Are you looking for a unique city trip? Then consider Thun, beautifully located on the shores of Lake Thun. It is a charming Swiss town that combines the rich history of a medieval city with the breathtaking beauty of the Alps. Whether you enjoy soaking up culture, hiking, cycling, or water sports, Thun has something for everyone. The unique combination of history, nature, and adventure makes Thun the perfect destination for an unforgettable city break.

The imposing Thun Castle is the city’s main attraction. The cobbled streets in the old town are surrounded by colorful houses, cozy cafes, and artisan shops. In the summer, you can even enjoy a genuine surfing culture as the city’s youth surfs on the Aare River. With the lake and the Alps in close proximity, you can have unforgettable experiences in the surrounding area. In this blog, we provide you with tips to make your city trip to Thun and its surroundings a delightful stay.

History of Thun

Thun in the canton of Bern exudes history. The area was inhabited as far back as Roman times. In the 12th century, Thun was granted city rights and grew into an important trading center. Its strategic location at the passage between the Alps and the Jura contributed to its growth.

Over the centuries, Thun was influenced by various rulers, including the Habsburgs and the Bernese. The imposing Thun Castle, built in the 12th century, bears witness to the city’s medieval history. Thun also played a role in the Reformation, with the introduction of Protestantism in the 16th century. Thun further developed as an important trading and industrial center in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Today, Thun is a charming city that attracts visitors due to its historical architecture, picturesque lakeside location, and proximity to the Swiss Alps. The rich history of Thun remains visible in the old buildings, streets, and cultural attractions. Thun has grown to become the 10th largest city in Switzerland. As a tourist destination, Thun is not yet widely known. However, we have found that Thun has a lot to offer.

Highlights of Thun

Join us as we explore the main highlights of Thun.

Thun Castle

Thun Castle towers high above the city. It is an impressive medieval castle built around 1180, making it one of the oldest medieval castles in Switzerland. Originally, it served as the residence of the Dukes of Zähringen. The castle has an imposing appearance with its high towers, thick stone walls, and red roofs. Because it is situated on a hill, it requires a steep climb up various stairs to reach the castle. There is also a lift from the City Ost Schlossberg car park.

Over the centuries, the castle has served various functions, including as a residence for noble families, a prison, and an arsenal. One of the highlights of visiting the castle is the breathtaking view from the towers. The tower rooms now house a historical museum. Be sure to visit the knight’s hall from the 12th century, which is the most beautiful room in the castle.

Schadau Castle

Schadau Castle is another remarkable building in Thun. It is located on the shores of Lake Thun, just outside the city center. Its location by the lake provides a picturesque setting. The castle was built in 1854 in a neo-Gothic style. The design is inspired by English castles and country houses. The castle is surrounded by an extensive park, a delightful place for a walk. The park’s English landscape style immediately catches the eye. Additionally, you can enjoy breathtaking views of Lake Thun and the surrounding Alpine giants.

For a romantic stay, book a hotel room at Schadau Castle, which now functions as a hotel. The restaurant at Schadau Castle is also well worth a visit and has an excellent reputation.

Historic city centre

The historic city centre of Thun is filled with historical architecture and a variety of shops, cafes, and restaurants. Stroll along the cobblestone streets and soak up the atmosphere of Thun’s Altstadt. Particularly notable are the raised sidewalks in the city centre, unique to Switzerland.

The main street is the Hauptgasse. This street is lined with colorful medieval buildings, boutiques, cafes, and restaurants. It is an attractive street to walk along and enjoy the atmosphere of the old town. The most beautiful square is Rathausplatz, the square in front of the town hall. The square often hosts local events and markets. During our visit, preparations for carnival were in full swing on the square. What’s charming about the city centre is the abundance of artisanal shops. We saw an old man in a workshop, cigar in mouth, sharpening traditional Swiss knives. It was a delightful sight!

Thun Panorama

The Thun Panorama is an impressive cylindrical painting depicting a panoramic view of the city of Thun and the surrounding Alps. The artist Marquard Wocher created it in 1814 while sitting on the roof in Thun’s city centre. The cylindrical painting has a circumference of about 38 meters and a height of 7 meters. It is the oldest surviving artwork of this kind in the world. The Thun Panorama presents a detailed and realistic view of Thun and the surrounding nature. The painting not only holds artistic value but also serves as a historical document, providing a glimpse of city life and the landscape of Thun in the early 19th century. You can find the Thun Panorama in the park near Schadau Castle.

River Aare

The River Aare runs through the heart of Thun. In the river, there is a unique island called Bälliz. It’s enjoyable to visit this island and explore it. You’ll find many historical buildings, narrow streets, and cozy terraces there.

