10/28/25
Finding stillness between peaks in Thun
A lakeside town where mountain air, calm water and Swiss charm meet beautifully.
Thun is one of those towns that make you slow down without trying. Sitting quietly at the point where the Aare river flows out of Lake Thun, it’s a place where life feels perfectly balanced — mountain views in every direction, clear blue water at your feet, and an old town that seems made for wandering.
Start your visit at the castle, a white landmark that watches over the rooftops. From the tower, you’ll see the lake stretching toward the Alps — Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau all visible on clear days. Walk down into the old town afterward, where cafés line the riverbanks and the bridges feel like small balconies suspended above the current.
Thun is both lively and peaceful. The main square, Obere Hauptgasse, is full of small boutiques, local bakeries and flower shops. Stop for a coffee by the covered wooden bridge — it’s one of the town’s most photographed spots, but it still feels authentic.
On warm afternoons, locals gather at the lakeside lido or take the ferry across the lake toward Spiez and Interlaken. You can rent a paddleboard or just sit by the shore watching the reflections of snowcapped peaks in the water. Everything here feels close — nature, people, time.
Evenings in Thun are gentle. Street musicians play by the river, the castle glows above the rooftops, and the smell of grilled fish drifts through the air. Many restaurants serve regional dishes made with local ingredients — fresh lake fish, mountain cheese, seasonal vegetables — and the mood is always easygoing.
Thun is not about big sights or crowded attractions. It’s about balance — between movement and stillness, city and nature, water and mountain. Stay long enough, and you’ll realize it’s exactly the kind of place where Switzerland feels most itself.