St. Gallen: Abbey District, Embroidery and City Walks
Accommodation in St. Gallen
Explore St. Gallen in around two hours with the audio guide; the city tour takes you through the Old Town and the embroidery district. Restaurants, parks and shopping streets are within walking distance, while recreational areas are easy and quick to reach by public transport. Check the audio guide’s availability separately if you would like to plan your visit around it.
The Abbey District and the history of embroidery
The Abbey District of St. Gallen, with its cathedral and abbey library, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The exhibition hall in the Zeughaus wing displays treasures from the abbey archives, especially the original 825 monastery plan. Public guided tours are available in all the exhibition rooms in the Abbey District and are included in the admission price. As visitor information may change, check the latest details before your visit.
Depending on the tour, the public “Experience the Cathedral” tours cover architecture, Baroque art, the Benedictine past, biblical scenes and saints. For groups, cathedral sacristans lead tours of the cathedral on request and show special places such as the crypts of Otmar and Gallus, the choir and the Gallus Chapel. This offers different ways to explore the history of the Abbey District: an overview on a public tour or a group visit arranged in advance.
The history of textiles also gives your stay its own theme. The Textile Museum St. Gallen has around 56,000 objects, including historic fabrics, lace, pattern books and costumes. Its permanent exhibition covers textile production in Eastern Switzerland and features medieval embroideries, handmade lace and photographs from Swiss fashion ateliers. A historic hand-embroidery machine from 1890 is shown in operation; it has 156 needles. If you are planning your visit around this demonstration, check the times separately.
Green spaces and walking routes in the city
For a break between sightseeing stops, the city park offers a different perspective on St. Gallen. At 33,737 m², it is the largest contiguous green space in the city centre. The Burgweier site has been open to the public since 20 June 2020 and has footpaths and places to sit. It includes two ponds; to the west are the historically significant Tröckneturm drying tower and a farmhouse.
The walking routes offer a variety of scenery, too. The main circular route through the Drei Weieren area passes ponds and the Notkersegg monastery. The Mülenenschlucht trail runs along the Steinach over small bridges and narrow paths, combining nature, history and the city. The St. Gallen Rotmonten–St. Othmar nature trail has stops between the Rotmonten school, the Kinderfestwiese festival grounds and the Burgweier site. More than 140 publicly accessible “Stäge”—the Swiss word for stairways—are also part of the cityscape.
A viewpoint near the Drei Weieren offers views of the Old Town and the Abbey District. The historic MĂĽhleggbahn has connected the Old Town with the Drei Weieren recreational area since 1893; from the valley station, it reaches the St. Georgen district in 90 seconds. If you are planning a ride, check the operating information separately. The St. Gallen Botanical Garden features 8,000 labelled plants from around the world. Public and private tours are offered at different levels and are suitable for all age groups; if you are planning a tour, check current availability.
Museums, beer culture and event dates
Other museum themes range from natural history to art: the Natural History Museum St. Gallen presents seven subject areas, including animals of Eastern Switzerland, minerals, fossils and 3.5 billion years of Earth’s history. The Art Museum displays paintings and sculptures from the late Middle Ages to the present day. The Culture Museum focuses, among other things, on the history of the city and region, a scale model of the city and the linen industry.
The SchĂĽtzengarten Brewery Beer Bottle Museum displays more than 3,000 beer bottles from 260 Swiss breweries. Admission is free, and the museum is wheelchair accessible. Check the latest information on admission and access before your visit. Once a month, usually on the first Monday at 2 p.m., the brewery offers guided tours of its facilities with beer tastings for individuals and small groups; check the date in advance. The SchĂĽtzengarten Beer Aperitif explores the history of the brewery and beer in St. Gallen, followed by a guided beer tasting. On the brewing experience course, participants brew their own beer together with a beer sommelier; the course lasts around 6.5 hours. Check the relevant dates and availability for these offers.
Events also shape the calendar: Olma Messen St. Gallen hosts the public trade fairs OLMA and OFFA. OLMA was first held in 1943 and continues to shape the identity of the exhibition venue. The St. Gallen Children’s Festival takes place once every three years on a day in early summer, but has no fixed date. The St. Gallen Festival takes place against the historic backdrop of the Abbey District. If you are planning to visit for a festival or trade fair, check the relevant dates separately.
Discover more destinations: Waldkirch, Abtwil, St. Gallen, Eggersriet, Gossau, Toggenburg, Werdenberg, Rorschach.
Go to the main travel overview: St. Gallen.
