With its chaotic streets, stunning skyline and neon lights New York is an Instagram dream and there are some incredible Instagram shots just waiting to be captured in the city.
We’ve put together this list of our favourite Instagram worthy spots in New York to help you find some of the most photogenic and Instagrammable locations.
From the colourful street art to the incredible skyscrapers we hope you have as much fun as we did visiting some of the best Instagram spots in New York City!
1 | L’Appartement Sézane
Location: 254 Elizabeth St
A Parisian dream in the heart of NoLita. Sezane is a French lifestyle boutique with an Instagram wow factor. From the chic ‘Bonjour New York’ tiled floor to the vintage bicycle surrounded by a beautiful flower arch at its entrance, Sezane is a gorgeous capture.
Best Instagram spots New York tip: Sezane is a beautiful boutique style store with a chic Parisian vibe. There is security on the door but staff are welcoming so have a browse and a coffee and soak up the atmosphere.
Where to stay in New York
We’ve stayed all over the city during our trips to NYC. Here are some of our favourite hotels:
- Courtyard Soho: for its downtown location and price. – click here for prices
- Pod 51: an awesome and funky option close to the Rockefeller Center – click here for prices
- Renaissance Times Square: for its Times Square location, spacious rooms and the stunning R Lounge bar. You can have breakfast overlooking the iconic Times Square and enjoy cocktails in the evenings overlooking the lights! – click here for prices
- Hi NYC: on the Upper West Side is a great hostel option – click here for prices
2 | Washington Square Park
Location: the arch is at Washington Square North and 5th Avenue
Teeming with artists, musicians, sunbathers, performers, chess players and cute dogs and surrounded by Greenwich Village and NYU, Washington Square Park is one of the most vibrant spots in the city.
NYC best Instagram spots tip: The backdrop of the Washington Square Arch, framing the Empire State Building with its view up 5th Avenue, makes for some awesome Instagram opportunities: casually pose by the fountain with the arch and the glimpse of the Empire State Building in the background.
3 | Summit One Vanderbilt
The Summit at One Vanderbilt is one of the newer additions to New York and is one of the best Instagram spots in the city. The incredible sky-high observation deck at The Summit is 1,070 feet (350 metres) above Manhattan and the views of the city due to it’s mid-town location are incredible. The 360 degree views of downtown and the Empire state building are unrivalled!
Summit One Vanderbilt has multiple viewing decks spread over three levels and we highly recommend booking your tickets in advance as they do sell out, especially during peak times. Youcan buy online in advance to avoid disappointment – check prices now!
New York Photo Location Tip: We recommend either booking a ticket for first thing in the morning (to avoid the crowds) or booking a ticket for late afternoon just before sunset to the Summit. These times should give you the best opportunities for great photos!
4 | Pietro Nolita
Location: 174 Elizabeth Street
Pietro Nolita is both an Italian restaurant and a pink wonderland on Elizabeth Street. From the pink sidewalk tables and wall to the pink everything inside it’s an Instagram hit.
Best New York Instagram Spots tip: Pietro Nolita has a no reservations policy and the inside is tiny s. For the best chance of getting great pics go early on a weekday when you might have the place to yourself.
5 | The Edge
Similar to Summit One Vanderbilt, The Edge is one of New York City’s newest and most impressive viewing platforms. Located in the Hudson Yards, The Edge offers a truely unique viewing experience of NYC. The views from the Edge 100 floors above Manhattan make it one of the best Instagram spots in NYC. The views from up here are incredible and the viewing deck itself gives the feeling of standing on the edge of Manhattan
The Edge is located at 30 Hudson Yards and you’ll need a ticket to visit – check prices now!
6 | DUMBO and the Brooklyn Bridge Park
Location: Washington and Water Street, Brooklyn
Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, or DUMBO for short, is an iconic New York Instagram location.
The first stop is on Water and Washington Street: Washington Street aligns perfectly to give a beautiful view of the Washington Bridge with the Manhattan skyline in the background and the Empire State Building framed perfectly by the legs of the bridge.
Best New York Instagram Spots tip: Obviously this is a very popular place for tourists and photographers alike so be prepared to wait for your turn to capture this beautiful view. The street is filled with businesses and residents and has a steady flow of traffic so be careful not to get in the way in the pursuit of a picture.
Make sure to head to the waterfront at the Brooklyn Bridge Park for some of the best New York skyline views.
7 | Top of the Rock
Location: 30 Rockefeller Plaza
While the newly opened Summit One Vanderbilt and Edge viewing platforms are amazing, the view from the Top of The Rock is still one of our favorites in NYC. The iconic views from the Top of the Rock and various viewing decks make it the perfect location for stunning Instagram photos. The views north to central park and across mid-town are amazing
Open every day of the year, you can purchase your tickets in advance to secure your visit – check prices now!
Buy your Top of the Rock tickets now
8 | Audrey Hepburn Mural
Location: 176 Mulberry Street
Created by Brooklyn based Tristan Eaton this colourful depiction of Audrey Hepburn, star of the New York favourite Breakfast at Tiffany’s, sits in the heart of Little Italy and is perfectly complemented by the red brick backdrop.
