Best things to do in Thun

Thun Essentials

Thun serves as the gateway to the Bernese Oberland, situated where the Aare river meets Lake Thun. This selection highlights the 12th-century Thun Castle and the lakeside Schadau Castle, alongside the historic wooden locks of Scherzligschleuse. The list explores the medieval Old Town’s architecture, from the central Rathausplatz to the world’s oldest surviving circular painting, the Thun Panorama, and the panoramic views of the Bernese Alps from Jakobshübeli.

Dietrich Michael Weidmann / CC BY-SA 3.0

Thun Castle

Thun Castle is a castle in the city of Thun, in the Swiss canton of Bern.

Andreas Fuhrer / CC BY-SA 3.0

Schadau Castle

Schadau Castle is a castle on the south side of the Aare near Lake Thun in the city of Thun, Canton Bern, Switzerland.

Wocher Panorama

The world's oldest circular panorama is a true masterpiece depicting more than 300 figures in the old town.

WillYs Fotowerkstatt / CC BY 3.0

Rathausplatz Castle

The central historic square of the Old Town, anchored by the 16th-century Town Hall and offering a direct view up to Thun Castle.

cristina amado / CC-BY-SA

Scherzligschleuse

A historic covered wooden lock bridge used to regulate the water level of the Aare river.

Mühleplatz

A riverside square on the Aare that served as the city’s industrial mill center until the late 20th century.

Stadtkirche Thun

Reformed church featuring a 14th-century tower and a Baroque hall from 1738, accessible via a historic covered staircase from the town center.

Bälliz Fussgängerzone

A pedestrianized shopping district situated on an island between two arms of the Aare river.

Gidoca / CC BY-SA 3.0

Kunstmuseum Thun

Situated in a former luxury hotel building, it now houses an impressive collection of Swiss art from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Rathaus

The city's administrative center, originally constructed around 1500, featuring a late-Gothic architectural style.

Jakobshübeli

A hilltop viewpoint providing a panoramic perspective of the Old Town, Lake Thun, and the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau peaks.

Schadau

An English-style park on the shores of Lake Thun, housing Schadau Castle, the Thun Panorama, and mature botanical gardens.