Thun

May to September is the best time for the lake, boats and walks. Summer is warm. Autumn is mild and good for hiking. Winter is cold and often grey, and the castle has shorter opening hours. Rain is common in late spring and summer.

• Schloss Thun is a medieval castle on the hill. The museum inside shows local history, and the tower has views of the lake and the Alps.
• Bälliz Fussgängerzone is a pedestrian street on an island in the Aare, with shops and cafés.
• Scherzligschleuse is a historic wooden lock and bridge where the lake flows into the river.
• Schloss Schadau is a small castle in a lakeside park, a short walk from the old town.
• Rathausplatz is the main square of the old town, with the town hall.
• Kunstmuseum Thun shows Swiss art in a lakeside building.

• Take a lake boat to Spiez or Interlaken.
• Walk the raised pavements and old streets near Rathausplatz.
• Visit the parkland around Schloss Schadau.
• See the tanks and vehicles at Panzermuseum Thun.
• Walk or cycle on the Aare path along the water.
• Climb to Ruine Strättligen for a short hike with lake views.

• Interlaken is the gateway to the Jungfrau region. It is about 25 minutes away by train, and boats also cross the lake.
• Spiez is a small lake town with a castle, about 10 minutes away by train.
• Bern is the Swiss capital, about 20 minutes away by train.

• Spiez and Interlaken lie on the same lake and are the closest larger towns.
• Bern is the nearest city.

• By air: most visitors fly into Zurich or Geneva and take the train.
• By train: Thun is on the main line between Bern and the Oberland. Trains from Bern take about 20 minutes. Check times on SBB.
• The station is on the edge of the old town, about 10 minutes on foot from the castle.

• The old town and lakefront are easy to walk.
• City buses link the station with the lakeside and the surrounding districts.
• Boats on Lake Thun leave from the lake docks near the station.
• The Aare path is good for cycling or walking. Bike rentals are available at the station.

• A car is not needed in the old town. Parking is limited in the centre.
• Use a car park near the station and walk in.
• A car can help for the villages along the lake, but boats and trains reach most places.

Try cheese fondue, raclette and rösti. Lake fish such as perch and whitefish are common on menus. Bernese specialties such as Berner Platte appear in traditional restaurants.

The old town and the lakefront have many cafés. Prices are high, as in all of Switzerland.

• Thun is very safe.
• Watch your bags in crowded places in summer.
• Tap water is safe to drink.
• The current in the Aare is strong, and swimming in the river is not for beginners.

Thun grew around its castle in the 12th century. The town became part of Bern in 1384 and later a base for the Swiss army. Soldiers have trained here since the 19th century.

In the 19th century the lake and the mountains attracted early tourists. Painters and writers visited the area, and steamships began to run on the lake.

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