NYC best Instagram spots tip: Our favourite captures include the mural on its own, a coffee break on the chairs in front or a street side pose.
9 | The Oculus
Location: Church Street
Its exterior is designed to resemble a winged dove and the centrepiece, the Oculus, is an incredible white steel and glass structure. Both are worthy Instagram captures in the super modern World Trade Center Transportation hub.
10 | One World Trade
Make sure to combine a trip to the Oculus with a visit to the main building of the rebuilt World Trade Centre, One World Trade. This stunning building is some to the epic One World Trade observatory on the 102nd floor and offers an uninterrupted panorama across the entire city and harbour.
The views and photo opportunities from up here are incredible which make it a really popular tourist destination. We recommend buying skip-the-line tickets in advance to secure your trip and avoid any long lines – check prices now!
Book your skip-the-line One World Trade tickets now
11 | Stuyvesant Street
Location: East 10th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenue
In the heart of the East Village, the picturesque Renwick Triangle is formed by the tiny Stuyvesant Street diagonally crossing 9th street between 2nd and 3rd Avenue in an escape from the Manhattan grid.
The row of historic townhouses is a beautiful backdrop for an excellent NYC street style pic.
Central Park
Central Park is packed with unique locations for stunning Instagram photos. Here are some of our favorites.
12 | Bethesda Fountain
The stunning Bethesda Terrace which leads out to the fountain is one of our favourite spaces in Central Park.
There is always incredible energy around the fountain during the day, but early morning just after sunrise is our favourite time when the only people you’ll meet are dog walkers and runners. The steps behind the terrace also make from some stunning shots.
13 | The Arches
There are over 20 arches dotted around Central Park so it’s hard to miss them as you stroll around the park.
Our favourite is Glade Arch which is located just west of 5th Avenue and 79th Street.
Best New York Instagram Spots tip: go early for the best shots. The fountains and the terrace are incredible backdrops but both get really busy as the morning progresses.
Check out our guide to the best things to do in Central Park for some more Central Park inspiration.
14 | Milk and Cream Cereal Bar
Location: 159 Mott St
Milk and Cream are famous for serving up a unique mix of American cereal blended with ice cream smothered in dreamy toppings. The beautiful creations, mint colour scheme and fun neon slogan make for a great photo.
Amazing ice cream and amazing photos, what more could you ask for?!
15 | Flatiron Building
The triangular Flatiron Building, so named because of its resemblance to a cast-iron clothes iron, is one of the world’s most iconic skyscrapers as well as one of the most photographed.
Best New York Instagram spots tip: there are a few really good angles at the street crossings. We love the close up shots for impact.
16 | Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge, linking Manhattan and Brooklyn, is a New York icon. The pedestrian walkway on the bridge gives panoramic views across the city from downtown up to mid-town.
All the major New York buildings are visible, from One World Trade in the financial district to the Chrysler building and the Empire State in Midtown.
New York Instagram Spots tip: if you want the bridge to yourself then be there pre sunrise to capture some solo shots in between the early morning commuters and exercisers passing by.
17 | The Street Art
New York is a treasure trove of colourful street art, many of which make for great Instagram pics. You’ll stumble across plenty of murals while walking through the city – we’ve included some of our favourites at the moment below.
New York Street Art Locations:
- Gigi by Tristian Eaton, 389 Broome Street
- Tiger by Sonny, 185 Lafayette Street
- Lion by Sonny, above 172 Allen Street
- 205 Club, 205 Chrystie Street
New York best Instagram spots tip: there are many more great pieces of street art around the city. Take a walk through Nolita and SoHo as a starting point and capture your favourites!
18 | Grand Central
Location: 89 East 42nd Street
The main concourse of Grand Central Station is instantly recognisable even to those who have never visited NYC and the station has appeared in countless movies featuring the city.
The famous train terminal is constantly buzzing with people travelling to and from the city and a long exposure works great for an Instagram worthy shot.
New York Instagram Spots tip: This photo was captured by having Elaine standing still in the forefront of the image and using a long exposure to capture the mayhem that is Grand Central during the day!
19 | Coney Island
Location: all around Luna Park which is at 1000 Surf Avenue, Brooklyn
Another Brooklyn gem, Coney Island is colourful and vibrant with a carnival atmosphere and a feel of days gone by.
From the boardwalk to the beach to the iconic Nathan’s hot dogs and the colourful murals there’s no end of Instagram opportunities.
New York best Instagram spots tip: our favourite Instagram spots were the Nathan hot dogs mural and against the backdrop of the Wonder Wheel, Coney Island’s historic ferris wheel.
20 | Liberty State Park
Location: 200 Morris Pesin Drive, Jersey City
At the mouth of the Hudson River, the Liberty State Park is an awesome stop in Jersey City and has fantastic views of the Manhattan skyline.
It’s also home to the Empty Sky Memorial, a beautiful and poignant memorial to the New Jersey victims of the September 2001 attacks on the World Trade centre.
Love how your dresses always make you pop in the picture!
Thank you for the tips!
B
Thank Birigt, so lovely to hear!
Such a great blog post! Visiting new york soon and need to fun fresh ideas. Thanks for your post!
Glad you liked it Jasmine – hope you have fun in NYC