New York City, the Big Apple, and the heart of what the USA claims to stand for, is one of the most iconic cities in the world. From the instantly recognisable landmarks dotting it's skyline, to being the location setting for some of the most classic films and TV series, NYC has plenty to offer to every visitor.
Apart from the recognisable landmarks, the city has hidden gems scattered all over that tourists and locals like to visit. Be it iconic eateries, or streets permeating history, New York's offerings make for picture-perfect documentation.
This blog here is a list of everything you need to know before visiting the most Instagrammable places in New York City (in no particular order, we promise), including directions on how you can get there.
#1 Top of the Rock
The Top of the Rock is a must-see for any visitor to New York City. The views from the observation deck are like nothing you could capture yourself. You can see for miles in every direction, including the Empire State Building. The most Instagrammable views are from this observation deck!
#2 Pietro Nolita
Pietro Nolita is a New York City restaurant in SoHo. It serves Italian inspired cuisine with the menu changing depending on which ingredients are fresh and available. The restaurant is located in a former bank with oversized arched windows that draw your eyes to the outside where you see shoppers and people going to work. The restaurant is designed by the firm Roman and Williams who created a space with wood paneling, brass cage-style lighting, and marble tabletops.
#3 New York Botanical Garden
New York Botanical Garden is a beautiful location that offers visitors an escape from the busy life in Manhattan. With vast greenhouses and 10 unique gardens, there has been a lot of interesting media coverage about people going there just to take Instagram photos of their surroundings. It has become somewhat of a tourist attraction for people visiting the city just to experience its beauty. The New York Botanical Garden is home to 10 unique gardens, with the main attraction being the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, which is a Victorian-style glass greenhouse that spans three stories and is filled with over 1,200 different species of flowers, plants, and trees. The other nine gardens include the original Brooklyn garden (designed by landscape architect Calvert Vaux) that showcases the diversity of plant life in New York, the Bronx garden (featuring native plants), and the Dorothy Roth garden (which is named after a generous donor).
#4 The Brooklyn Bridge
Hands down one of the most picturesque spots in New York is the Brooklyn Bridge. Everyone knows this iconic landmark, and if you're a native New Yorker, chances are you've been here multiple times. But, if for some reason you never have, go ASAP. There's nothing more beautiful than watching the sunset from a spot with a view of the Brooklyn Bridge. The last light of the sun reflects off of the bridge, and it's absolutely breathtaking.
#5 The Museum of Ice Cream
This museum was actually tailor-made for instagram! The Museum of Ice Cream is a "museum" put together in New York City for people to visit and take Instagram photos with a variety of art pieces. The museum contains many different works of art, not all of it ice cream themed, but each room has a separate theme and many of them revolve around ice cream in some way.
#6 The Times Square
The Times Square is a bustling square in New York City, United States of America. It is known for its bright billboards and neon signs that are seen on the streets. It is one of the trendiest places for photo-taking spots where tourists, locals and foreigners visit to take pictures.
#7 Staple Street Sky Bridge
With New York City's reputation for being the city that never sleeps, it is not surprising that there are so many hidden gems to be found, tucked away in its bustling streets. One such gem is the Staple Street Skybridge, a hidden spot for picture-taking and celebrity spotting.
Staple Street is a relatively narrow street, so it may be easy to miss the glass walkway that leads up to one of New York City's most famous photography spots, The Top of the Strand (better known as simply 'the skybridge'). The skybridge links two buildings - the Strand building, on the ground level, and its twin building Tribeca North. The design of the skybridge is metal mesh, so it is possible to see the detail of each floor, and passing pedestrians can easily be caught on camera.
#8 Grand Central Terminal
The majestic Grand Central Terminal in New York City has always been a classic tourist site. It is an ornate landmark with so much history, that it will take hours to take it all in. With so many picture perfect features, the terminal has become an Instagrammable favorite for New Yorkers and tourists alike.
This Beaux-art style station opened in 1913 and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976. There are so many amazing parts of the terminal that are worthy of a picture, it will be hard to narrow it down.
The ceiling is one of the most famous features of Grand Central Terminal. It is an astronomical mural painted by Paul Cรฉsar Helleu in 1912, showing the constellations as they would appear from the Earth. It is located in the center of the upper main concourse and has become a favorite backdrop for pictures.
#9 The Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is another must-see for visitors to New York City, and the observatory is located on the 102nd floor, making it fairly high. If you're afraid of heights it may be best to skip this one โ but even if you are scared of heights, the views are worth it. If you're thinking about going at night and snapping a picture of your view with the city's lights, that's where Instagramming becomes even more fun.
Tip: You can make it to the top quicker with Skip the Line Tickets at Empire State Building!
#10 Washington Square Park
Washington Square Park is in the heart of New York City and an ideal spot for families and friends. The beautiful stones of the arch, public art, and gorgeous trees make it a perfect place for Instagrammable photos! The park is the oldest public park in New York City. It has always been a gathering space for immigrants and new Americans since it was established in 1797!
#11 Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
The Statue of Liberty is an iconic symbol of New York City, and a trip to NYC will be incomplete without visiting this magnificent statue. The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France during the 100 year anniversary of America's independence. The statue is of a woman holding high the torch, which symbolizes light or liberty. It stands 151 feet tall and it was made of copper, which reacted with the salt in the air. It was damaged and is being repaired.
Ellis Island was originally an immigration station used to process immigrants coming into the United States for over 60 years. It is now a museum with exhibits displaying life in the early 1900s.
Tip: You can get purchase a ticket for Cruise of Ellis Island with an Audio Tour Guide.
#12 The Guggenheim Museum
Guggenheim Museum is a museum of modern art located at 1071 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, New York City. Its collection includes works of architecture and of modern art by leading artists of the 20th century. It has one of the world's largest collections of Mark Rothko paintings, and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection is a renowned international showcase of modern art.
#13 The Oculus
The Oculus is a highly controversial piece of architecture located at One World Trade Centre in New York City. The building was designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and is a transportation hub, with connections to the PATH train system, New York City Subway lines and 11 subway services at Fulton Street. It's a white steel and concrete structure with a wingspan of about 105 metres. When completed, it was the tallest structure in New York City until One World Trade Centre surpassed it in December 2013. The building's name comes from a Greek word meaning 'eye'; it was named as such because the structure looks like an eye when viewed from above.
#14 The Hudson Yards Vessel
The Vessel a free-standing interactive art piece and public amenity by Diller Scofidio + Renfro made of 15,000 extruded aluminum steps. The Vessel is an experiment in communal urban living, an experience that will evolve as people continue to discover and interact with it. It is a gathering place that brings people together to share experiences, play, pause and engage.
#15 One World Observatory
One World Observatory offers a chance to be at the very top of New York City. The observatory's decks are located on floors 100 and 101, which means an elevator ride above New York to get there. From the 100th floor deck, the views stretch from the Statue of Liberty all the way up to Central Park. While the topmost deck is not open to the public, it does afford visitors an opportunity to get up there through a special access route.
