15 Most Instagrammable Places in Switzerland for Photos & Reels

By Vaishali Bhatore · 2026-08-18

From fairytale villages and turquoise lakes to dramatic mountain peaks, discover the most photogenic places in Switzerland for your next Instagram post, Reel, or travel video.

Switzerland is the kind of country where you can turn almost any corner into a postcard.

A mountain village surrounded by snow-covered peaks. A turquoise lake reflecting the Alps. A train winding through a green valley. A waterfall cascading down a dramatic cliff. A wooden chalet decorated with flowers. If you're planning a trip to Switzerland and want to come home with Instagram-worthy photos and unforgettable Reels, choosing the right locations can make all the difference. From the iconic Matterhorn in Zermatt to the fairytale landscapes of Lauterbrunnen, here are some of the most Instagrammable places in Switzerland that deserve a place on your travel bucket list.

1. Lauterbrunnen Valley – The Ultimate Fairytale Background

If there is one place that instantly looks like Switzerland, it is Lauterbrunnen. The valley is surrounded by enormous limestone cliffs and famous waterfalls, with traditional Swiss buildings scattered across the valley floor. The iconic Staubbach Falls provides one of the most recognizable backdrops in the region. Switzerland Tourism highlights Lauterbrunnen's waterfalls, Wengen viewpoints, Mürren and the surrounding Jungfrau region as major attractions.

📸 Best shot

Stand along the valley road or village paths and frame the waterfall with the surrounding mountains and traditional Swiss houses.

🎥 Reel idea

Start with a close-up of the village or flowers, then slowly reveal the waterfall and mountains behind you.

✨ Best for

Fairytale photos • Couple photos • Cinematic Reels • Mountain landscapes

2. Iseltwald – The Dreamy Lake Brienz Pier

If you love peaceful lake views, Iseltwald should be on your Switzerland photography list.

This small village sits on the shores of beautiful Lake Brienz, surrounded by mountains and turquoise-blue water.

The wooden lakeside pier creates a perfect leading line for photographs, making it especially popular for travel photography.

📸 Best shot

Walk toward the end of the pier and photograph the lake and mountains behind you.

🎥 Reel idea

Film yourself walking slowly along the pier, then turn the camera toward the lake and mountains.

✨ Best for

Couple photos • Romantic Reels • Lake photography • Sunrise shots

3. Grindelwald – Switzerland's Mountain Village

Grindelwald is one of the most spectacular places in the Bernese Oberland. Traditional wooden houses sit beneath the enormous Eiger, creating an incredible Alpine backdrop. Switzerland Tourism describes Grindelwald as a village where the Eiger is almost impossible to escape from visually.

But don't stop at the village.

Take the cable car up to Grindelwald First, where you'll find panoramic mountain views, the famous Cliff Walk and access to the beautiful Bachalpsee.

📸 Best shot

Capture the village with the Eiger rising dramatically behind it.

🎥 Reel idea

Start in the village and transition to the mountain viewpoint using a train or cable-car transition.

✨ Best for

Mountain photos • Adventure Reels • Couple photography • Drone-style landscape shots

4. Grindelwald First – The Famous Cliff Walk

For dramatic Alpine photography, Grindelwald First is difficult to beat. The First Cliff Walk provides panoramic views over the Bernese Alps, while the surrounding mountains create an enormous cinematic backdrop. The area also provides access to Bachalpsee, one of the region's most beautiful mountain lakes.

📸 Best shot

Use the walkway as a leading line with the mountains filling the background.

🎥 Reel idea

Walk toward the viewpoint while filming from behind, then reveal the mountain panorama.

✨ Best for

Adventure content • Mountain Reels • Walking videos • Cinematic landscapes

5. Bachalpsee – The Perfect Mountain Reflection

Bachalpsee is one of those places that looks almost unreal when the weather is calm.

The mountain lake is famous for its reflections, creating the perfect opportunity to capture the surrounding peaks mirrored in the water.

📸 Best shot

Photograph the lake from a low angle so that the water occupies the foreground and the mountains fill the background.

🎥 Reel idea

Begin with your shoes walking along the trail before revealing the lake and mountain reflection.

