Some places make you “earn” them a little. The St. Beatus Caves on Lake Thun are a perfect example of that. You don’t simply drive there and walk straight into a cave. First, there is a narrow road, a parking choice, a climb uphill and, along the way, already some beautiful views over the lake. A little bit of sweating first, but then you get to enter a unique cave system!
We visited the St. Beatus-Höhlen, as they are officially called in Switzerland, from our chalet near Interlaken. The route along Lake Thun was already beautiful, with that blue water on one side and the mountains on the other. Once you arrive, the real work begins: walking up to the cave entrance.
In this blog, I’ll share our experience at the St. Beatus Caves, including tips for parking, tickets, temperature, visiting with children, the climb up and staying overnight near Interlaken and Lake Thun.
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What are the St. Beatus Caves?
The St. Beatus Caves are located above Lake Thun, close to Interlaken. It is a large cave system, of which around one kilometre is accessible to visitors. You walk through illuminated passages, past rock formations, small underground waterfalls and pools of water that sometimes reflect beautifully.
The caves are among the largest accessible caves in Switzerland. The route through the cave is well laid out, but don’t expect a flat museum-style walk. You pass through narrow corridors, over damp paths and via stairs. According to the official information, you walk a total of 297 steps and cover 87 metres of elevation during the cave route.
What makes this place extra fun is its location. The entrance is high above the lake and the waterfall coming out of the cave makes the route up immediately more beautiful. So you don’t just get a cave, but also views, water and a bit of legend on top. From the road, you can hardly tell that the St. Beatus Caves are there, apart from the information signs.
Parking at the St. Beatus Caves
If you come from Interlaken, you’ll soon see cars parked along the road. Honestly, it looked a bit chaotic. We deliberately drove on to the upper parking, P1. That was a good choice for us: more space, quieter and easier to park. Especially because we still had to transfer our baby into a carrier.
Parking costs CHF 7 for a day ticket. There are two paid car parks: a lower car park and a higher car park near the museum. From the car park, you walk to the cave entrance in about 5 to 10 minutes. In high season, the official website recommends arriving early or travelling by public transport.
Do note: when we visited, you needed coins. There was also an app, but it didn’t work for us because it seemed to be available only for Swiss accounts. The machine also didn’t give any change. So make sure you bring the exact amount in coins. These little things in Switzerland can sometimes make the difference between arriving relaxed and standing annoyed next to a parking machine. Want to make someone’s day afterwards? We gave our parking ticket to another couple who had just arrived. The tickets are not linked to a name and are valid for the whole day. You are supposed to place it under your windscreen.
The climb up: “The Easy Way” is optimistic
From the car park, the climb starts straight away. Somewhere there is a sign saying “The Easy Way”, but honestly: that is quite optimistic. You simply have to walk a decent stretch uphill. If your legs are feeling good, you can definitely go for the hard way. That one is more stair-like, while the easy way is more of a rising path.
We walked up via a forest path and later joined the main route. The advantage of that route is that you walk along the waterfall that comes out of the cave. That immediately makes the climb a lot more fun. Along the way, you already get beautiful views over Lake Thun too, so definitely take your time. But hey, you can also walk back this way. Then you still have the view and a bit more energy to enjoy it.
It is not a difficult hike, but if you are walking with a baby, children or not much fitness, you will feel it. Especially because once inside the cave, there are also stairs and narrow sections. We found it perfectly doable, but it is good to know beforehand that you don’t step straight from the car into the cave. Especially if your physical condition doesn’t allow for much climbing.
Tickets and opening hours
Once you reach the top, you buy your tickets. We paid around CHF 20 per person, although we received a small discount through our accommodation. So always check whether your hotel, campsite or chalet offers a guest card or discount pass.
The St. Beatus Caves are open all year round, but the opening hours differ by season. In summer 2026, the caves are open from 28 March through 8 November. From Monday to Thursday and on Sunday, they are open from 09:00 to 18:00, and on Friday and Saturday until 21:00. The winter opening period in 2026/2027 runs from 21 November through 27 March, with shorter opening hours.
The museum is included in your ticket and is useful if you want to learn more about the caves, geology and the legend. We mainly came for the cave itself, but if you have time, I would definitely include the museum as well.
Inside the cave: cooler than you think
Once inside, you immediately notice: this is a completely different world. The temperature in the cave stays constant all year round at 8 to 10 degrees, with high humidity. The official website mentions around 95% humidity. That means: on hot days, it is wonderfully cool, but on chilly days, it can feel properly cold.
So always bring a cardigan or jacket, even if it is warm outside. And wear shoes with grip. The paths and stairs can be damp and slippery. Sneakers are fine, but I would really skip flip-flops here.
Our experience inside the St. Beatus Caves
With our 6-month-old daughter in the baby carrier, we went inside. Strollers are really not an option here. The corridors are narrow but easy enough to walk through. Sometimes they are low, which meant that, with my height, I often had to duck. Some sections are also wet and a little slippery.
You walk about one kilometre into the cave and then return the same way. In total, the cave route takes around an hour. That also matches the official indication of around 60 minutes.
What we especially liked were the small waterfalls flowing through the cave, the stalactites, the rock formations and the mirror-like water pools. Everything is atmospherically lit, making some sections feel almost a little magical.
Is it the most spectacular cave in the world? No, I wouldn’t say that either. But the combination of the walk up, the view over the lake, the waterfall outside and the route through the cave makes it a really fun activity.
