One Day Lake Thun Itinerary Sightseeing + Visiting Castles
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Itinerary Summary
In this itinerary, we try the things that are unique to Lake Thun.
This means visiting unique attractions like the town of Thun, Oberhofen Castle, Spiez, and either Mount Niesen or Niederhorn. If the weather does not cooperate, consider replacing Mount Niesen or Mount Niederhorn with Saint Beatus Caves, as this attraction can be enjoyed regardless of the weather.
- Visit the town of Thun because it has a castle that offers a magical view of the Bernese Oberland;
- Oberhofen Castle because of its beautiful blend of scenery and architecture;
- Spiez for its unique Mediterranean flair; and
- Mount Niesen or Niederhorn for their unique breathtaking views of the region.
If you want to create your own itinerary, my list of 10 beautiful attractions around Lake Thun would be a great start.
One of the most important things to do before going on a trip to Lake Thun is to familiarize yourself with the transportation around the lake. This is necessary not only to avoid getting lost, but also to make the most of your trip. It means that we don’t want to waste a significant portion of our day at the lake asking for directions or missing a boat ride from one destination to another.
However, if it’s your first time in Switzerland, here’s some good news: the country has immaculate public transportation, and Lake Thun is no exception. The sole reason I’d consider renting a car for Lake Thun is if I were seeking the ultimate scenic drive. The northern shoreline near Sigriswil is merely one place where you’d prefer to decelerate and immerse yourself in the pleasing landscape for a bit longer.
Public transportation around Lake Thun comes in three forms: trains, buses, and ferries. Buses cater to the northeastern side of the lake, while trains traverse the towns and villages on the southwestern side of Lake Thun. Ferries make stops at nearly every town or village on Lake Thun, significantly reducing travel time between opposite sides of the lake. Funiculars and cable cars provide connections from the mountain tops to the nearest towns.
Refer to the map below for a comprehensive overview of Lake Thun’s public transportation services.
The longest cruise on Lake Thun spans its 17-kilometer length, from Interlaken to Thun (and vice versa)—the towns at the two ends of Lake Thun—and lasts for over 2 hours. Naturally, travel times are shorter when using trains and buses.
IMPORTANT: The last time I checked, the boat ride information on Google Maps was outdated. For more accurate travel time estimates, check the interactive timetable of the Lake Thun boat cruise on bls-schiff.ch (BLS cruise). I’ve included a link to the timetable in the resources section of this post.
Here’s a tip: If you’re planning a trip to Switzerland for a few days, ideally a week, it might be a good idea to get yourself a Swiss Travel Pass.
This one-time-purchase card covers many attractions in Switzerland and offers unlimited use of public transportation. Especially if you’re going to be visiting numerous places and using public transportation frequently, this pass can be a real bargain. The cost of a single Swiss Travel Pass is often significantly lower than the combined price of individual admission fees or tickets.
Full Lake Thun Itinerary Details
Located in the heart of Switzerland, Lake Thun offers visitors several ideal starting points for their journey. The most popular jump-off locations include…
- Spiez (west of Lake Thun), which is frequented by visitors from Gstaad, Montreux, Visp, Kandersteg, Brig, or Zermatt.
- Interlaken (southern tip of Lake Thun) is another common starting point, particularly for travelers from Lucerne and the rest of the Bernese Oberland.
- Lastly, Thun (northern tip of Lake Thun) is a favorite among tourists from Bern, Basel, and Zurich.
Regardless of your origin, though, I recommend beginning your trip at the northern part of Lake Thun, and there is a couple of reasons for this.
- The tourist attractions in the northern part of the lake are conveniently close to each other. This proximity allows you to visit more places in the early part of your day without the crowds that typically gather around midday.
- Thun serves as the gateway to the Bernese Oberland. The city offers stunning panoramas of the Bernese Alps and Lake Thun, providing a visual “appetizer” for the beautiful experiences that await you later in the day.
