Goldau

Goldau is part of the official commune Arth-Goldau, a merger of the Goldau with nearby Arth in the canton of Schwyz in Central Switzerland. Goldau is home to a key train station junction for the Swiss Railway network, and one of the two main access points for the Rigibahn and the nearby mountain called the Rigi.

Understand

Goldau church

The town is on a saddle between two of the first peaks of the Alps, the Rigi and Rossberg. The town was destroyed by a landslide coming off the Rossberg in the early 1800s, and rebuilt afterwards. Today it holds some important Swiss railway facilities, is the headquarters location for the Rigibahn, has a regionally famous zoo, and stands as a major railway stop on the routes from Basel or Zürich to Milan/Venice/Genoa or from Luzern to Saint Gallen. The town has a distinct central Swiss culture, as a hub for some of the more rural nearby areas, but is also quieter, with less accommodation, and less architectural tourist attraction than neighboring Brunnen, Schwyz, or Küssnacht am Rigi. While these towns are more aesthetically developed, Goldau has a far more practical position for connectivity.

Climate

Goldau has cold, dry winters with occasional snow, being at a slightly higher altitude than its surrounds, and experiences occasional strong winds from the south known as Föhn. The summers are warm, occasionally hot, with occasional thunderstorms, and some humidty from the many nearby lakes and streams. Because of the prominence of the Rigi, the sun can set a bit earlier in Goldau than in neighboring lakeside areas like Arth, Brunnen, or Walchwil.

Tourist information

• Rigi tourism website
• Goldau official city tourism page

Get in

By train

Goldau can be reached easily from the German speaking and Italian speaking parts of Switzerland via the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB CFF FFS)). There are half-hourly trains from Zürich, and a direct train every hour from Luzern, Locarno, and St. Gallen. S-Bahn trains, which go slower, reach nearby areas up to Biberbrugg in the east or Rotkreuz in the northwest, and various trains go to nearby Zug, Brunnen, Küssnacht am Rigi. Arriving from Zürich airport requires a change in either Zürich main station (Hauptbahnhof or HB) or Zug. Long-distance trains from the south also connect several times a day from Milan or Lugano, and once per day to Venice or Genoa.

The Rigibahn which originates in Vitznau, on the west side of the Rigi, can also be used to reach Goldau, by changing at Rigi Staffel or Rigi Kulm, both locations where the red train from Vitznau intersects the blue train to Goldau.

By bus

Goldau has a bus station hub operated by Auto AG Schwyz, the regional bus system. Buses connect to Muoatathal, Schwyz, Brunnen, Rotkreuz, Küssnacht am Rigi, Walchwil, and Rothenturm.

By boat

Boats from Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee), either the south toward Uri or the north toward Luzern, stop in Brunnen where train and bus connections to Goldau can be found. A summer boat service tours Lake Zug to the north and stops in Arth three times per day, where the bus also connects to Goldau.

Get around

Goldau is walkable, but taxis can also be found waiting at the train station in case of sudden need to travel the area when walking, bus, or train does not suffice.

See

• 1 Herz Jesu Catholic Church, Kehlmattliweg. A prominent church on the west side of the town. (updated Aug 2024)
• 2 Goldseeli (forest southeast of the town). A small lake in a natural area of forest and meadow, reachable by walking trails. (updated Aug 2024)
• 3 Nature and Animal Park Goldau (Natur und Tierpark Goldau), Parkstrasse 42 (Tierpark stop). 09:00-18:00. Zoo featuring bears, deer, wolves, and an extensive system of paths through the forest and stones from the historic landslide catastrophe, with restaurant on site. (updated Aug 2024)
  • Goldau Avalanche Museum (Bergsturz Museum). 09:00-18:00. A newly built museum (2024) highlighting the conditions and outcome of the landslide that destroyed the town in 1806. (updated Aug 2024)
• 4 Museum Bauernhof, Gotthardstrasse 18 (Tierpark stop). Tu Sa 10:00-16:00, W-F 11:30-16:00. A preserved Swiss farm style house converted into a museum, moved from a nearby town, with exhibits including a history of the postal system, and a cafe serving lunch and dinner. (updated Aug 2024)

Do

• Hiking. Use the SwissTopo app to find various yellow and red marked paths that lead out from the town, with scenic walks through idyllic Swiss farms and forest.
• Paraglide from Rigi. Paragliding down from the Rigi is a unique experience. Tandem paragliding is possible all year round with pilots certified by the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) of Switzerland.

