This post might contain affiliate links.
Thun, a relatively small city in Switzerland, is easy to explore. Once you arrive at the train station, the top attractions in the city are just a few minutes away on foot — a similar experience to that in Old Town Lucerne and Old City of Bern.
Honestly, you might not even need to use a map to find Thun’s highlights. Just look above the houses, and you’ll spot one of them — Thun Castle.
Then, from the tower of Thun Castle, you can enjoy an overlooking view of the city and Lake Thun and spontaneously decide where to go next. Perhaps a boat ride on Lake Thun? Or a wander in the square where the beautiful Town Hall is located?
While spontaneous travel is exciting, there are still benefits to checking the map at least once. One of these benefits is maximizing your visit to Thun.
With the help of my map of Thun, you won’t miss any of Thun’s picture-perfect sights. It will even let you know the location of nearby attractions at Lake Thun, which you can visit right after exploring the Old Town of Thun.
You should be able to create your Thun itinerary with ease. But if you need one, here’s my one-day Thun itinerary and Lake Thun itinerary, free for you to check.
Thun Old Town Map: 10 Places of Interest & Vantage Points
Of all the attractions in Thun, its castle is arguably the most visible in the entire city.
Perched on a hill, this 12th-century castle overlooks the old town. Throughout the ages, it has served many purposes, primarily in city administration and the administration of justice.
Today, it houses a museum featuring artifacts and items that narrate the history of the surrounding region.
It is ultimately worth visiting for the breathtaking views of the Bernese Oberland visible through the windows of its towers.
Stadtkirche Thun, or the central church of Thun, is another landmark that dominates the skyline of Thun’s Old City.
It’s an oasis of tranquility, overflowing with simplistic elegance observable from its white walls and brown tile roof.
One of the reasons to visit this early 14th-century church is that it’s home to some of the quaintest scenes in town.
Under its clock tower, you can find partly faded frescoes that narrate the beliefs of Thun’s residents through the ages. It’s simply fascinating.
Kirchtreppe is one of the hidden gems of Thun Old Town.
It is a wooden staircase that links the castle grounds (Schlossberg — top of castle hill) and Old Town’s main street (Obere Hauptgasse).
There are several paths to Thun Castle from Thun Old Town, and Kirchtreppe is one of them. You should use it at least once (either going up or down to or from Thun Castle) because it’s another quaint experience in Thun.
Kirchtreppe’s symmetrical gables will inspire you to take photos as you climb up this stairway.
For urban/city explorers, who like discovering and appreciating the hidden gems/off-the-beaten-path of a city, Chutziturm is one of the places in Thun you might be looking for.
It is a 13th-century city fortification, restored by city marksmen and men’s choir in the 1950s. The tower’s quaint appearance is a lovely subject for a photograph.
Today, this tower functions as a restaurant and event place, used by locals and companies during special events.
For everyone, it’s a quaint architectural discovery you can find as you explore the city. You can learn more about Chutziturm from their official website, linked in the resources section of this post.
If you are looking for the most beautiful old buildings in Thun, Rathausplatz is the place to be.
In Rathausplatz, you can find preserved buildings dating back as early as the 14th century. As its name suggests, in Rathausplatz, you can find the Town Hall (Rathaus), a 15th-century building with eye-catching historic charm.
The oldest building is called Hotel Rathaus, a 14th-century building that is considered the oldest brick house in Thun.
Rathausplatz is also an excellent viewing spot for Thun Castle. The castle dominates the sky view of the square, which looks so magical.
Obere Hauptgasse is the place in Thun that made me realize that Thun is unique.
This street, flanked by houses in an old-world style, has a raised pavement which Thun is famous for. Here, you’ll see some stores are literally under the raised pavement. It also has arcades to remind you of the picturesque streets in Bern.
And yes, wandering on its cobblestone streets should send your imagination centuries in the past.
Here’s a tip: Thun’s residents embellish the railings of the raised pavement in Obere Hauptgasse with flowers during the summer months. It’s the part of the year when this street becomes absolutely romantic.
If you are familiar with Lucerne and visit Thun, you might also realize that Thun is like the smaller version of Lucerne.
Thun’s wooden covered bridges are reminiscent of Lucerne’s.
However, Thun’s wooden bridges also serve as locks, used to prevent flooding in the old town. These bridges or locks connect the three parts of Thun Old Town on the northern and southern banks of the Aare River and Bälliz island in the middle.
