10 Most Instagrammable Places in New York
Where to Take Stunning Photos of New York to Impress Your Friends
New York City offers tons of Instagram-worthy photo ops, whether you’re grabbing a snapshot of an iconic amusement park from a Ferris wheel or getting a drink at a rooftop bar. In this city, you can climb the towers of a castle or an iconic structure influenced by India.
Capture views of brightly-lit nighttime streets from overpasses or catch an iconic Bohemian street corner dating to the 18th century. From Central Park statues to railway viaducts, check out some of the most Instagrammable places in New York City.
1. Bethesda Fountain
An iconic Central Park landmark
Good for: Budget, History, Photo
Bethesda Fountain on Bethesda Terrace offers an iconic statue, the Angel of the Waters, surrounded by vast green space for an ideal photo opportunity. The fountain is the focal point of the terrace, which features grand staircases and an underpass beneath Terrace Drive and is built of New Brunswick sandstone, which provides a unique mustard color.
You’ll find the fountain and terrace in the heart of Central Park. The fountain itself is located on the lower level of the terrace and has stood since 1864. The sculpture on top was created by Emma Stebbins in 1868 and has presided over the fountain since 1873 in honor of a famed biblical story about the healing powers of the Pool of Bethesda.
Location: 72 Terrace Dr, New York, NY 10021, USA
Open: Daily from 6 am to 1 am
Phone: +1 212-310-6600
Bethesda Fountain
2. Belvedere Castle
Selfies can be snapped from the tower of a real castle
Good for: Families, Photo, Budget
Belvedere Castle allows you to get a photo in a real castle tower with stunning views of Central Park and the surrounding city. The castle has stood since the 19th century, was designed by architects Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould, and has undergone several renovations.
Today, the castle stands as a landmark of the park. It also houses a park visitor center and gift shop. It’s among the most popular lookout spots in the city and is accessible by winding stone staircases leading into the towers. It’s also an important data collection site for the National Weather Service.
Open: Daily from 10 am to 5 pm
Phone: +1 212-772-0288
Belvedere Castle
3. The High Line
Miles of park along a former railway viaduct
Good for: Budget, Families, Photo
The High Line is a railway viaduct offering 1.45 miles of panoramic city views winding through Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood and along the Hudson River. The railway was designed in the mid-19th century and originally used for freight, bringing food into the city. However, the rise of trucking took over and the line went out of use in 1980.
In the early 21st century, it was reopened as the High Line scenic garden. Today, visitors can walk along the route and capture outstanding photographs of the Chelsea neighborhood, the Hudson River, and the gorgeous green space offered along its route. It has revitalized the neighborhood and is among the most popular attractions in New York. Read more
Open: Daily from 7 am to 10 pm
Phone: +1 212-500-6035
The High Line
4. Washington Square Park
A cultural hub for buskers and local street performers
Good for: Budget, Couples, Families
Washington Square Park offers an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, a bohemian atmosphere, and a scenic fountain right at its heart. The park is located on the edge of New York University at the bottom of Fifth Avenue, and was once known as a gathering ground for beatniks and hippies.
Even today, it’s the place to see a wide range of street performers, buskers, and local artists. The southwest corner of the park is famed for its chess tables where legendary matches have occurred, they’ve even appeared in a few movies. At the park’s entrance, the Washington Square Arch has stood since 1892 to celebrate the centenary of the inauguration of George Washington. Read more
Location: Washington Square, New York, NY 10012, USA
Open: Daily from 6 am to midnight
Phone: +1 212-639-9675
Washington Square Park
5. Washington Street vantage point in DUMBO
Iconic views of the Manhattan Bridge
Good for: Budget, History, Photo
The Washington and Water Street intersection in the DUMBO neighborhood is among the most photographed streets in New York, with quintessential cobblestone streets and old-fashioned views. From here, you can take selfies in front of redbrick buildings that frame a view of the towering Manhattan Bridge and its steel-blue frame.
Speaking of frames, framed between the struts of the bridge, you can also catch the Empire State Building standing tall. This location is certain to be a solid choice to blow up your Instagram feed, and it’s all Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, lending the neighborhood its unusual name.
Location: Water Street and Washington Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA
Washington Street vantage point in DUMBO
6. Vessel
A jungle-gym honeycomb inspired by Indian stepwells
Good for: Budget, Couples, Families
Vessel is a honeycomb-shaped attraction that offers 16 stories and 80 landings that you can climb to capture selfies and photos of the surrounding city. It’s also ADA accessible with ramps and an elevator, and it’s modeled after a jungle gym combined with the stepwells of India.
This popular visitor attraction is located in downtown New York in the Hudson Yards, along Hudson Boulevard and 11th Avenue. It was designed and built to be part of the Hudson Yards Public Square and overlooks a 5-acre park with 28,000 plants and 225 trees.
Location: 20 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001, USA
Open: Daily from 11 am to 7 pm
Phone: +1 332-204-8500
Vessel
7. Stuyvesant Street
One of the oldest streets in the city
Good for: Budget, History, Photo
Stuyvesant Street is one of the oldest streets in New York and offers photo opportunities of a wealth of historic locations and classic brownstones. The street is located in the East Village and really shows off everything this bohemian neighborhood is known for: the classic paving stones and bricks on the sidewalk and old brick buildings.
Not only is this street incredibly photogenic, but it’s also like walking into the past. It was a vital market thoroughfare in the 18th and 19th centuries, and many of those structures still stand today. It’s such an important street that the Commissioner’s Plan of 1811, which called for New York to adopt a grid for streets, made Stuyvesant an exception.
Stuyvesant Street
8. Tudor City overpass
One of the most popular photo-op spots in the city
Good for: Couples, Photo, Budget
The Tudor City overpass offers a stunning view of New York’s city streets for your Instagram feed, especially at night when everything is brightly lit. To reach the overpass, head for the Tudor City apartment complex on Manhattan’s East Side. There’s a set of stairs that leads directly to the overpass and the highly photogenic vistas on offer.
This overpass is one of the more popular stops for photographers in New York. It overlooks East 42nd Street and is a good spot whether you’re looking for an iconic view or an iconic selfie.
Tudor City overpass
9. New York rooftop bars
A combination of craft beer, artisan eats, and a photo, too
Good for: Couples, Food, Nightlife
New York rooftop bars across the city can be a great opportunity for photographs as well as great food, from upscale to casual. Rooftop bars in NYC are a popular attraction for visitors and locals alike because they offer views of the fantastic skylines and, in the evenings, of the brightly lit and bustling streets below.
These bars tend to be outdoors, so they’re seasonal, but whenever the weather allows they are among the most Instagrammable places in the city. The range on offer covers everything from pub grub to high-end, white-tablecloth cuisine, craft cocktails, and locally brewed beers.
10. Coney Island Boardwalk
One of the most well-known theme parks in the nation
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo
The Coney Island Boardwalk offers not only iconic Instagram photo ops, but also old-school theme park fun. There’s a bunch of roller coasters, thrill rides, and games, and Nathan’s Famous hot dogs is still serving a hundred years after opening. Coney Island is one of the most treasured amusement parks in the world, and it’s a great place for couples on a romantic getaway or families on their annual vacation.
Between photos of its historic boardwalk, rides, and games, stop and grab a cotton candy and hot dog, snap a few more pics from the top of the Wonder Wheel. Don’t forget to spend some time looking over the Atlantic Ocean from Coney Island Beach. Read more
Location: Stillwell Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11214, USA
Open: Daily from 11 am to 10 pm
Coney Island Boardwalk
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