scenic viewpoint
Mount Rigi
The 'Queen of the Mountains' above Lake Lucerne, site of Europe's first mountain railway and offering sunrise panoramas over the Alps.
5 km · about 10 min drive
EuropeSwitzerlandSchwyz
Goldau
Schwyz, Switzerland · Europe
About Goldau
Goldau works well as a base: 10 minutes from Steinen, 9km from Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee).
Goldau is in Schwyz, Switzerland, with about 5,300 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Steinen, about 5 km away.
Goldau is a town in the community of Arth, canton of Schwyz, Switzerland. It lies between the Rigi and Rossberg mountains, and between lakes Zug and Lauerz.
Well known attractions include the Natur- und Tierpark Goldau and the Arth-Goldau valley station of the Arth-Rigi Bahn connecting to the Rigi mountain.
GoldauRead more
is primarily known in Switzerland for its historic landslide, the "Goldau landslide" (Goldauer Bergsturz) of 1806 which killed 457 people. It is also known for its importance for the Swiss railways network, with Arth-Goldau station forming the intersection between the Gotthard, Lucerne, Zug–Zürich and Pfäffikon lines.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Goldau?
Within an hour or so of Goldau: Mount Rigi (5 km), Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee) (9 km), Axenstrasse (11 km), Ibergeregg Pass (15 km).
Are there any good drives near Goldau?
The nearest famous roads are Axenstrasse, Ibergeregg Pass and Pragel Pass.
Where is Goldau?
Goldau is in Schwyz, Switzerland, about 5 km from Steinen.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 5,285
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Switzerland
- Region
- Schwyz
- Timezone
- Europe/Zurich
- Coordinates
- 47.0476, 8.5462
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Switzerland
Motorway vignette (toll sticker) required: buy at the border or online. Roadside assistance (TCS): 140.
Full driving guide for SwitzerlandTags
Worth the detour from Goldau
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
natural wonder
Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee)
A stunningly shaped lake surrounded by mountains where Switzerland was founded, with paddle steamers and the Rütli meadow.
9 km · about 15 min drive
coastal drive
Axenstrasse
A spectacular cliff-hugging shore road blasted into the rock above Lake Lucerne between Brunnen and Fluelen, threading galleries and tunnels with constant views across the Uri arm of the lake.
11 km · about 20 min drive
mountain pass
Ibergeregg Pass
A modest but scenic pass above Schwyz with long views to the Mythen peaks, usually kept open through winter.
15 km · about 25 min drive
museum
Swiss Museum of Transport
Switzerland's most-visited museum featuring an extensive automobile collection alongside trains, planes, and spacecraft.
16 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke)
Europe's oldest covered wooden bridge, built in 1333 across the Reuss River in Lucerne with 17th-century painted panels inside.
18 km · about 20 min drive
landmark
Lion Monument
Mark Twain called it the most mournful piece of stone in the world: a dying lion carved into a cliff face commemorating Swiss Guards killed in the French Revolution.
18 km · about 20 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Mount Pilatus
A jagged mountain above Lucerne reachable by the world's steepest cogwheel railway, steeped in dragon legends and offering 73-peak panoramas.
24 km · about 25 min drive
Driving roads near Goldau
17 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 60km.
- Right hereMount RigiThe 'Queen of the Mountains' above Lake Lucerne, site of Europe's first mountain railway and offering sunrise panoramas over the Alps.
- Right hereAxenstrasseA spectacular cliff-hugging shore road blasted into the rock above Lake Lucerne between Brunnen and Fluelen, threading galleries and tunnels with constant views across the Uri arm of the lake.
- Right hereIbergeregg PassA modest but scenic pass above Schwyz with long views to the Mythen peaks, usually kept open through winter.
- 24 kmMount PilatusA jagged mountain above Lucerne reachable by the world's steepest cogwheel railway, steeped in dragon legends and offering 73-peak panoramas.
- 24 kmPragel PassA narrow, steep pass linking the Muotatal to the Klöntal, closed to through traffic on Sundays and barred to coaches. One of the quietest genuinely wild roads in central Switzerland.
- 24 kmSattelegg PassA low, year-round pass between the Sihl valley and Einsiedeln, a useful and pretty link rather than a challenge.
Driving in Switzerland
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.82/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
- Vignette
- Required, around €42 for a short-stay sticker
When to drive here
April to October
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