Stein am Rhein

Stein am Rhein is a town in the eastern part of Switzerland. It is situated on the river Rhine, at the western end of Lake Constance (Untersee). It is famous for its medieval town centre, including many half-timbered houses and frescoes. The town is split across the Rhine, with the old town centre on the north side.

Understand

Stein am Rhine was just a small fishing village until 1007, when St. Georges's abbey was moved there. Stein am Rhine was at an intersection between major roadways and the river, and both the town and the abbey prospered. The town now has a population of a little over 3000, and is a popular tourist destination.

• 1 Tourist Office, Oberstadt 3, ☏ +41 52 632 40 32, tourist-service@steinamrhein.ch. M 13:30-17:00, Tu-F 09:30-12:00 and 13:30-17:00, Jul-Aug also Sa 09:30-12:00 and 13:30-16:00. (updated Dec 2016)
  

Get in

By train — Stein am Rhein is accessible by Zürich S-Bahn S29 Winterthur - Stein am Rhein, which is connected to other S-Bahn lines at Winterthur (S7, S8, S12, S16), Oberwinterthur (S8, S12), Wallrüti (S12), Reutlingen (S12) or Seuzach (S12). If you have an all-zone ZVV travelcard, you should buy a single ticket from Stammheim (as opposed to paying for the whole stretch).

By bike — There are bike paths on both sides of the Rhine passing through Stein am Rhine. It's an easy bike ride from (for example) Schaffhausen, Radolfzell or Konstanz.

By boat — There are (seasonal) boats between Lake Constance and Schaffhausen that stop in Stein am Rhine.

By car —

By bus — From Radolfzell, take bus 7368.

Get around

Walking is the best way. There is a large parking lot on the west edge of the old town centre where you can leave your car.

See

• 1 Hohenklingen Castle (Up on the hill at the north edge of Stein am Rhein.), ☏ +41 52 741 21 37. You can drive to it or walk the stairs up the hillside. From the castle you get a gorgeous view of the town. The best views are (of course) from the restaurant in the castle. Entrance is free.  
• 2 St. George's Abbey, ☏ +41 52 741 21 42. October to April, 10:00 to 17:00. Closed Mondays. A Benedictine abbey with a late gothic cloister and frescoes dating from 1515. 
• 3 Lindwurm Museum, Understadt 18, ☏ +41 52 741 25 12. March to October, 10:00 to 17:00. Tuesdays closed. This museum displays the lifestyle of a middle class family in about 1850. Fr. 3.50. 
• 4 Rathausplatz. A square surrounded by beautiful old buildings. 

Eat

There are many restaurants and cafés with outdoor seating along the river.

• 1 Restaurant Ilge, Rathausplatz 14, ☏ +41 52 741 22 72, reservation@ilgesteinamrhein.ch. (updated Dec 2016)
• Rother Ochsen, Rathausplatz 9, ☏ +41 52 741 23 28. (updated Dec 2016)

Sleep

• Hotel – Restaurant Adler, Rathausplatz 2, ☏ +41 52 742 61 61. Single: Fr. 130-150; double: Fr. 180 -200. 
• 1 Hotel Chlosterhof, Oehningerstrasse 2, ☏ +41 52 742 42 42. They also have an on-site restaurant serving non-guests of the hotel. Single: Fr. 240-265, double: Fr. 296-340. (updated Dec 2016)
• Garni-Hotel Mühletal, Oehingerstrasse 6. Starting at Fr. 100. 
• Youth Hostel (Jugendherberge SJH), Hemishoferstrasse 87 (About 900m west of the old town centre, along the river), ☏ +41 52 741 12 55. Check-in: 05:00–10:00, check-out: 08:00–10:00. Members Fr. 29.50, non-members Fr. 35.50, includes breakfast. 

Go next

• The Rhine Falls in nearby Schaffhausen
• Radolfzell (D)
• Konstanz (D)