St Gallen Altenrhein Airport - Flight Information and Guide (ACH)

St. Gallen-Altenrhein Airport serves the Lake Constance region in northeastern Switzerland, approximately 3 km from Altenrhein's downtown.

It is a small airport, a gateway to the city of St. Gallen, a UNESCO World Heritage site for its famous abbey, and Lake Constance.

Content verified on 04/09/2026

Official source: www.peoples.ch/lszr

How to get to St Gallen Altenrhein Airport

Downtown is approximately 3 km from the airport: transfer typically takes 10-15 minutes by taxi or bus.

By Car

Those arriving by car reach the area in a few minutes; St. Gallen is approximately 20-25 minutes away.

By Train

No direct train is available for the airport.

By Bus

Bus lines 304 and 305 connect the airport to the city centre and neighbouring areas.

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Tips Given the proximity to Lake Constance and the border with Austria and Germany, it is a convenient access point for exploring the tri-border area of the three countries.

Average travel time to ACH

TrainNot available

Shuttle busService available (lines 304, 305)

Taxi / Private hire10-15 minutes (affordable fares)

Parking near St Gallen Altenrhein Airport

Right in front of the terminal is a parking area of small dimensions.

Rates are high, in line with Swiss cost of living.

How to get to Altenrhein from ACH

By Train

There is no direct train to the airport: a transfer is necessary.

By Bus

Bus lines 304 and 305 connect the airport to the city center and surrounding areas.

By Taxi

Taxis are available outside the terminal; fares are generally modest given the short distance to the city center.

Need an airport transfer?

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Car rental at St Gallen Altenrhein Airport

Only some car rental brands have a desk at arrival.

Driving licence, passport and credit card are sufficient for European Union citizens, exempt from the IDP.

Hotels near St Gallen Altenrhein Airport

St. Gallen-Altenrhein Airport is a small regional airport on Lake Constance, 21 km from the city that gives it its name: a taxi covers the distance in about 15 minutes, while the train first requires a 20-minute walk or a taxi to Staad station and then a journey of about 25 minutes, for a total that easily exceeds 40 minutes. With no hotels on site or in the immediate surroundings, anyone flying through this airport almost always ends up sleeping in St. Gallen, whose UNESCO-listed old town and abbey library remain in any case the most sensible destination for the rest of the stay.

City centre

St. Gallen, old town and OLMA

By taxi, the 21 km are covered in about 15 minutes; by train you first need to reach Staad station (20 minutes on foot or a short taxi ride) and then travel another 25 minutes or so to St. Gallen.

Best for: Those who want the UNESCO-listed old town and the abbey library, accepting a transfer of about 15 minutes by taxi from the airport.

Pros

The direct taxi avoids the walk-plus-train combination, handy with luggage or awkward schedules
The old town, the UNESCO-listed abbey and the university are all reachable on foot from the hotels in the area

Cons

There is no direct, fast public link between the airport and the city: the train always requires a change or a walk
The actual hotel offering in St. Gallen is limited compared with other Swiss cities of similar size

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