Mühleggbahn & Drei Weieren (Three Ponds) (St. Gallen)

The Mühleggbahn funicular carries you from the city centre up to the Mühlegg station, a short 316 m ride that climbs through the Mühleggschlucht gorge behind the Abbey District. The journey is free with a city ticket or Swiss Pass; otherwise a single fare is required. From the “St. Gallen, Mühlegg” stop you walk about five minutes to the Drei Weieren, the Three Ponds, a popular natural swimming area set against the backdrop of the Arlenberg hills.

The ponds date back to the 17th century, when they supplied water for textile bleaching and fire‑suppression in St. Gallen’s historic cloth industry. Over time they evolved into separate leisure basins: the “Manne‑ und Buebeweiher” for boys and men, and the “Frauen‑ und Familienbadi” for women and families. Today the site is framed by Art Nouveau wooden structures that echo the city’s textile heritage.

In summer the ponds invite swimming, sun‑bathing, picnicking and even a dedicated bathing bus that drops passengers directly at the water’s edge. In winter the frozen surface becomes a local ice‑skating rink. City buses 2 and 8 (toward St. Georgen Bach) stop at the funicular station, and paid parking is available near the Frauenbad for those arriving by car. Check the latest opening times and any entry fees before you go, but the combination of a historic lift ride and a scenic, multi‑season swimming spot makes the Mühleggbahn & Drei Weieren a relaxed yet distinctive St. Gallen experience.