By Elisa van Hengstum
Switzerland has many fairytale places. Snow-capped mountain peaks and clear blue lakes converge here to create a beautiful Alpine country. Besides the well-known cities like Bern, Zurich and Basel, it has Switzerland also has hidden treasures. For example, beautiful Thun!
This town lies on one of Switzerland's great lakes: Lake Thuner. On the other side of this lake lies the slightly better-known Interlaken, a popular holiday destination in both winter and summer.
Dreaming of your own Swiss adventure? One of the most significant aspects of planning such a trip is finding the perfect place to stay. For a blend of convenience, comfort, and a chance to live life like a local, consider checking out the best Switzerland apartments on www.top-hotels-switzerland.com. From luxury apartments in the heart of the city to charming getaways near the enchanting locales like Thun, your perfect Swiss home away from home is waiting.
Besides Lake Thuner, the town of Thun has a lot to offer. For example, the many castles in and near the town make for great day trips. In addition, there are several museums and churches to visit here.
Would you rather do something active in Thun? The beautiful countryside offers plenty of great spots for hiking, swimming or, for example, supping. Are you planning to visit Thun soon? Then read our 10 tips on what to do in Thun here!
Admire Thun Castle
Not to be missed in Thun is the town's castle. Thun Castle was built in the 12th century and has been one of the most striking sights here ever since. The white building shapes Thun as it is and mixes beautifully with the mountains in the background.
This imposing castle was built for Duke Berthold V of Zähringen. However, the Zähringen family never lived in the castle, as they preferred Burgdorf Castle. Talk about luxury problems... The Kyburg family eventually inherits the castle and stays here for some time.
Later, a quarrel between two brothers within this family leads to a murder at the chateau in 1322. Visit the castle's museum to learn about these and other fascinating stories. Address: Schlossberg 1, 3600 Thun, Switzerland. Website: www.schlossthun.ch
Visit a church in Thun
The Stadtkirche is another landmark in Thun's cityscape. This church is located on top of a hill, just below the castle. From afar, you can already notice the church's octagonal turret, which leaves a fairytale impression. This reformed church has stood in the town since 1330. Address: Schlossberg 14, 3600 Thun, Switzerland.
Need to visit another church? Then be sure to stop by the Scherzligen church. This church was first mentioned in the year 762. So it is incredibly old! Classical concerts are regularly held in this church, as the acoustics here are incredibly good. Address: Seestrasse, 3600 Thun, Switzerland.
Walk around the Wocher Panorama
The Wocher Panor ama is a panoramic painting of the city of Thun measuring a whopping 38 metres long. The painting is painted on the inside of a cylindrical platform, giving visitors a 360-degree view. This allows you to walk around the painting, so to speak.
Artist Marquard Wocher took five years to paint the panorama, which you can admire in a circular museum building. The painting was finished in 1814, making it the oldest cyclorama in the world. Address: Schadaupark, 3602 Thun, Switzerland. Website: www.thun-panorama.ch
Schadau Park and Schadau Castle
You can find the Wocher Panorama in Schadau Park, a public garden located on Lake Thun. From the gardens you have a beautiful view of the mountain peaks and the large lake. A nice place for a stroll, then. In the middle of this park, you come across a rather impressive building: Schadau Castle.
The castle was built between 1846 and 1854 for banker Abraham Denis Alfred de Rougemont. Since 1925, the castle has belonged to the city of Thun itself. Later, the castle was renovated and today serves as a hotel and restaurant. Unfortunately, visitors are not allowed to see the rest of the castle inside in addition to the hotel and bar. Address: Seestrasse 45, 3600 Thun, Switzerland. Website: www.schloss-schadau.ch
Visit a museum in Thun
For a cultural activity, a day at the museum is always a good option. Go to the Kunstmuseum, for example. This building is definitely not to be missed, as the museum is housed in the former Grandhotel Thunerhof from 1870. A beautiful building located on the river Aare. Every year, the museum presents four to five different exhibitions of contemporary art. You can visit the museum throughout the week, except on Mondays. Address: Hofstettenstrasse 14, 3600 Thun, Switzerland. Website: www.kunstmuseumthun.ch
Another museum in Thun is the Armour Museum. Here you will find several tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery pieces. Some of these were manufactured or designed in Switzerland. For a piece of Swiss history and a lot of impressive vehicles, a visit to the Armoured Museum is definitely worthwhile. Address: 3600 Thun, Switzerland. Website: www.stiftung-ham.ch
Live it up at Lake Thuner
The beautiful Lake Thuner lies between Thun and Interlaken and is formed by the rivers Aare and Kander. This spot provides spectacular views from several places in Thun. The clear blue water therefore fits perfectly into the Swiss picture. Besides the stunning views, the lake lends itself perfectly to a day of sports. You can go swimming, supping or kayaking here, among other things.