Morning
So yes, this trip to Lake Thun begins in Thun. From this charming town, you’ll gradually uncover the beauty of Lake Thun, moving southward towards Oberhofen Castle, drawing ever closer to the even more breathtaking Bernese Alps.
Visual summary of your morning visiting Lake Thun
Afternoon
After enjoying your lunch, you’ll be heading to Spiez, another picturesque town that boasts yet another castle. Finally, Mount Niesen, which offers a sweeping view of Lake Thun. I recommend Mount Niesen because I simply can’t think of any other place that offers such a panoramic view of Lake Thun! The view from this unique mountain could indeed be utterly spectacular.
However, depending on the season and weather, you might want to consider other attractions like Niederhorn. It’s a beautiful alternative to Mount Niesen, especially since Mount Niesen isn’t easily accessible during winter. The funicular to this mountain only operates outside of the winter season. If the weather turns completely against you, you can still make the most of the day by visiting the Saint Beatus Caves.
Early Afternoon: Spiez
From Oberhofen Castle, you can quickly reach Spiez by a 20-minute boat ride. The last time I checked, there was a 12:00 pm departure from Oberhofen. The boat makes a stop at Gunten before arriving at Spiez.
Perched on the southern shores of Lake Thun, Spiez offers 180-degree views of the lake and the Emmental Alps. The pyramid mountain of Switzerland, Mount Niesen, dominates the Spiez skyline with its triangular appearance.
I recommend visiting Spiez as it often adds a slight twist to the Lake Thun journey. Spiez has a surprising Mediterranean vibe, often catching people off guard as they expect to be in the Swiss Alps.
The Mediterranean flair should be apparent by the time you disembark from the boat. For instance, you’ll notice the palm trees and the boats docked in Spiez harbor. Various parts of the town will inspire you to take numerous photos!
After a short stroll in the harbor, it’s time to visit Spiez Castle—the main landmark of the town. The castle is only about a 3 to 5-minute walk from the dock. It’s pretty straightforward as you can find the way to the castle along Seestrasse, the only road to the town center. Like Oberhofen Castle, Spiez Castle has a long history—it’s over 1000 years old!
However, unlike Thun and Oberhofen Castle, you can clearly see how the architecture of Spiez Castle has evolved over time. This is evident in the castle’s tower keep and the remaining parts of the castle. The castle grounds of Spiez Castle consist of a beautiful park, a chapel (Schlosskirche Spiez), and the main castle (also a museum).
I wouldn’t recommend going inside the museum at Spiez Castle, especially if you’ve already visited the museum at Oberhofen Castle. It might be a redundant experience for you. However, if you’re curious about what’s inside Spiez Castle, please check its official website linked in the resources section of this post.
Don’t worry if you decide not to go inside Spiez Castle and climb to the tower, which offers a stunning vantage point of Schlosskirche Spiez and Lake Thun. You can still enjoy Spiez Castle by wandering in its splendid garden, beautifully lawned and decorated with flowering plants.
From the park, you can already have an overlooking view of Lake Thun and Spiez’s harbor. If you wish, you can go behind Schlosskirche Spiez for an unobstructed view of the lake.
Also, there’s a beautiful house in front of Schlosskirche Spiez. It’s an architectural gem, and I marvel at its gorgeous facade. I believe there are beautiful murals inside its terrace.
Spiez Castle’s park has several benches, as well, making it a nice place to hang out for a while—savor the moment you are in the castle! However, I suggest not spending too long in Spiez Castle. Less than an hour should be enough, especially if it’s the breathtaking scenery of the Bernese Oberland and Lake Thun you want to see.
Appreciating the architecture of Spiez Castle, strolling in the castle’s beautiful park, a short meditation in the chapel, and taking a few photos may be enough before it’s time to go to the next destination, Mount Niesen.
Late Afternoon: Mount Niesen
Lake Thun is surrounded by majestic mountains. You’ll start to truly appreciate them as you reach the southern half of the lake, where the peaks rise above 2000 meters. Among these towering mountains, Mount Niesen is sure to catch your attention.
