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City guide · Solo living

Things to Do Alone in St. Gallen

Written by the Solo Era team · Solo living · Last updated

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St. Gallen is a good city to do alone right now, but a few things have dates on them: the Abbey Library closes from 9 to 23 November 2026, and the Textilmuseum closes for a major renovation from 1 March 2027. Around those dates sit a funicular, a former locomotive depot with free art and an arthouse cinema, and a walk up to the Drei Weieren ponds.

Checked 2026-11-01.

Dates that decide your order

Abbey Library (Stiftsbibliothek). This is the Baroque hall of the UNESCO-listed Abbey District. From October to June it is open every day from 10 to 17, with last admission 15 minutes before closing. It is closed from 9 to 23 November 2026 and on 24 and 25 December 2026. The combined Entire Abbey ticket for the library, the vaulted cellar and the exhibition space is CHF 18. Photography is allowed for private use without flash, tripod or selfie stick (opening hours, current exhibition).

A public tour is the easiest way in if you do not want to stand around: it is in German, lasts about 45 minutes, is for individuals, needs no booking and is included in the ticket. It runs Monday to Friday at 1 pm; the abbey lists no public tours from 9 to 23 November 2026 and again tours from 24 November to 23 December (public tours).

Kloster-Bistro. Inside the Abbey District, in the Klosterhof, the bistro has a cake counter and 30 seats indoors. It is open Monday to Saturday from 9:00 until sunset and on Sunday and holidays from 10:00 (Kloster-Bistro). A coffee and a cake here is a low-stakes way to end the library visit.

Textilmuseum. St. Gallen's textile story is told here on Vadianstrasse. It is open Tuesday to Sunday 10 to 17 and closed on Mondays. "Mise en Scene", on fashion photography from the Belle Epoque to today, runs until 28 February 2027, and the museum closes on 1 March 2027 for a comprehensive renovation (Textilmuseum).

Up the hill: the funicular and the ponds

The Muehleggbahn is a funicular that links the old town with St. Georgen and the Drei Weieren recreation area. It opened in 1893 and runs daily from 05:40 to 00:50. The ride takes about 90 seconds and starts at the touch of a button. A single ride counts as a short-distance fare in the Ostwind tariff, CHF 2.50 for adults. Monthly revisions are listed for the last Monday of the month between 8:00 and 11:30 (30 November and 28 December 2026), so check before you plan around it (Muehleggbahn, passenger info).

At the top is the Drei Weieren area. The tourist board describes it as a place for a quiet walk at any time of year, with a trail that starts in the old town, follows the Steinach river through the Muelenen gorge and leads up to St. Georgen, plus short and long circular walks with views over the city and Lake Constance. The ponds were made in the 17th century for textile bleaching and fire-fighting; two of them are bathing spots and their Art Nouveau bathing houses recall the textile past. Bathing is a summer matter, so in November it is the walk you come for (Drei Weieren).

Walking alone suits this loop: the funicular does the climb, the signposted paths do the planning.

The Lokremise: art, film and a long evening

The Lokremise at Gruenbergstrasse 7 is a former locomotive depot that now holds the Kunstmuseum's second site, the Kinok cinema and a theatre. Admission to the Kunstmuseum at the Lokremise is free. It is open Monday to Saturday 13 to 20 and Sunday 11 to 18 (Kunstmuseum prices, Lokremise).

Kinok is the arthouse cinema in the same building. Its November programme shows several screenings a day, so you can pick a time instead of a crowd (Kinok). Ticket prices are on the cinema's own site. For tips, see going to the cinema alone.

Two museums with a late evening

For museum etiquette and how to pace a visit, read how to visit a museum alone.

Eating: markets, beizlis and the bratwurst

Getting around

The tourist board lists a Mobility Ticket St.Gallen-Bodensee: public transport in the Ostwind zones 210, 211 and 231 from the day of arrival to the day of departure, which you get from your accommodation (Mobility Ticket). Ask your hotel whether it applies.

First solo outings

  1. Easy: Walk into the Kloster-Bistro for a coffee and cake, or buy a bratwurst-and-roll lunch.
  2. Medium: Ride the Muehleggbahn up, walk the Drei Weieren loop, and come back down.
  3. Bold: A Thursday evening: the Kunstmuseum Stadtpark until 20:00, then dinner at a first-floor beizli.

Solo Era for iPhone

Try it with Solo Era

Solo Era (an iPhone app) has a travel mission at level 2 worded "Ride a public funicular to a viewpoint." In St. Gallen, the Muehleggbahn is a ready-made version. Free to download. A subscription is required to start missions. Prices and any free trial are shown in the app and depend on the offer and eligibility.

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Details change. Check the venue before you go.

For other places, see the full list of things to do alone in cities. Nearby in Switzerland: Zurich is built around water and Lucerne around its market and museums. If you just arrived, read things to do alone in a new city and the solo travel guide.

More cities in Switzerland

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FAQ

When is the Abbey Library closed in November 2026?

The Abbey Library, the vaulted cellar and the exhibition space are closed from 9 to 23 November 2026. They are also closed on 24 and 25 December 2026.

Is there anything free to see in St. Gallen?

Admission to the Kunstmuseum's Lokremise site is free. The Drei Weieren walk costs nothing, and the Friday market is open to browse.

What does the Muehleggbahn cost?

The operator lists a single ride at CHF 2.50 for adults, as a short-distance fare in the Ostwind tariff. It runs daily 05:40 to 00:50, with monthly revisions on the last Monday of the month from 8:00 to 11:30.

Can I join an Abbey Library tour alone?

Yes. The public tour is for individuals, needs no booking and is included in the ticket. It is held in German, lasts about 45 minutes and runs Monday to Friday at 1 pm on the dates listed.

Should I put the Textilmuseum on this trip?

If you want to see it before its renovation closure, yes: it closes on 1 March 2027.

Sources (checked 2026-11-01)

Solo Era for iPhone

Try it with Solo Era

Solo Era gives you one realistic mission a week, records how nervous you felt before and after, and keeps a photo journal of what you did. An iPhone app. A subscription is required to start missions; any free trial depends on the offer and eligibility shown in the app.

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Solo Era mission library with difficulty levels