Eastern Switzerland is a region in Switzerland. It spans the cantons of Schaffhausen, Thurgau, St. Gallen, both Appenzell and Glarus. It shares a border with Germany, Austria and Liechtenstein and overlaps with the Lake Constance region.

Regions and Cities

Map of Eastern Switzerland

Schaffhausen (Schaffhausen, Stein am Rhein) Switzerland's northernmost canton with the capital of the same name.

Thurgau (Frauenfeld, Kreuzlingen, Romanshorn) On the shores of Lake Constance, this region is known for growing a big part of Switzerland's fruits. The capital is Frauenfeld.

Sankt Gallen (Rapperswil, Saint Gallen, Sargans) The capital Saint Gallen houses a famous abbey.

Appenzell (Appenzell, Herisau) This region is composed of two half-cantons: Appenzell Innerrhoden and Appenzell Ausserrhoden with the capitals of Appenzell and Herisau

Glarus (Glarus)

Understand

Public Holidays

The public holidays are different in each canton. Especially the catholic canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden has a lot of extra holidays. These are the public holidays in addition to those observed in the whole of Switzerland:

• St. Berchtold (2 January, observed in Thurgau)
• Näfelser Fahrt (first or second Thursday of April, observed in Glarus)
• Labour Day (1 May, observed in Schaffhausen and Thurgau)
• Corpus Christi (60 days after Easter, observed in Appenzell Innerrhoden and Glarus)
• Assumption (15 August, observed in Appenzell Innerrhoden)
• Mauritius day (22 September, observed in most of Appenzell Innerrhoden)
• All Saints Day (1 November, observed in Appenzell Innerrhoden)
• Immaculate Conception (8 December, observed in Appenzell Innerrhoden)

While St. Berchtold is not officially a holiday in St. Gallen, Schaffhausen and Glarus, it is still partially observed and shops might be closed.

Talk

Eastern Switzerland is a predominantly German-speaking part of the country.

Get in

By ferry

There are a number of ferries crossing Lake Constance

By train

Train service from other parts of Switzerland, Germany, Austria and even Liechtenstein is excellent and trains depart once an hour or more often on most routes.

See

Glarus Thrust Fault at Piz Segnes

• The 1 Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona, also known as the Glarus thrust — a UNESCO World Heritage site and "exceptional example of mountain building through continental collision"
• 2 Rheinfall. The largest waterfall in Europe.  

Do

• Attend the Landsgemeinde in either Glarus or Appenzell.

Go next

• Make a short day trip to Vaduz, to explore Liechtenstein, one of Europe's smallest countries.
• Cross Lake Constance to Bregenz in Austria or Friedrichshafen in Germany.