The views in the Alps are some of the most extraordinary on earth and will remain in your mind long after you’ve left the mountain’s edge. A sight of a sparkling aquamarine lake, stark peaks with snow-capped tops, and valleys filled with little chalets looking small and insignificant will take your breath away and leave you pondering for hours. Many travelers flock to the seemingly breathtaking panoramas, and depending on where you see them, they all have unique characteristics and styles, ranging from grand to tranquil to emotional. Here are ten Alpine views that will change your life – and are worth the travel.
The Matterhorn from Gornergrat – Switzerland’s Most Famous Outline
There are few places in the world to see a mountain silhouette as sharp and iconic as the Matterhorn. At Gornergrat, accessible by a picturesque cogwheel railway, you can see the Matterhorn’s symmetry and power surrounded by glaciers and ridgelines while dozens of 4,000-meter summits remind you of how small you are. DIA to Vail is sometimes mentioned by travelers when comparing iconic mountain viewpoints across continents, yet the Matterhorn’s presence remains singular and unmatched. It’s one of the best places to see the Matterhorn at sunrise when it turns soft pink, while in the winter months, it’s a crisp site with brilliant details as if someone added sparkle to the snowy slopes. Whether you’re hiking through during the summer or skiing just a stone’s throw away in winter, it’s an undeniable all-time classic Alpine view. You may feel it doesn’t exist because it’s too perfect.
Lake Oeschinen – The Jewel in the Midst of Dramatic Cliffs
Lake Oeschinen is one of the best places to see Switzerland from above Lake Oeschinen. One of Switzerland’s most stunning places is located directly above Kandersteg. With a vivid turquoise hue, its waters reflect towering cliffs and waterfalls dropping from mountain glaciers in the distance. It takes a quick gondola and a short walk to reach the area, but every step of the way builds anticipation for this cinematic view. It is peaceful and loud; majestic yet calm; stunning in summer when framed by wildflowers and crystalized in winter when its icy surface offers a tranquil atmosphere of quiet. Even with visitors, it feels otherworldly as if time stands still so you can take a deep breath and appreciate Switzerland’s natural beauty.
Dolomites’ Tre Cime di Lavaredo – Limestone Towers of Natural Wonder
The Tre Cime di Lavaredo are some of the most recognizable formations in the Dolomites thanks to their sheer vertical faces and outlines that stand out as unforgettable silhouettes. The loop trail around the peaks offers stunning views of these remarkable towers from different perspectives – meadows, rocky exposures, etc. – while the stunning sunset also transforms the limestone into shades of gold and rose. Admiring them from one of the hut terraces is among one of the world’s best views, as is circling them entirely to soak in every inch of their grandeur.
Jungfraujoch – The Real Top of Europe
Jungfraujoch overlooks Switzerland’s glacier fields to inspire the feeling of being at the top of the world. As the highest point in Europe, if there’s anywhere to feel like you’re on top of it all, this is it. The observation platform offers views of the extensive Aletsch Glacier, the longest glacier in the Alps while the train ride up through mountain tunnels to the opening and bright blue and white landscape transports passengers into a wintry fairy tale. On a clear day, the clouds are minimal. On a cloudy day, the clouds shift in and out around peaks, offering ethereal views that put travelers in awe and respect of the surrounding alpine landscape.
Mont Blanc from Aiguille du Midi – The Summit View of France
Similar to Jungfraujoch, Aiguille du Midi cable car takes travelers to one of the most beautiful views in Europe to create a fantasy. Upon arrival at the summit, where it’s cold and quiet, Mont Blanc shines bright before eyes filled with awe. Its massive stature with surrounding ridges and crevasses and extensive glaciers creates a sense of elevation heightened even more due to how majestic the mountains seem after ascension. Travelers find themselves in awe of their explorations after spending mere moments at this view, as Aiguille du Midi is not simply a viewpoint; it’s an experience beyond comprehension.
Seceda Ridgeline – A Sci-Fi Fantasy Viewpoint
Seceda is known for its soft but dramatic ridgeline that shoots up from rolling green hills to sharp, dramatic cliffs. The curve of the land with the ridges’ knife-like edges creates a fantasy-like atmosphere that feels otherworldly, like something out of a sci-fi movie. Seceda is accessed via cable car from Ortisei, but it’s worth hiking once you arrive at the summit viewpoint since it offers panoramic views across Dolomite peaks that extend for miles. Hiking along the ridgeline reveals new perspectives to appreciate the unique ridges that define this region’s character. It’s beautiful at sunrise or during golden hour, but it’s sure to take anyone’s breath away any time of day!
Grossglockner High Alpine Road – Austria’s Finest View with a Drive
The Grossglockner High Alpine Road in Austria is one of the most breathtaking driving routes in the entire Alps, which means the best views are accessible by foot as well. As the road winds its way up through valleys and glaciers and to higher mountain reaches, it reveals stunning views of the valleys stretched below, the glacial formations and icy blue peaks, and the defining summit of Grossglockner – the country’s tallest mountain.
Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe extends incredibly towards the Pasterze Glacier, with cliffs emerging from both sides of the view, an almost magical sense of wonder and energy coupled with the clouds most of the time that float lazily but constantly shift due to severe cold mountain weather patterns.
Lake Bled and the Julian Alps – Slovenia’s Most Romantic View
Even though technically situated on the south-eastern edge of the Alps, Lake Bled provides one of the most beautiful views in the region. Its emerald blue waters, dynamic island church, and Castle Bled perched upon a cliff create a picturesque scene from any angle, especially coupled with the Julian Alps that surround it. Walking around Lake Bled or trekking up to the Ojstrica viewpoint gives an array of angles of the same scene. At sunrise, a magical mist emits from the waters, softening the mountains and creating a pastel foreground that seems almost unreal. Lake Bled is a romantic view with natural and cultural intertwining that provides a peaceful yet intimate view of the Alps.
Zugspitze Summit – Germany’s View into the Alps
As the highest mountain in Germany, the Zugspitze summit boasts views over Germany and southeast into Austria – and even Switzerland on extra-clear days! A summit platform provides ideal lookout opportunities over rim-like panoramic shapes of ridges, valleys and glaciers that seem to fall off into forever. Tourists note that it’s like being in a mosaic, with different elevations appearing to produce different shades of color – from icy white, soft blue, earthy gray – to paint a unique canvas under extensive sky. There are cable cars and cogwheel trains that take visitors to the summit easily making access to some of the highest viewpoints relatively easy without strenuous climbs.
Why These Alpine Views Are the Most Incredible You’ve Ever Seen!
These Alpine views are the most incredible you’ve ever seen because not only are they visually stunning, but they also make you feel something – admiration, peace, excitement, and gratitude. They’re a combination of natural majesty and tranquil clarity that speaks to each observer in an entirely different way. These ten locations are accessible via hiking trail, scenic train and cable car, and the process of getting to them becomes increasingly more rewarding as it encourages you to take things slow and appreciate the view even more. These ten incredible places are the essence of the Alps, immortal, powerful, and beautiful. You can see why people keep coming back to these mountains; they foster a sense of awe and existence like nothing else.
Schilthorn Panorama – the Famous 360-degree View in the Bernese Alps
The Schilthorn is located high above the Lauterbrunnen Valley and offers one of the most extensive panoramas in Switzerland. Atop its lookout, tourists can behold the dramatic trio of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau forcefully rising above carved glacial valleys. On clear days you can see Mont Blanc and farther away! As tourists walk up to the Schilthorn’s rotating Piz Gloria restaurant, they don’t need to get up to see every view; it’s furnished for them while the outdoor restaurant allows tourists to take in the fresh mountain air and take their time in pause, gaining all the perspective it has to offer. The Schilthorn is one of the most significant accessible and visual Alpine viewpoints.
Stelvio Pass – The Most Dramatic High-Mountain Scenic Ascent in Italy
Everyone knows Stelvio Pass for its famous winding road of hairpin turns – but many people fall in love with its viewpoints lined throughout its ascent. Different layers of rugged peaks emerge from each turn with glaciers, dramatic ridgelines and steep cliffs galore adding to the context. The higher you get, the more expansive the view becomes with highlights at each turn that gets you closer to the summit. Atop Stelvio Pass are images of the Ortler Alps, a raw peak aesthetic beaten down by ice and wind for centuries. No matter how you get there – car or motorbike, bicycle or foot – the views at every turn and at a higher elevation are enough to test your determination for success but provide a triumphant aesthetic response in the end. This is a great viewpoint for those travelers who want to put in some work for their scenery.
Grindelwald First Cliff Walk – Above the Valley Is a Thrill of a View
If you love stunning views coupled with a good sense of adventure, look no further than the First Cliff Walk in Grindelwald. The walk path hovers along the edge of the cliffs, above the vast valley, culminated by a sky bridge platform that allows for stunning views of the Wetterhorn, Schreckhorn and other top peaks. The pathe blends the openness of the sky and the mass of mountains with the valley so far below that your heart races to take it all in at once. The best times to visit are sunrise for softer morning lights or late afternoon when the sun glimmers off the edge of the peaks, making them appear golden for that added touch of magic. The First Cliff Walk is one of the more thrilling vantage points in the area.
Aletsch Arena – Europe’s Longest Glacier In Sight
Aletsch Arena boasts breathtaking views from places like Bettmeralp, villages south of Grindlewald, where tourists can see the Great Aletsch Glacier, which is Europe’s longest glacier. The enormous frozen river traverses mountains filled with crevasses and ice flows, beacons of sunlight hitting them at angles that allow visitors to see the bright white edges. Other peaks outline the backdrop while meadows and forests outline in lower level platforms to join in on the naturally beautiful topography. This point not only allows for intricate beauty, but geological power as well, giving insight to the natural formations responsible for forming the Alps over time which is some crazy (in a good way) and wild stuff at first sight.