Some people call it the ‘Swiss Pyramid,’ and indeed, it will captivate you, especially when you reach Spiez, where this triangular mountain dominates the horizon.
I included Mount Niesen in this one-day Lake Thun itinerary for a couple of reasons. As I have mentioned eariler, Mount Niesen is worth visiting because its summit is one of the best vantage points of Lake Thun and the Bernese Oberland (pretty much like Mannlichen and Harder Kulm).
From the top, you can literally see not only the entirety of Lake Thun but also Lake Brienz—the lake with milky turquoise blue water on the other side of Interlaken.
The sense of adventure will fill you up even before you reach the top of Mount Niesen.
To get to the summit, you’ll need to ride a funicular. The metallic sound created by the climbing funicular, the steep railway incline, and the scenic views you’ll see as you ascend to the summit are truly breathtaking. Overall, it’s a 30-minute ride to the top, passing through forests and tunnels—all to make you admire the ingenuity of Swiss engineers.
I intentionally scheduled Mount Niesen for the afternoon part of this one-day Lake Thun itinerary because that’s when you can witness the spectacle Mount Niesen creates. Between 2:30 pm and 4:00 pm, Mount Niesen casts a perfectly triangular shadow over Lake Thun, assuming the weather is perfect.
It’s a rare spectacular natural phenomenon that only occurs, and you can clearly see it from the summit of Mount Niesen. The perfect triangular shadow appears from the beginning of October.
How do you get to Mount Niesen?
Going to Mount Niesen from Spiez is simple, yet it can be time-consuming if you aren’t aware of Spiez’s public transportation departure times. It only involves two train/funicular rides from Spiez (Spiez train station to Mülenen and Mülenen to Niesen).
However, since you’re coming from Spiez Castle, you’ll still have to do a 20-minute scenic hike or take the 11-minute bus ride (no. 61) to get to Spiez train station. The bus station is located in the harbor (near the Seestrasse junction), and the buses depart from it every hour. You can check Rome2Rio or SBB.ch for updated departure times.
Although the funicular to Niesen starts in Mülenen, you’ll still need to walk from Mülenen train station to the funicular valley station as they are located separately. They are close to each other, so there’s no need to worry about another long hike. Once you reach the Niesen funicular valley station, you’re only 30 minutes away from the summit.
The funicular ride lasts for half an hour, which is the same as the departure interval. Just be aware of the departure times of the trains heading to Mülenen from Spiez, especially if you’re aiming to see Mount Niesen’s shadow over Lake Thun.
Although the train ride to Mülenen lasts only 5 minutes, the interval between train departure times is 30 minutes. Missing a train means wasting 30 minutes. We don’t want that!
Important to remember: the last funicular departure time from Mount Niesen is 5:45 pm.
Alternative Destinations
After visiting the mountains several times, I’ve learned my lessons. The season, weather, and timing are crucial to truly enjoy the visit. Once, I climbed the mountains and came home very disappointed. It rained during my climb, and all I saw was a white wall of fog. Since then, I always have a backup plan whenever I plan a trip to mountainous areas like Lake Thun and the Swiss Alps in general.
Here’s a tip: just after you finish your lunch, immediately check the live webcam broadcasts for Mount Niesen and Niederhorn.
These live broadcasts could save your day; they can give you hints about whether going to the mountains is worth it or not. If you see a wall of fog, consider visiting Saint Beatus Caves in the late afternoon after your visit to Spiez. You can check the live cam view of Mount Niesen and Niederhorn at their official websites (linked at the resources section)
If you plan to visit Lake Thun during winter, Niederhorn is the place to go if you also want to see panoramic views of Lake Thun, similar to what you can see from Mount Niesen. Niederhorn is not only accessible during winter, but it also offers a wide range of winter outdoor activities, from skiing to snowshoeing, sledding, paragliding, and more.
So, where is Niderhorn?
