Facing south, the Churfirsten mountains fall almost vertically from 2306 m to the Walensee lake at just 419 m. Since ancient times, the cliff faces have made Walensee access a major challenge; the Walensee could only be mastered by boat and Walenstadt was an important transfer point. Today the road along the lake shores is cut into the cliffs in many places and affords superb views.

The small old town with its restored church and secular buildings, as well as parts of the town wall is well worth exploring. The local museum in the «Alten Rathaus» (old town hall) provides information on, amongst other things, Walensee shipping and the Sargans region wooden masks, which are used during carnival time. The smaller version of the Bern Parliament Square fountain, near the Walenstadt railway station is of contemporary origin.

The harbour of the Walensee Shipping Company (scheduled boats) lies on the undeveloped lake shores together with water sport facilities, a large lido, playgrounds, barbecue areas and a superbly located camping site. As a departure point, Walenstadt is ideal for extensive hikes into the Churfirsten mountains or along the lake shores to the traffic-free hamlet of Quinten. Other nearby excursion destinations are the skiing and hiking regions of Flumserberg and Pizol and the Gonzen iron mines at Sargans.

The mountain village of Walenstadtberg (1000 m) – which belongs to Walenstadt – nestles on a sunny terrace above the lake. A well-known rehabilitation clinic and Switzerland’s first women’s hotel is found here. Located a little higher is the Schrina Hochrugg. The artist Karl Bickel (known in particular for designing stamps) created the PAXmal Peace Centre between 1924 and 1949 with large than life-sized mosaic pictures.