Mountains

• 1 Mount Rigi. A famous mountain overlooking the lake of Lucerne and the nearby valleys, with views into almost every canton of Switzerland. Its peak at Rigi Kulm can be reached by a cogwheel railway from Vitznau and a cable-car from Weggis takes you to Rigi Kaltbad where you can join the cogwheel railway or walk the rest of the way. The cable cars and cogwheel trains are covered by the GA/Swiss Travel Pass. The peak can be reached by foot in around 4-5 hours from the base of the mountain at Goldau. (updated Aug 2024)
• 2 Rossberg. This mountain can be reached by foot from the center of Goldau, with 4-5 hours hiking time, or via train to Sattel nearby with a shorter ascent, and descent backt o Goldau. (updated Aug 2024)

Events

• Fasnacht. Like much of Switzerland, Goldau celebrates a late winter festival around the start of Lent in the Catholic calendar.
• Greiflet. Every January a procession of locals carrying large cow bells march through the streets, since 1952. The custom is said to originate in an ancient fertility rite. From the 16th century to the middle of the 19th century, various decrees were used to try to ban the practice for being disorderly and noisy, but without success.
• Wrestling and Alpine Festival (Schwing- und Älplerfest). The wrestling festival takes place in July and attracts thousands of fans of Switzerland's national sport to Rigi. The exciting competitions take place in an arena on Rigi-Staffel that has been specially prepared for the event. Another highlight of this festival is the colorful alpine procession, which moves to the festival grounds at midday. There is documentary evidence of this event dating back to 1601, but the Rigi herdsmen may have competed in peaceful competition much earlier.

Buy

The main street of Goldau has the staple Swiss supermarket and grocery chains. There are also a few clothing stores, a pharmacy, a drugstore, barber shops, and a few wine speciality stores.

Eat

Goldau has a small range of restaurants, including some Italian, Kosovan, and Turkish fare, as well as a few notably excellent restaurants with full service.

Budget

• 1 Gjakova Imbiss, Parkstrasse 9. 09:00-20:00 daily, break at 14:00-17:00 on M Tu Sa. Kosovan food featuring Burek, Cevapcici, and hamburgers. Basic but filling with low prices and good flavor, outdoor seating. 
• 2 Ali Baba, Parkstrasse 2. 09:00-22:00 daily. Turkish food near the train station, including kebabs and pide, as well as pizza and salad. 

• Casa Cello. Kebabs and Turkish style food, near the train station and post office.
• Eat Club Goldau. Kebabs.
• SBB Restaurant. A cafeteria style restaurant mainly for railway workers but open to the public, open Monday through Friday.

Mid-range

• Pfenniger. Bakery and cafe with a sit down and take-away section, staple part of the town on the main street.
• Bahnino. Bakery and cafe near the train station and post office.
• La Piazza. Pizza, Cordon Bleu, Swiss and Italian fare in an older quaint building with a terrace near the train station.
• Salvi e Gino. Pizza and Italian fare, on the eastern end of town on the main street.
• Restaurant Pizzeria Bären. Italian and Swiss fare near the train station.
• Vinothek 14 Weinbistro. Relaxed wine bar with food options.
• Ruen Rattaya. Thai restaurant on the edge of town.
• Chuan. Chinese restaurant near the train station.

Splurge

• Gotthard. A regionally renowned and award-winning restaurant with fine dining, game meats.

Drink

Bars

• Goldauerhof. Also serves food, a classic pub on a street corner a short walk from the center of the town, gathering place for locals, good for watching sports matches, smoking allowed inside.
• Spinnä Pub
• 0817 Pub

Sleep

Mid-range

• Villa Mon Abri, Rigistrasse 10. A small and charming bed and breakfast with a single apartment available, just beside the Rigibahn station to take the train up the mountain. 5 minutes walking from the train station.
• Anstatthotel. Business and roadside hotel, walkable distance to the main train station and Rigibahn.

Camping

• Campingplatz Bernerhöhe. Open year-round, with 20 campsites, a kiosk, and no water during winter months. Also has a small chalet available to rent.

Connect

Free wifi is available at the train station, and for customers at some of the cafes/bakeries and restaurants, as well as at the zoo and the attached museum.

Stay safe

Goldau is a safe and quiet city where walking day and night is safe and free from threats. The police regularly patrol the town, and there is occasionally a security presence at the train station. Care should be taken to keep dogs on leash, and to avoid walking on railway tracks or in the middle of the road when space may be shared between cars and pedestrians.