✨ Best for

Reflection photography • Hiking Reels • Nature content • Landscape photography

6. Zermatt & the Matterhorn – Switzerland's Most Iconic View

No list of Instagrammable places in Switzerland would be complete without Zermatt and the Matterhorn. The distinctive pyramid-shaped mountain is one of Switzerland's most recognizable landmarks. For an unforgettable photograph, head toward Riffelsee, where the Matterhorn can be reflected in the lake under the right conditions. Zermatt's official tourism site specifically highlights Riffelsee and Stellisee as photogenic locations where the Matterhorn can be reflected on the water.

📸 Best shot

Try to capture the Matterhorn and its reflection together.

🎥 Reel idea

Start with the lake in close-up and slowly reveal the Matterhorn in the background.

✨ Best for

Bucket-list photos • Sunrise photography • Couple shoots • Mountain Reels

7. Riffelsee – The Matterhorn Reflection Shot

If your goal is to capture one of those photographs that immediately tells people "I'm in Switzerland," Riffelsee should be high on your list. At approximately 2,757 metres above sea level, the lake provides a spectacular setting for Matterhorn photography.

The real magic happens when the water is calm enough to create a reflection.

📸 Best shot

Position yourself beside the lake and use the reflection to create symmetry between the mountain and its mirror image.

🎥 Reel idea

Film the lake first and slowly pan upward toward the Matterhorn.

✨ Best for

Sunrise Reels • Reflection shots • Landscape photography

8. Blausee – The Blue Lake That Looks Unreal

Hidden among forests in the Kandertal region, Blausee is famous for its crystal-clear blue water and fairytale-like surroundings. Switzerland Tourism describes Blausee as one of the country's beautiful mountain lakes, surrounded by a nature park and forested landscape.

The deep blue color of the water makes it look almost edited—even when you're looking at it in real life.

📸 Best shot

Use the forest and trees as a natural frame around the lake.

🎥 Reel idea

Walk through the forest before revealing the bright blue lake at the end.

✨ Best for

Nature Reels • Cinematic videos • Couple photography • Fantasy-style content

9. Lake Oeschinen – A Swiss Alpine Dream

Lake Oeschinen is surrounded by dramatic mountain peaks and crystal-clear Alpine water.

It is one of the standout natural attractions of the Bernese Oberland and is particularly beautiful for landscape photography.

📸 Best shot

Find an elevated viewpoint where you can capture the entire lake with the mountains surrounding it.

🎥 Reel idea

Use a walking shot along the trail followed by a wide reveal of the lake.

✨ Best for

Hiking Reels • Adventure photography • Mountain landscapes

10. Interlaken – Mountains, Lakes & Paragliders

Interlaken is more than just a convenient place to stay.

Located between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, it offers spectacular views of the surrounding Alps and is also famous for adventure activities. Höhematte is particularly photogenic, with views toward the Jungfrau and paragliders frequently appearing above the town. Switzerland Tourism also lists Höhematte as an official photo spot.

📸 Best shot

Photograph the mountains from Höhematte with a paraglider passing through the frame.

🎥 Reel idea

Capture a paraglider landing and transition into a panoramic mountain shot.

✨ Best for

Adventure Reels • Travel photography • Mountain views

11. Wengen – A Postcard Village in the Alps

Wengen is a charming car-free mountain village with spectacular views over the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Its traditional Swiss architecture, flower-filled balconies and dramatic mountain surroundings make it perfect for slow-travel photography. Switzerland Tourism specifically highlights Wengen as one of the best photo locations around Lauterbrunnen.

📸 Best shot

Look for viewpoints where the village rooftops and surrounding mountains appear together.

🎥 Reel idea

Film yourself walking through the village while using the mountains as the final reveal.

✨ Best for

Swiss village photography • Couple Reels • Slow travel content

12. Mürren – Switzerland Above the Clouds

Perched high above the Lauterbrunnen Valley, Mürren offers dramatic views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.

The village is car-free, peaceful and surrounded by some of the most impressive mountain scenery in Switzerland.

📸 Best shot

Photograph the traditional houses with the enormous mountains rising behind them.

🎥 Reel idea

Create a "POV: You woke up in Switzerland" Reel starting from the village and revealing the mountains.

✨ Best for

Morning Reels • Alpine village photography • Couple content

13. Harder Kulm – The View Over Interlaken

Want to photograph two lakes and the Alps from above?

Head to Harder Kulm, Interlaken's local mountain.

From the viewpoint, you can enjoy spectacular views over Interlaken and the surrounding landscape.

