Scenes From Thun, Switzerland

Freiburg is located less than an hour from the Swiss border, so there are several cities in Switzerland that are close enough for a day trip. One of those cities is Thun, located in the Bernese Oberland region. In the 19th century, Thun was the main center for foreign visitors to the Bernese Alps. Due to this booming tourism, there were tons of guesthouses, restaurants and souvenir shops contributing to the local economy. The Swiss army also had (and still has) a big presence in Thun, furthering development.

Andy and I often like to just wander when we travel, and we did just that. Our friend Gigi and her adorable dog Luna, who live in nearby Lauterbrunnen, showed us around the gorgeous town of Thun. We could see mountains not so far away, we were never far from the river that winds through town to the Thunersee (Lake Thun), and I just loved the Alpine Swiss vibe.

Thun, Switzerland in photos

Thun, Switzerland in photos

Thun, Switzerland in photos

Thun, Switzerland in photos

Thun, Switzerland in photos

Thun, Switzerland in photos

My favorite part was the castle. I love castles, and they often end up being my favorite thing about a city or a reason to visit in the first place. I think they’re just such a huge reminder of how much history there is to be explored in Europe. Though I didn’t find the inside of this one to be all that exciting, the views from up top were fantastic and totally made up for it. Tickets to get in were 8 Swiss Francs (about US$9) per adult.

Thun, Switzerland in photos

Thun, Switzerland in photos

Thun, Switzerland in photos

Thun, Switzerland in photos

Thun, Switzerland in photos

Thun, Switzerland in photos

Thun, Switzerland in photos

Thun, Switzerland in photos

Thun is a popular town to visit due to its location on the Thunersee (Lake Thun) in the Bernese Oberland region. It’s the perfect place for people looking to spend some time enjoying Switzerland’s outdoor activities while still having the comforts of a small city.

It took us about two hours and 20 minutes by train to get to Thun from Freiburg. It’s only an hour and 20 minutes from Zurich, or 30 minutes to an hour from Interlaken.

Traveling to Switzerland? Check out this itinerary for how to spend 5 days in Switzerland in the Bernese Oberland region, where Thun is located!