In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · United States
New Glarus
Half a day to one night: see the Swiss-themed downtown, tour the brewery, and eat rösti. Not a base—use it as a stop between Madison and the Illinois border.
New Glarus is a small Swiss-founded village in southern Wisconsin, 45 minutes from Madison. Its main draws are the New Glarus Brewing Company, Swiss-German food (rösti, kalberwurst, spätzli), and a compact downtown with chalet-style buildings. Most visitors spend 3–5 hours or stay one night at a motel or inn.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, some businesses reduce hours)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $60–90 excl. bed · Mid $90–150 excl. bed · High $150+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911 · Green County Sheriff (non-emergency) 608-328-9400
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Brewery tour with tasting | $15 (check) |
| Rösti at Glarner Stube | $14–18 |
| Draft beer (pint) | $5–7 |
| Motel double room | $80–160 |
| Rideshare to Madison | $40–55 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MSN · Dane County Regional Airport (Madison)
- About 45 min drive; rental car needed
- ORD · Chicago O'Hare
- About 2.5 h drive; most common for long-distance visitors
Typical fares
- Rideshare Madison → New Glarus
- about $40–55 (check)
- Brewery shuttle from downtown
- free, check hours
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Car is essential. Downtown is walkable (about 6 blocks). The brewery is about 1.5 km (0.9 mi) from downtown; a free shuttle runs during peak hours (check).Car is essential. Downtown is walkable (about 6 blocks). The brewery is about 0.9 mi (1.5 km) from downtown; a free shuttle runs during peak hours (check).
See and do
Known for
- New Glarus Brewing Company
- Swiss-German food (rösti, kalberwurst, landjäger)
- Swiss-themed downtown architecture
- Green County countryside
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Madison | Drive north on WI 69, about 45 min | 45 min |
| Monroe (Green County seat) | Drive south on WI 69, about 20 min | 20 min |
| Freeport, Illinois | Drive south on WI 69, about 45 min | 45 min |
Sleep
- Downtown / Highway 69
- Chalet Landhaus and Swiss Aire Motel are walkable to restaurants and the brewery shuttle stop.
- Browntown (south)
- Inn Serendipity, about 10 min drive; a quiet B&B option.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | HelloHEH-loh |
| Thank you | Thank youTHANK yoo |
| How much? | How much?HOW much |
| One beer, please | One beer, pleaseWUN beer pleez |
| Where is the toilet? | Where is the restroom?WHAIR iz the REST-room |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Brewery tours can fill up on weekends: arrive early or book ahead (check).
- Many restaurants close by 21:00 or earlier on weeknights.
- No public transport to/from Madison: you need a car or taxi/rideshare.
Very safe. The main risks are winter driving on rural roads and limited cell service on some county highways.
One and two days
No timed day plan for New Glarus yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- New Glarus Brewing Company
- Swiss-German food (rösti, kalberwurst, landjäger)
- Swiss-themed downtown architecture
- Green County countryside
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: New Glarus, revision 4713035 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4713035
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
New Glarus
Take me to this address
Take me to this address
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Green County Sheriff (non-emergency)608-328-9400
No consulate in New Glarus. The nearest major consulates are in Chicago (e.g., UK, Canada, Australia).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/new-glarus). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.