguing collectin of pieces all based around food waste, “All You Cannot Eat”. It was really good.
7.) Savour the Tastes of Schlossli
Schlossi has been a really popular option for fine dining in St. Gallen since it opened in 2005. It is located in a castle building that dates back to 1580s! Luckily now, they have a lift. You can dine with a large group of friends for a fun special occasion or request one of their adorable tables perfect for date night. Just look at the gorgeous nook we had!
They have plenty of options but for a brilliant look through St. Gallen’s ties to the world of fashion, opt for the Textile Gourmet Menu. Each course comes with a story, a chapter in the city’s history, which accompanies a selection of dishes which range from Japanese to distinctly local. The server will talk you through how each relates to St. Gallen as they serve the accompanying wine. Each course is fantastic and it is fun to try local specialities like the blue potato and liqueur that adorns the pears in the dessert.
8.) Look Out for the Old Town Architecture
Apparently, you can always spot a tourist because when they walk down the road, they look up. Well, we highly encourage you to do just that in St. Gallen. There is some rather fantastic architecture that you shouldn’t miss.
St Gsllen’s position as the place to get beautiful embroidery means a fair amount of money was flowing into the city. That means there was some spare cash to show off. The city is full of these markets of wealth. The most obvious of these are the Oriels, decorative enclosed wooden balconies protruding from the building fronts. These often have depictions of the trade of the occupants on them and there are 111 throughout the Old Town to spot. Then there are carved stone facades and statues, including these impressive carved heads on 54 Neugasse, that speak to the global trade the city was doing. Just keep your eyes on the buildings above you and see what you can capture.
9.) Grab a Seat in the City Lounge
Sometimes called the Red Square, the city lounge in St. Gallen is a rather unique public spot. The floor, tables and chairs are bright red as if someone has gone mad with the Heinz. The integrated urban space and soft lines give the impression that a large red carpet or duvet has been spread across the area. Then, if you look up, there are some fun rainbow bubbles. Pipilotti Rist, a Swiss artist collaborated with architect Carlos Martinez to create the installation back in 2005 and it is a popular if slightly unexpected addition to the city.
10.) Have the Cutest Lunch Date with a Fondue Backpack
Kundig Feinkost have served St. Gallen with the best cheeses for almost 100 years. The counter and fridges are stuffed with French, Spanish and local cheesy treats. You could just stop in for a slice or seven but for the coolest lunch in St. Gallen, you’ve got to try their fondue backpack.
Once you hand over a CHF deposit, you will be given a backpack that is full of everything you need to make a fondue in the great outdoors. We chose to picnic up at the Three Ponds but you can pitch up anywhere that accepts grills. Ask them for some recommendations.
In the rucksack, you will find;
- A picnic blanket/sheet.
- A packet of fondue cheese mix (with the wine in it already) .
- A half bottle of white wine with glasses.
- Fresh bread.
- A fondue pot and forks.
- The burner with lighting fluid and matches.
You just set up your picnic, light the burner and set the fondue mix melting. It took us a while to light it as we picked somewhere a little too windy, but once it was going, it didn’t take long to get the ooey gooey fondue goodness going. It was the cutest and most fun way to enjoy a fondue. Plus, it was very slightly cheaper than having one in a restaurant and you can always take a few more of your own drinks or other treats.
Information About Visiting St. Gallen
The best way to travel to St. Gallen is by rail. There is a direct train to Zurich that takes 1-1.5 hours. However, for the most scenic route, hop on the Voralpen-Express from Lucerne. You will sweep past glittering lakes and the rolling foothills of the Alps. Arriving in the shiny new station entrance, remember to look to your right and see the original station building.
We stayed at Sorell Hotel City Weissenstein during our visit to St. Gallen. This urban boutique hotel was very sleek but had some really fun touches. We loved the funky mural in the reception/breakfast room and the huge apartment-style rooms. They have huge beds that are super comfortable and room to swing a lion (or any big cat). It is just five minutes from the station and a ten minute walk into the Old Town.
Final Thoughts on 10 Things to Do in St. Gallen
St. Gallen was a delightful surprise. When you hear that a city was in the textile industry it may conjure up visions of big, grey factories in a faceless town but there is history, fun and beauty here. If you are doing a tour of Switzerland, it should definitely be on your bucket list.
Rosie xx
Leave Us A Comment