Thun Digital Nomad Guide - Tips & Local Information
ESSENTIALS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏙️ City |
Thun, Canton of Bern, Switzerland |
| 👥 Population |
Approximately 44,000 |
| 💻 Internet Speed |
Average 120 Mbps; Fiber optics widely available via Swisscom |
| 💸 Currency & Banking |
Swiss Franc (CHF). 1 CHF ≈ 1.13 USD, 1 USD ≈ 0.88 CHF |
| 🚰 Tap Water |
Drinkable, high-quality Alpine mineral water from every tap |
| 🔌 Power |
230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type J sockets (compatible with Type C two-pin) |
| 📶 SIM Card |
Swisscom, Salt, or Sunrise. Prepaid 'Anyway' SIM from Salt is approx. 20 CHF |
| 💳 Banking for Expats |
UBS, Credit Suisse, or Neon (digital bank). Revolut and Wise are widely used |
| 🛌 Accommodation |
Airbnb, Booking.com, and local platforms like Ron Orp or Flatfox |
| 💳 Cashless Friendly |
Highly friendly; cards and mobile payments (TWINT) accepted everywhere |
| 🏠 Short Term Rentals |
Airbnb (approx. 150 CHF/night) or City-Wohnen for furnished apartments |
| 🛏️ Budget Accommodation |
Thun Youth Hostel (Hofstettenstrasse 12; approx. 55 CHF/night) |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Tourists |
Thun Old Town (Altstadt) or Bälliz for proximity to sights |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads |
Hofstetten or Hilterfingen (queter, lake views, easy bus access) |
WORKING AND NETWORKING
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 Best Coworking Space |
Worker's Hub (Scheibenstrasse 3; Day pass approx. 35 CHF) |
| ☕ Best Cafe for Work |
Kaffee-Bar Zentral (Hauptgasse 17; Excellent Wi-Fi and power outlets) |
| 💼 Networking Events |
Startup Weekend Bern (nearby) or events by 'Thun brennt' business network |
| 🥂 Social Events for Expats |
InterNations Bern/Thun Chapter and 'Expats in Thun' Facebook Group |
TRANSPORTATION
| Topic |
Details |
| 🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App |
Uber (limited) or local Taxi Thun (+41 33 222 22 22) |
| 🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental |
Velospot (various stations; hourly rates) or Donkey Republic |
| 🏖️ Best Beach Nearby |
Strandbad Thun (Uferweg 10; Entrance approx. 7 CHF) |
| ✈️ Top Regional Airline |
Swiss International Air Lines |
| ✈️ Top International Airline |
Lufthansa, Emirates, United (via Zurich Airport) |
| 🛣️ Highway Access |
A6 highway linking Thun to Bern (30 mins) and Interlaken |
| 🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub |
Thun Railway Station (Bahnhof Thun) |
| 🚍 Public Transport Passes |
STI Bus 'PanoramaCard' (free for overnight guests) or Swiss Half Fare Card |
| ✈️ Regional Travel |
SBB Trains to Bern (20 mins) or BLS Lake Thun steamboats |
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏥 Best Hospital |
Spital Thun (Krankenhausstrasse 12; 24/7 Emergency) |
| 🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers |
Yoga Acht (Aarestrasse 38B; Drop-in class approx. 30 CHF) |
| 🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers |
Update Fitness Thun (Freienestrasse; approx. 690 CHF annual) |
| 🧺 Laundry Services |
Lavanderia Self-Service (near the station) or hotel laundry services |
FOOD AND DRINK
| Topic |
Details |
| 📱 Best Food Delivery App |
Just Eat Switzerland or Eat.ch |
| 🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try |
Thuner Leckerli (honey spice cookies) or Cheese Fondue at Restaurant Waisenhaus |
| 🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options |
Namaste India (all-day vegetarian options) or Reformhaus |
| 🍫 Best Dessert Spots |
Confiserie Steinmann (Bälliz 33) for luxury chocolates |
| 🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots |
Lidl or Aldi for groceries; Migros and Coop for standard shopping |
| 🛒 E-commerce/Online Store |
Galaxus.ch (the 'Swiss Amazon') and Digitec.ch |
| 🛒 Grocery Delivery |
Coop.ch or Migros Online |
| 🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area |
Mühleplatz (The central hub with various bars and terraces) |
| 🍻 Local Brewery |
Brauerei Thun (Old town; try the 'Thuner Bier') |
| 🍷 Wine Bars |
Vino Thun (Obere Hauptgasse 66) |
| 🍲 Street Food Stalls |
Thursday Market at Bälliz for regional sausages and breads |
