There is no other place in the world like New York City. Ever since I was a little girl, New York has always felt like home. I love the bright lights, electric energy, fashion and creativity that New York City has to offer. I’ve created this New York City travel guide with some of my favorite photo-worthy spots and iconic locations to inspire your trip planning and spark your creativity!
Looking for more instagram travel guides? Check out more here
Ideally, a long weekend from 3-5 days is the perfect amount of time to see the city, but New York has so much to offer that I am continuously coming back for more! To make your trip more efficient, plan your itinerary ahead of time and group areas and points of interest by location. Traffic can be bad, but ride sharing apps and the subway make transport soooo much easier!
I’ve created an interactive map with Proxi to help you easily find all of the best spots from this New York City Travel Guide below. Proxi is a free, interactive map-making tool that is so easy to use! You can easily create points, upload photos and add notes to your pinned spots. This makes trip planning a breeze by organizing your content with an interactive map for better spatial understanding and eliminating the need for static lists of your go-to spots!
New York City Travel Guide & Instagram Spots:
1. TOP OF THE ROCK
The Top of the Rock is an observation deck on top of the Rockefeller center with some of the best views of New York City from above. It marks the top spot on this New York City Travel Guide because of the UNREAL skyline views. The views from Top of the Rock are some of my favorite because there are there levels of observation decks, cute vintage binoculars and a direct view of the Empire State Building.
I love seeing the skyline from the Top of the Rock during golden hour, though it can get busy towards sunset! I recommend booking your tickets in advance as the lines can get long as there is a separate shorter queue for those who have pre-booked their tickets online.
Travel Tip: tickets at golden hour are slightly more expensive, so make sure to pick which time of day you prefer to see the views strategically!
2. BROOKLYN BRIDGE
Nothing is more iconic in New York City than the Brooklyn Bridge. This landmark is one of the most photo-worthy spots in the city and is a great way to venture from Manhattan to explore some of the Brooklyn neighborhoods.
Travel Tip: Get here at sunrise to have the bridge (mostly) to yourself! We loved watching the sunrise over the Manhattan skyline and capturing the bridge empty for some epic shots! Sunset is also beautiful here, but much more crowded, so you’ll have to get creative with your photos.
3. WASHINGTON STREET BRIDGE VIEW
Dumbo, Brooklyn has a lot of character and I recommend spending some time here to explore the nearby photo spots like this one on Washington Street and checking out the local shopping, restaurants and the Time Out Market.
Travel Tip: This street gets filled with content creators and photographers in the afternoon, so start your morning here and you’ll have it empty!
If you’re looking for a cute prop to use for photos here, there is a small grocery store on the corner of Washington Street that sells flowers and newspapers!
4. PIER ONE VIEW POINT
A short walk away from Washington Street in Brooklyn is the Pier One Viewpoint. Pier One offers stunning views of Manhattan and is beautiful at any time of day! My favorite spot here is at Old Pier One pictured below.
Travel Tip: Check out Pier One at sunrise or sunset. The colors of sky light up the city skyline and it’s beautiful during blue hour. Our blue hour shots here were some of my favorites because it made the lights of the city pop!
5. CENTRAL PARK PADDLE BOATS
I’ve wanted to rent a paddle boat in Central Park for as long as I can remember, and I finally managed to convince some friends to paddle with me last trip! This is a must-do activity on your New York City bucket-list. It’s a great way to experience Central Park and take in the city views, plus it’s very Instagrammable! Paddle Boat rentals are available from Loeb Boathouse.
6. CENTRAL PARK BOW BRIDGE
Next to the boathouse, you’ll find another photo-worthy spot in Central Park: Bow Bridge. This bridge can get full during the day time, so come early to have it to yourself or be patient with the passerby’s.
7. TIMES SQUARE
Admittedly, Times Square is not my favorite park of New York City, but it is a sight to see! If it’s your first time in New York City or you’re looking for a cool photo opportunity, Times Square should definitely be on your list.
Travel Tip: Nighttime is when Times Square truly comes alive, so prepare for it to be busy even late into the evenings. I also loved experiencing Times Square in the early morning when it was fairly empty!
8. WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK
Washington Square Park gives me all of the Parisian vibes right in the heart of Manhattan. It’s located in Greenwich Village near the NYU Campus and is a lovely spot to relax and people watch.
I love taking photos here and it’s a great spot to visit any time of day. It has a beautiful central fountain and arch that looks similar to a mini Arc de Triomphe!
