If you take an epic trip, but don’t post about it to Instagram, did it even happen?
Mm-hmm Like it or not, Instagram has changed the face of travel forever with nearly half of all millennial travelers choosing their destinations based upon Instagram ability.
Here we’re talking about the most popular travel destinations on Instagram, and how to get the perfect shot.
Let’s go. Travel Photography is nothing new. When you experience something unique, you naturally want to share it.
So if a picture is worth a thousand words then a good Gram Hammer is enough convincing to make millions of people travel to faraway lands.
Smartphones have armed every traveler with a camera, blown up previously unknown spots, and some say made travel more about capturing an experience than experiencing the moment itself.
Now that doesn’t mean that Instagram is the end of travel….. But with more people dying globally from selfies than from shark attacks, we should all remember to not let the joy of travel be overshadowed by the pursuit of “likes”on social media.
Without further ado, these are the most Instagrammable places on earth and how to get the perfect shot.
1. Machu Picchu
The Lost Citadel of the Inca made headlines around the world in 1911 when American Explorer, Hiram Bingham, published the first photographs of a major archaeological discovery using his Kodak Panoramic camera, O.G. Instagrammer.
Most get the shot from the Caretaker’s Hut, which has great views but is also insanely crowded. A better option is to head to the quarry where it’s easier to get an unobstructed view.
Pro tip: Most people wake up at 4:00 in the morning to try to get there early. Little do they know, everyone’s waking up at 4:00 in the morning. So you’re just going to stand in line in the darkness waiting for a bus. It sucks.
You shouldn’t do that. What you should do is sleep in and head up to Machu Picchu in the afternoon when there’s fewer crowds, better light and plenty of alpacas.
2. The Canadian Rockies
For those of you who blame Instagram for the downfall of travel, let’s talk about Spirit Island in Alberta, Canada. Swarmed 365 days a year by camera toting tourists, it’s actually not Instagram’s fault entirely. It’s probably Kodak’s.
In 1960 Kodak advertised its new Colorama film by hanging a gigantic photo of Spirit Island in Grand Central Station in New York City for 40 years. Talk about gaming the algorithm.
As a result, these days it’s nearly impossible to get the shot to yourself. There’s a 90-minute boat tour that takes you there for 15 minutes only, or you can get a camping permit, canoe there, and spend the night.
An easier and even more popular option is to go to nearby Lake Louise famous for its turquoise waters and iconic red canoes. The crowds are intense, but the lake is big enough for you to find your own quiet corner. Perfect for a clean shot or maybe even enjoy some nature.
3. The Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is perhaps the most recognizable building in the world. So if you don’t want to be “tres cliche`” you might have to get ” un peu creatif.”
Most people snap a photo straight down the Champ de Mars. But a better angle is across the Seine in the staircase of the Palais de Chaillot Get there at dawn for no crowds and a back lit Eiffel Tower.
4. Los Angeles, California.
Millions of tourists come to LA every year to visit places they’ve seen in the movies, from the Hollywood sign to the Griffith Park observatory, and the Santa Monica Pier.
But Instagrammers have their own monuments…. in particular the Los Angeles County Museum of Art or LACMA. Specifically, they come for the streetlight installation out front, a pillar of many Los Angeles girls’ Tinder profile.
Come at night when the crowds are gone and the lights are on. But come before sunset if you want to see the museum. It closes early, but it’s totally worth it.
5. Venice, LA
A new classic is the Venice sign because Venice is so hot right now. To get this shot, you’re going to need to walk into the middle of the street. So wait for the 22nd crosswalk and please do not get hit by a car or an electric scooter.
Speaking of Venice, what better place for a romantic photo than the original Venice in Italy? Most tourists jostle for a spot on the bridge above the Grand Canal. So if you want it to yourself, you’re going to have to get there before sunrise.
Another option is to take a canal ride, 80 euros for a half hour. It’s not cheap, but if you want to get that shot and truly experience what it’s like to travel around Venice in a canal boat, it’s totally worth it.
Other good photo spots include Punta della Dogana, which sounds like a place in Star Wars or Burano Island for Venice vistas without the crowds.
6. New York City
The New York City skyline is world renowned for good reason. But taking an elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower{ Empire State Building} is going to cost you at least fifty seven dollars, not to mention your precious time.