If you arrive in Thun using the train, Obere Schleuse Brücke is the first you can find.
It is located on the southern tip of Bälliz island, and you only have to walk for a very few minutes to reach it from the train station.
Obere Schleuse Brücke is worth seeing as it can bring nostalgia to travelers for its quaint appearance, decorated with flowers in some parts of the year. Its dark wooden materials look stunning over the turquoise water of the Aare River.
If you stroll at Bälliz island’s quai to the north from Obere Schleuse Brücke, you can find Untere Schleuse Brücke.
It is the second covered wooden bridge that links Bälliz to the central Thun Old Town.
Like Obere Schleuse Brücke, Untere Schleuse Brücke looks eye-pleasing over the blue water of the Aare River.
If you like, you can cross the river through it (you can do the same as Obere Schleuse Brücke) and see the mechanism of the lock that controls the flow of the river.
During summer, you may see locals surfing in the river in Untere or Obere Schleuse Brücke. You may want to stay along River Aare near these bridges/locks for a while to see some tricks.
For me, Bällizbrücke is the best place to go in Thun Old Town to take a selfie for a photo souvenir.
From this bridge, you get a view of the central Thun Old Town skyline with Thun Castle in the middle part—a scene perfect for photos! This bridge is another hidden gem in Thun, as only a few come here.
Untere or Obere Schleuse Brücke gets all the attention when it comes to the bridges in the city. Neither do they know that Bällizbrücke has some of the best views in town.
If you are in Thun and bad weather strikes, Thun Castle isn’t the only place you can go to save your day.
Thun has an art museum, and it’s a nice place to discover beautiful contrasts in the city. Instead of things from the medieval ages, like how Thun Old Town appears, Kunstmuseum Thun has modern artworks.
I am not a fan of Modern art, but checking some of the masterpieces may be fun, especially if you like figuring out their message. For more information, please check the official website of the museum linked at the resources section.
Click the name of the tourist attractions to learn more about them.
| Place of Interest | Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Thun Castle | 46.75985755912691, 7.62998245176092 |
| Stadtkirche Thun | 46.758727487500344, 7.631287106738804 |
| Kirchtreppe | 46.75860756774536, 7.630654470373517 |
| Chutziturm | 46.761110557640926, 7.629081578887355 |
| Rathausplatz | 46.75963940103291, 7.628588364349316 |
| Obere Hauptgasse | 46.75862691760797, 7.630097131521816 |
| Obere Schleuse Brücke | 46.75649183179841, 7.632500198893491 |
| Untere Schleuse Brücke | 46.7580904346808, 7.630095022740604 |
| Bällizbrücke | 46.75894061436887, 7.628096458104105 |
| Kunstmuseum Thun | 46.75594641960183, 7.6344978211286705 |
You might find this article helpful:
You might find these interesting!
Map of Thun: 5 Tourist Attractions & Scenic Spots Outside Old Town
Thun is in a very beautiful region called Bernese Oberland. It’s next to a lake that has the same name, Lake Thun.
This lake is special because it has five castles around it, which makes it look like something from a fairy tale. If you visit Thun, you can easily see these amazing castles and the beautiful lake. Some of these places are just a bus ride away from the old part of Thun.
Bächimattpromenade is the most beautiful vantage point of Thun Old Town outside the city center.
Along this riverside promenade, you can see the city’s skyline from its most magical angle, including four of the most notable landmarks in the city:
- Thun Castle, Stadtkirche Thun,
- Kunstmuseum Thun, and
- Obere Schleuse Brücke.
It’s a hidden gem, a place with the awe-inspiring scenery of Thun Old Town to inspire you to pull your camera from your bag/pockets and shoot photographs.
You can bring snacks to Bächimattpromenade and have a pleasant picnic beside the river while sitting on the benches. The sound of the flowing river and the scenery are absolutely relaxing—so lovely to have as you savor your snacks. Also, it can be a simple romantic spot to have little but beautiful moments during your travels if you are with your loved ones.
Bächimattpromenade is less than a 10-minute walk from Kunstmuseum. And if you’re from the train station, you can hop on Bus #21 and alight at the Bächimatt bus stop (a 6 to 7-minute bus ride).
Schadau Castle is the closest castle outside Thun Old Town which you would not like to miss if it’s purely fairytale scenes you want to see: charming castle, lovely lawns, and a picture-perfect panorama of lake and mountains.
