Best places to photograph in Grimselpass and Furkapass, Switzerland

What makes Grimselpass and Furkapass special for photography

Few alpine roads offer such a rich sequence of photographic scenery as the route between Innertkirchen and Andermatt. The road gradually climbs through narrow valleys, crosses rocky areas, high-altitude reservoirs, artificial lakes and finally reaches some of the most impressive passes in the Swiss Alps.

The Grimselpass features a landscape marked by dark rocks, mountain lakes and an almost lunar environment. On cloudy days or just after rain, the textures of the stones gain even more depth, while the mist creates visual layers between the peaks. Furkapass, on the other hand, has a more dramatic and cinematic appearance, with winding bends, cliffs, snow on the slopes and open views of glaciers and deep valleys.

Along the route, the alternation between human infrastructure and raw nature creates very strong compositions. Dams, roads, historic hotels and small villages appear nestled between enormous mountains, offering scale contrast and excellent opportunities for landscape and road trip photography.

Main scenery and photographic points of Grimselpass and Furkapass

Innertkirchen and the Aare River valley

The departure from Innertkirchen already offers good photographic opportunities. The narrow valley, the Aare River crossing the landscape and the first mountains in the background create interesting images, especially in the early morning hours, when the light still enters laterally between the peaks.

The roads climbing toward Grimselpass allow you to photograph the relationship between the valley and the mountain slopes, especially from higher points where the road appears drawing gentle curves across the terrain.

Räterichsbodensee

Räterichsbodensee is one of the most striking settings on the climb. The reservoir, surrounded by dark rocky mountains and sparse vegetation, creates an austere and highly photogenic atmosphere. On days with little wind, the water surface works like a mirror for the surrounding mountains.

From a photographic perspective, it is worth exploring wide horizontal compositions to show the scale of the dam and the lake, but also tighter details of the rocks, the water and the geometric lines of the constructed structure. In the late afternoon, the low light often highlights the relief of the slopes.

Grimselpass

At the top of Grimselpass, the landscape opens up impressively. The view toward Gletsch, at the bottom of the valley, and toward the road climbing to Furkapass is one of the classic images of the region.

This is one of the best points to photograph the winding road disappearing between the mountains. The bends, elevation changes and depth of the valley create strong compositions, especially when there are small cars in the scene to provide a sense of scale.

On colder days, the presence of residual snow and low clouds can completely transform the appearance, making the scenery even more dramatic.

Gletsch and Hotel Glacier du Rhône

Gletsch seems like a small isolated point among giant mountains. The old hotel, the historic railway station and the surrounding slopes create a nostalgic atmosphere, very interesting for alpine architecture photography.

From this point, the Furkapass road begins to reveal some of the most famous bends in the Alps. It is worth looking for elevated locations to include the hotel, the road and the valley in a single composition.

Furkapass and Hotel Belvédère

Hotel Belvédère is probably the most iconic setting of the entire route. Built in 1882, the building is positioned beside a sharp bend, with views of the Rhone Glacier. The combination of road, historic architecture and ice creates an extremely photogenic and immediately recognizable scene.

This point works especially well for wide photographs, using the bend in the road as a leading line toward the hotel. On foggy days or in unstable weather, the scenery becomes even more dramatic.

It is also worth exploring vertical compositions, framing the road in the foreground and the glacier in the background, reinforcing the sense of altitude and depth.

Hotel Galenstock and arrival in Andermatt

Further ahead, Hotel Galenstock, in Realp, offers another interesting setting, especially for those who enjoy historic places connected to cinema and major alpine crossings. Its classic appearance works well with nostalgic-style photography, especially on days with light rain or overcast skies.

Andermatt, meanwhile, offers a calmer ending to the route. The village, surrounded by mountains and with traditional alpine architecture, allows you to photograph narrow streets, chalets, churches and snow-covered peaks in the background. In winter and early spring, the presence of snow on the rooftops makes the landscape even more photogenic.

Practical tips for photographing in Grimselpass and Furkapass

The best times to photograph along the route are early morning and late afternoon. Sunrise usually brings light mist in the valleys, soft light and less traffic on the roads. Sunset, on the other hand, enhances the textures of the mountains and creates long shadows that reinforce the terrain.

Weather changes are very common in this region. Overcast skies, fog, light rain and sudden openings of sunlight can happen on the same day. For landscape photography, these variations are usually positive, as they add atmosphere and drama to the images.

A wide-angle lens is ideal for capturing the scale of the lakes, valleys and winding roads. A telephoto lens, on the other hand, helps compress the curves of the road and bring distant details of hotels, glaciers and peaks closer.

Along the passes there are several stopping points and improvised viewpoints. It is worth driving slowly and constantly observing the surrounding terrain, because many of the best images emerge precisely between the main points, when the road reveals new bends, valleys and diagonal lines drawn by the mountains.