| 🍕 Popular International Cuisine |
Beau Rivage (Italian) or Shana Thai (Thai food) |
CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🎟️ Must-See Landmarks |
Thun Castle (Schloss Thun; 12th-century tower) |
| 🏛️ Museums & Art Venues |
Kunstmuseum Thun (Hofstettenstrasse 14) |
| 🏰 Historical Sites |
The Obere Hauptgasse (split-level historical street) |
| 🕍 Religious Sites |
Stadtkirche Thun (Reformierte Kirchgemeinde) |
| 🎉 Annual Events |
Thunerseespiele (Lake Thun Festival - outdoor musicals in summer) |
| 🎨 Cultural Districts |
Bälliz (Shooting and commercial island hub) |
| 🎭 Theater Venues |
KKThun (Kultur- und Kongresszentrum Thun) |
| 🛍️ Local Markets |
Saturday Morning Market at Rathausplatz |
| 🎼 Music Scene |
Mokka (Cafe Bar Mokka; legendary alternative music venue) |
| 🎨 Street Art |
Subtle murals around the Selve industrial area |
| 🧑🍳 Cooking Classes |
Pro Specie Rara educational workshops nearby |
| 👩🎨 Art Galleries |
Galerie Hodler (Hauptgasse 53) |
| 🕰️ Historic Buildings |
Rathaus (Town Hall since the 16th century) |
| 🏴 Local Heritage |
The Fulehung (Fool's figure) festival every September |
NATURE AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes |
Schadaupark (Park with castle and lake views) |
| 🏞️ National Parks Nearby |
Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch (UNESCO Site; 45 mins away) |
| 🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths |
The Lake Thun Loop (64km scenic cycling path) |
| 🌄 Scenic Viewpoints |
Jakobshübeli (View over the city, lake, and Eiger/Mönch/Jungfrau) |
| 🦉 Birdwatching Locations |
Gwattlutz Nature Reserve on the lake shore |
| 🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots |
Public BBQ spots along the Aare river towards Bern |
OTHER SERVICES AND AMENITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 📦 Parcel Delivery Service |
Die Post (Swiss Post; Bahnhof Thun branch) |
| 🛠️ Tech Repair Services |
Mobilezone (Bälliz 51) for smartphones |
| 🏓 Table Tennis Spots |
Burechpark public tables |
| 🧑🏫 Language Classes |
Migros Clubschool (Frutigenstrasse 28) |
| 📚 Libraries & Study Spots |
Stadtbibliothek Thun (Bahnhofstrasse 6) |
| 🏘️ Community Centers |
Selve Area (undeground culture and local meetups) |
| 🕹️ Gaming Lounges |
ManaBar (gaming bar in nearby Bern, 20 mins by train) |
| 🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls |
Grand Casino Kursaal Interlaken (20 mins away) |
BUSINESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. 11,500 CHF per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 460,000 CHF) |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. 8,800 CHF per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 352,000 CHF) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. 10,800 CHF per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 648,000 CHF) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. 8,200 CHF per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 492,000 CHF) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. 10,200 CHF per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 816,000 CHF) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. 7,900 CHF per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 632,000 CHF) |
| 💼 Corporate Tax |
Approx. 12-14% (combined federal, cantonal, and communal for Bern) |
| 💵 Dividend Withholding Tax |
35% (refundable for Swiss residents) |
| 🏦 Tax System |
Worldwide income basis; three levels of taxation (federal, cantonal, communal) |
| 📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket |
Approx. 41% combined |
| 🧾 VAT |
8.1% (standard rate) |
| 🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules |
None (Switzerland has no specific CFC rules) |
| 🏠 Property Tax |
Yes, cantonal property tax (Liegenschaftssteuer) of 0.1% to 0.15% of official value |
| 🏠 Property Transaction Tax |
Property transfer tax (Handänderungssteuer) of approx. 1.8% in Canton Bern |
| 💻 Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads |
No specific nomad visa; standard residency permits apply. Lump-sum taxation possible for very high net worth individuals |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING THUN