St. Beatus Caves

7 Highlights at the St. Beatus Caves

• Today, more than 14 kilometers of the St. Beatus Caves have been explored. Of these, visitors discover about a kilometer of wide halls and gorges.
• There are many enormous stalactite formations on the tour. These unique structures are millions of years old.
• The innovative light show installed since 2019 makes the beautiful formations stand out even more.
• A multitude of paths lead to the impressive caves of the Bernese Oberland. Whether on foot, by public transport or by car, the caves are easily accessible.
• From the parking lot, a short walk through the park leads to the cave. You will cross several bridges and walk past a white waterfall tumbling out of the cave.
• Nearby is a modern museum that provides information about the exciting geology of the cave. Numerous interactive exhibits provide a great museum experience.
• In the restaurant "Stein und Sein" right next to the cave, visitors can recharge their batteries after an exciting tour. With a great view of the Bernese Alps with the Niesen, hot and cold dishes are served.

What awaits you at the St. Beatus Caves

Caves are one of the most popular excursion destinations in Switzerland. The experience of walking inside a rock massif is unique. The St. Beatus Caves are located in the Niederhorn massif above Lake Thun in the canton of Bern. More than 14 kilometers of the huge passage system have been explored. Visitors can explore about one kilometer. The tour includes a large number of fascinating stalactites and stalagmites that are millions of years old. Since 2019, these fascinating formations of the cave have been shown off to even greater advantage with innovative light staging.

If you visit the caves individually, you can discover the corridors on your own and without a tour guide. The well-lit corridors lead you on a tour through the wide halls and canyons. Along the way, various information boards will introduce you to the exciting geology of the cave. For groups, company outings and classes there is the possibility of a guided tour through the cave. An experienced tour guide will accompany you and give you exciting insights into the cave world.

Next to the cave is an accompanying museum. There, visitors are offered various interactive exhibits, which inform about the geology of the cave. On request, an audio guide will accompany you through the 11 thematic areas of the museum.

For whom are the St. Beatus Caves suitable?

The paths in the St. Beatus Caves do not require any special fitness and can be walked easily. The experience is thus also worthwhile for children and teenagers. Claustrophobia should also not be a problem, as the caves are mostly very spacious.

The constant annual temperature in the cave is 8 - 10°C. The weather outside does not matter, so visiting the St. Beatus Caves is a great bad weather activity in Switzerland. However, be sure to wear warm clothes for your visit so that you can enjoy the excursion.

Strollers and wheelchairs are not allowed for safety reasons. However, the St. Beatus Caves are a great school or family outing. The visit is also a great activity for smaller, private team events.

Journey to the Beatus Caves

The Beatus Caves are located in the Bernese Oberland, directly above the Lake Thun at the foot of the Niederhorn. A variety of paths lead to the natural spectacle. So you can reach your destination by car, public transport or on foot.

On foot

Several hiking trails of different lengths lead to the St. Beatus Caves. Some of these offer wonderful views of the Bernese Oberland. By the way, this also includes the Jakobsweg (Way of St. James), which leads from Interlaken to Thun.

A short walk from the parking lot/bus stop is a must. This path leads you over several bridges past the wild waterfall to the caves. The other starting points are various public transport stations in Merligen, Thun or Interlaken:

• from ship station St. Beatus Caves/Sundlauenen via Pilgrim's Path (20 - 25 min)
• from boat station Beatenbucht via pilgrim path (1:00 to 1:10 hrs.)
• from Merligen via pilgrim path (1:15 to 1:30 hrs.)
• from Interlaken via Weissenau promenade and pilgrims' path (2:00 to 2:30 hrs.)

Public transport

You use the public transport in combination with a walk. The easiest way is to take the bus to the bus stop St. Beatus Caves and walk another ten minutes from there. Alternatively, you can take the boat to the Beatushöhlen or Beatenbucht station and walk to the caves from there via a slightly longer path.

By car

If you are traveling by car, you can park it directly at the caves. The parking lots are located on the lake road, which winds along the lake from Merligen and Interlaken. From the parking lot it is only a ten minute walk to the caves.