9. MANHATTAN BRIDGE
The Manhattan Bridge is another one of the major bridges that connects Manhattan and Brooklyn, though it is less insta-famous than it’s neighbor, the Brooklyn Bridge. From the Manhattan Bridge Lookout in Brooklyn, you can see both the Manhattan Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge AND a sprawling view of the New York City Skyline. We came here at golden hour and watched the sunset behind the city….and WOW, was it magical!
10. GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL
Grand Central Terminal is an absolutely beautiful station inside- you may recognize it from some iconic movie scenes! It is also THE SPOT if you want a photo with a classic yellow taxi outside. There is always a queue of taxis here at the taxi stop which sits beautifully against the skyline in the background.
P.S. I decided to go for a Carrie Bradshaw look here and I had so much fun dressing up for a little Sex and the City fangirl moment. This was one of my favorite photo shoots ever!
11. THE EDGE NYC
The Edge NYC is a viewing in the Hudson Yards area and boasts the title as the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western hemisphere. The Edge is suspended mid-air at 100 stories high, offering one of the most unique viewpoints of New York City.
Travel Tip: We visited the sky deck as soon as it opened in the morning to avoid the crowds, though I would love to come back here during golden hour to see the sunset! On very few occasions, The Edge is open at sunrise, so make sure to check the website calendar of events.
12. FLOWER STANDS
The flower stands of New York City bodegas are little hidden gems to take photos at. Flowers here are also very affordable, so be sure to purchase a bouquet to use for another one of your photo shoots!
13. SOHO STREET CORNERS
SoHo is the epitome of New York City street style. This neighborhood is a fashionable New York City area, well-known for its picturesque historic building facades and cobblestone streets.
I love shopping in SoHo. The area has a diverse range of designer boutiques and fast fashion brands, and a lot of cute restaurants and cafes!
14. SQUIBB PARK BRIDGE
One of the lesser-known views of the Manhattan skyline is from Squibb Park Bridge near Brooklyn Bridge Park. This footbridge connects Brooklyn Bridge Park to Brooklyn Heights with a beautiful backdrop of the tree canopies against the city.
15. ARLO NOMAD HOTEL
The Arlo NoMad Hotel makes this list because of its unique rooms with a perfectly-positioned bed against floor-to-ceiling windows. Rooms here are quite small (typical for NYC!), but the views are one-of-a-kind! The hotel also has a beautiful rooftop bar with equally as picturesque views.
16. FLATIRON BUILDING
The Flatiron Building is one of the most notable buildings in New York City because of its unique triangular shape that distorts the shape of the building making it appear “flat” to the eye. Currently, the Flatiron is under restoration, so expect scaffolding here in the near future.
17. EATALY FLATIRON
New York City rooftops are NEXT LEVEL and SERRA by Birreia at Eataly Flatiron is one of my favorites! Not only are the fresh Italian food and cocktails amazing, but the rooftop changes up its decor seasonally. You can always expect an insta-worthy set-up here, but make sure to reserve a table in advance!
18. THE VESSEL
The Vessel is a massive interactive artwork located in the popular Hudson Yards shopping area. Unfortunately, it remains closed to enter, but you can still visit this impressive, futuristic structure from the outside!
19. THE MET
XOXO, Gossip Girl. For all of my fellow Gossip Girl fans out there, this spot is a must! We attempted a girl gang photo shoot here, but it happened to be the day before the MET Gala. The stairs were closed the day we tried to shoot, so we’ll have to plan for this again next trip.
20. L’APPARTEMENET SEZANE
L’Appartement Sézane is a french clothing boutique located in the charming NoLita neighborhood. The storefront has beautiful storefront displays with floral decor and other cute props depending on the season!
21. THE OCULUS
The Oculus is one of New York City’s main transit stations located in Downtown manhattan. The Oculus stands across from the World Trade Center campus and is an architectural masterpiece.
22. NOMO SOHO
The NOMO SoHo is another one of NYC’s insta-worthy hotel stays. The entrance to the hotel is a popular photo spot (pictured below), and I also love the restaurant’s garden area and indoor greenhouse adorned in chandeliers! If you don’t opt for a stay, I highly recommend having a meal here.
23. PIETRO NOLITA
Pietro NoLita is a millennial pink dream! This Italian restaurant in the NoLita neighborhood is consistently bustling with a trendy crowd. The Italian food and brunch here are fabulous and the atmosphere is very photo-worthy!
24. CHA CHA MATCHA
If you’re a matcha lover like me, you have to check out Cha Cha Matcha. This pink and green matcha shop is super cute and the drinks were unique and delicious. There are several locations around the city and each visit did not disappoint!
I hope this New York City Travel Guide inspired your travels & helps you create some beautiful content! Be sure to tag me @sammcclendon so I can see what you created and feel free to leave a comment below or send me a DM if you have any questions
