Pics or It Didn’t Happen
What’s the best indicator of how memorable, beautiful and inspirational a place is? The number of photos that have been taken there.
And where do the best of these photos end up? On Instagram, of course.
Instagram is the perfect place to let your passion for travel grow, allowing you to share your own experiences while being inspired by the adventures being had on some of the best travel Instagram accounts out there.
Why not go a step further and use Instagram as a jumping off point to find some of the most picturesque and remarkable places on earth?
In 2016, the travel booking cite Hoppa analyzed data to determine the most Instagrammed cities in the world. The site explains that while things can change on a daily basis when it comes to social networking, these rankings tend to see “little or no movement.”
Starting with number 10 and working our way down to number one, here are the most Instagrammed destinations on the planet.
10. Moscow
Moscow made it to number 10 thanks to hosting one of the most iconic and instantly recognizable spots in the world, the city’s Red Square with its onion-domed church and Kremlin complex.
It’s the entire nation’s most visited and most photographed attraction.
9. Barcelona
It’s really no surprise that this beautiful city made the list of most instagrammed places in the world with its magnificent beaches, squares and cathedrals, but it is Antoni Gaudi’s spectacular Guell Park that gets the most focus when it comes to Instagram.
A walk here is like taking a stroll through a fantasy world with features like the Dragon Staircase and the Hypostyle room with 86 columns — all with a jaw-dropping city view as the backdrop.
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8. Las Vegas
Las Vegas falls in at number eight when it comes to most instagrammed locations, thanks to its dazzling bright lights and the popular Bellagio Fountain. The fountain puts on a show every 15 minutes each night, featuring choreographed performances set to lights and music.
If you’ve ever been there, you know that between those iconic fountains in the front and the botanical gardens and conservatory in the lobby, it’s difficult to walk just a few feet without landing in someone’s camera shot.
7. Miami
This Southern Florida city can thank its high ranking to being home to some of the most famous beaches in the world and the largest collection of 1930s Art Deco buildings on Earth. But it’s not Miami’s stretches of sand, beautiful people or structures that people photograph most.
The thought-provoking art known as the Wynwood Walls, a unique outdoor destination with massive, colorful street murals created by artists from across the globe, is captured and posted on Instagram more than any other spot.
6. Istanbul
At number six is Istanbul, a city that straddles Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus Strait in Turkey. It offers lots of picture-postcard moments, including the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar, one of the most popular destinations in the world.
The ancient and practically mythical market is chaotic, exciting and colorful, with some 4,000 shops selling everything from gold Byzantine-style jewelry to intricately patterned carpets and hand-painted ceramics.
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5. Los Angeles
The City of Angels ranks at number five, but when it comes to being the “most liked” destination in the world, it falls in at number one (it also happens to be the “Destination with the Most Sexually Suggestive Selfies”).
Some of LA’s most Instagrammed spots include the Santa Monica Pier, the Capitol Records Building, the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Hollywood sign.
4. Dubai
Dubai ranks high as it’s the home of the Dubai Fountains and Burj Khalifa, one of the most popular selfie destinations on the planet and the tallest structure in the world.
But it’s the Dubai Mall, the world’s largest mall by total area, that’s gotten the most attention on Instagram in recent months.
3. Paris
Paris is the top destination for Instagram couples and comes in at number three overall. Of course, we probably don’t need to tell you that the Eiffel Tower is the most popular place for a photo in this legendarily romantic city.
Other top contenders include the Louvre, the multitude of colorful doors and the many brilliant gardens.
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2. London
London is the most “selfied” destination in the world, and comes in at number two overall.
Those who travel here most often Instagram photos of the Tower Bridge, Big Ben, the London Eye and the haunted Tower of London, once home to political prisoners who were tortured and subsequently executed.
1. New York City
And, finally, the most Instagrammed city in the entire world. The study notes this fun fact: “There are around 150,000 Instagram photos posted in New York City per day.”
That’s over 50 million in just one year. Those images most often feature the Empire State Building (or the view from it), the Brooklyn Bridge and Grand Central Terminal.