The Ultimate Guide to Beautiful Scenery in Switzerland for Screen-lovers

Switzerland has long been the silver screen’s most photogenic co-star. From snow-dusted valleys straight out of a fairytale to lakes so glassy they look digitally edited, the country has charmed filmmakers worldwide for decades. Whether you’re a Bollywood romantic, a Hollywood buff, or a devoted K-drama fan, the Swiss Alps promise a reel-to-real adventure you’ll want to bookmark for your next getaway.

Also read: 9 Reasons Why You Should Travel Longer in Switzerland During Autumn and Winter

Presenting the ultimate guide to must-visit film spots for cinephiles:

1. Bollywood: Where Switzerland became the land of love

For countless Bollywood fans, Switzerland is the embodiment of the famous film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (translated: The Brave-hearted Will Win the Bride).  It was here, amidst emerald meadows and alpine chalets, that the male and female protagonists, Raj and Simran, had their love story blossom.

The movie was a landmark turning point for the actor Shah Rukh Khan, who rose to prominence as a romantic lead after its blockbuster success. It is considered the longest-running film in the history of Indian cinema, as it is still shown in a theatre in Mumbai as of 2025, having been released in 1995.

Zweisimmen Railway Station, Switzerland

Zweisimmen may look like a regular Alpine station, but in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, it’s the very spot where fate quite literally intervenes.  Raj and Simran miss their train, setting off the chain of mishaps, detours, and accidental adventures that ultimately draw them together.

The station is also a gateway to some of Switzerland’s most beautiful panoramic routes, including the famed GoldenPass Line, meaning travellers can experience the same sense of anticipation and serendipity the film captured so perfectly. It’s the kind of place where missing a train doesn’t feel like an inconvenience at all, but an invitation to slow down, breathe in the Alps, and let the journey take the lead.

Saanen Bridge

The quaint wooden bridge in Saanen has become a pilgrimage site for Bollywood romantics. It is here that Raj waits for Simran, a quiet yet powerfully emotional moment that went on to become one of the most quoted declarations of love in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. Surrounded by rolling meadows, traditional chalets, and the gentle rush of the river below, the spot still carries that same sense of anticipation and tenderness captured on screen. Visitors often pause to recreate the scene, soaking in the timeless charm that made this bridge a cinematic icon.

Gstaad

Gstaad’s elegant promenade, lined with boutiques, cosy cafés, and buildings against the breathtaking backdrop, sets the stage for several of DDLJ’s more playful sequences. A song sequence unfolds here, in a car-free street lined with Swiss chalets and boutique shops. With its fairytale architecture and winter charm, this area feels straight out of a postcard, especially when the two leads’ romance glows under soft European lights. 

Yash Chopra Statue, Interlaken

A testament to Bollywood’s long-standing love affair with Switzerland, the bronze statue of legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra stands proudly in Interlaken’s Kursaal Garden. Unveiled in 2016, it honours the director who almost single-handedly transformed Switzerland into the dreamscape of Indian cinema. 

Chopra’s sweeping shots of snow-dusted peaks, flower-filled valleys, and grand Alpine hotels shaped the way generations of Indian audiences imagined romance. His influence was so profound that Switzerland’s tourism board recognised him as an unofficial cultural ambassador, and the statue remains a heartfelt tribute to him.

2. Hollywood: Where Scenery Turns into Spectacle

Bond in the Bernese Alps

The James Bond classic Goldfinger secured Switzerland’s most iconic chase with adrenaline-charged sequences. One of the most memorable moments unfolds along the Furka Pass, where Sean Connery’s Bond hurtles through sharp bends in his Aston Martin in pursuit of Goldfinger. The rugged peaks, sweeping valleys, and serpentine roads create a backdrop so dramatic it feels purpose-built for espionage.

Today, fans can retrace that iconic route by stopping at the now-abandoned Hotel Belvédère,  a photogenic landmark perched above the Rhône Glacier and a favourite pilgrimage point for Bond enthusiasts. 

Another film in the franchise, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969), is one of the most memorable entries, with much of its action unfolding in the Bernese Alps. Filmed extensively around Schilthorn, particularly the revolving summit restaurant Piz Gloria, which doubled as Blofeld’s mountaintop “clinic,” the movie showcases sweeping alpine vistas, charming villages such as Mürren and Lauterbrunnen, and some of the series’ most dramatic ski-chase sequences. 

