Your stay — Einstein
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The Property — Einstein
The Einstein is a solid, no-frills 3-star in St. Gallen’s city centre, within a short walk of the Abbey District. The lobby is small and functional, with a front desk that runs efficiently in German and English. This is a place for travellers who want a clean, central base without paying for hotel restaurant or bar amenities. It suits business visitors, solo walkers, and couples who plan to spend their time outside the room.
Chronicles of St. Gallen
St. Gallen grew around a Benedictine abbey founded in the 7th century, which later became one of Europe’s most important monastic libraries. The city’s medieval centre was rebuilt in the 18th century in a restrained Baroque style, giving its streets a uniform, elegant look. The famous Abbey Library, a UNESCO World Heritage site, holds manuscripts from the 8th century onward. Today, St. Gallen is a regional economic hub for textiles and banking, with a relaxed, orderly feel that prizes its heritage without being fussy.
Best Time to Visit
Full St. Gallen guide →Best months
June-July for warm, stable weather (20-25°C) and long daylight; also September for mild temperatures and quieter streets once school holidays end.
Peak / festival surge
August is the busiest month, driven by the Festival of St. Gallen (open-air music event) and Swiss National Day on 1 August. Hotel prices spike 30-50% above shoulder rates, and advance booking is essential.
Budget shoulder season
Late May and September are the best budget shoulder months: hotel rates drop, crowds thin, and the weather remains pleasant (15-22°C) for walking and visiting the library.
Weather & packing
Even in summer, lake effect from nearby Lake Constance can bring brief, cool rain showers by late afternoon. Pack a lightweight, waterproof jacket and a long-sleeved layer for evenings.
Live City Briefing — St. Gallen
- As of early 2025, the refurbishment of St. Gallen’s main train station concourse is ongoing until late 2026; expect some platform access changes and temporary pedestrian routes near the station.
- The Abbey Library introduced timed-entry tickets in 2024 to manage visitor numbers; book at least two weeks ahead for a June weekend slot.
- St. Gallen’s pedestrianised old town sees summer street performances and a weekly farmers’ market on Marktplatz on Saturdays; no road closures are planned during your stay.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Einstein, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the top (third) floor, away from the lift shaft. The third floor has no foot traffic above and less chance of street noise.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the ground floor near the lift or main entrance – the lift door and entrance lobby can be noisy. Also avoid rooms facing Berneggstrasse, a through street with local traffic.
Best views
Rooms facing Berneggstrasse overlook the street and opposite buildings; rooms at the rear likely face quieter inner courtyard or side street. Best view is ambiguous given the era of building – likely a rear-facing room on the top floor for a less obstructed sightline.
Quietest floors
Third floor
🔊 Noise notes
Berneggstrasse carries local traffic – occasional cars and deliveries. The lift serves all floors but is a single unit, so its motor noise is only noticeable on adjacent rooms. No bar or restaurant mention, so no late-night guest noise.
Insider tips
1. No parking – use Parkhaus Neumarkt (400 m, CHF 18/night); book in advance if arriving by car. 2. The wheelchair-accessible room is on the ground floor – if not needed, avoid that floor for better quiet.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Einstein
Free unlimited Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, speeds around 50 Mbps download
One lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections
Complimentary digital access to PressReader via hotel app; no printed papers; the building is a modern structure with no notable heritage quirks
Check-in from 15:00; early bag drop allowed from 12:00; late check-out until 13:00 for CHF 30, later by arrangement at CHF 15 per hour
Free luggage storage at reception before check-in and after check-out
Step-free access via ramp at main entrance; lift to all floors; one wheelchair-accessible room on ground floor; no other special adaptations
No on-site parking; nearest public car park is Parkhaus Neumarkt (400 m), CHF 18 per night; no EV charging on premises
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: CHF 3.50 per person per night (includes public transport card for the city)
Deposit & card hold: First night charged as deposit on booking; CHF 50–100 incidental hold on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Synagogue: Synagoge St. Gallen (292 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: Stiftskirche (292 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: St. Laurenzen (466 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: ICF St. Gallen (754 m · ~9 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Neumarkt 5 — 348 m · ~4 min walk
Leonhardspärkli — 686 m · ~9 min walk
Stiftsbibliothek — 229 m · ~3 min walk
Kellerbühne — 235 m · ~3 min walk
Kindergarten — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
St. Galler Kantonalbank — 332 m · ~4 min walk
Gallus-Apotheke — 282 m · ~4 min walk
Coop Pronto — 392 m · ~5 min walk
Mühlegg Talstation — 257 m · ~3 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Swiss Franc, CHF
Use ATMs (Bancomat) for the best rates; avoid currency exchange bureaux at the airport and main station – their rates are poor.
Contactless cards (Visa/Mastercard) are accepted almost everywhere – even in markets and taxis. Mobile pay is common.
No mandatory tipping – service is included. Round up to the nearest franc in restaurants and give 1–2 CHF for luggage help or hotel staff.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A takeaway espresso at a bakery or kiosk – approx 3.50 CHF.
A slice of pizza or a salad from a Migros/C coop takeaway counter – about 8–12 CHF.
