Which parts of Thun are suitable for families?

Families often live in the neighbourhoods on the plain such as Lerchenfeld, Allmendingen or Dürrenast, with schools and the lake nearby. Goldiwil up on the heights offers lots of greenery and views of the lake and the Alps, but longer journeys. It is best to view two or three neighbourhoods before deciding.

How do I find a flat in Thun?

We do not quote fixed rents because they vary greatly by neighbourhood, proximity to the lake and fittings. The Swiss property portals give a current impression. Expect a rental deposit, which is customary in Switzerland, and plan a viewing on site before fixing the moving date.

Which employers are there in and around Thun?

Thun is Switzerland's largest garrison town; in addition there is mechanical engineering with RUAG, construction such as Frutiger, retail, public administration and Thun hospital, part of Spitäler STS. Around 4,500 companies are based in the town. By InterCity, commuters can also reach jobs in Bern.

How do I register after moving to Thun?

According to the town of Thun, you register within 14 days with the residents' services at Hofstettenstrasse 14; registration costs CHF 20. As an EU/EFTA national you need a valid passport or ID card; check in advance with the residents' services which additional papers are needed.

When may the removal van enter Thun's town centre?

Fixed access times apply in the town centre: weekdays 5 to 12 and 13 to 18.30, weekends 5 to 12. Outside these times the removal van needs an access permit per number plate, applied for online from the Tiefbauamt. We plan the date accordingly.

Do you also offer business moves in Thun?

Yes. We come from Berlin and also handle business moves to Thun, with dismantling of office furniture, transport of IT and assembly at the new site. Different customs rules apply to office inventory than to relocation goods; clarify them with the BAZG in advance, and we prepare the documents with you. We plan the move so that operations are disrupted as little as possible.

Can I book just a part load for my move to Thun?

For smaller moves, for example by individuals, we offer a part load. Your goods then travel with other transports to Switzerland and are cleared through customs with your own inventory list. This costs less than a lorry of your own; the delivery date depends on the route.

How does a long-distance move from abroad to Thun work?

We load in Berlin, drive around 985 kilometres via the A9, A4, A5, A2, A1 and A6 and stop at a customs office for commercial goods, where Form 18.44 and the inventory list are presented. Because of driving times and the lorry driving bans in Switzerland, we plan two to three days. Details can be found under long-distance move .

What makes Thun so attractive as a place to live?

Thun lies where the Aare flows out of Lake Thun, with its old town, castle and lakeshore. Its location as the "gateway to the Bernese Oberland", water sports, hiking and good rail links to Bern and Interlaken make the town popular with newcomers.

How does moving into a building without a lift work in Thun?

Thun's town centre has period buildings without a lift, whereas Neufeld has tower blocks. Without a lift we carry with additional carriers; where the façade and space allow, we use a furniture lift. We clarify this during the survey so that stairwells and walls remain protected.

How are my belongings protected during the move to Thun?

Under the German Commercial Code (HGB) we are liable for damage during loading and unloading and in transit, limited to €620 per m³ of load volume (§ 451e HGB). For valuable furniture or fragile items we recommend additional insurance. Please report damage directly on delivery in Thun.

Do I need a permit for the removal van in Thun town centre?

Outside the permitted times, yes. According to the town of Thun, access is possible Monday to Friday from 5 to 12 and 13 to 18.30 and at weekends from 5 to 12; otherwise you need an access permit per number plate, which you apply for online.

How much time do I have to register in Thun?

According to the town of Thun, you register with the residents' services within 14 days of moving in. The fee is CHF 20. You can deregister at your place of origin via eUmzugCH if the municipality uses the system.

What can I import duty-free when moving from Germany to Thun?

According to the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG), moving your residence to Switzerland is the most important condition. You must have used the items personally for at least 6 months and continue to use them. You also submit Form 18.44 at the customs office.

Are there driving bans for removal lorries in Switzerland?

According to the BAZG, heavy vehicles over 3.5 tonnes are subject to a night-time driving ban from 22:00 to 05:00 and a driving ban on Sundays and public holidays. Plan your journey to Thun accordingly.

Where do I dispose of bulky waste in Thun after the move?

At the waste collection centre at Militärstrasse 7. The town charges CHF 5 per visit; sofas and mattresses are charged with bulky-waste stamps (mattresses CHF 7.80 or CHF 15.60 depending on size). Opening hours: Mon to Fri 09.00 to 11.45 and 13.30 to 17.00, Sat 08.00 to 11.45.

LIVING ON LAKE THUN

Living in Thun: old town lakeshore and hill country

Your move to Thun from Berlin – a fixed price after a survey, customs prepared, on Lake Thun.

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GATEWAY TO THE BERNESE OBERLAND

Living in Thun

Thun: old town on the Aare, neighbourhoods by the lake

Neighbourhoods, work, offices

Unsere Firma Thun at a glance: the town centre with Schlossberg and Bälliz, Neufeld and Lerchenfeld, Dürrenast and Gwatt by the lake, Goldiwil up on the heights.

