Discover St. Gallen through two defining cultural themes: the UNESCO Abbey District and the history of the Eastern Swiss textile industry for which the city is known. An audio guide takes you through the Old Town and embroidery district in around two hours; check the offer’s availability in advance. Museums, historic rooms and routes around the city offer different ways to explore these themes.
Abbey District and sacred history
The Abbey District, 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, including the original monastery plan from 825. Public guided tours are available in all exhibition rooms in the Abbey District and are included in the admission price.
Depending on the tour, the public “Experience the Cathedral” guided tours cover architecture, Baroque art, Benedictine history, biblical depictions and saints. For groups, the cathedral sacristans lead tours of the cathedral on request. They show visitors special places such as the Otmar and Gallus crypts, the choir and the Gallus Chapel. These options differ in whether you join a public themed tour or request a group visit.
Embroidery, textiles and collections
The Textile Museum St.Gallen holds around 56,000 objects, including historic fabrics, lace, pattern books and costumes. Its permanent exhibition explores textile production in Eastern Switzerland and features medieval embroidery, handmade lace and photographs from Swiss fashion studios. This offers a look at different aspects of textile history, from the materials produced to their portrayal in fashion and images.
You can see a historic hand-embroidery machine from 1890 in operation; it works with 156 needles. The demonstration adds an insight into the technology behind the textiles on display. Check demonstration times when planning your visit. The Natural History Museum also takes visitors far back in time: seven themed areas cover Eastern Swiss wildlife, minerals, fossils and 3.5 billion years of Earth’s history. The Art Museum’s permanent exhibition features paintings and sculptures from the Late Middle Ages to the present day. At the Lokremise, the Kunstzone serves as a cultural laboratory for contemporary art and as a second venue for the Art Museum.
City walks, gardens and views
Restaurants, parks and shopping streets are within walking distance in the Old Town; recreational areas are easy and quick to reach by public transport. Walking around the city, you will also come across more than 140 publicly accessible “Stäge” — the Swiss word for stairways. The city park covers 33,737 m² and is the largest continuous green space in the city centre.
The historic MĂĽhleggbahn funicular 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. At the Drei Weieren, a viewpoint offers views of the Old Town and the Abbey District. The main circular trail through the area passes ponds and the Notkersegg Monastery; the MĂĽlenenschlucht trail follows the Steinach over small bridges and narrow paths, combining nature, history and the city.
For a different walk, head to the Burgweier site. It has been open to the public since 20 June 2020 and has footpaths and places to sit. There are two ponds on the site; to the west are the historically significant Tröckneturm drying tower and a farmhouse. The Botanical Garden offers another view of the city, with 8,000 labelled plants from around the world. Public and private tours are offered at different levels and for all age groups.
Beer culture and event traditions
The Schützengarten Brewery’s Beer Bottle Museum displays more than 3,000 beer bottles from 260 Swiss breweries. Admission is free, and the museum is wheelchair accessible. The brewery also offers guided brewery tours with beer tastings for individuals and small groups once a month, usually on the first Monday at 2 pm. The Schützengarten Beer Apéro explores the history of the brewery and beer in St. Gallen, followed by a guided beer tasting. In the hands-on brewing course, participants brew their own beer together with a beer sommelier. The course lasts around 6.5 hours. Check dates and availability in advance.
Event traditions are also part of the city’s character: Olma Messen St.Gallen organises the public trade fairs OLMA and OFFA. OLMA was first held in 1943 and continues to shape the identity of St. Gallen as an exhibition venue. The St. Gallen Children’s Festival takes place every three years on a day in early summer, but has no fixed date. The St. Gallen Festival is held against the historic backdrop of the Abbey District. If you are planning a specific visit, it is worth checking the dates and programmes.
Discover more destinations: St. Gallen, Abtwil, Waldkirch, Eggersriet, Gossau, Wil, Sarganserland, Rheintal.
Go to the main travel overview: St. Gallen.
