St. Beatus Caves, Switzerland: A Guide to the Caves Above Lake Thun

There are places in Switzerland that seem almost too perfect to be real: a turquoise lake, mountains rising behind it, waterfalls tumbling down a cliff, and, hidden inside that cliff, an underground world of caves.

The St. Beatus Caves are one of those places.

Located above Lake Thun, just outside Interlaken, the caves combine nature, history and a rather dramatic legend involving a saint and a fire-breathing dragon. And somehow, despite being such a spectacular place to visit, I have spoken to Swiss people who had never even heard of them. I discovered them during a surprise weekend with my sister before she went back to school for the new school year. And if you are looking for an unusual day trip in Switzerland, especially one you can reach without a car, I would definitely put them on your list.

Where are the St. Beatus Caves?

The St. Beatus Caves are located above Lake Thun in the Bernese Oberland, in the municipality of Beatenberg, near Sundlauenen and Interlaken.

They are approximately:

• 5–6 km from Interlaken

• 19 km from Thun

• around 25 km from Spiez

The caves sit dramatically above the northern shore of Lake Thun, with views across the lake towards the Bernese Alps.

And the setting is honestly half of the experience.

Before you even enter the caves, there are waterfalls, forest paths, bridges and viewpoints overlooking the lake. The area outside the caves can be visited without buying an entrance ticket, so even if you don't want to go underground, there is still plenty to see.

The legend of St. Beatus and the dragon

Of course, a place called St. Beatus Caves needs a good story.

According to legend, St. Beatus was a Christian missionary who came to Switzerland and eventually settled in the caves above Lake Thun.

But there was a small problem... a fire-breathing dragon was already living there.

The story says that Beatus confronted the dragon and drove it out of the cave. The defeated creature supposedly plunged down the mountain and into Lake Thun, where the water began to boil. Beatus then made the cave his home and lived there as a hermit.

The historical details surrounding St. Beatus are much less certain than the legend, but his story became deeply connected with this part of Switzerland. The caves were also an important pilgrimage destination during the Middle Ages. Today, you can see references to the legend around the site, including the dragon, which makes the visit feel like a little journey into Swiss folklore as well as a natural attraction.

What is inside the St. Beatus Caves?

The cave system is much larger than the section you can actually visit.

Around 14 kilometres of the extensive cave system have been explored, while visitors can discover approximately one kilometre of it along a secure, illuminated route.

Inside, you will walk through a series of underground chambers, gorges and passages filled with stalactites, stalagmites and other limestone formations that have developed over millions of years.

There is also water running through parts of the cave, which makes the experience particularly atmospheric. You can hear the dripping and rushing water as you move deeper underground. The visit is self-guided, with information boards along the route, and the entrance ticket also includes the St. Beatus Caves Museum, where you can learn more about the geology, history and exploration of the cave system.

The whole cave visit takes approximately one hour.

And yes: bring a jacket.

Even if you visit on a hot summer day, it is cold underground, with temperatures around 8–10°C.

How to get to the St. Beatus Caves

One of the things I particularly like about the St. Beatus Caves is that you absolutely don't need a car.

There are three main options: boat, bus or car.

By boat: my recommendation

If you have the time, take the boat from Thun.

This is exactly what we did, and I would choose this option again.

The journey from Thun takes around 1.5 hours, depending on the connection, but that is not really a downside when the journey itself is part of the experience. You simply sit back and watch Lake Thun unfold around you, with villages, mountains and the Bernese Alps appearing along the way. Get off at Beatushöhle-Sundlauenen, from where a scenic walking trail of roughly 20–25 minutes takes you towards the caves.

There are also combined BLS tickets that include the boat journey and admission to the caves, with options departing from Thun, Spiez or Interlaken West. These can be particularly convenient if you want to make the whole excursion into one ticket.

By bus

You can also travel by train to Thun or Interlaken West and continue by bus to the stop “Beatushöhlen.” From there, it is a short scenic uphill walk to the cave entrance. The path takes around 10 minutes according to the official information, although I would allow a little extra time if you want to stop for photos.

Along the way, you cross bridges and walk alongside the waterfall flowing out of the cave.

By car

Driving is probably the most straightforward option if you are travelling by car.

There are parking spaces close to the attraction, although you still have to walk up from the parking area to the caves. Personally, though, if you have the choice, I would still take the boat. You get a beautiful Lake Thun experience and arrive at the caves.

