Hotels near St. Beatus Caves (St. Beatushöhlen)

The St. Beatus Caves are a limestone cave system carved into the cliffs above Lake Thun, named after a 6th-century Irish monk who legend says drove a dragon out of them to live there himself. About one kilometre of the cave is developed with lit walkways, waterfalls, and stalactite chambers - the guided path takes around 75 minutes and stays around 8°C year-round, so bring a layer. Entry in 2026 is roughly CHF 22 for adults; combined lake-boat-plus-cave tickets are available from the BLS pier. Outside the caves, a small museum covers the geology and the monk's story, and a footbridge leads out to a viewpoint over the lake. The season runs mid-March through early November.

Pro Tip: Take the boat there and the bus back (or vice versa). The arrival by water is genuinely dramatic - you approach a cliff face and only see the cave entrance when you're 100 metres out.