Crowds and best timing
What we noticed: on the way in, it was still fairly quiet, but on the way back we met a lot of people who had gone in later. Because you partly walk the same route back through the cave, you immediately notice when it gets busier. There are also guided tours. These can make some sections extra crowded.
That’s why I would go early in the morning, or later in the day. Especially in summer and on weekends. On Fridays and Saturdays during the summer season, you can even enter later in the evening, because the caves are open until 21:00. Secretly, that sounds pretty fun to me, and probably also a bit quieter.
In heavy rain, the situation can be different. In principle, the caves are open in all weather and the waterfall at the entrance is actually extra impressive when it rains, but in heavy rainfall there can be exceptions. So check the current status if the weather is really bad.
The legend of Saint Beatus and the dragon
The caves are named after Saint Beatus, a monk who, according to legend, lived here. The story goes that a dragon once lived in the cave. Beatus is said to have driven the dragon away and then lived in the cave himself as a hermit.
Whether it is true? We’ll leave that open. But it does give the place extra character. Especially if you visit with children, a dragon story immediately makes a cave just that little bit more exciting.
After the cave: view, restaurant and museum
Once outside, you don’t have to head straight back to the car. There is a restaurant with a beautiful view over Lake Thun. There is also a self-service section for a drink or something small. Especially on a sunny day, this is a lovely place to recover from the climb and the cave.
The museum is included in your ticket. There, you can learn more about the geology of the cave system and the history of the place. It is not a huge museum where you wander around for hours, but if you are already up there, I would definitely include it.
St. Beatus Caves with a stroller or limited mobility
Honest answer: this is not an ideal place with a stroller. The climb up is fairly steep, inside there are stairs and narrow paths, and it can be slippery. The official website also clearly states that the route is not barrier-free and that strollers and wheelchairs are not allowed in the cave for safety reasons.
With a baby carrier, it is perfectly doable, as we did. You do have to pay attention to low sections in the cave, especially if you are tall. I had to duck regularly and with a baby in a carrier, you don’t want to step forward too enthusiastically.
Staying overnight near the St. Beatus Caves
You don’t have to sleep directly next to the St. Beatus Caves, but it is useful to stay near Interlaken, Lake Thun or Goldswil. That way, you can easily combine the caves with Lauterbrunnen, Giessbach, Brienz or other stops in the Jungfrau region.
Our tip: Kiwi Chalet near Interlaken
We personally stayed at Kiwi Chalet – Mountain Views & Cozy NZ Vibes in Goldswil. A super fun place with a nod to New Zealand, which we of course especially loved. For us, this was a great base because you are just outside the crowds of Interlaken, but still close to everything.
Hotels around Interlaken and Lake Thun
If you want to stay close to the caves, you can look at Hotel Beatus, which is located close to Lake Thun and the St. Beatus Caves. For more comfort by the lake, BEATUS Wellness- & Spa-Hotel in Merligen is a luxury option on the shore of Lake Thun.
If you would rather stay in Interlaken, Hotel Krebs Interlaken, Hotel Lötschberg and Hotel Central Continental are practical options. Interlaken is busier, but convenient if you want to do lots of day trips.
Campsites near Interlaken and Lake Thun
Prefer camping? Then you are in a good spot around Interlaken. Camping Manor Farm is located directly on Lake Thun and offers pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes, plus rental accommodation and access to small swimming beaches. The campsite is open all year round.
Camping Lazy Rancho in Unterseen is a nice option if you want to stay somewhere a little quieter, with views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau and facilities for families and active travellers. TCS Camping Interlaken is also convenient, as it is located by the Aare between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz.
Combining the St. Beatus Caves with the region
The St. Beatus Caves are perfectly located for a half-day trip from Interlaken. You can combine them with a drive along Lake Thun, a boat trip, a visit to Thun or other natural sights in the Jungfrau region.
We used Interlaken/Goldswil as our base and combined several stops in this region. Think of the Giessbach waterfall, Meiringen, the Aareschlucht and of course Lauterbrunnen with all its beautiful hikes, waterfalls and views. The caves are especially nice on a hot day, because it is pleasantly cool inside, or on a less good weather day because you are mostly indoors.
Practical tips for your visit
- Bring coins for parking. The parking app didn’t work for us and the machine didn’t give change.
- Drive on to the upper parking. We found P1 quieter and easier to navigate than the parking spots along the road.
- Bring a cardigan or jacket. Inside the cave, it is 8 to 10 degrees all year round.
- Wear shoes with grip. The paths and stairs can be wet and slippery.
- Go early or later in the day. You quickly notice crowds because you walk back along the same route.
- Leave the stroller at home. Choose a baby carrier instead if you are visiting with a baby or toddler.
- Plan extra time for the view. The cave itself takes about an hour, but the climb, photos, restaurant and museum quickly make it 1.5 to 2 hours.
Are the St. Beatus Caves worth it?
Yes, especially if you want something different from just mountains and viewpoints. The cave itself is beautiful, but in our opinion the real strength lies in the combination: the route up, the waterfall, the view over Lake Thun, the cave and the story of Saint Beatus and the dragon.
It is not the most spectacular cave you will ever see, but it is a very fun and varied activity. Especially if you are staying near Interlaken, I would put it on your list.
For us, it was a pleasant stop of around 1.5 to 2 hours. Just long enough to really experience something, without having to set aside a whole day for it.
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