Our visit: a sister weekend on Lake Thun

I actually visited the St. Beatus Caves with my sister during a little surprise weekend before she went back to school. Since she is a teacher, I thought a small escape before the new school year was definitely deserved.

We left from Thun by boat, and the journey took roughly an hour and a half. The weather had been extremely dry that summer, so unfortunately the waterfalls weren't flowing as dramatically as they normally can, but the landscape was still beautiful.

Once we arrived, we had two choices: walk up to the caves or take the short bus ride.

We decided to take the bus, which took only around five minutes, and then spent some time outside first. And honestly, don't rush straight into the caves. The area around the entrance is beautiful. There are waterfalls, rock formations, forest and, most importantly, an incredible view over Lake Thun.

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Lunch with one of the best views

Before going underground, we stopped for lunch at Restaurant Stein & Sein, right above the caves.

The location is spectacular. You are sitting high above Lake Thun with the mountains stretching out in front of you, and I am pretty sure we managed to get one of the most beautiful table locations possible. There is also a more casual option nearby if you are looking for something simpler, such as burgers and other easy meals.

So you don't necessarily need to plan a full restaurant lunch, you can make the visit as relaxed or as casual as you like.

Finally, into the caves

After lunch, we headed underground. The entrance almost feels like a doorway into another world, and once you leave the bright summer landscape behind, the temperature drops immediately.

The route takes approximately one hour and leads through around one kilometre of the cave system. Inside, you'll find enormous rock formations, stalactites, stalagmites, narrow passages and larger chambers. Some formations have wonderfully strange shapes, and the combination of rock, darkness and underground water makes the whole experience feel completely different from the Switzerland you normally see in travel photos.

And then, after roughly an hour underground, you emerge more or less where you started.

Which brings me to one of my favourite things about this excursion: you can experience something completely different without committing to a huge hike or a full-day adventure.

After the caves, we took the bus back towards Thun and eventually made our way home to Ticino. A long day, but a very good one.

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How much does it cost?

As of 2026, admission to the St. Beatus Caves and Cave Museum costs:

• Adults: CHF 20

• Children aged 6–16: CHF 12

• Children under 6: free

The admission ticket includes the cave museum.

One useful detail I discovered: your cave ticket is valid for one year from the date of issue. So if your plans suddenly change, you don't necessarily have to use it on the exact day you bought it.

Of course, transport is separate unless you purchase one of the combined BLS offers. For the most up-to-date combination tickets and discounts, I recommend checking the BLS excursion offers before travelling.

My tips for visiting the St. Beatus Caves

• Bring something warm. Even if it is 30°C outside, the caves stay around 8–10°C.

• Don't skip the outside area. The waterfalls and views over Lake Thun are beautiful and can be enjoyed without entering the caves.

• Allow around two to three hours. This gives you enough time for the walk up, photos, lunch or a coffee and the approximately one-hour cave visit.

• Take the boat if you have the time. The journey from Thun is part of the experience and gives you some gorgeous views of Lake Thun.

• Check BLS combination tickets. There are different offers combining public transport, boats and cave admission, and the options change throughout the year.

• Wear comfortable shoes. While very-well maintained, the path to the cave and the caves themselves are best explored on steady feet!

So, are the St. Beatus Caves worth visiting?

For me, absolutely.

What I liked most is that this isn't simply a cave attraction. It is an entire little experience: the boat ride across Lake Thun, the walk through the forest, the waterfalls, the views, lunch overlooking the lake, the legend of the dragon and then an hour exploring a completely different world underground.

And perhaps the strangest part?

I've mentioned the St. Beatus Caves to several Swiss people since visiting, and some of them had never even heard of them. So if you're looking for something a little different from Switzerland's famous mountain peaks and postcard villages, add this one to your list.

You might just discover one of the country's most underrated day trips.

Practical information

Where: Beatenberg/Sundlauenen, above Lake Thun, Bernese Oberland

Nearest major destinations: Interlaken and Thun

Entrance: CHF 20 adults / CHF 12 children 6–16

Visit duration: approximately 60 minutes inside the caves

Cave temperature: approximately 8–10°C

Getting there: boat, bus or car

Best experience: boat from Thun + caves + lunch with a Lake Thun view

2026 cave season: 28 March–8 November

Summer opening: generally 09:00–18:00, with extended hours Friday and Saturday

Tip: Always check the official cave and BLS websites before your trip, as opening hours, transport connections and combination offers can change.

Ciao, ciao, e al prossimo viaggio!