Thun
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Thun

Thun

Lakeside Swiss city and Bernese Oberland gateway, with a castle-topped old town above the Aare.

Thun is a small city of around 40,000 at the northwest end of Lake Thun, just 20 minutes by train from Bern. It is the gateway to the Bernese Oberland — Interlaken, Grindelwald, and the Jungfrau region are all easily reached from here — and has more character than its transit-hub status might suggest.

Thun Castle, built in 1191, is the dominant feature of the old town. Today a museum, it sits on a hill above the river with views over the rooftops to the lake and the Alps beyond. The old town centre has barely changed in centuries: the Rathausplatz still has its massive 16th-century city hall, and the Hauptgasse is famous for its two-level layout, with shops at street level and a raised pedestrian walkway running along the first-floor arcades. The covered wooden bridges over the Aare and the flower-filled ramparts add to the medieval character.

One sight that most visitors miss entirely: the Wocher Panorama in the Kunstmuseum — a 360-degree cylindrical painting of Thun as it appeared in 1814, the oldest surviving panorama painting in the world.

Lake Thun offers boat trips, swimming, and kayaking in summer. Paddle-steamer cruises connect Thun with Spiez and Interlaken. At the southern end of town, Schadau Castle and its lake-view park make a perfect afternoon walk. On the south shore of the lake, Hünegg Castle at Hilterfingen is one of the best-preserved 19th-century interiors in Switzerland.

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Day Trips

Thun's position on the main Bern–Interlaken rail line makes it an ideal base. Interlaken is 30 minutes by train, giving access to the Jungfrau railway and the mountain villages of Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen. Bern, the Swiss capital, is 20 minutes north and easily done in a day.

Spiez, on the south shore of Lake Thun, is worth a short visit for its own castle and the beautiful bay below it — reachable in 15 minutes by train or 45 minutes by paddle steamer. The lake cruise from Thun to Interlaken via Spiez (about 2.5 hours) is one of the most scenic boat journeys in Switzerland.

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Eating Out

Thun has a solid restaurant scene for a city of its size, concentrated in the old town and along the waterfront. Swiss staples — Rösti, raclette, fondue in winter — are available at most traditional restaurants. The Hauptgasse and the Rathausplatz have the highest concentration of cafes and restaurants; quality is generally good and prices are lower than Bern or Zurich.

The covered market at the river end of the old town has a good deli section for picnic supplies if you are heading out on the lake. Several restaurants in the Schadau castle park have terrace seating with lake views — worth the slight premium for the setting on a sunny day.

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Getting There

Thun is on the main rail line from Bern to Interlaken, with frequent direct trains from Bern taking 20 minutes. From Zurich, the journey is about 1 hour 40 minutes with a change at Bern. By car, Thun is on the A6 motorway about 30 km south of Bern. Lake Thun ferries connect the town with Spiez and Interlaken in summer.

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Things to Do

Thun's old town is one of the most handsome in the Bernese Oberland — genuinely medieval in character, not a reconstruction. The castle is the obvious highlight, but the famous Hauptgasse with its upper-level walkway, the covered wooden bridges, and the lakefront area all reward exploration. The Wocher Panorama in the Kunstmuseum — a vast circular painting of Thun as it appeared in 1814 — is a quiet wonder that most visitors walk past without noticing it exists.

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When to Go

Thun is a year-round destination, but the seasons make a significant difference. Summer (June to August) is when the lake is at its best for swimming and boat trips, the Thunerseespiele runs its open-air shows, and the mountain views are clear. The Bernese Oberland has its best hiking weather from late June through September.

Spring is excellent: the snowmelt feeds the Aare, the castle gardens and Schadau park are in flower, and crowds are thin. May is arguably the best month — long days, mild temperatures, and the old town nearly to yourself.

Winter in Thun is mild by Swiss standards — the lake moderates temperatures and heavy snowfall in the town itself is uncommon. The Christmas market on the Rathausplatz is one of the better ones in the region. Ski resorts in the Bernese Oberland are a short train journey away.