The region’s crisp peaks and cinematic scale give the film a striking visual identity, cementing Switzerland as an enduring part of Bond’s on-screen legacy. Switzerland appears throughout the franchise, with films such as GoldenEye and The Spy Who Loved Me also capturing the country’s cinematic allure.

Sherlock Holmes’ snow-flecked escape

In Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, detective Sherlock Holmes is locked in a high-stakes pursuit of the notorious criminal mastermind Professor Moriarty, whose web of meticulously planned, seemingly unrelated crimes stretches across Europe. As the tension reaches its peak, the film delivers one of its most visually striking sequences. The chase culminates in Holmes and Watson hurling themselves onto a passing train, a moment that transitions seamlessly to the crisp, snowy landscapes of Triengen, Switzerland. 

Here, the stark winter scenery heightens the sense of danger and urgency, framing the duo’s narrow getaway against pristine alpine silence. Fans can retrace this moment by visiting the same snow-covered stretches around Triengen, where the contrast between rugged action and Switzerland’s tranquil landscapes becomes even more striking in person.

Relive The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in Zurich

Zurich features prominently in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, particularly within its banking district and areas known for sleek, modern architecture. The city’s clean lines, reflective glass facades, and understated elegance provide a cool and cosmopolitan contrast to the film’s darker themes. 

Wandering through these neighbourhoods, from Paradeplatz to the corporate towers edging the Limmat, you’ll recognise the film’s cool, almost clinical atmosphere. The city’s clean lines and modernist design echo the thriller’s enigmatic and stylish tone.

For cinephiles, exploring Zurich’s financial quarter feels like stepping into the film’s shadowy undercurrent with a blend of sophistication and suspense set against Switzerland’s famously impeccable order.

3. K-Dramas: Follow the trail of ‘Crash Landing on You’

Few productions have boosted modern tourism to Switzerland as much as the beloved 2019 K-drama Crash Landing on You. Korean drama enthusiasts continue to retrace Ri Jeong-hyeok and Yoon Se-ri’s footsteps, and every spot feels like stepping into a beautifully framed scene.

The bitter-sweet climax takes place in the heart of Switzerland. The drama capitalizes on Switzerland’s status as a neutral country for the North Korean male protagonist and the South Korean female protagonist to meet, free from the shackles of political turmoil. 

A heartfelt melody on Lake Brienz

Ri Jeong-hyeok’s poignant piano moment was filmed on the southern shore of Lake Brienz, in the charming village of Iseltwald. According to Swiss location-tour guides, the wooden jetty used in that scene sits right next to the boat pier, in front of a private residence by the Iseltwald harbour. 

On screen, the solitude of the stage amplifies the emotion of his music. For fans, visiting this jetty means stepping into a deeply personal piece of the series: it’s the spot where Jeong-hyeok reflects on loss, longing, and the weight of memory.

Sigriswil Panorama Bridge

Suspended high above Lake Thun, the Sigriswil Panorama Bridge provides a breathtaking vantage point that fans will instantly recognise from a key encounter between the two leads. The bridge’s long walkway and sweeping mountain views create a dramatic sense of height and openness.

The surrounding landscape feels serene and unspoilt. Even without the emotional build-up of the series, the view is unforgettable and remains one of the most atmospheric filming spots in Switzerland.

First Cliff Walk, Grindelwald

The First Cliff Walk in Grindelwald is a thrilling metal walkway that hugs the side of the mountain and offers staggering views of the surrounding peaks. In Crash Landing on You, it features in several sequences that capture both the tension and tenderness between the leads, each shot elevating the emotion on screen.

Walking along this narrow, sky-high path gives visitors a taste of that same cinematic rush that is part adventure and part romance set against Switzerland’s wild, untouched beauty.

Also read: How I Travelled Switzerland for 15 Days With Just SGD 702

Plan your own reel-worthy Swiss journey

Switzerland’s landscapes don’t just belong on screen because they’re remarkably easy to explore on foot, by rail, or via the country’s famously punctual mountain cableways. Whether you’re humming Bollywood love songs, reliving a Bond escape, or recreating your favourite K-drama still, these stunning locations prove why the Swiss Alps continue to captivate storytellers around the world.

Pack your camera, queue your soundtracks, and step straight into the scene. Recreate the shots you love, discover the ones you didn’t know existed, and let the mountains do the rest. In Switzerland, every view is a plot twist waiting to happen.