New York City is unquestionably one of the world's most instagrammable cities. Whether a resident or a first-time visitor to the city, you can't resist taking photos as you walk by. Here are the best instagrammable places in NYC to take Instagram-worthy photos.
13 Most Instagrammable Places in NYC
1. Times Square
Being one of the most favorite places for tourists in New York, Times Square falls into the most Instagrammable places in NYC and is a must visit for a first timer. With catchy signs and bright lights, it’s a place easy to snap photos of. On top of that, this is where photos for Instagram must be taken to 'prove' you were where you say you were in New York City.
Image Source: freireweddingphoto.com
This place is popular, so there are lots of crowds here most of the time, and it's nearly impossible to snap a photo without people. On the other side, I think the bustle makes the photo though. As a result, I think the best time to come here is during the week so you don’t have to fight the weekend crowd.
Times Square’s TKTS red stairs are our go to photo location. From there looking south offers some beautiful views of Times Square. Since Times Square is lit, it also happens to be one of the best places to take photos at night.
- Location: Midtown Manhattan
- Address: 42nd Street and 7th Ave
- Opening Hours: 24/7
2. Central Park
Central Park in New York is without a doubt top of many famous parks in the world. NYC’s The High Line is a 1 1⁄2 mile park covering over 800 acres, and with that, a few hidden gems and NYC Instagram spots to make your followers jealous. Also, the park famous for its landscaping, lakes, and rolling hills.
Image Source: wherearethosemorgans.com
Bethesda Terrace may be Central Park’s most popular photo spot. An arched, interior walkway (exterior only visible from above) connecting the great Bethesda Fountain to the Mall. The design is exquisite, and compliments the natural beauty of Central Park.
During Spring, Central Park is blessing with cherry blossom all over the park if you visit. However, if you are visiting NYC in the fall be sure not to miss 'The Mall' the famed pathway that has been adorning social media.
Our favorite photo spots are the Bethesda Fountain and NYC Bow Bridge. I recommend shooting Instagram photos on an early Saturday or Sunday morning as there are far less crowds.
- Location: Midtown Manhattan
- Address: Bow Bridge, New York, NY 10024
- Entrance Fee: Free
- Opening Hours: 24/7
3. Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge is one of the world's iconic and longest suspension bridges, measuring 1.1 miles (1.8 kilometers). You’ve got several photo options for your Instagram feed: unique architecture, distant skyscrapers and so on. In addition, like its amazing view of the New York City skyline, visiting it is a must for any NYC visitor.
Image Source: locallens.com
You can take some of the best Instagram photos on the Brooklyn Bridge at sunrise. It’s beautiful with the colors usually stunning and it captures New York City in all its splendor within a single photo. Of course, sunsets are beautiful too, but perhaps not so much, given all the tourists. In contrast, during the summer, this bridge gets extremely crowded and if you want to get best Insta-worthy photos for your follows, take them between early morning hours.
- Location: Lower Manhattan
- Address: Brooklyn Bridge, New York, NY 10038,
- Entrance Fee: Free
- Opening Hours: 24/7
4. Manhattan Bridge
For photos on the Manhattan Bridge go to the intersection of Washington Street and Waters Street from the Manhattan Bridge. Manhattan Bridge is also one of the most Instagrammable places in Dumbo (District Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) Brooklyn. Plus, the walk across the bridge has some beautiful views of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Image Source: jakubredziniak.com
Now, that remains part of Gantry plaza state park, within the Manhattan Bridge. After taking your photos on the bridge, continue along the park by the East River. Tthe here you get beautiful photos of Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge. Throughout the day the bridge sees a lot of foot traffic, but the best time to take Instagram photos is around 8 am.
- Location: Downtown Manhattan
- Address: Manhattan Bridge, New York, NY 11201
- Entrance Fee: Free
- Opening Hours: 24/7
5. Brooklyn Bridge Park
Just within the Brooklyn neighborhood, the Brooklyn Bridge Park is located on both sides of the bridge, if you are in Dumbo. From here you get spectacular views of the midtown Manhattan skyline, the photo spots are endless. Besides, you also can see the Statue of Liberty from far at the park.
Image Source: nycphotojourneys.com
Also, you will be able to enjoy views from Pebble Beach and Janes Carousel, both very famous Instagrammable places in NYC. If you're on the bridge, on your right hand side, our favorite photo spot is the park where the towers usually stick out of the water.
- Location: Lower Manhattan
- Address: 334 Furman St, Brooklyn, NY 1120
- Entrance Fee: Free
- Opening Hours: 24/7
6. The Edge, New York City
One of the best instagrammable places in NYC if you’re not afraid of heights. One of the biggest new attractions in New York City is The Edge, a 360-degree outdoor deck with a view of one of the tallest outdoor sky decks in the world. If you are 100 floors up, you can pull out the phone and take some great Instagram photos of the Manhatten skyline.
Image Source: dailymail.co.uk
You can pay for rooftop decks while you’re in New York City like the One World Trade Center observatory, the Top of the Rock, the Empire State Building Skyview deck, etc. I love the Edge because it offers me the best photo worthy views in my mind.
