Moving to New Glarus, WI: The Ultimate Guide

New Glarus is America’s Little Switzerland. It is a village in Green county and is approx. 28 miles from downtown Madison. New Glarus was established as a Swiss Colony in 1845 and incorporated as a Village in 1901. With small town friendliness and enthusiasm, New Glarus is proud to share its Swiss heritage, its chalet-style architecture, its two fine museums, its famous ethnic festivals, and a wealth of specialty shops and restaurants serving delicious Swiss food.

New Glarus is also the starting point for the 23-mile Sugar River Bike Trail, and New Glarus Woods State Park is less than a mile from the edge of the village. So whether your tastes run to shopping all day, polka-ing all night, hiking, biking, golfing, or paying a visit to lovingly maintained local museums, you’ll find plenty to do in New Glarus.

Moving to New Glarus? Contact Audra Geldmacher at (608) 577-8318 or Wanda Roche at (608) 212-2928 or email [email protected] with any questions that you have.

Resources

• Visit New Glarus
• Liveability
• Chamber of Commerce

Schools & Education

School District of New Glarus – Located 28 miles southwest of Madison, New Glarus School District is a top-rated school district that offers students extensive curricular and extra-curricular opportunities within a small school setting.

Restaurants

New Glarus Hotel Restaurant

• 100 6th Ave, New Glarus, WI 53574
• (608) 527-5244
• newglarushotel.com

Kristi’s Restaurant

• 119 5th Ave, New Glarus, WI 53574
• (608) 527-2012
• kristisrestaurant.com

Glarner Stube

• 518 1st St, New Glarus, WI 53574
• (608) 527-2216
• glarnerstube.com

Tofflers Pub & Grill

• 200 5th Ave, New Glarus, WI 53574
• (608) 527-2490
• tofflers.com

Sugar River Pizza Co. – New Glarus

• 700 Railroad St, New Glarus, WI 53574
• (608) 527-5000
• sugarriverpizza.com

Fat Cat Coffee Works

• 606 Railroad St, New Glarus, WI 53574
• (608) 527-3346
• fatcatcoffeeworks.com

Area Highlights

• New Glarus Brewing Company – Home of the popular “Spotted Cow” beer. Normally there are tours of the facility but they are temporarily closed due to COVID-19.
• New Glarus Woods State Park – Dense woods to retreat into on a hot day, excellent maintained trails for running and hiking.
• Swiss Historical Village Museum – Temporarily closed. Very great way to learn about the history of New Glarus.
• Chalet of the Golden Fleece Museum – Great step back into a piece of New Glarus and world history with a tour given by friendly and knowledgeable staff.
• New Glarus Hotel Restaurant – Discover Swiss specialties like Geschnetzeltes, Cheese Fondue à la Neuchatel, Beef Fondue Bourguignonne, Rösti, and more! Pair your meal with your spirit of choice—try one of our wines from the diverse landscape of Switzerland or a locally-brewed beer like Spotted Cow.
• New Glarus Oktoberfest – Cancelled in 2020. Oktoberfest offers many spirited activities in downtown New Glarus including live music, great food, local beer, wagon rides, and chainsaw carving.
• New Glarus Adventsfenster – Experience a life-size Advent Calendar in downtown New Glarus. Through the month of December, join us at each location to view each window unveiling.
• New Glarus Public Library – Established in 1934 to serve the educational, cultural, and entertainment needs of the greater New Glarus community.
• Heidi Festival – The Heidi Festival is held during the last full weekend in June in New Glarus, WI. The Heidi play features adoptable kittens from the humane society and goats from a local farm.

Homes for Sale

Area Map