St Gallen Thursday 12th December 2013 18:00 (UK time)
Address: Stadium St. Gallen, Zürcher Strasse 464, 9015 St Gallen, Switzerland
Tel: Tel: 00 41 71 314 16 16
Website: http://www.fcsg.ch/ (in German)
E-mail: info@fcsg.ch
What’s it Like
St Gallen claim to be the oldest mainland Europe football club, founded in 1879. They now play their games at the AFG Arena to the west of the town. It has a capacity of just below 20,000. The stadium was finished in 2008, replacing the Espenmoos which was their home from 1910.
Pubs and Grub
The stadium sits on top of the large Shopping Arena shopping centre - http://www.shopping-arena.ch/ , and has a few eating and drinking options - http://www.shopping-arena.ch/shop-gastronomie/gastronomie.asp#sthash.pqIAYSV3.dp as well as an Ikea for the ladies. There are some fast food options around the stadium, but otherwise eating and drinking is best done in the city centre. St. Gallen has its own brewery that makes at least two beers that are definitely worth a try. These are the "St. Galler Klosterbräu" and the "Schwarzer Bär".
Travelling to St Gallen
Zurich International Airport is the closest international airport to St. Gallen. Direct trains between St. Gallen and the airport run twice an hour with a travel time of one hour. You can fly into St. Gallen-Altenrhein Airport from Vienna and the Bodensee-Airport Friedrichshafen.
By Train: Trains between St. Gallen and Zurich depart twice an hour with a travel time of 70 minutes. The St. Gallen train station is 500 metres from the old town and is surrounded my many hotels, restaurants, and shops. If you want to get quickly to Munich, 3 times a day the Eurocity from Zurich stops at Saint Gallen. The main train station also acts as terminus for a number of local train lines running to Appenzell and Trogen.
Transport within St Gallen
The AFG Arena is on an out of town retail park between St. Gallen and Gossau. Its 3.5 miles west of the centre/train station of St Gallen, and 2.5 miles east of the centre/train station of Gossau.
The stadium is situated adjacent to the A1 motorway. Take exit 80 St Gallen / Winkeln and turn almost immediately into the underground parking.
Train: The region’s Thurbo light rail connects the stadium with St Gallen and Gossau rail station. Take either line S1 or S5 and get off at stop SG Winkeln. From there it’s a short walk to the stadium. http://www.thurbo.ch/ (in German) is the website for the rail company.
By Bus: Bus 151, which runs between the central rail stations of Gossau and St Gallen. The bus ride takes about just as long as that of the light rail (20 minutes), but the bus stops right in front of the stadium. There are extra buses before and after matches.
For an English language journey planner website go to http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html
Getting around
The old town of St. Gallen is almost traffic-free and best enjoyed on foot. The VBSG buses connect to the fringes of the city and run frequently and punctually. Bus tickets can be bought at major bus stops or on the bus from onboard vending machines. Standard fare is 2.50 CHF (£1.75) and valid for one direction only. Taxis always wait at the train station and along the Marktplatz in the old town. The Trogenerbahn is the connection from St. Gallen to hiking trails in Speicher and Trogen.
By Bike
Bike rental is available at the train station, but check the opening hours before planning a trip.
Staying to St Gallen
The 4 star, expensive Hotel Santispark is within walking distance of the AFG Arena, but you can just as easily stay in St. Gallen’s city centre as the public transport is so good.
Prices in St Gallen; Meal at a cheap restaurant £13.50, 3-course meal for 2 £61, regular cappuccino £3.00, can of Coke/Pepsi £2.75, pint of beer in a pub £4.10 (£1 = around 1.5 Swiss Francs
You don’t need a visa to enter Switzerland. Ensure that you have adequate travel insurance and you take your European Health Insurance Card. The EHIC card will give you access to Swiss health care if you have an accident or become ill. A reciprocal healthcare agreement operates between the UK and Switzerland. This entitles British nationals to free treatment in a Swiss hospital.
Just in Case
British Embassy in Berne, Switzerland
Thunstrasse 50
3005 Berne
Phone: 00 41 31 359 7700
Fax: 00 41 31 359 7701 General
Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-embassy-berne
Email: info.berne@fco.gsi.gov.uk
Office Hours:
General: 0830-1230 and 1330-1700 (Local Time)
Consular: 0900-1200 and 1400-1600 (Local Time)
If your passport is lost or stolen and you need an emergency passport, you’ll need to book an appointment with the Embassy and bring with you the following:
1 passport photograph
Police report
Travel itinerary or flight tickets
Photo ID
The fee (around £100) in local currency (or Visa /MasterCard)
Useful information — Switzerland
Emergency Services Telephone: 112 (the operator will often be able to speak English)
Police (Police, Polizei-Notruf) 117
Fire (Feu, Feuerwehr-Notruf) 118
Ambulance (Ambulance, Sanität-Notruf) 144
Mountain Rescue (Air-Glaciers) 1415
On-duty doctors, dentists, vets and pharmacies (24/7) 0848 133 133
Avalanche Bulletin 187
Main hospital in St Gallen with an emergency room:
Klinik Stephanshorn
Brauerstrasse 95
9016 St. Gallen
Tel: 00 41 71 282 71 11
Fax: 00 41 71 282 75 30
e-Mail: klinik-stephanshorn@hirslanden.ch
Web: http://www.hirslanden.ch/global/en/home/hospitals_and_centres/klinik_stephanshor
For more information in English, go to
http://www.st.gallen-bodensee.ch/en/index.cfm
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-gb/st-gallen.html
http://wikitravel.org/en/Saint_Gallen