Food and Drink
- 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)
- 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
Culture and Attractions
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
Essentials
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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