- Location: Hudson Yards
- Address: 30 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001,
- Entrance Fee: Child ages 6 - 12, online from $33 on-site $35. Adult ages 13 - 61. online $38. on-site $40. Senior ages 62+, online $36 on-site $ 53
- Opening Hours: 8 am -12 am from Monday to Sunday
7. Washington Square Park
The Washington Square Arch was built late 1800's in honor of George Washington's inauguration centennial. Of all of Manhattan's most famous landmarks and a popular subject for photo shoots, the park is certainly one of the most recognizable. Moreover, the park is believed to be the heart of Greenwich Village. The place is a place for performers, artists, students, activists and other creative community member to gather.
Image Source: tripadvisor.com
This legendary Washington Square Park is full of magic– a place of spectacular street acts, cotton candy sunsets and endless sightings of French Bulldogs. On a clear day, you can stop by, take a picture in front of Washington Square Arch and picture Empire State Building.
- Location: Lower Manhattan
- Address: 1 Washington Square, New York
- Entrance Fee: Free
- Opening Hours: 24/7
8. Oculus at the World Trade Center
One of the most magnificent architectural achievements on the world is the Oculus at the One World Trade Center. It once was a subway station but is used nowadays primarily as a transportation hub that connects the lower Manhattan with New Jersey. It is a building formed by multiple steel clad steel ribs spreading up and out.
Image Source: cnewyork.net
On both sides, great stores, restaurants, and leisure spaces also surround the building. Besides, it was designed by Santiago Calatrava and Daniel Libeskind and as a reminder of the 9/11 attacks.
We recommend your Instagram photos in the morning, early hours, or late at night for your photos. Our favorite place is on the west side of Oculus Building where you can take instagrammable pictures with perfect symmetry.
- Location: Lower Manhattan
- Address: 185 Greenwich St, New York
- Entrance Fee: Free
- Opening Hours: 24/7
9. Grand Central Terminal
The Grand Central Terminal was built in 1871 but the building has been renovated several times and those original architecture and details still remains on the terminal. If you're in New York City, this should be on your list of places to visit, it's a stunning structure that's great to take photos in.
Image Source: nycphotojourneys.com
Vanderbilt Hall is our favorite photo spot at the Grand Central Station. That main entry is this huge hall with historical décor and an impressive ceiling. To get the best Instagram photo you should bring a tripod and a camera/phone, and use a long exposure to get rid of all the people walking around.
- Location: Midtown Manhattan
- Address: 89 E 42nd St, New York
- Entrance Fee: Free
- Opening Hours: 24/7
10. The NYC Vessel at Hudson Yards
Hudson Yards on Manhattan’s West Side is home to a newly opened building called the Vessel. If you’re looking for a standout design it has gained popularity on Instagram. Plus, it’s one of NYC’s most instagrammable places. The Vessel is a 15-story high public art piece, with stairways, and 80 viewing platforms.
Image Source: earthtrekkers.com
Unfortunately, there have reported suicide cases and this iconic building closed indefinitely. You can’t climb to the top so. Although there are still a lot of interesting views, but you can still take instagrammable photos at the entrance. What’s more, Hudson Yards gets decked out inside and out during the holidays.
- Location: 20 Hudson Yards
- Address: Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001
- Entrance Fee: $10 per person, free for children under 5 years of age
- Opening Hours: Close, but you can take nice photos outside
11. Radio City Music Hall
If you're in the Rockefeller Center neighborhood then you can stop by Radio City Music Hall. Originally built as an entertainment facility in 1932, Radio City Music Hall opened. The building’s interior is stunning, but it’s most famous for its spectacular neon signs on the front.
Image Source: unsplash.com
If you visit NYC on holidays, you’ll see the big decorations, giant candy canes, or whatever decorations they decide to pop up. That makes this NYC spot a perfect setting for Christmas photoshoots. In addition, due to its great location, it's simple to take cool Instagram photos with the aesthetics of the city in NYC at night.
- Location: Midtown Manhattan
- Address: 1260 6th Ave, NY 10020, New York
- Entrance Fee: Free (if you are taking the photos outside the building)
- Opening Hours: 24/7
12. Staple Street Skybridge
Tribeca’s Staple Street Skybridge connects two historic brick buildings and gives you a taste of what the beautiful city looked like in the 1800s. It sits over one of the city’s smallest streets. While the bridge itself is off limits for visitors, the cobblestone and alley streets below, however, are perfect for Instagram with the ideal backdrop of stunning photos paired with smart, city styled clothing.
Image Source: jauntguide.com
Furthermore, Skybridge is one of the most iconic Instagrammable places in NYC. You might think at first that Staple Street is just like any other street in New York City. Yet looking above you can see a cast iron bridge spanning connecting two buildings with different numbers. All these while, the three story tall bridge was used to connect New York Hospital's various areas.
- Location: Tribeca
- Address: 9 Jay St, NY 10013, New York
- Entrance Fee: Free
- Opening Hours: 24/7
13. Flatiron Building
The Flatiron Building is another one amongst these places where you can take Instagram-worthy photos. One of New York City's most photographed iconic buildings, this building has a few different angles to photograph it from.
Image Source: girlwiththepassport.com
You can get a good shot next to the large gold clock on the building’s right side, on the median, and from the blossoming trees (if it’s spring time). Another good thing with the building is that it’s close to Madison Square Park which means that when you’re ready to have a meal or a drink, or trying to find more New York City photo spots there are plenty close by.
- Location: Midtown Manhattan
- Address: 175 5th Ave, NY 10010, New York
- Entrance Fee: Free
- Opening Hours: 24/7
Featured Image Source: hotels.com