A move to Thun takes you to Switzerland's eleventh-largest town, the main town of the Thun administrative district in the canton of Bern. The old town lies on the Aare about 1.5 kilometres from the lake: Schlossberg, Unterstadt, the upper Hauptgasse and the Bälliz, an island in the Aare and a pedestrian zone since 1988. A fixed access window applies there for the removal van; otherwise a permit is required. The newer neighbourhoods lie on the plain at the north-western end of Lake Thun, such as Dürrenast, Gwatt and Lerchenfeld. More about our services under private move.

For flats in period buildings without a lift, as found in the town centre, we plan in additional carriers or a furniture lift. We come from Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and plan two to three days for the roughly 985 kilometres; we prepare customs with your inventory list and Form 18.44. We quote the fixed price after the survey, and liability is under the German Commercial Code (HGB). You can reach us by phone on 01625978461.

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PERSONAL ADVICE

Request a fixed price for your move from Berlin to Thun

Survey in Berlin, two driving days planned

Call us on 01625978461 and give us your address in Thun. After the survey in Berlin you receive a fixed price – including the customs stop, the heavy vehicle fee and two driving days. We clarify the access window in the town centre and parking in advance so that you arrive relaxed on Lake Thun. Our liability for your goods is under the German Commercial Code (HGB); we arrange additional insurance on request.

Offers available individually, depending on effort, scheduling and the scope of services required.

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FROM BERLIN

How we plan your move-in in Thun

Customs, access, floor

From Berlin to Thun it is around 985 kilometres via the A9, A4 and A5, then through Switzerland via the A2, A1 and A6 – two driving days for a lorry. In Switzerland, heavy vehicles are subject to a night-time and a Sunday driving ban, which we plan for. In Thun we clarify access and stopping options: vehicles may only enter the pedestrian zone in the town centre at certain times, otherwise a permit from the Tiefbauamt (civil engineering office) is needed. For Goldiwil up on the heights we plan a suitable vehicle.

Packing service

We pack in Berlin, label every box and use this to draw up the inventory list for customs – a packing service for your move to Thun.

Office move

If your workplace moves to Thun, we plan the office move with an inventory list, customs papers and a fixed delivery date.

Senior moves

Anyone moving to Lake Thun to join family later in life gets time, calm and assembled furniture on arrival day with our senior move to Thun.

Furniture transport

We bring single pieces padded and strapped as furniture transport to Thun – including to period buildings in the town centre without a lift.

WELL PREPARED

What matters in Thun

When moving to Thun, time windows count: access to the town centre, the customs office's opening hours, driving bans for lorries. Clear agreements, one fixed contact person and a fixed price after a survey are the basis for keeping your move to the lake plannable.

Parking zones in Berlin

In Berlin we apply for the parking restriction zone (Halteverbotszone) at the district office's road traffic authority; the signs go up at least 72 hours before the move.

Town centre access

Vehicles may enter the pedestrian zone in Thun on weekdays from 5 to 12 and 13 to 18.30; otherwise we apply for the access permit online.

Customs with Form 18.44

Duty-free import of your household goods to Thun requires Form 18.44 and an inventory list; we prepare both with you.

Registration within 14 days

After moving in, you register in Thun within 14 days with the residents' services (Einwohnerdienste); registration costs CHF 20.

Two driving days

For 985 kilometres and the customs stop we plan two driving days. If the handover in Thun is postponed, we store your furniture briefly.

Liability under the HGB

For damage, our liability under the HGB is €620 per m³ (§ 451e). For valuables on your move to Thun we recommend additional insurance.

FOR SMALL LOADS

Part load to Thun

A few items, a shared trip

A part load to Thun pays off if the delivery date has a few days' leeway. We collect furniture or boxes in Berlin, clear them through customs with your own inventory list and deliver them to your new address on Lake Thun. For a whole household we plan a dedicated transport.

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MOVING TO SWITZERLAND

Before
the move to Thun

Flat, customs, public offices

Many people move to Thun for work – Thun is Switzerland's largest military training ground (Waffenplatz), plus mechanical engineering such as RUAG, construction, retail and healthcare – others for the lake and mountains. Before the move, sort out the flat, registration with the residents' services and the customs formalities for your household goods. We plan the route, customs stop and access. Our guide Moving to Switzerland describes the basics of crossing the border; our long-distance move shows how we drive long routes.

Planning from Berlin

We fix two driving days, apply for the parking restriction in Berlin and clarify customs and access in Thun – so your private move, senior move or student move stays plannable.

Old town, tower block, hillside

A period building without a lift on the Schlossberg, a tower block in Neufeld or a house in Goldiwil: with a packing service, furniture transport and small removals we match the team and vehicle to your address in Thun.

Costs and special cases

For an office move, business move, public-authority move, part load or furniture taxi to Thun we quote a fixed price after a survey – customs and the heavy vehicle fee included.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about living in Thun

Neighbourhoods, work, customs, registration.

The cost depends on the size of the flat, the floors, accessibility and the roughly 985 kilometres from Berlin. The guide prices above give an orientation. The binding figure is the fixed price we quote after the survey – with two driving days, the customs stop and the heavy vehicle fee, so that you can plan your budget.