📸 Best shot

Use the viewing platform to frame Interlaken and the lakes below.

🎥 Reel idea

Start with a close-up of yourself looking over the railing before cutting to the panoramic view.

✨ Best for

Panoramic photography • Sunset Reels • Couple photos

14. Jungfraujoch – Above the Clouds

For a completely different type of Switzerland Reel, head high into the mountains.

At 3,454 metres, Jungfraujoch provides spectacular views of glaciers, snow-covered peaks and the surrounding Alpine landscape. Switzerland Tourism describes it as one of the region's major attractions.

📸 Best shot

Use the snow-covered landscape as your background and keep your subject relatively small to emphasize the scale of the mountains.

🎥 Reel idea

Create a transition from the train journey to stepping out into the snowy mountain landscape.

✨ Best for

Snow photography • Cinematic Reels • Bucket-list content

15. Lake Brienz – Turquoise Water & Alpine Mountains

Lake Brienz is one of the most beautiful lakes in the region, known for its striking emerald and turquoise tones.

The combination of clear water, mountain scenery and lakeside villages creates endless opportunities for photography.

Switzerland Tourism describes Lake Brienz as emerald-green and highlights boat trips across both Lake Brienz and Lake Thun.

📸 Best shot

Look for a quiet section of shoreline where the mountains reflect in the water.

🎥 Reel idea

Film the water close-up, then slowly pan toward the mountains.

✨ Best for

Lake photography • Relaxing Reels • Couple content • Sunrise videos

How to Get Instagram-Worthy Photos in Switzerland

Finding beautiful locations is only half the job. Timing can completely change your photographs.

Go Early in the Morning

Popular locations can become busy later in the day.

Early morning can give you softer light, fewer people and calmer water for reflection photography.

This is particularly useful when photographing mountain lakes and famous viewpoints.

Use Golden Hour

The hour around sunrise and sunset can give mountains a warm, dramatic appearance.

Instead of photographing everything in the middle of the day, plan your itinerary around the best light.

Don't Forget Vertical Video

If you're creating Instagram Reels or TikTok videos, shoot plenty of footage vertically.

Capture:

1. Walking toward the viewpoint
2. Train journeys
3. Cable-car rides
4. Turning around to reveal a mountain
5. Waterfalls
6. Lake reflections
7. Chalet details
8. Flowers
9. Snow-covered peaks
10. Local streets and cafés

These small clips can later be combined into a cinematic travel Reel.

Create a Story, Not Just a Photo

The most engaging travel content isn't always the most beautiful photograph.

Instead of simply showing a mountain, create a story.

For example:

Train → village → hiking trail → lake → mountain viewpoint → sunset

This turns a collection of clips into a travel experience that viewers can imagine themselves having.

A Perfect Switzerland Photography Route

If you're visiting Switzerland specifically for photography and Reels, you don't need to visit every location on this list.

A great itinerary could combine:

Interlaken → Lauterbrunnen → Wengen → Mürren → Grindelwald → Grindelwald First → Bachalpsee → Lake Brienz → Iseltwald

Then continue your journey toward:

Zermatt → Matterhorn → Riffelsee

This route gives you an incredible variety of content, from waterfalls and traditional villages to turquoise lakes, dramatic mountains and iconic Alpine landscapes.

Final Thoughts

Switzerland is one of those rare destinations where the scenery almost creates the content for you.

From the waterfalls of Lauterbrunnen and the turquoise waters of Lake Brienz to the Matterhorn reflections at Riffelsee and the dramatic peaks surrounding Grindelwald, there are endless opportunities to create beautiful photographs and memorable Reels.

But don't just chase the famous viewpoints.

Sometimes the most memorable photograph is a quiet Swiss village, a train disappearing around a mountain, flowers outside a chalet, or a reflection on a perfectly still lake.

Bring your camera, arrive early, look for the light—and let Switzerland do the rest.

 Save This Switzerland Photo-Spot List

Lauterbrunnen • Iseltwald • Grindelwald • Grindelwald First • Bachalpsee • Zermatt • Riffelsee • Blausee • Lake Oeschinen • Interlaken • Wengen • Mürren • Harder Kulm • Jungfraujoch • Lake Brienz

Save this guide for your next Switzerland trip and share it with the person you want to explore the Swiss Alps with.