5 Picture-Perfect Spots and Viewpoints of Old Town Thun
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If you’re staying in Bern for a few days (or in any nearby cities) and you’re looking for an easy day trip, Thun and its Old Town are great options!
Wandering in Old Town Thun is like exploring a smaller version of Old Town Lucerne: A few steps from the train station, you’ll immediately spot a covered wooden bridge, picture-perfect alpine lake scenery awaits at the town’s parks, and preserved medieval landmarks (Thun Castle) dominate the town’s skyline. Yes — exploring Old Town Thun is a simple, yet lovely experience you won’t want to miss on the day you visit Thun or when you have a trip to Lake Thun.
Summary
Should you decide to visit Old Town Thun soon, I’ve found 5 spots which I think you’ll love to see. They’re the most beautiful in Old Town Thun, I believe. In summary, they are:
- Obere & Untere Schleuse,
- Bällizbrücke,
- Town Hall Square,
- Thun Castle Tower, and
- Bächimattpromenade.
And I will tell you more about them here now. You can see their exact location in my map of Thun.
1. Obere & Untere Schleuse
Assuming you arrive in Thun by train, I suggest you start your journey in the city by walking along Aarefeldstrasse. This street runs perpendicular to the train station and leads you directly to the first beautiful place in Thun: Obere Schleuse.
I believe you already know that Obere Schleuse is a German term, but what does it specifically mean? Obere Schleuse (Upper Lock) is one of Thun’s 18th-century covered wooden bridges, also designed as locks to prevent flooding in the city. It is located on the southern tip of Bälliz, linking the island to Aarefeld (the area where the train station is located).
The second lock or covered wooden bridge is called Untere Schleuse (Lower Lock). It provides a path to Mühleplatz of the Old Town from the island, and is the third bridge on the northern banks of Bälliz from Obere Schleuse.
2. View of Thun Castle from Bällizbrücke
As you may already know, Thun Castle is the primary landmark of Thun. There’s no doubt about that as it’s the tallest building in Thun Old Town, visible from Lake Thun and some highways leading to the city. Perched on a hilltop overlooking Thun Old Town, Thun Castle can be seen from most parts of the Old Town.
You can go to the town’s squares or parks and see the castle peeking above the roofs of the old houses and buildings. But, would you believe me if I told you that one of the most picturesque vantage points of Thun Castle is not in a park or square? It’s on a bridge called Bällizbrücke. It is the footbridge that connects the central part of Bälliz to Rathausquai in Thun Old Town.
3. Town Hall Square (and Obere Hauptgasse)
Have you ever wandered around your country and stumbled upon an old, quaint, and elaborate house? I often have, and each time I think, “I can’t imagine how beautiful this town would be if all the buildings were built this way!”
I just love old-world architecture. It brings me a sense of wonder every time my eyes land on them. Unlike Modern architecture, these ancient-looking buildings have more than just style. They showcase humanistic creativity—promoting human values and well-being, rather than solely focusing on commercial (“making money”) or technological advancements.
Built during the Middle Ages, you can expect Thun Old Town to have such beautiful houses. You can find the most charming ones in Town Hall Square. This is where you can also find the oldest structures in town and another picturesque spot for Thun Castle.
There are three notable buildings in Town Hall Square.
- Hotel Rathaus — it is the oldest brick house in Thun, dating back to the 14th century.
- Town Hall — a 15th-century building with eye-catching historic charm.
- Burgerhaus Thun — an 18th-century late-baroque building with notable elegance.
Let’s say you’re in Town Hall Square and you are currently looking at Thun Castle.
If you look to your right, you’ll see Obere Hauptgasse—the main and longest street in Thun Old Town.
If you begin strolling down Obere Hauptgasse, you’ll realize that this city is even more unique!
Obere Hauptgasse is the street in Old Town Thun with raised pavements.
The pavements on both sides of the main street are above the shops whose entrances are on the main street. It’s one of the unique street architectures I discovered in Switzerland.
Take a look:
During the flower blooming season or summer months, the locals decorate the railings of the raised pavement with colorful flowers.
During these times, Obere Hauptgasse becomes an exceptionally charming street.
However, even without the flower decorations, you can find Obere Hauptgasse to be beautiful. The quaint pastel-colored facades of the buildings flanking Obere Hauptgasse already fill the street scene with a charming old-world flair.
