Switzerland is a country known for its natural beauty. Magnificent mountain ranges, beautiful lakes, rolling meadows, and clean cities are par for the course here. For travel photographers, Switzerland’s diverse landscapes make it one of the top countries to shoot in. Here are the best places in Switzerland to help build your portfolio.
Why Visit Switzerland?
If there’s a word to describe Switzerland, that word would be majestic. However, it’s an expensive destination that scares off many budget travelers.
For starters, it’s a wealthy country. Switzerland attracts a lot of foreign investors (half the country’s millionaires are foreigners) due to its high wages and attractive tax rates. Historically, it’s a stable country, remaining neutral through major wars that devastated the economies of its fellow European nations. This stability translates to a “safe” country that foreigners feel comfortable investing in.
While it’s relatively small geographically (on par with Vermont and New Hampshire combined), moving around the country will take a chunk out of your budget. Thankfully, there’s an excellent public transportation system of trains, trams, and buses to make things easy.
The biggest bills you’ll incur are your accommodations and food. Switzerland has budget accommodations (ie. hostels), but even they are expensive. For a few dollars more you can rent an Airbnb and relax in solitude. As for food, Switzerland is famous for its chocolate and fondue. While the price isn’t always attractive (I once paid $5 USD for a single scoop of gelato), the food is really good.
Best Places in Switzerland (For Photography)
Now that you know a little bit about what to expect, let’s get to the best places in Switzerland for taking photos.
1. The Matterhorn / Zermatt
Few things are more stunning than a snow-capped mountain, and The Matterhorn is one of Europe’s finest. Located in the Swiss Alps, it stands 4,478 meters (14,692 feet) above sea level along the Switzerland-Italy border. The Matterhorn is the 5th highest peak in the Alps and is easily identifiable by its pyramid shape. The south face overlooks Brueil-Cervinia, Italy, while the north face looms over Zermatt, Switzerland. It’s been determined that the Matterhorn was formed 50 million years ago by continental plates slamming into each other, causing the ground to move upward.
Zermatt is on the valley floor. It’s a high-end resort village that’s closed to traffic. You can rent a bicycle if you wish, but Zermatt is easily walkable. The area is abundant with views of the Matterhorn (among other mountains), and you can explore a multitude of trails in the region by investing in an all-inclusive lift package. These are some of the best views in all of Switzerland for photography. For epic sunset photos, head to the Zermatt Matterhorn Viewpoint at the end of the day.
Fun fact: The Matterhorn is featured in Toblerone chocolate’s logo, and is also rumored to be the inspiration for the Paramount Pictures logo.
2. Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen is one of the most beautiful areas of Switzerland and is centrally located in the Jungfrau Region. It’s a valley featuring a mixture of waterfalls, rolling hills, dramatic cliff faces, and hiking trails. In the spring and summer months, Lauterbrunnen is awash in vivid green and blue colors with views of the Swiss Alps. It literally feels like you’re walking through a painting.
One of the main sights in the Lauterbrunnen valley is Stabbach Falls, a 297-foot waterfall that’s Switzerland’s third-highest. Lauterbrunnen is said to have 72 waterfalls (although I’d say this might be an exaggeration) with Stabbach leading the way. It greets visitors as they enter the valley and adventurers can visit behind the falls on the rock face during the warmer months.
Trummelbach Falls is another must-see. It’s near the south end of Lauterbrunnen and acts as a drain for the glacial runoff of Eiger, Monch, and Jungrau mountain peaks. Located in a large cavern, Trummelbach is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that moves up to 20,000 litres of water during the summer months or during heavy rain.
Lauterbrunnen has some shops, restaurants, and accommodations if you decide you want to stay a few days. Another highly recommended excursion is taking the train from Lauterbrunnen to Jungfraujoch. This ride brings you through the Alps, giving you spectacular views that make for great pictures.
3. Gimmelwald / Murren
In the southern Lauterbrunnen village of Stechelberg is The Shilthornbahn cable car. By taking it, you can reach two amazing destinations in the Alps – Gimmelwald and Murren.
Gimmelwald is a traffic-free traditional Swiss village of just over 100 residents. It’s virtually untouched by commercialism and the locals have fought to keep it that way. It’s located on the side of a cliff at an elevation of 1,367 m (4,484 ft) and offers stunning views of the Alps.
Continuing north on The Shilthornbahn, you’ll reach Murren at 1,661 m (5,450 ft), which is a more developed resort village aimed at tourists. In the summer it’s a great place for hikers, while the winter brings out skiers and snowboarders. Mountain biking is another popular activity. You can rent a bike and explore the region at your own pace. From Murren, there are downhill trails for easy descent while soaking in the breathtaking views. To get back to Murren, simply load the bike on The Shilthornbahn and make your way back up the mountain.
Should you wish to continue ascending The Shilthornbahn, you can reach the mountain peaks of Birg and Shilthorn.
4. Grindelwald
An hour’s train ride east of Lauterbrunnen is Grindelwald. At an elevation of 1,034 m (3,392 ft), its a great place to hike in the summer or do sports in the winter, all against the backdrop of Mount Eiger and The Wetterhorn. One of the top attractions in Grindelwald is Gletscherschlucht aka Glacial Gorge. It’s a 300 meter-deep glacier canyon with insane rock formations. You can walk through it and there’s also a suspension net as well as a swing for adventure-seekers. For panoramic views of the area, Männlichen is the place for you and is accessible by cable car.
5. Zurich
Zurich is Switzerland’s largest city. It has a population of roughly 400,000 people, with 1.8 million making up the Zurich metropolitan area. Located in northern Switzerland, its situated on the north bank of Lake Zurich with the Limmat River cutting through it. Zurich is Switzerland’s financial capital, making it one of the world’s most expensive cities. However, it’s also highly ranked among the world’s best cities.
