Arbon City Guide

Switzerland

Arbon City Guide

Thurgau

Arbon is a small town on Lake Constance in Switzerland. It has a historic old town, a castle, and a lakeside promenade. It’s quiet, with good infrastructure and access to nature, but smaller than major Swiss cities.

Lifestyle🍽️

🍽️
Food Scene
Good
6

Swiss cuisine dominates with some international options. Vegetarian and vegan choices exist but are limited. Late-night food is rare, mostly on weekends.

Local Dishes:
Cheese fondue, Raclette, Zürcher Geschnetzeltes, Rösti, Fresh fish from Lake Constance
International Cuisine:
Italian, Asian
Vegan FriendlyVegetarian Friendly
🌙
Nightlife
Limited
4

Nightlife is modest with a few local bars and pubs. No big club scene.

Coffee Culture
Good
6

Traditional Swiss cafes serve good coffee and pastries. Specialty coffee shops are rare.

💰
Tipping
Not Required

Tipping is not required as service charges are included. Rounding up the bill or small tips for good service are appreciated but optional.

Top Attractions
Arbon Castle and Historical Museum
Historic Site
Medieval castle with museum exhibits.
Old Town (Altstadt)
Culture
Charming historic center with shops and cafes.
Lakeside Promenade
Nature
Scenic walkway along Lake Constance.
Roman Museum Arbon
Museum
Museum focused on local Roman history.
SIM Cards

SIM cards can be bought at Swisscom, Sunrise, Salt shops, electronics stores, and some post offices. ID is needed to register. eSIMs are available.

Available at:
Swisscom
Sunrise
Salt
Interdiscount
Fust
Post Office
Recommended Apps
SBB Mobile(Transportation)
Twint(Finance)
Google Maps(Navigation)
MeteoSwiss(Weather)
Too Good To Go(Food)
Eat.ch(Food)
Parkingpay(Utilities)

Services & Infrastructure

Street Cleanliness
Excellent
9

Arbon is very clean with efficient waste management and excellent street cleanliness.

24/7 Services
Poor
3

Limited 24/7 services. Some petrol station shops open late, but pharmacies and food outlets mostly close early.

Groceries
Coop
Migros
Aldi
Lidl

Supermarkets like Coop, Migros, Aldi, and Lidl cover daily needs. Some local markets exist but check days locally. Shops close Sundays and holidays.

Cashless Payments
Widely accepted

Cards like Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted. Cash is less used but still accepted everywhere.

ATMs

ATMs from UBS, Credit Suisse, Raiffeisen, and Zürcher Kantonalbank are easy to find in town and near the train station. International fees may apply.

Schools
Local only

Local public schools teach in German. International schools are in larger cities nearby, like St. Gallen.

Available Schools:
Local public schools in Arbon

Work & Digital💻

Coworking Spaces
Available
5
Available Spaces:
Coworking Bodensee
Located in Romanshorn, about 15 minutes from Arbon, offers professional spaces and meeting rooms.
Startfeld
Coworking and startup hub in St. Gallen, around 30 minutes away by train or car.
24/7 Access
The Hub
Coworking space in St. Gallen with flexible access and networking opportunities.
24/7 Access
Work-Friendly Cafés
Good
Café am See
Lakeside views with seating for working.
Bäckerei-Konditorei Bärlocher
Bakery with seating, good for quick work sessions.
Café Restaurant Frohsinn
Cafe with quiet atmosphere suitable for work.
Hotel Metropol
Lobby cafe area that can serve as a quiet workspace.
Alternatives:
Stadtbibliothek Arbon
City library with quiet space and Wi-Fi.
Hotel Römerhof
Hotel lobby with seating and Wi-Fi, good for working.
Digital Nomad Community
Poor
2

Arbon has a very small digital nomad community. Most nomads head to larger Swiss cities.

Nature & Activities🌿

Green Spaces
Excellent
9

Numerous green areas and a long lakeside promenade provide good outdoor spaces and shaded walking.

Running
Excellent
9

Lakeside promenade and nearby trails provide safe, scenic running routes with good local clubs.

Gyms
Available

Several gyms and fitness centers are available in town.

Available Gyms:
Activ Fitness Arbon
Fitnesspark Arbon (Migros)
Various local centers
Tennis
Good
6

Local tennis clubs offer courts, coaching, and equipment rental.

Padel
Poor
0

Padel courts are not common in Arbon.

Yoga
Limited
5

A few local yoga studios offer classes in various styles. English-speaking instructors may be limited.

Martial Arts
Limited
5

Local clubs offer martial arts like Judo, Karate, and Taekwondo. English instruction may be limited.

Skiing
Good
7

Ski resorts like Wildhaus and Flumserberg are within 1-1.5 hours by car, offering terrain for all levels.

Water Sports
Good
6

Kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing, and windsurfing on Lake Constance, with rentals and tours in season.

Surfing
Poor
3

Windsurfing and paddleboarding are popular on Lake Constance in summer. No ocean surfing.

Diving
Good
6

Freshwater diving spots in Lake Constance with dive centers and equipment rental. Best in warmer months.

Health & Safety🏥

Healthcare
Excellent
9

High-quality healthcare with access to the Kantonsspital Münsterlingen nearby. Most hospitals have English-speaking staff. Pharmacies stock common medications.

Hospitals:
Kantonsspital Münsterlingen
Pharmacies:
Local Apotheke in Arbon
Tap Water Safety
Safe to drink

Tap water is safe and clean throughout Arbon.

Common Scams
Pickpocketing (rare), Online phishing scams

Community & Family

Family Friendly
Excellent
8

Playgrounds and kid-friendly cafes are available. Attractions include Arbon Castle, lakeside walks, and boat trips on Lake Constance.

LGBTQ+ Friendly
Excellent
8

Safe and tolerant environment with legal protections. Larger cities nearby have more LGBTQ+ venues and events.

Pet Friendly
Excellent
8

Pet-friendly hotels, restaurants, and walking paths are common. Vet clinics and supply stores available.

Communities
Arbon Aktuell (Social)
Thurgau Community (Social)
Expats in Switzerland (Social)
Bodensee Region Community (Social)

Quick Facts

Population
14,537
Power Reliability
Excellent
10/10

Power supply is very reliable with rare outages.

Beach Access
Available

Public swimming areas and lidos along Lake Constance with clean water and maintained facilities.

Mountains
Available

Appenzell Alps and Alpstein peaks are 30-60 minutes away by car, offering many hiking trails.

Languages
German(88%)
English(35%)
French(12%)
Italian(7%)
Emergency
144
Ambulance
117
Police
118
Fire
112
General Emergency

⚠️Natural Disasters Risk

🌊
Tsunami
Very Low Risk
1
🏔️
Earthquake
Low Risk
3

🌦️Seasonal Issues

High water levels
March, April, May, June
Lake Constance can rise in spring and early summer but protective measures limit flooding.
Warm summers
July, August
Summers can be warm but usually not extreme.

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