4. View from Thun Castle’s Tower
Thun is known as the Gateway to the Bernese Oberland. It’s the part of the canton of Bern where you can start seeing some of the most impressive views of the Bernese Alps. Although you can already spot the Jungfrau massif from Bern (specifically, from the promenade behind the Bundeshaus or on top of Bern Cathedral), the views from Thun are undeniably more stunning than what you can see from Bern.
For instance, you can just go to Schadau Park (a 15-minute walk from the train station), and you’ll immediately see an idyllic panorama of Lake Thun and the snow-capped mountains. However, if it’s a truly breathtaking view you want to see, Thun Castle is just the place to be. The towering Thun Castle, perched on a hill as high as a 10-floor building, has towers you can climb for the highest vantage point in the town.
In case you missed it, here is my guide to making the most of your visit to Thun Castle.
It’s quite a bit of legwork to reach the top, but the views are so rewarding and not to be missed.
From the castle tower’s windows, your eyes will be treated to a heaven-on-earth scenery, including the city, lake, and mountains.
The most iconic part of the panorama is definitely Thun Central Church, with the rest of the Bernese Oberland in the backdrop…
There are several ways you can reach the castle.
But if you are in Thun Old Town, the most beautiful way up is through Kirchtreppe.
Kirchtreppe is the beautiful historical wooden staircase in Old Town Thun that links Obere Hauptgasse to Thun Castle and Thun Central Church. It has mesmerizing gables to inspire you to take photos as you climb to the castle grounds.
Visiting the castle and climbing the tower requires a small admission fee (free if you have a Swiss Travel Pass).
5. Skyline of Thun from Bächimattpromenade (View From Lake Thun/Aare River)
Today, Thun Old Town is now only a small part of the modern town of Thun. But, even so, it’s still Thun Old Town that you can quickly spot even from a distance (thanks to Thun Castle, which is in the Old Town). When I first saw Thun’s skyline, the scene of the Disney Castle (at the start of every Disney Movie) came to mind.
Thun Castle, dominating the panorama, and the River Aare below it somewhat resemble the scene. I think it’s one of the most magical sceneries in the Bernese Oberland, which everyone must see. There are two ways you can view Thun’s skyline: by taking a boat ride on Lake Thun and by taking a short hike to Bächimattpromenade.
Boat ride: From Thun, hop on a boat to go to other tourist destinations in Lake Thun, like Oberhofen Castle, Spiez, or Interlaken.
Important: find a spot on the boat (on the left side) with views of Thun Castle. As the boat moves away from the city, you’ll see the panorama of Thun like in the photo.
You can find the Lake Thun boat tickets here.
You do not need to buy separate boat tickets if you have a Swiss Travel Pass. It already includes unlimited boat, bus, and train rides (best to have if you are traveling in Switzerland for a week or more).
Hike to Bächimattpromenade: The second way to see the beautiful Thun skyline is by hiking in a scenic lakeside promenade called Bächimattpromenade.
It’s a pathway that stretches from the eastern banks of the River Aare near Thun Old Town to the Hünibach ferry terminal.
To get to Bächimattpromenade from Old Town Thun, you can walk for 15 minutes along the eastern banks of the River Aare towards the lake or take a bus ride (#21) to the Thun Freienhof bus stop.
If you travel by car, there is a parking space beside the bus stop.
The boats docked beside the riverbank indicate the start of Bächimattpromenade. It’s also the spot where you can see/photograph Thun Old Town’s skyline with Thun Castle and Thun Central Church.
Tip: If you have spare time, I encourage you to continue hiking in Bächimattpromenade. Fairytale scenes await you there.
After walking in Bächimattpromenade towards Lake Thun for another 15 minutes, you’ll see Schadau Castle on the other side of the River Aare. Here is the view:
When you reach the end of Bächimattpromenade in Hünibach ferry terminal, and you have a powerful camera, here’s a shot of Schadau Castle you can also create:
Explore Thun!
One of the best ways to explore Thun is by strolling through the old town and stopping at these viewpoints along the way. If that sounds like your kind of adventure, don’t worry—I’ve got you covered! Check out WanderInEurope’s FREE walking tour linked below.
Beyond Thun.
Good to know: If you’re in Thun, some of the most beautiful places in the Swiss Alps are just a short train ride away. For example, Harder Kulm offers a breathtaking 180-degree view of the Bernese Oberland, including Lake Brienz, Lake Thun, and the snow-capped peaks of the Jungfrau region. If you’re more into city exploring, the Swiss capital, Bern, is only 30 minutes away. Its well-preserved old town is filled with picturesque fountains and impressive landmarks. Check out my Bernese Oberland itinerary for ideas on how to visit these amazing places.
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