Zurich’s Old Town is where you’ll find most tourists and prime photography opportunities. From architecture to shops by the river’s edge, you’ll be able to take some excellent photos here. Also in Old Town are multiple churches (The Church of St. Peter, The Grossmünster, and The Fraumünster), which should be part of your visit. Of note, The Grossmünster has a tower and viewing platform you can ascend to get panoramic views of Zurich.
Another place to check out is The Lindenhof. It’s an elevated park that’s also a historical site with national significance. Many visitors head here early to watch the sunrise over the Limmat River.
6. Lucerne
Lucerne sits in the middle of Switzerland surrounded by mountains and Lake Lucerne. The city is full of medieval buildings and like most in Europe, it has an Old Town that is one of the highlights. Probably the most recognizable landmark in Lucerne is Kapellbrücke, aka Chapel Bridge, which crosses the Reuss River. It was built in the 1300s, destroyed by a fire in 1993, and subsequently rebuilt.
On the same river is The Nadelwehr Luzern, a needle dam that was built in the 19th century. It uses wooden posts to direct the flow of water from Lake Lucerne. The Dying Lion Monument is another Lucerne attraction high on visitors’ lists. It’s a monument carved out of natural rock which commemorates Swiss mercenaries that were killed in France protecting Louis XVI.
For a panoramic view over Lucerne, head over to Museggmauer, an iconic old city wall built in the 1400s. You can walk the top of the wall and climb up its towers to get great shots of the city and lake. Attached to it is another medieval landmark, Nölliturm, which served as a gunpowder storage facility.
7. Mount Pilatus
Those staying in Lucerne should visit Mount Pilatus. While it’s not as well known as some other mountains in Switzerland, it’s highly underrated. Standing at 2,128 m (6,983 ft), most visitors opt to take the Pilatus Railway (which is the world’s steepest railway at a 48% incline). Pilatus is also reachable by hike. This is a lot more effort obviously, but it can pay off with magnificent pictures. The hiking trail detours to nearby peaks of Matthorn (no, not Matterhorn), Tomlishorn, Oberhaupt, and Esel. At the top of Pilatus is Bellevue Hotel. Here you can spend the night or enjoy a meal at the restaurant. If you are planning to stay for sunset, it’s advised to spend the evening at Bellevue. The last cable car descends at 6 pm. If you miss it, you’ll be walking down the mountain in the dark for 3 hours. No bueno.
8. St. Mortiz
St. Mortiz is a luxury ski town that attracts the rich and famous. Initially, the town was a summer spa resort due to its natural mineral springs. Over time it became a haven for winter sports. In 1864 it became the birthplace of Alpine winter tourism and has since gone on to play host to the Winter Olympics twice. St. Moritz even has the Celerina Olympia, the world’s oldest naturally-made bobsled run that’s changes from year to year.
The summer months see a lot of action on Lake St. Moritz, with sailing, rowing, windsurfing and other watersports dominating the water. Summertime is also prime hiking and biking season, and there are plenty of trails for you to enjoy.
9. Bern
Bern is the capital city of Switzerland, boasting a population of 130,000. Like all major cities, there are lots of photo opportunities to be had here, and Bern Old Town is one of the top spots. A UNESCO Heritage Site, Old Town is enveloped by the Aare River. Bern Münster (Bern Cathedral) and Zytglogge (The Clock Tower) date back 700 years and are the top attractions. The cathedral offers tourists a chance to see Bern from high up its 100-meter tower.
Some of Switzerland’s best museums are in Bern. The National History Museum and fine-art museum Kunstmuseum Bern will delight culture and art lovers. Bern also has beautiful gardens, such as Rosengarten Bern, which may have the best view over the city. Bern’s architecture should also be mentioned, with the Federal Parliament Building being another gem for city photography. Those who enjoy photographing graffiti should visit the Reitschule building, an event center whose walls are tagged with street art.
Fun fact: The popular Swiss-chocolate Toblerone was invented in Bern in 1908 by Theodor Tobler and Emil Baumann.
10. Lakes
Switzerland has somewhere in the vicinity of 1,500 lakes. While it would be difficult to list them all, here are the top ones you should visit:
Lake Brienz / Lake Thun (Interlaken)
Nestled in a central Switzerland valley is the resort town of Interlaken. On either side of this valley are two lakes, Lake Brienz on the east side, and Lake Thun on the west. Both are picturesque, with Brienz being a quiet emerald jewel set against the backdrop of the Alps, while Thun is more deep-blue in color and busy. Brienz has a small village and promenade that you can leisurely stroll along, or you can rent a boat and take a dip if you prefer. The town of Thun sits at the opposite end of Lake Thun. It has a population of 42,000 and dates back to the medieval period, so there’s much more to see and do here.
Lake Maggiore
Lake Maggiore is divided between Switzerland and neighboring Italy and is an under-the-radar destination. The mild climate in this region makes for a natural Mediterranean aesthetic, with palm trees and other tropical vegetation lining the lake. Ascano and Locarno are the main villages to visit, complete with promenades, Old Town areas, and piazzas. If you wish, brush up on your Italian, as it’s the main language spoken here.
Lake Bachalpsee
Bachalpsee is a picturesque lake that’s so pristine its photos can double as postcards. It’s located near Grindewald, making it an excellent excursion when you’re in the area. The best photos of the lake are taken facing south, with Schreckhorn mountain peak in the background, reflecting off the surface of the lake.
Shoot Switzerland
The best places in Switzerland for photography aren’t necessarily the most popular, but they’re a great start. Like any travel destination, getting lost can produce some of the best moments and photos. But visiting the well-known, tried-and-tested areas of the country will give you amazing pictures and memories every time.
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