A day in the Abbey District of St.Gallen for cyclists

Suggested programme for a cycling day in the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Abbey of St. Gall"

In the morning

Visit to the abbey district

If you come to St.Gallen by bike, you will find plenty of places to park your bike in the old town. The cycle parking spaces in front of the Abbey Library are recommended for a visit to the Abbey District. It is one of the oldest and most important libraries in the world. The entire abbey district has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. Slippers are available at the entrance to the Abbey Library, as the parquet floor itself is over 250 years old. The Abbey District can be visited daily between 10.00-17.00 hrs. For exceptions, please check the opening times on the Abbey District website. The cathedral is also part of the Abbey District and can be visited free of charge. 

With the audio guide, you can visit the highlights of the city of St.Gallen on your own for up to four hours and learn lots of interesting facts about the old town houses as well as the Abbey District.

Tips for a snack

If you are hungry, we recommend the Drahtseilbähnli shop, for example, which serves snacks as well as ice cream and cool drinks. There are also a number of restaurants in the immediate vicinity of the Stiftsbezirk, offering Swiss cuisine as well as Italian, Spanish and Asian specialities. The St.Gallen bratwurst is a speciality that is enjoyed with a crispy Bürli. It is available at various stands, such as the Rietmann butcher's shop and Bratwurst & Bowls in the old town of St.Gallen, as well as at the Schmid butcher's shop at the railway station.

In the afternoon

Visit to the Drei Weieren

Having just arrived in the city, you can reach the Drei Weieren recreational area by bike in just a few minutes. The path leads upwards behind the Stiftsbezirk via St.Georgen-Strasse and Bitzistrasse. If you prefer to travel in comfort, you can take the Mühleggbähnli (there is a ticket machine at the entrance to the railway). There are cycle parking spaces between Mannenweiher and Buebenweiher. The Milchhüsli restaurant caters for your physical well-being. A few metres further on is the Grand Tour photo spot. From up here you have a wonderful view of the old town and the abbey district of St.Gallen. Have fun.

Tip

There are many drinking water fountains in the Old Town. These are not specially labelled. There is a notice or sign at the fountains that do not contain drinking water.

Tickets for the Abbey District

• Online ticket purchase via the Abbey Library

• At the counter of the Abbey Library, in the exhibition hall and at the Tourist Information St.Gallen

Further offers

• To all programmes