Niederhorn is one of the peaks in the Emmental Alps (north of Lake Thun), almost 2000 meters tall. It is one of the mountains you can find on the other side of Lake Thun if you are currently in Spiez. Aside from being a stunning vantage point of Lake Thun, you would also like to come here because it is also a beautiful viewing point of the Jungfrau Region.
Niederhorn’s slopes decline facing south, toward the Jungfrau massif. It’s like a giant natural theater for the three Bernese Oberland superstar peaks: Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.
The opposite side of Niderhorn has natural scenery to also convince you to come to this mountain. If you’re a landscape photographer, you’ll probably take numerous photos of the spectacular valley, ridge, and cliffs formed by this mountain and Rothorn.
There are a few ways you can get to Niederhorn from Spiez. But since you will be coming from Spiez Castle, which is very close to the town’s harbor, I recommend going for a boat ride.
Unlike Niesen, there’s no specific time that you need to catch in Niederhorn. You can go to Niederhorn anytime you want and not miss anything. From Spiez Schiffstation, you have to get a boat ride to Beatenbucht. It is usually a 25-minute boat ride, dropping by a couple of towns in between.
Alternatively, you can also hop in a boat that has a stop in Gunten (See). Disembark there, and walk to Gunten Dorf (a 5-minute walk). In Gunten Dorf, you can find buses #21 (heading to Interlaken), which would also bring you to Beatenbucht. This route takes a little longer, about 30 minutes of travel time. Once you reach Beatenbucht, ride the funicular up to Beatenberg-Niederhorn cable car valley station. Continue to Niderhorn summit by riding the cable car.
Overall, the journey to Niederhorn from Beatenbucht would take not more than 45 minutes. I linked the official website of Niederhorn in the resources section. On their website, you can find different programs and activities to make your visit worth it.
Also, kindly check the updated timetables and availability of the facilities before heading to the mountain.
If, unfortunately, you come to Lake Thun with the weather not cooperating, you don’t need to worry. Saint Beatus Caves got your back!
Saint Beatus Caves is a network of caves above the shores of Lake Thun in the Niederhorn Massif, near Interlaken.
It is a popular tourist attraction which showcases a kilometer of underground beauty that includes numerous impressive stalactites, stalagmites, and other unique rock formations.
For me, Saint Beatus Caves is another twist in a journey in Lake Thun.
Like, who would expect that there are more to see in Lake Thun other than blue water, charming towns, magical castles, and awe-inspiring mountains? Most importantly, visiting Saint Beatus Caves is both entertaining and educational.
Along the pathways inside the cave, you’ll see the rock formations made even more spectacular by the light installations inside the cave.
Information screens are placed beside them to quench the curiosity about the rocks that they can spark in you.
You also get to discover a part of Bernese Oberland’s heritage when you visit Saint Beatus Caves. Right at the beginning of your tour inside the cave, the legend of Saint Beatus is narrated by informational screens and boards.
In a brief summary, the legend says that Saint Beatus, a hermit, killed a fire-breathing dragon that lived inside the cave.
And if you are a fan of Lord of the Rings, I’m sure you’ll love the waterfalls that cascade into several streams outside Saint Beatus Caves.
The waterfalls spout out under the quaint medieval-looking pathway, which should remind you of Rivendell—the home of the elves.
So, how can you get to Saint Beatus Caves from Spiez? There are a few ways to get to Saint Beatus Caves from Spiez. The quickest and most scenic route is by boat.
Saint Beatus Caves has its own ferry terminal (Beatushöhlen Sundlauenen), and you can find boat rides in Spiez that have a stop on it. The boat ride is approximately 50 minutes long.
After arriving at Beatushöhlen Sundlauenen, you still have to hike for 20 minutes to reach the entrance to the cave.
Saint Beatus Caves also has a restaurant, and if you want, you can have your dinner at it. The restaurant also has an epic overlooking view of Lake Thun—have your tummies and eyes satisfied!
Disclaimer: Saint Beatus Caves’ restaurant is also a tourist favorite. If you really want to eat there, it’s better to book a table ahead of time. The restaurant gets full quickly, especially during the peak season.
