Top 5 best motorcycle rentals in Sankt Gallen

Sankt Gallen doesn't feel like a place you pass through — it feels like a place you launch from. Park your bags near the Klosterbezirk St. Gallen, the UNESCO-listed abbey precinct that anchors the old town, and within twenty minutes you can be leaning into the switchbacks up the Schwägalp Pass toward Säntis, with the whole Alpstein range opening up around you. This is exactly the kind of terrain that rewards two wheels: tight curves, sudden views, and villages too small for a tour bus to bother with.

What makes this region suited to a motorcycle isn't just the scenery — it's the shape of the roads. The Alpstein and Appenzell hill country are built from ridgelines and passes, not straight highways, so a bike turns the getting-there into the actual highlight. Distances that would eat a whole day on foot or by train — a loop past Lake Constance, a run along the Walensee, even a longer haul out to the Rheinfall — become easy same-day rides. If you want to rent a motorcycle in St. Gallen, this is the reason: the roads themselves are the attraction.

Top 10 things to see in St. Gallen by motorcycle

1. Klosterbezirk St. Gallen (Abbey Precinct) — the baroque abbey and library in the heart of town, the natural start and end point for any ride.
2. Säntis via Schwägalp Pass — a classic Alpstein switchback climb ending at a cable car up to the 2,502m summit.
3. Ebenalp & Seealpsee — cliffside Wildkirchli caves and a turquoise alpine lake, reached along scenic Appenzell backroads.
4. Appenzell village — painted facades and postcard streets, a short hop from St. Gallen.
5. Hoher Kasten — a ridge-top revolving restaurant with 360° views, reached via a winding approach road and cable car.
6. Rorschach and the Lake Constance shore road — flat, relaxed lakeside riding with views across to Austria and Germany.
7. Walensee — a turquoise lake beneath the Churfirsten ridge, with a shoreline road riders come back for.
8. Flumserberg — sweeping curves and panoramic views over the Walensee, a favourite technical stretch.
9. Toggenburg valley toward Wildhaus — rolling roads through dairy country up to the Churfirsten foothills.
10. Rheinfall in Schaffhausen — Europe's largest waterfall, a longer but rewarding day trip along the Rhine.

What do you need to rent a motorcycle in St. Gallen?

Small motorcycles up to 125cc fall under licence category A1, while anything larger needs the full A category. Renters are typically 18 or older, though many rental companies set their own minimums and may ask you've held your licence for a set period. An International Driving Permit isn't legally required for most visitors, but it's worth carrying alongside your home licence, especially if it isn't in Latin script. Expect a deposit, usually held on a credit card, with the amount scaling to the size of the bike.

How much does it cost to rent a motorcycle in St. Gallen?

A standard motorcycle or scooter runs CHF 25-35 per day in low season, rising to CHF 45-70 in high season. Larger-displacement or touring models go for CHF 80-150+ per day.

• Prices climb from June through August, the peak Alpine touring season.
• They drop from November through March, when the weather turns cold and wet.

When to book a rental motorcycle in St. Gallen?

High season runs June to September, when the passes are clear and demand for bikes peaks — book a few weeks ahead if you're travelling in July or August. Low season, November through March, brings quieter roads and lower prices, but many of the higher mountain routes may be affected by snow, so May to September is really the reliable window for alpine riding.

Local traffic rules in St. Gallen

Switzerland drives on the right. Helmets are compulsory for riders and passengers on any scooter or motorcycle. Dipped headlights must stay on at all times, day or night. Speed limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h on rural roads, and 120 km/h on motorways, with plenty of 30 km/h zones in town. The blood-alcohol limit is 0.5 g/l, and enforcement is strict, so it's not worth cutting it close. Once you've got the paperwork sorted, just use the search form at the top of the page to rent a motorcycle in St. Gallen. Have a nice trip!

Types of motorcycles available

On our website you can rent the following types of motorcycles: cruiser, sport, touring, standard, classic, dual-purpose, dirt bikes, street, naked bikes or roadsters, choppers, custom, streetfighter, sport-touring, dual-sport, on-road, off-road, adventure motorcycles, supermoto, scrambler, motorcycle with sidecar, enduro, motocross mx, trail, motards, tricycles, bikes with automatic or manual gears, luxury motorbikes.

Models of motorcycles available

On our website you can hire motorcycles from the following manufacturers: BMW, Harley Davidson, Aprilia, Buell, Cagiva, Ducati, Gilera, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, KTM, Husqvarna, Jawa, MV Agusta, Moto Guzzi, Triumph, Benelli, Bajaj, Indian, Royal Enfield, TVS, Beta, Bimota.

Which insurance is provided?

Most providers include basic third-party liability insurance in the rental price, with options to upgrade to fuller coverage that reduces or removes your deposit liability in case of damage or theft. Always confirm exactly what is and isn’t covered before you set off.

Extra services available

When you make an online motorbike reservation you can also order the following extra services and equipment: integral helmet, GPS navigation, intercom, unlimited mileage, top case, side cases, boots, jacket, gloves, individual guide or tour, map, full insurance, one-way rental, or delivery to your chosen address.

Why use BikesBooking.com?

• Compare prices from multiple local rental companies in one place;
• Read reviews from previous customers;
• Reserve online with a Best Price Guarantee;
• Friendly support if your plans change.

Most of our motorcycle rental providers have years of experience and will equip you with a well-maintained bike, helmet and insurance for the ride ahead. The number of companies we work with is increasing every day, so if you want to rent a motorcycle locally, just use the search form at the top of the page. Have a nice trip!