Short Stay Parking

30 minutes free right outside T1 beats circling the curb

Short Stay Parking at St. Gallen Altenrhein sits directly in front of T1, basically at the tiny terminal doors. Officially it’s short stay, but locals treat the forecourt with its 30 minutes of free parking as kiss-and-fly space for quick pick-ups and drop-offs. From the car to check-in desks is a 1–2 minute walk on the flat, with no shuttle, no stairs and no hunting for a bay.

Daily pricing runs at CHF 20.00, so this lot makes sense for same-day hops to Vienna or a single overnight, not a long holiday. Weekly rates cap at CHF 120.00, which is still on-airport and next to the terminal, so you aren’t trading price for a 15-minute bus ride. Pay machines sit by the terminal entrance, and you’re paying in Swiss francs, not an off-airport operator’s extra “service” fees.

For true short hits under half an hour, use the 30-minute free window at the front of T1 and skip the ticket stress: drive up, park, walk in, meet or drop your passenger, and roll out. Once you cross that 30-minute mark, you’re into paid short-stay territory at the same location, with the CHF 20.00 daily cap kicking in if you stay a full day.

Regulars flying OS to Vienna just drive up on departure day, park right in front of the building without pre-booking, and walk straight to the Austrian check-in desks. The airport is small enough that even if you land back late, your car is still a 1–2 minute walk from arrivals.

Tip: set a 25-minute timer on your phone when picking someone up at T1, so you can use the 30-minute free period and avoid rolling into a paid day at CHF 20.00 by accident.