Merligen lies in a spacious bay on Lake Thun, on the right-hand shore, right at the exit of the Justistal valley. When choosing accommodation, the combination of lake, circular trails and village history is a good place to start: you can plan your stay around a swim, a water activity, a hike or a shorter excursion. The options also vary in the time they take—useful if you don’t want every day to involve the same amount of walking.
Circular trails with different time requirements
The family-friendly Tierliweg trail leads through Merligerwald forest. Along the way, you can discover 15 different animal species and learn interesting facts about them. The circular trail starts and ends at the Opeten picnic area and takes about 30 to 60 minutes. This makes it the shorter of the two circular trail options described, and an easy excursion to fit into your plans.
The Opeten picnic area is located above Merligen. It has 40 covered and 40 uncovered seats, two barbecue areas, a drinking-water fountain and toilet facilities. As the facilities may change, it’s worth checking the latest information about the site before your visit.
The Fuchseren circular trail offers a different focus: it shows and explains how limestone was quarried and transported in the past. The route passes the church in Merligen and continues to Fuchsere and Gärbe; it takes about 90 minutes in total. This gives you a choice between a shorter, family-friendly animal trail and a longer circular trail focused on local history.
Lake Thun, the lido and activities
Merligen Lido has a setting with mountain panoramas and a distinctive natural backdrop. The facilities include a children’s swimming pool, a bistro serving hot and cold food, a sandpit and a table-tennis table. Facilities may change, so check the information before your visit.
There are also various activities on Lake Thun beyond the lido, including diving, waterskiing, wakeboarding, windsurfing and swimming. If you’d rather enjoy views of the lake from the water, Boat Tour Interlaken has its home port in Merligen and offers private boat tours. The company also runs five sightseeing tours on Lake Thun, including tours to medieval castles and romantic bays. If you’re planning your stay around an activity, it’s worth checking the latest information in advance.
Another option is the Merligen tennis court, located above the village in a wooded setting. It can be reached on foot or by car, and parking is available just above the facility. Reservations and seasonal details may change, so it’s a good idea to confirm them before making plans.
Village history and routes to Merligen
Merligen is a former trading and farming village. The row-like development along the lakeshore gives the village its distinctive setting. The church is also part of the village’s history: it was built in 1936/37 by Thun architect Jacques Wipf using local Balmholz rubble stone. It stands on a rocky promontory above Lake Thun and is considered a landmark of the municipality. There are four large stained-glass windows on the south wall, and frescoes on the chancel wall.
The routes to Merligen have changed over time. Until the mid-19th century, the village could only be reached by boat or via a pack trail through Sigriswil. The road along the right-hand shore from Gunten to Merligen has only been continuously open to traffic since the 1880s. Today, Merligen is served by STI bus route 21 and has a landing stage on Lake Thun served by BLS boat services. If you’re planning to travel by bus or boat, check the timetable for your travel date.
For hikers, the section of the Bernese Oberland Trail from Interlaken to Merligen is also worth considering: it is 12.89 kilometres long, rated moderate and ends in Merligen. The section is part of the Swiss Way of St. James. The tourist office is in a wooden chalet in the village centre, directly on the Way of St. James. There you can get hiking maps and route suggestions for the region; the office can also help with timetable information and finding accommodation. This lets you choose a base that suits your planned routes and journey without having to combine circular trails, lake activities and longer hikes into a single itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Gunten.
Back to the main travel overview: Sigriswil.