Unlike Thun Castle, which has functioned mainly as a city government building, Schadau Castle was owned and used as a home by rich feuds. Its beautiful “Anglo-Gallic” gothic architecture proves it became a residence of a wealthy personality.
Today, Schadau Castle functions as a hotel and a restaurant. And you may only see its beautiful interiors if you book a night in the castle or reserve a table for lunch or dinner. It’s kinda sad, and I hope they offer castle tours in the future.
Although that is the case as of this writing, I still think Schadau Castle is a nice place to see when in Thun. The awe-inspiring view of the Bernese Oberland from Schadau Park is priceless! (Also, believe it or not, Schadau Castle was hailed as the Historical Hotel of the Year in 2021.)
To get to Schadau Castle quickly anywhere in Thun, find a bus following route #1. If you’re from the train station, it’s only a 5-minute ride.
Did you know that a world record lies in Thun? It is Thun Panorama or Wocher Panorama—the oldest surviving panorama (of its kind) in the world.
It was created by Marquard Rocher, who preserved the view of Thun’s skyline back in the early 19th century. Thun Panorama is located in Schadau Park’s mini forest southwest of Schadau Castle. Kept inside a simple cylindrical structure that might look like a medieval defensive tower from afar, Thun Panorama is like a treasure inside a simple chest.
Like Schadau Castle, you can ride on bus #1 and alight at Schadau Park bus stop to get here quickly.
Visiting Lake Thun, you can literally go castle hopping for an entire day and see different magical scenes.
Among the castles in the lake, I think Hünegg Castle is the off-the-beaten-path type. This castle is an underrated place, which can be an alternative to Schadau, especially if you want to see elegant castle interiors without staying for a night.
The set-up of the castle’s interiors was so preserved that many say that it seems that the castle’s owner in the 19th century just left yesterday! It also has a lovely park and beautiful views of Lake Thun & the surrounding mountains. And, yes, Hünegg Castle also has a cafeteria where you can have refreshments after strolling in the park.
To get to Hünegg Castle from Thun, hop on either Bus #21 or #25 at the train station and alight at “Hilterfingen, Post.” Then, from the bus stop, walk for 3 to 5 minutes in Thun’s direction. The total travel time is 15 minutes.
For me, Oberhofen Castle is the ultimate destination in Lake Thun.
This castle, dating back to the early 13th century, is also the most picturesque, thanks to its water tower that can be photographed with the Swiss alps in the background.
Oberhofen Castle has a spacious park with breathtaking views, a rustic castle museum, and a unique room that’s totally out of the alpine world. That room is called Oriental Smoking Room, and architecture lovers wouldn’t like to miss it.
The Oriental Smoking Room is only a fraction of the overall beautiful impression that you might have of Oberhofen Castle, though. Exploring Oberhofen Castle’s Museum, you can also find objects you only see in movies set in the Middle Ages. There are armor, old portraits of the castle owners, and more.
I even saw a painting of Oberhofen Castle centuries ago, and, incredibly, nothing much has changed in the castle’s structure since the artwork was created.
You can get to Oberhofen Castle from Thun by boat or by bus. Please check my post about Oberhofen Castle to see full details.
Click the name of the tourist attractions to learn more about them.
| Place of Interest | Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Bächimattpromenade | 46.75130401236514, 7.636947266197729 |
| Schadau Castle | 46.74551219011764, 7.6353150933075975 |
| Thun Panorama | 46.74527079466303, 7.634533420144744 |
| Hünegg Castle | 46.73777362856699, 7.654960039224262 |
| Oberhofen Castle | 46.72969087431841, 7.668441356548158 |
You might find this article helpful:
10 Attractions in Lake Thun That Make the Lake Worth a Visit
Check this out, too!
You might be interested in visiting a hidden gem…
More Information
Alright! That’s my list of things to do in Thun and maps of Thun. I hope that you find them helpful for your trip. By the way, below are the links that you can use for further research about Thun’s tourist attractions.
Plan Your Trip Now
Here are my recommended services
If you want to include Thun in your trip, my extended weekend Switzerland itinerary (4 days) and my week-long Switzerland itinerary (6 days) will surely help. They focus on spending a wonderful time in Central Switzerland, including Bern, Lucerne, the Jungfrau Region, and of course, Thun.
