Thun is a charming lakeside town near Interlaken, nestled on the north end of Lake Thur, where the Aare River starts. The town's history dates back to Roman times, makes it a popular destination for visitors looking to add history and culture to their Swiss experience.

Thun is small but packed with many beautiful things to see, including a castle, wooden bridge, cobblestone lanes, and grassy parks along the lake. Its picturesque setting with lake and mountain views make it a nice place to stroll and take pictures any time of year.

On Wednesdays and Saturdays, there is a market in the town square, where you can buy local food and crafts.

Tours

If you want to learn about this town, we suggest one of these tours:

• The Thun Tourism office offers a guided tour, visiting the town centre and castle. the 1.5 hour tour is on Saturdays at 14:00, April to November. Bilingual in English/German. CHF 15/person, discount with Berner Oberland Pass. Book here.

• Treasure Hunt Thun has you hunt for hidden treasure and solve puzzles as you visit the town's highlights. Via mobile app, available in English. Book here.

• If you speak German or French, you might try the Thun Scavenger Hunt or one of three FoxTrails in Thun.

How to get there

By boat:

The nicest way to visit Thun is by boat. You can start at the Interlaken West boat dock (next to the train station). The one-way journey takes about 2h15. You can return to Interlaken by train or bus.

The boat ride is free with the Swiss Travel Pass and Bernese Oberland Pass. A full fare one way ticket costs about CHF 51/adult.

By bus/train:

From Interlaken, it takes 30 mins by train to the main Thun station. By bus, it takes about 50 mins. Both the bus and train are free with the Swiss Travel Pass and Bernese Oberland Pass.

By car:

The easiest place to park is Parkhaus City South - Mönchstrasse 4, 3600 Thun.