The Aare is home to several beautiful wooden locks, which also serve as bridges. They create a distinctive current in the river, attracting surfers to ride from one lock to another. It’s unique to see a surfing culture even within the city! During the summer, school children also enjoy the locks. They jump in at the first lock and let themselves be carried to the next. A little climb and off they go again. It’s a lovely way to wake up before school starts.

Thun Art Museum

The Thun Art Museum is situated in a historical building on Hofstetten Strasse. The museum focuses on modern and contemporary art. The impressive collection includes paintings, sculptures, and graphic works. The museum regularly hosts changing exhibitions, with a focus on national and international artists.

Boat trip on Lake Thun

From the water, you have a wonderful view of Thun, the impressive mountains, and various castles. During your city trip to Thun, a cruise on the lake is a must. There are various excursion boats, two of which are historical paddle steamers. The boats make stops at different locations, ideal for disembarking and exploring the surroundings. The picturesque town of Spiez is a great place to visit.

Being active on (or in) the water is also an option. You can rent stand-up paddleboards, canoes, kayaks, and sailboats, and even go diving in Lake Thun. And if you’ve had your fill of being on the water, there are many hiking trails along the shores of Lake Thun, offering stunning scenery.

Attractions in the surroundings of Thun

From the lake, you may have already spotted some attractions in the surroundings of Thun. Here are the most remarkable ones:

Oberhofen Castle

Oberhofen Castle is a fairytale-like castle located on the shores of Lake Thun, about five kilometers from the centre of Thun. The castle dates back to the 13th century and now houses a museum with exhibitions on the history of the castle and the region. The beautiful gardens surrounding the castle create a relaxed atmosphere. The magnificent view of the lake and the surrounding mountains is a delightful bonus.

Sigriswil Panorama Bridge

The Sigriswil Panorama Bridge is a remarkable suspension bridge in the vicinity of Thun. With a length of about 350 meters, the bridge spans the valley between the villages of Aeschlen and Sigriswil, making it one of the longest suspension bridges in the country. The bridge hangs approximately 180 meters above the Grafenbach River. From the bridge, you have a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains, Lake Thun, and the picturesque surroundings. You can reach the bridge via hiking trails that run through the surrounding forests and meadows. It’s a popular destination for those who are not afraid of heights!

Stockhorn

An even more spectacular vantage point may be the Stockhorn rock, with its distinctive shape. From the top of the rock face, you can look out over Thun, Bern, the Aare Valley, and the Jura. On a clear day, you can spot as many as 200 Alpine peaks! You can reach Stockhorn in two stages with a cable car. You already have a magnificent view from the mountain restaurant. But for an even more impressive experience, head to the free-hanging viewing platform on the north face of the mountain. It’s also handy if you don’t suffer from vertigo, as you’ll be looking down about 400 meters through the glass floor. There are various hiking trails in the vicinity of Stockhorn, allowing you to walk to two idyllic mountain lakes.

Taking the cable railway to Niesen

With a historic cable car, you can reach the top of Niesen Kulm at almost 2,400 meters in 30 minutes. Needless to say, this also provides an overwhelming 360-degree panorama. Next to the cable car, there is the world’s longest staircase with 11,674 steps. Once a year, sports enthusiasts run up these stairs during the Niesenlauf, which is quite an effort—I’ll pass on that for now.

At Berghaus Niesen, you can enjoy a lovely breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It’s wonderful to witness a sunrise or sunset from here. You can even stay overnight at Berghaus Niesen. We can hardly imagine a more beautiful place.

St. Beatus Caves

From overwhelming views of the mountain, we now dive into a mountain—the St. Beatus Caves on Lake Thun, to be precise. These caves are among the 10 largest in the country and are one of the few open to visitors. There is an extensive network of passages, about 14 kilometers in total. Approximately 1 kilometer is accessible to visitors. The walking route on well-maintained paths has an elevation difference of almost 90 meters. Via about 300 steps, you pass by caves, streams, gorges, and waterfalls. This is a great excursion for fans of stalactites and stalagmites. The free audio tour provides a lot of information about the geology, the caves, and how the caves were discovered.

The caves are always around 8 degrees Celsius. So, wear warm clothes when visiting the St. Beatus Caves. Good shoes are also handy. It’s a small climb to reach the cave entrance from the road. Additionally, it’s humid in the caves, so it can be a bit slippery in some places. Although the paths are spacious and high, I still bumped my head a few times.

Thun, an ideal base for exploring the region

We were pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere and cosiness of the previously unfamiliar Thun. It is a charming city with plenty of attractions. Additionally, the surrounding area is so beautiful that you could stay there for days, regardless of the season. As far as we’re concerned, Thun is a city waiting to be discovered!

By invitation of Switzerland Tourism and Interlaken Tourism, we visited the Jungfrau Ski Region and surrounding places. The content of the blog was independently and objectively compiled based on our own impressions.

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