Canton of St. Gallen Vacations

Home to picture-perfect landscapes, outdoor pursuits and welcoming towns, the St. Gallen canton is a great place to vacation in Switzerland. Framed on the east by Lake Constance and the Rhine Valley, St. Gallen stretches across sprawling plains and over the Appenzell Alps and Glarus Alps peaks. Enjoy hiking, mountain biking and skiing, visit centuries-old architectural masterpieces and enjoy superb culinary experiences.

Start in the canton’s capital, St. Gallen. Wander its old town’s atmospheric streets, lined with well-preserved burgher houses and the UNESCO-protected Abbey of St. Gall. Experience 12 centuries of monastic life within the abbey grounds, which is dominated by the baroque-style St. Gall Cathedral. Browse displays of antique books and manuscripts inside the opulent Abbey Library of St. Gall.

West of St. Gallen, the villages of Andwil and Gossau are good starting points for walks in the shadows of tall mountains. Take a cruise or bike along routes from Rorschach on the shores of glistening Lake Constance.

Travel southwest to Rapperswil-Jona, home to ancient castle towers and pretty rose gardens overlooking Lake Zurich. Have family-friendly fun at the nearby Alpamare Waterpark and the 2,300-foot (700-meter) long Atzmännig Toboggan Run. Visit Walenstadt for hikes to waterfalls and wakeboarding on Lake Walen. Dabble in snow sports at the Flumserberg or Wildhaus ski resorts.

Feel close to nature in Heidiland, a serene alpine region named after the children’s book Heidi. Find expertly groomed ski runs at Pizol, in the heart of the Glarus Alps. Relax in the thermal springs of Bad Ragaz and sample Swiss wines at bodegas in Pfäfers.

Landlocked within St. Gallen are two of the nation’s smallest cantons, Appenzell Outer Rhodes and Appenzell Innerrhoden. Here, tranquil villages, such as Appenzell, Gais and Schwende, are gateways to the Appenzell Alps. Feast on Appenzeller delicacies at wayside restaurants strewn along the Alpstein hiking trails.

Destinations in St. Gallen are easy to reach via Switzerland’s extensive train system. Get around by bike, car, skis, trains and your own two feet.