Town centre, lakeshore, heights: Thun's neighbourhoods

The town centre consists of the Schlossberg, Unterstadt, the upper Hauptgasse and the Bälliz on the island in the Aare – a shopping street, markets and Thun Castle with its museum. The newer neighbourhoods lie on the plain towards the lake: according to the town, Neufeld, with around 8,900 inhabitants, is the largest, with the Talacker tower blocks; to the west lie Lerchenfeld, the Allmend military training area and Allmendingen.

On the left bank of the lake, Dürrenast and parts of Gwatt belong to the town, with the lido and Schadau park nearby. To the east, Thun extends into the hill country up to Goldiwil, which was incorporated in 1913 and is the highest neighbourhood. Hünibach on the right bank of the lake has grown together with the town but belongs to Hilterfingen. Altogether Thun has 13 neighbourhoods.

Working and living in Thun

Around 4,500 companies are based in Thun. Besides tourism, retail, health and social care, construction (such as Frutiger), public administration, mechanical engineering with RUAG and the military are important – Thun is Switzerland's largest garrison town. Thun is also the largest market town in the Bernese Oberland. We do not quote fixed rents because they vary greatly by neighbourhood, proximity to the lake and fittings; the Swiss property portals show current offers.

From Thun station, InterCity trains run towards Bern, Olten and Basel or Zurich, as well as into the Oberland to Spiez, Interlaken and Brig. Since 1971 Thun has been connected to the motorway via the A6 with the Thun Nord and Thun Süd exits. Within the town, STI buses run, and in summer the lido by the lake is a draw.

Guide prices for Thun

Our price scale:

1 room: from €344
2 rooms: from €615
3 rooms: from €879
4 rooms: from €1,329
House/villa: individual quote
Long-distance move: from €3.85/km

Interested? Then arrange a free survey now.

What determines the price for Thun

We calculate the price based on volume, distance (from €3.85/km), floor and lift. An organised parking restriction zone (Halteverbotszone) makes loading and unloading easier. Also bookable: furniture assembly and part load.

Services for Thun

Service overview

Below you will find a compact overview of our most important offers.

Business move

We make sure your business is up and running again quickly.

Private move

Moving without stress - that is what we promise every private customer.

Furniture transport

Furniture transport with expertise and the right equipment.

Part load

Your belongings travel together with other transports - affordable and efficient.

Move with assembly

Craftsmanship for perfect furniture assembly.

House clearance

We reliably ensure an empty and clean room.

From Berlin to Thun – and back

We drive from Berlin to Thun in two days. The page Moving from Berlin to Thun describes the route, customs and driving time; further destinations are shown under service areas and long-distance moves.

Access to Thun town centre: permit, Bälliz and parking cards in Thun

According to the town of Thun, the town centre with the Bälliz is the oldest neighbourhood and has around 3,200 inhabitants. Anyone wishing to drive into the pedestrian zone with the removal van needs an access permit per number plate outside the permitted times. According to the town, access is permitted Monday to Friday from 5 to 12 and from 13 to 18.30, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 5 to 12.

The permit is applied for online. The Tiefbauamt checks the application and sends a payment link; payment is by Twint or credit card, and there is no paper card. The town does not state the fee or processing time. The contact point is the Tiefbauamt Thun, Industriestrasse 2, 3602 Thun, tel. 033 225 83 37, [email protected]. Temporary traffic measures such as building sites or market stalls continue to apply even with a permit.

According to the town, there are no zone parking cards for the town centre. Tradespeople's parking cards are only intended for vehicles with a built-in workshop or spare-parts store. The town does not list separate instructions for a parking ban on moving day on its "Parkieren" (parking) page; information is available from the office for parking cards and fines (tel. 033 225 84 98, [email protected]). See also our page on the parking restriction zone.

Thun after moving in: residents' services, neighbourhoods and the waste collection centre

After moving in, according to the town of Thun, you must register with the residents' services within 14 days (Hofstettenstrasse 14, tel. 033 225 82 49). Registration costs CHF 20. The counters are open Monday to Wednesday from 8.00 to 11.45 and from 13.30 to 17.00, on Thursdays only in the afternoon from 13.30 to 18.00, and on Fridays from 8.00 to 11.45 and from 13.30 to 16.00. For EU/EFTA nationals the town lists a valid passport or ID card; check in advance with the residents' services which other papers you need as a newcomer from Germany.

According to the town, Thun is divided into 13 neighbourhoods. Neufeld, with around 8,900 inhabitants, is the largest and known for the Talacker tower blocks from 1974; it is worth asking about the lift there. Goldiwil is the largest neighbourhood by area and the highest (Goldiwiler Egg: 1,172 m). The town does not list Strättligen as a neighbourhood but as a former municipality with Schoren as its centre.

You can drop off bulky waste at the waste collection centre (Militärstrasse 7), Monday to Friday from 09.00 to 11.45 and from 13.30 to 17.00, and Saturday from 08.00 to 11.45. The town charges CHF 5 per visit; a sofa costs one bulky-waste stamp (CHF 7.80 per seat). Our article Moving to Switzerland: customs formalities explains customs at the border crossing.

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October 31, 2026

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