St. Gallen Christmas Market is one of the most famous in Switzerland and each year it attracts visitors from far and wide. The old part of the city of St. Gallen is home to the Abbey of St. Gall, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area couldn't be more fitting for the magical festive market.

700 shining stars in St. Gallen

During the festive season, St. Gallen is known as the city of stars (Sternenstadt), decorated with 700 bright and shining stars hanging over the cosy and atmospheric Christmas market. The magnificent Christmas tree stands at 20 metres tall on Klosterplatz, acting as the centrepiece and adorned with thousands of lights. 

Around 50 charming little wooden chalets are decked out in Christmas decorations and stretching from the Waaghaus, along the Bohl, all the way to the Market Square. In the stalls, you'll find all kinds of seasonal decorations, jewellery, local textiles, wooden toys and candles. You can also treat yourself to delicious food and drink, such as waffles, mulled wine (Glühwein), delicious Swiss raclette, Swiss chocolate and St. Gallen bratwurst.

Photo credit: Switzerland Tourism / Andre Meier

Opening hours of St. Gallen Christmas Market

The Christmas Market in St.Gallen will take place from November 28 to December 24. The opening times vary depending on the day of the week and there are slight differences between the opening times of the retail stalls and the food stalls. Here are the opening times to keep in mind if you're thinking of visiting the market:

Retail stall opening hours

• Monday-Friday: 11am-7pm
• Saturday-Sunday: 11am- 6pm

Food stall opening hours

• Monday-Saturday: 11am- 9pm
• Thursday: 11am-10pm
• Sunday: 11am- 7pm

On Tuesday, December 24, the market is open from 10am-4pm

Attending St. Gallen Christmas Market

Waaghaus, Bohl, as well as Marktgasse and Neugasse are the locations where the market takes place. These are centrally situated areas and are easy to reach by public transportation. Check out the St. Gallen Christmas Market event page for more information. 

Thumb photo credit: Switzerland Tourism / Andre Meier