Goldiwil is situated on a sunny terrace above Thun, with views of the town, Lake Thun and the Alps. Hiking and the Goldiwheel Flowtrail offer different kinds of activities; there is also the Church of Goldiwil, with its art history, and traces of the area’s former winter sports tradition. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, you can choose a location to suit your planned activities and the bus connection between Thun, Goldiwil and Heiligenschwendi.
Viewpoints and walking paths
One prominent viewpoint is Rabeflue, roughly halfway between Goldiwil and Thun’s Old Town. From there, the view stretches across much of Thun and the surrounding area, to Stockhorn and down to the lower basin of Lake Thun. Crossing the upper Choleregraben also offers views of this lake basin. The route through Cholereschlucht leads to the scenic terraces of Goldiwil and Heiligenschwendi. Those exploring the area on foot will also find numerous walking paths that pass decorated houses.
Hikes with different planning considerations
One hike with a specified distance runs from Goldiwil via Egg, Heiligenschwendi and Äschlenallmi to Schwanden. It is 9.61 kilometres long and takes 3 hours and 10 minutes. Another option is the hike to Niesenbänkli. Its starting point at Goldiwil, Kirche can be reached from Thun by train and then by bus. Along the way, there are views of Niesen, other peaks in the Bernese Oberland and Lake Thun. There is a picnic area with a fire pit on the route at Hünibode. For the return journey, take the bus from Schwanden, Dorf towards Oberhofen or Sigriswil, and then continue to Thun.
The Rabeflue route is also easy to place when planning: it follows signposted hiking trails only. At Goldiwil/FlĂĽeli, 20 additional signposts indicate distances to places around the world. This unusual wayfinding adds a perspective beyond the immediate surroundings to the trail markers.
Goldiwheel Flowtrail: rollers, jumps and berms
The Goldiwheel Flowtrail runs from Goldiwil through the forest to Thun. Its features include rollers, jumps and berms. The jumpline has tables up to 11 metres long. Assess your ability to ride each feature individually and check the riding conditions and any restrictions on site.
If the bike shuttle is not operating, STI bus routes 31 and 32 are an alternative for transporting bicycles from Thun railway station. Capacity is limited to five bicycles. Check the current conditions before travelling.
Church art and local history
The Church of Goldiwil was built in 1949–1950 by Thun architect Livio Colombi. Inside is Walter Flückiger’s mosaic «In Search of Peace» from 2000. The stained-glass windows date from 1987 and were designed based on a model by the painter Bernhard Hunziker of Zweisimmen. They depict the return of the prodigal son.
Local history can also be read in the place names and landscape: before its incorporation into Thun in 1913, Grüsisbergwald effectively divided Goldiwil into the areas «ob dem Wald» (above the forest) and «nid dem Wald» (below the forest). In the «ob dem Wald» area, rural life and an almost Alpine climate shaped the surroundings; the altitude is around 1,000 metres. Historic hiking trails in Grüsisbergwald are still used today.
Goldiwil officially became a winter sports resort in 1906. The Kur- und Verkehrsverein’s plans included a ski slope, cross-country ski trail and ski jump. The Goldiwil Ski Club also owns and operates a ski lift particularly suited to small children; the lift is closed. As availability may change, check the current status if visiting the lift is important to your plans.
Getting there and choosing a location
STI bus routes connect Thun, Goldiwil and Heiligenschwendi. When choosing a holiday apartment, it is therefore also important to consider which of these connections suits your plans. Check the timetable if you want to link specific activities by bus. This helps you factor Goldiwil’s elevated location and the hiking and biking options described above into your travel plans.
Discover more destinations: Buchholterberg, Hilterfingen, Wachseldorn, Thun, Steffisburg, Forst bei Längenbühl, Uebeschi, Oberhofen Am Thunersee.
Back to the main travel overview: Thun.