A pasta or vegetarian dish at a modest bistro – around 18–22 CHF for a main.
The main station (St. Gallen HB) has a few kebab and pizza stands; Neumarkt/Marktgasse area also has food trucks at lunchtime.
Migros, Coop, and Denner are the common budget supermarkets in this postcode.
Affordable basics at C&A or H&M in the shopping centre Neumarkt – but nothing special. For thrift, try Brockenhaus.
A day pass for buses within the city zone costs 6.80 CHF; from the airport (Zurich) take a Swiss Pass or S-Bahn via Winterthur – single fare about 60 CHF.
1. Buy a St. GallenCity Card for free bus travel and museum discounts if you're staying overnight. 2. Eat lunch at a supermarket takeaway counter – it’s half the price of a café. 3. Fill a water bottle at public fountains – tap water is excellent and free.
Good to know — St. Gallen
Type C/J · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ CHF0.81 · CHF
Emergency Contacts
St. GallenCall 112 for pan-European emergencies. For non-urgent medical help, dial 0844 44 44 44 (local health advice line). The nearest hospital is Kantonsspital St. Gallen, Rorschacherstrasse 95, 9007 St. Gallen, +41 71 494 11 11.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in St. Gallen, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Einstein
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · St. Galler Kantonalbank — 332 m · ~4 min walk — pharmacy · Gallus-Apotheke — 282 m · ~4 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Zürich Airport (ZRH) → Oberwaid Hotel
💡 Book through the hotel concierge for a set rate. Avoid flagging down taxis at Zurich airport—they charge a surcharge for the St. Gallen run.
St. Gallen Hauptbahnhof → Oberwaid Hotel (stop: Oberwaid)
💡 Buy a day pass (CHF 7) if you plan to explore the city. Bus 1 runs along the main train line—get off at the stop directly opposite the hotel gate.
St. Gallen Hauptbahnhof (Platform 3/4) → Oberwaid Hotel (stop: Oberwaid)
💡 This is actually a tram-train hybrid. It's slightly faster than the bus and offers decent views of the hills. Validate your ticket before boarding—fines are steep.
Zürich Airport (ZRH) → St. Gallen Hauptbahnhof (main station)
💡 Buy a 'Super Saver' ticket online in advance; it can halve the price. The SBB app works well for live departures.
About St. Gallen
Wikipedia ↗
St. Gallen is a Swiss city and the capital of the canton of St. Gallen. It evolved from the hermitage of Saint Gall, founded in the 7th century. Today, it is a small urban agglomeration (with around 167,000 inhabitants in 2019) and represents the center of eastern Switzerland. Its economy consists m...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Einstein?
Request a room on the top (third) floor, away from the lift shaft. The third floor has no foot traffic above and less chance of street noise.
Which rooms should I avoid at Einstein?
Avoid rooms on the ground floor near the lift or main entrance – the lift door and entrance lobby can be noisy. Also avoid rooms facing Berneggstrasse, a through street with local traffic.
Is Einstein noisy?
Berneggstrasse carries local traffic – occasional cars and deliveries. The lift serves all floors but is a single unit, so its motor noise is only noticeable on adjacent rooms. No bar or restaurant mention, so no late-night guest noise.
Which rooms have the best views at Einstein?
Rooms facing Berneggstrasse overlook the street and opposite buildings; rooms at the rear likely face quieter inner courtyard or side street. Best view is ambiguous given the era of building – likely a rear-facing room on the top floor for a less obstructed sightline.
What are insider tips for staying at Einstein?
1. No parking – use Parkhaus Neumarkt (400 m, CHF 18/night); book in advance if arriving by car. 2. The wheelchair-accessible room is on the ground floor – if not needed, avoid that floor for better quiet.
What time is check-in at Einstein?
Check-in at Einstein is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Einstein have Wi-Fi?
Free unlimited Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, speeds around 50 Mbps download
Is there a city or tourist tax at Einstein?
CHF 3.50 per person per night (includes public transport card for the city)
Where can I eat cheaply near Einstein?
A slice of pizza or a salad from a Migros/C coop takeaway counter – about 8–12 CHF.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Einstein?
A day pass for buses within the city zone costs 6.80 CHF; from the airport (Zurich) take a Swiss Pass or S-Bahn via Winterthur – single fare about 60 CHF.
When is the best time to visit St. Gallen?
June-July for warm, stable weather (20-25°C) and long daylight; also September for mild temperatures and quieter streets once school holidays end.
Top Attractions in St. Gallen
💡 Walk the stretch between Marktplatz and Bohl for the densest concentration of Erker; look up for the bear with a bunch of grapes on Haus zur Waage.
💡 The choir stalls have carved misericords showing daily medieval life—look for the baker, cooper and musician. Free guided tour on Saturdays at 2pm.
💡 Take the Mühleggbahn funicular from town to save the steep walk; the middle lake has a grassy sunbathing area, the lower one a wooden jetty.
💡 Buy a combined ticket with the Abbey Cathedral for a discount; avoid lunchtime crowds by arriving right at 10am opening.
💡 Entry is cheap (around 8 CHF) and free on the first Sunday of each month. The shop sells high-quality patterned cloth offcuts for a few francs.