Do you really want to do something active and no challenge is too far for you? Then paragliding over Lake Thun is the perfect activity for you. In paragliding, you fly down a mountain as it were (with parachute, of course). You descend slowly so that you can enjoy the beautiful view for as long as possible. Has paragliding been on your bucket list for a while? Then this is your golden opportunity for an insane view.
Go hiking in Bonstetten Park
Switzerland is known for its beautiful nature. The mountains, lakes and all the greenery. Are you still looking for a nice place to hike in Thun? Then take a look at Bonstetten Park. Its location on Lake Thun provides breathtaking views while hiking. The park also has a children's playground, places to barbecue, open meadows and a large area of forest.
Even more castles around Thun
Not seen enough castles yet? On the shores of Lake Thuner lies Oberhofen Castle. This castle was built in the 13th century and was inhabited by several families in the following centuries. In the current museum, you will learn more about the castle and its former inhabitants. Don't forget to also take a look at the park next to the castle. The abundant greenery and colourful flowers are the perfect recipe for a relaxing stroll. Address: Schloss 4, 3653 Oberhofen am Thunersee, Switzerland. Website: www.schlossoberhofen.ch
Twenty minutes' walk from Oberhofen Castle you'll find yet another castle. Hünegg Castle is also located on Lake Thuner. This castle is a little less old, though. It was built in the 19th century in a fairytale location. Check out the magnificent interior in the castle's museum and the exotic trees in the park next to it. A cup of coffee or a local wine cannot be missed on the terrace overlooking the Alps. Address: Staatsstrasse 52, 3652 Hilterfingen, Switzerland. Website: www.schlosshuenegg.ch
Wander through Thun's old town
A visit to Thun's Old Town is, of course, not to be missed. Elevated pavements and historic buildings characterise Thun's inner city. Be sure to stroll past Rathausplatz and admire the beautiful town hall. Address: Rathauspl. 1, 3600 Thun, Switzerland.
Next, stroll across the beautiful wooden bridge, the 'Untere Schleuse' bridge. Built back in 1724, this bridge still regulates the water flow of the Aare. You can cross the river here and explore the rest of the city. Address: u. Schleuse, 3600 Thun, Switzerland.
During a visit to the old town, you are bound to walk through the 'Obere Hauptgasse'. This is Thun's shopping street that runs parallel to the Aare. Here you will find shops, cafés and tasteful architecture. Also, be sure to dive into one of the side streets to discover even more beauty here. Address: Obere Hauptgasse, 3600 Thun, Switzerland.
Take a trip to Interlaken
On the other side of Lake Thun lies the equally beautiful Interlaken. A day trip to this beautiful town is therefore highly recommended. Here, for example, you can take the cable car to the top of the Harder Kulm. Enjoy the insane views of various mountains, the city and the lake. On the Harder Kulm, you will shoot the most insane pictures during a sunset in the Swiss landscape. Address: Harder Kulm, 3800 Interlaken, Switzerland. Website: www.jungfrau.ch
What to do in Thun: practical tips
Staying overnight in Thun
There are plenty of accommodation options in Thun and at Lake Thun to spend the night. The town is quite compact, making everything easy to walk from your place of stay. You will find hotels in different price ranges.
One of the more luxurious hotels is the Congress Hotel Seepark. This 4-star hotel is located right next to Lake Thun. With also a view of the mountains, you will completely relax here. The Congress Hotel Seepark has a restaurant, wellness and a bowling alley. For a high-quality meal, be sure to stop by das Restaurant. After all, they received a Michelin star in 2021. ► Book an overnight stay at Congress Hotel Seepark from € 188
Another 4-star hotel in Thun is Hotel Krone. You'll find this hotel in the heart of the old town, pretty much below Thun Castle. Since 1972, this has been a popular place to stay. The hotel has 31 rooms, including two junior suites. Besides a fine overnight stay, you can also grab a bite to eat here. In fact, the hotel has two restaurants. One of them is the oldest Chinese restaurant in Thun! Furthermore, Hotel Krone is committed to sustainability and has several projects against food waste, for example. ► Book an overnight stay at Hotel Krone from € 151
Travelling to Thun
Thun is located in western Switzerland, half an hour's drive south of the capital Bern. In about 8 hours you can travel from Amsterdam to Thun by train. To do so, you will need to change trains once in Frankfurt or Basel, for example.
You can also take a plane to Basel or Zurich. KLM and easyJet fly several times a day from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to Basel. Here you will then board a train to Thun. Both the flight and the train ride will then take about an hour and a half. Prefer not to take public transport and want to drive yourself? Then you can drive to Thun from Amsterdam in about 8 hours.
Eating and drinking in Thun
You will find plenty of restaurants in Thun to eat in the evening. A popular restaurant is, for example Gaststube im Tempel. You can go here for a European or Austrian dinner. Instead, are you looking for a real Swiss snack? Then you can go to Bistro Sonnegg. This restaurant is located a bit out of the city centre, but is definitely worth a visit.
If you are looking for a nice place for a drink then Atelier Classic Bar might be for you. This cocktail bar has already won several awards for some of its cocktail creations.