Take a picture it’ll last longer.” Most often a retort to someone staring, the phrase is sage advice when it comes to travel. Long after a trip ends, we can return to the photographs we took to remind us of every magical moment we experienced. The benefit of visiting these 12 most Instagrammable cities is they make getting the shot especially easy. From Florence and its frescos to Vancouver with its breathtaking mountain backdrop, these urban destinations are apt to get all the likes.
Florence, Italy
Santa Maria del Fiore, Ponte Vecchio, Michelangelo’s David—Florence serves up all kinds of unparalleled icons to snap up. Close to them all in Piazza della Repubblica, Hotel Savoy provides a picturesque place to recharge between explorations. If you book the Duomo Presidential Suite, you’ll have an enviable view of the Arnolfo di Cambio-designed Gothic cathedral and its Filippo Brunelleschi-engineered Renaissance cupola.
Rome, Italy
When in Rome, turn your lens on the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Pantheon and the list goes on. In the center of the Eternal City, not far from Trevi and even closer to Villa Borghese, Baglioni Hotel Regina Rome adds Art Deco sophistication and impeccable service to a Roman holiday. Views too—the most spectacular one, a 360-degree city panorama, from their Roman Penthouse Luxury Apartment.
Paris, France
“A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty and the point of life,” said Thomas Jefferson, and if the handheld camera had existed in his time, he could’ve added “and a full picture roll” to that list. A paragon of elegance, The Peninsula Paris puts you steps from the Arc de Triomphe and its rooftop restaurant and bar, L’Oiseau Blanc, dishes up near-eye level views of the Eiffel Tower.
London, England
The English capital is one of the most visited cities in the world and with so many historic sites—from the very old Tower of London to the Abbey Road Crossing made famous by the Beatles—it’s no wonder. Setting you up for some of the very best London sights, Flemings Mayfair resides in the upscale neighborhood bordering Hyde Park. The boon of booking a plush room here is you’re enticingly close to Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus and Savile Row.
Cape Town, South Africa
From the top of Table Mountain to Cape Point and Boulders Beach with its penguin colony in between, Cape Town doles out a whole lot of natural splendor. Occupying an old grain silo near the port, The Silo Hotel here boasts a jaw-dropping view of the city. From its rooftop, take in the flat-topped mountain and harbor, as well as a swim—there’s a spectacular pool up there.
Jaipur, India
Also known as the Pink City, Jaipur brims with astonishingly beautiful structures, including Hawa Mahal, City Palace and Amber Place, and you can stay in one too. Built in 1745 and set on 18 acres of Mughal gardens, Taj Jai Mahal Palace housed three prime ministers before becoming a 100-room, five-star hotel. Make sure you leave a night open for romantic private dining out in the gardens, it’s particularly picturesque.
Singapore
Right on arrival in Singapore, there’s incredible things to capture—its Changi Airport has the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, for starters. Close to the Fort Canning Park Tree Tunnel and Gardens by the Bay, SO/Singapore is also Instagram-worthy. Housed within a 1920s heritage building, the hotel’s bright, bold interior is the work of Karl Lagerfeld.
Hong Kong
Sunset glow reflecting off towering glass buildings, lush green hillsides, colorful murals hidden down alleyways—these are a few of our favorite Hong Kong sights. So is the Victoria Harbour view from The Upper House. The stylish work of architect Andre Fu, the hotel rises from the Admiralty neighborhood where the gardens and aviary of Hong Kong Park and the tram and trails up Victoria Peak are within reach.
Tokyo, Japan
Capture ancient shrines one minute and futuristic-looking skyscrapers the next—Tokyo delivers the spectrum. Rooted in one of the most iconic neighborhoods, Kimpton Shinjuku Tokyo is near Yoyogi Park, Meiji Shrine and the Sakura of Shinjuku Gyoen. The hotel knows aesthetics; it even has its own art gallery.
Cartagena, Colombia
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984, Cartagena is known for its walled Old City filled with wildly colorful, Spanish-style buildings. Immerse yourself in even more history with a stay at Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena. In Barrio de San Diego with views of the Caribbean, the hotel refreshes what was once a 17th-century monastery. One of its many Instagram-worthy setups is the Amaral Suite which includes an ocean-view terrace with a private Jacuzzi and pergola for entertaining.
New York, New York
Google “most Instagrammable spots in New York” and you get lists of 30-plus locations—the Big Apple is, naturally, just that juicy. In the heart of Midtown Manhattan, the Yabu Pushelberg-designed Park Hyatt New York sits across the street from Carnegie Hall and a block from Central Park. Speaking of the park, the hotel will arrange a personalized picnic there, complete with basket and blanket, and you can wake to views of it by booking one of their upper floor specialty suites.
Vancouver, Canada
While Vancouver is Kiwi Collection’s home base, you needn’t take our word for it being highly Instagrammable—the harbor city on Canada’s West Coast routinely lands on Most Beautiful Cities lists, usually with a photo featuring Stanley Park and downtown’s glass high-rises backed by the towering North Shore Mountains. Fairmont Pacific Rim enjoys a privileged view of those mountains along with proximity to the city’s most photographed park along the picturesque Seawall.