For more alternatives:
Itinerary Timestamps
So, there you have it! That’s how you can spend a day in Lake Thun, no matter the season or weather. If you’re curious about how to carry out this itinerary, here’s the sequence with timestamps:
Morning in Lake Thun
- 6:00 am — Breakfast
- 7:00 am — Thun Old Town Walking Tour (snack time after the tour)
- 9:30 am — Bus to Oberhofen Castle
- 10:00 am — Oberhofen Castle
Afternoon in Lake Thun
- 12:00 pm — Boat to Spiez (last time I checked, 12:05 pm was the departure time of the boat)
- 12:30 pm — Lunch at Spiez castle restaurant & explore the castle park.
- 1:45 pm — Head to Spiez train station (last time I checked, 1:49 pm was the bus departure time from the harbor)
- 2:00 pm — Depart Spiez (last time I checked, 2:12 pm is the train departure time)
- 2:30 pm — arrival at Mülenen and walk to Niesen funicular valley station
- 3:00 pm — Funicular ride to the summit
- 3:30 pm — Enjoy and relax at Niesen’s summit
- 5:45 pm — Descent from Niesen
- 6:15 pm — Head back to the hotel
Author’s Note: In this one-day Lake Thun itinerary, you might want to skip Spiez Castle (since you’ve already visited Oberhofen Castle) if the schedule seems too packed. I recommend booking your tickets (for the boat, trains, and funicular) online and in advance to save time at the ticket counters. A Swiss Travel Pass and other regional day passes (see the resources section) can be really helpful in saving time and keeping to your schedule.
Also, note that the time stamps above are only estimates. Please double-check the schedules and timetables of the public transportation involved for your Lake Thun trip. Also, please expect adjustments you may apply considering the following factors:
- weather
- preventive maintenance of the facilities
- local events
- holidays
That would be all! I hope you enjoy your journey in Lake Thun. 🙂
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Is One Day in Lake Thun Really Enough?
As you may have discovered throughout this Lake Thun itinerary, it’s impossible to visit every tourist attraction around Lake Thun in a single day. So, do you need an additional day in Lake Thun?
As this itinerary indicated, a single day should be enough to visit Lake Thun and see its highlights: a charming town, a fairytale-like castle, and a breathtaking mountaintop destination. However, you might want to allow more time if you’re looking for a relaxing, laid-back trip to Lake Thun. If you prefer, you could plan a two-day visit instead.
For instance, spend one whole day in Thun and visit Oberhofen Castle, then explore the rest of the Lake Thun attractions on the following day.
Take note: While it might seem tempting to spend more than one day in Lake Thun, I’m not strongly advocating for it. Particularly if your trip to Switzerland is less than a week, one day in Lake Thun is enough, and you can spend the rest of your time seeing other beautiful places in Switzerland.
In fact, you don’t have to venture outside central Switzerland to visit some. Spend a few days in Bern, which is just 30 minutes away from Thun, to see its well-architected city and its scenic city view. Alternatively, you can go to Lucerne. Two days in Lucerne is fun with a mix of nature and city adventure.
And let’s not forget about the Jungfrau Region! There’s so much to see there. I don’t know where to start! LOL. Here are my top suggestions: Aside from Lauterbrunnen, try Wengen, Murren, or Gimmelwald for the utmost idyllic alpine village experience.
Lastly, if you’re looking for ways to explore Switzerland, including Lake Thun, here are some ideas.
Resources & References
Here are the links that can help you plan further and prepare your Lake Thun trip.
- Spiez Castle (Official Website)
- Mount Niesen (Official Website)
- Niederhorn (Official Website)
- Saint Beatus Caves (Official Website)
- Lake Thun Cruise Timetable (Official Website)
- SBB.ch (bus schedules, train timetables, regional passes, and more)
- List of activities and tours in Bernese Oberland (GetYourGuide)
- Attractions and more things to do in Lake Thun (Official website of Switzerland)
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