Three of the best landscape photography destinations in Europe
Europe is home to a wide range of landscapes, from rugged mountains to peaceful lakes and striking coastlines. For landscape photographers, the continent offers many locations worth exploring, each with its own unique appeal.
If you’re eager to set out with your camera and capture scenes you won’t forget, you’re in the right place. Here are three top European destinations where nature and light come together, inviting you to find your next great shot.
Swiss Alps, Switzerland
Home to some of the most iconic peaks in Europe, the Swiss Alps contain incredible mountains such as the Matterhorn, the Eiger and the Jungfrau. Despite only containing 14% of the total area of the Alps range, Switzerland hosts the majority of the tallest mountains, with 48 of the 4,000m and higher peaks in the Swiss range. The effect? A dramatic backdrop for landscape photographers to enjoy.
If you truly want the best photos, then you’ll need to be prepared to hike. While there’s a cable car up to almost the peak of the Matterhorn, the other mountains are a little more elusive. There’s no need to try and go all the way up – and you shouldn’t, unless you’re a proficient mountaineer – but packing some hiking gear and familiarizing yourself with the terrain will help you get closer to the action. There’s plenty of more suitable trails that will still give you some fantastic views.
The Amalfi Coast, Italy
If you’re looking for some classic Italian landscape photos, you really can’t get more scenic than the Amalfi Coast. The pastel-colored buildings, shockingly blue sea and vibrant greenery all come together to create a scene that is famously picture-perfect. Even in the rain, the dramatic cliffs and churning water all still make a fantastic effect, so there’s really no bad season to visit.
This destination is hugely popular in the summer, so if you can, it’s best to visit in spring, when you should hopefully get good weather, but without all the crowds. If you’re traveling with someone, then hiring a car is a great way to get some shots from lower down the cliffs, as the famous Amalfi Drive road weaves its way along the coastline. This road is best navigated when there’s little traffic, so it might be worth avoiding it in the summer months as it can get too congested and difficult to navigate.
Madeira, Portugal
Despite being slightly harder to get to than mainland Europe, Madeira is well-worth the effort for landscape photographers. You might have heard of it as the home of the famous Madeira port wine, or perhaps Madeira cake – both of which can be readily sampled when you’re there, along with other delicious foodstuffs – but for photographers, the real appeal of the island is getting the dramatic coastal shots of black sand beaches and unique rock formations. Madeira is also a lovely choice if you’re traveling with other people who are less fond of photography than you; there’s plenty to do and see on the island, and the warm climate is perfect for those who just want to sit and relax.
Fanal Forest is another unique draw for photographers. The ancient laurel forest often experiences heavy fog, which gives an eerie otherworldly air that is hard to find elsewhere. Because of the mountainous location, on a ‘good’ day, you can get several hours of fog, rather than just a fleeting bit early in the morning.
Capture the charm of Europe
There are truly so many interesting landscapes in Europe that you’d be hard-pressed to go wrong. However, if you’re looking for some starting points, why not try the locations above? Each offers something slightly different, and they’re also all-round great vacation destinations, so if you’re traveling as a group, everyone will be happy.
If you have any questions, be sure to Contact Us, and until next time, get out and capture the adventure.
Three of the best landscape photography destinations in Europe
Written by Wayne Moran - Visit Websitemoran.wayne@gmail.com