For a better and cheaper shot, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge down under the Manhattan Brooklyn overpass, a.k.a. Dumbo, to the corner of Washington and Water Street for a classic New York City shot for free.
7. Taj Mahal.
Built to celebrate love, the Taj Mahal is now one of the most photographed buildings in the world.
The classic shot is right down the middle of a garden, but you’re going to need to be the first one there if you want that shot without millions of people in the background.
Another option is to frame the mausoleum from the archways of nearby buildings. Even better, cross the river at dawn and get the backside of the Taj Mahal with locals and the river in the foreground.
8. Big Ben
Now some say that the sun never set on the British Empire, but in London during the winter, the sun sets pretty early, and there’s a lot to see with not a lot of time. Of course you want Big Ben, the iconic tower on top of the Palace of Westminster.
But you don’t want to take a selfie up your nostrils just to get the clock tower in frame. So walk across the Bridge of Westminster, and wait for sunset. Just cross your fingers that there’s actually sunlight.
Alternative photo locations include the colourful houses of Notting Hill, the Georgian town houses of Kensington, and the ever-changing street art of Shoreditch.
9. Big Sur, California.
From San Francisco drive south to Big Sur, a cliff side stretch of California coast that’s maintained its rustic charm, thanks to its inaccessibility.
Point your camera in any direction, and you’ve got Instagram gold, but the most popular shot is of the Bixby Bridge.
Get the shot by going just north of the bridge down by the cliff side, but be careful because the cliffs are unstable and prone to landslides. Also popular is the waterfall at Pfeiffer Beach.
10. Patagonia
The classic Patagonia shot is of Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torres, which you might recognize from the logo of the clothing brand Patagonia. But getting there ain’t easy.
So don’t just roll up with your camera and selfie stick, it’s a serious full-day hike that should not be undertaken without preparation, proper safety equipment, and plenty of camera batteries.
11. Cappadocia, Turkey
Hot girls and hot-air balloons… that’s probably Cappadocia in Turkey, a place that’s pretty unreal, even without the balloons.
The fairy chimneys at nearby Gorham National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with insane rock structures, beautiful houses, and intricate churches carved into the rocks.
The balloons go up at dawn when the wind is still. You’ll have to be up early if you want that shot. Scout your location the night before so you know where to be at sunrise.
Or you could do as the pros do and just Photoshop a few hundred extra balloons in there. Haters will say it’s Photoshop, but hey, it is. (LOL)
12. Petra, Jordan
Speaking of buildings carved into rock structures, none to beat the majesty of the ancient city of Petra in Jordan.
This 2,000 year old trading city was made famous from Indiana Jones The Last Crusade, and is now a mecca for adventure photographers worldwide.
The shot you want is the Al-Khazneh or treasury building best captured during the golden hour, by candlelight during the Petra by night show, or via Al Koffer trail, a two-hour hike which ends right above the city for that perfect vertical perspective.
13. Dubai
The land of superlatives has no shortage of stunning shots.
From the world’s tallest building the Burg Khalifa, the world’s most luxurious hotel, the Burj Al Arab, and the world’s largest man-made island, the Palm Jumeirah.
Which to capture properly you have to shoot while skydiving from a helicopter wearing black ripped jeans with white sneakers and a helmet. Just saying, if you don’t do that, how can you really capture it?
14. Cape Town
Cape Town is one of the most naturally beautiful and photogenic cities on earth. For the classic photos either take the cable car up Table Mountain for the shot overlooking the coast and Lion’s Head or hike up Lion’s Head Peak and get the photo of Table Mountain.
But be forewarned the Lion’s Head hike is not easy. It’s not a cakewalk. So bring tons of water and make sure that your instant outfit is on fleek. If you want to snap a selfie with a penguin, head to Boulder Beach.
Who doesn’t want a selfie with a penguin? I mean seriously. Then wash it all down with some Pinotage at one of the city’s many wineries. Bonus points if you go to the winery with the ducks.
15. Bali, Indonesia
That is Bali, and why not? UNESCO protected rice terraces, beautiful Hindu temples, stunning beaches, plus more yoga and açaí bowls than a beauty blogger knows what to do with.
Hashtag #blessed But let’s be honest. If you really want it to work, you need to rent a villa with a pool, find an Instagram model, and borrow a puppy because puppies always work on Instagram. Trust us.
