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Camera at the ready: Our favourite views in Europe's lakes and mountains
If incredible views are the highlight of your holiday, our TUI Lakes & Mountains destinations have heaps to offer, from famous peaks to fairy-tale castles. Take a look at our pick of picture-perfect places in Europe.
CHURCH OF ST JOHN AT KANEO, OHRID, NORTH MACEDONIA
Church of St John at Kaneo, Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia
The whole of Ohrid is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so there’s plenty around to fill up your camera roll. For something you definitely can’t miss, follow the cobbled lakeside path from the Old Town for 15 minutes and you’ll reach the Church of St John at Kaneo. It overlooks the lake and the mountains beyond it, so the backdrop is really something. You can also visit at sunset to watch the water turn from blue to orange, and you’ll catch the church all lit up too.
SCHAFBERG MOUNTAIN, ST WOLFGANG, AUSTRIA
Schafberg mountain, St Wolfgang, Austria
Hop on the bright red cogwheel train in St Wolfgang and it’ll carry you up to 1,783m, the summit of the Schafberg mountain. You’ll find one of the best views in Austria – 360 degrees of lakes, mountains and valleys in the Salzkammergut region, and even over the border into Germany. And while you’re there, pop into Austria’s oldest mountain inn, the Hotel Schafbergspitze, for a cup of coffee and slice of strudel.
GRAND CANAL, VENICE, ITALY
Grand Canal, Venice, Italy
A popular holiday spot in northern Italy is Lake Garda – and from there, it’s easy to visit one of Europe’s must-see cities. Venice is made up of 118 islands linked by canals so the best way to soak it in is from the water. Journey along the Grand Canal in a vaporetto (a public water bus) to wind from one end of the city to the other. You’ll pass historic palaces, churches, markets and hotels, built in all different styles from the 13th-18th centuries. And you’ll also go under the arched Rialto Bridge, another top photo spot, before finishing up at St Mark’s Square.
HALLSTATT, AUSTRIA
Hallstatt, Austria
With its lakeside setting and UNESCO-protected chalets, Hallstatt’s one of the world’s most photogenic towns – there’s even a replica of it in China. Visit from nearby St Gilgen or St Wolfgang and snap pic after pic as you wander around the streets and along the lakeshore. Then head up the hill on the edge of town to see this view of the Gothic church and Dachstein mountains.
OJSTRICA, VELIKA OSOJNICA & MALA OSOJNICA VIEWPOINTS, BLED, SLOVENIA
Ojstrica viewpoint, Bled, Slovenia
Follow signs from Bled’s Zaka bathing beach for this walking route up through the forest. It takes around 20 minutes to get to the Ojstrica point, and you’ll be rewarded with a wow-worthy view over Lake Bled and the island – Slovenia’s most popular photo opp. If you want to stretch your legs a bit further, carry on up to Velika Osojnica (about 20 minutes’ walk) and Mala Osojnica (about 15 minutes more) to see the scenery from even higher up.
MONT BLANC MOUNTAINS, CHAMONIX, FRANCE
Mont Blanc mountain range, Chamonix, France
Chamonix’s got a pretty impressive backdrop – you’ll be surrounded by the signature jagged peaks of the Mont Blanc mountain range from every angle, including Mont Blanc itself, the highest peak in the Alps. For a closer look at the soaring summit, jump on a cable car from the centre up to the Aiguille du Midi, and you can look out over the French, Swiss and Italian Alps beyond it too.
NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE, FÜSSEN, GERMANY
Neuschwanstein castle, Füssen, Germany
High on a cliff, this grand palace starred in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and also inspired the design of the Disneyland castle in California. It’s really easy to get to from Achensee, Alpbach or Seefeld in Austria, and you can take a tour inside the lavish Throne Room and Hall of Singers. Then from outside the castle, walk 15 minutes along the signposted trail to Queen Mary’s Bridge to see this view with your own eyes.
VILLA CARLOTTA, LAKE COMO, ITALY
Villa Carlotta, Lake Como, Italy
This lavish villa in Tremezzo is known for its beautiful gardens, and also has some of Lake Como’s most knockout views. Step out onto the 3rd-floor balcony to peek over the neat hedges, fountains and citrus trees, and across the water to the town of Bellagio. And behind the villa, the gardens spread across the hillside. There are lots of scenic spots, like the bamboo forest, fern valley and colourful beds of rhododendrons – make sure you head to the top of the hill for the lake and green mountains as far as the eye can see.
SCHWARZSEE, KITZBÜHEL, AUSTRIA
Schwarzsee, Kitzbühel, Austria
This is exactly how you might imagine Austria to look – a still, blue lake surrounded by green meadows and pine forests, with the Alps jutting out behind. It’s a gentle 35-minute walk from Kitzbühel, so pack up a picnic and head off to spend the day lounging on the grass and swimming in the cool water.
SIRMIONE, LAKE GARDA, ITALY
Grottoes of Catullus, Sirmione, Italy
The Sirmione peninsula stretches out from the southern shore of Lake Garda, and if you stroll to the very tip you'll see Peschiera on one side of the lake and Desenzano on the other. You can also explore the ruins of the ancient Grottoes of Catullus, and check out the turquoise water and golden rocks of Jamaica beach, one of the top lake beaches in Europe.
TWO LAKES BRIDGE, INTERLAKEN, SWITZERLAND
Two Lakes Bridge, Interlaken, Switzerland
Catch the funicular from Interlaken to the Harder Kulm peak up at 1,322m for some of the most spectacular scenery in Switzerland. From the bridge, you can take in Lake Thun on your left and Lake Brienz on your right – and straight ahead, try and make out three of the Alps’ most famous mountains, Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. If you’re feeling brave, step onto the glass section in the floor to peer straight down at the patchwork of fields far below.
PALAIS DE L'ÎLE, ANNECY, FRANCE
Palais de L'Île, Annecy, France
Nicknamed the ‘Venice of the Alps’, Annecy’s got a network of canals that wind through the medieval Old Town. Meander over the Pont Perrière bridge to catch sight of the Palais de l’Île, a pocket-sized castle in the middle of the water. It’s got a real fairy-tale feel, with towers and a little turret and colourful buildings on either side. Go for a stroll along here in the evening to see it all lit up and stop off for a tipple in a waterfront bar.
ALPINE RESERVOIRS, KAPRUN, AUSTRIA
Alpine reservoirs, Kaprun, Austria
Built in the mid-1900s, Kaprun’s Wasserfallboden and Mooserboden reservoirs are engineering masterpieces. Stroll along the top of the dam wall to look out over the sea-green water, which comes from the Pasterze glacier up on the nearby Grossglockner (Austria’s highest mountain). There are walking trails in the surrounding area too – take a 10-minute wander up to the Höhenburg platform to spy the reservoirs from above.
Set your sights on Europe and get your own holiday snaps on a Lakes & Mountains trip next summer.
Head to our Lakes & Mountains homepage to discover more about our favourite places to visit.
Author: Daisy Colley
Last updated: 26/06/2023