The best way to learn about the 'city of angels,' also known as Los Angeles, is by visiting its prominent landmarks. While planning a vacation, travelers not only seek the beach to have an amazing holiday but also seek places that boast an array of sights for all kinds of visitors. These include parks, museums, observatory decks, or viewpoints. In Los Angeles, you'll definitely learn about the culture, vibrancy, and nightlife, but also boost your Instagram activity with likes and comments by capturing the best photos.
This article talks about the best Instagrammable spots in Los Angeles, featuring unique architecture, magnificent exhibits, pristine vistas, and artistic decorations. So don't forget to carry your best camera and phone as you visit these places in LA.
1) Urban Light at LACMA
If you don't have a stunning Instagram-worthy picture from Urban Light, were you ever really in Los Angeles? One of the popular Instagram spots in LA, Urban Light, is situated on the Los Angeles County Museum of Art grounds.
Opened in 2008, Urban Light is an installation of 202 street lights located at the museum entrance, and it is almost impossible to capture a bad picture of it. This set-up isn't the only place for a photo shoot in Los Angeles. There are multiple equally impressive spots here, such as Levitated Mass, palm trees, and many more.
Best time to visit: In the evening/night when lights are visible.
Address: 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036, USA, United States
Opening hours: 11am - 10pm (daily)
2) Griffith Observatory
The iconic building of Griffith Observatory is one of the best Instagrammable spots in Los Angeles. Offering the most incredible panoramic views of the LA skyline from the balcony and observation deck, this spot sometimes also offers views of Palos Verdes Peninsula on the clearest day.
The parking lot here at peak hours can be full, so you may want to park your vehicle at the bottom of the hill. From here, you can either take the free shuttle, observatory bus, or even hike up the hill. If you're choosing the last option, know that there are some trails right behind the observatory that will take you above Griffith for even more unique and spellbinding vistas.
Best time to visit: Getting here early afternoon or weekday morning for clear skies and to beat crowds is the best option.
Address: 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Opening hours: The grounds are open all days of the week
3) Santa Monica Pier
If you're on a hunt for great places for photography in Los Angeles, this is it! An amazing click at Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles literally screams out California. This photogenic spot has endless options, with various angles and plenty of areas for capturing great pictures.
You could be visiting here to get photos of the Ferris Wheel, pink and orange sunsets at the beach, or the artsy eateries; nonetheless, you're sure to get some dramatic photos at this location.
Best time to visit: Summer (June - September) is usually the best time to visit and around sunset
Address: 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Opening hours: 10am - 10pm (daily)
4) Venice Canals
One of the best Instagrammable places in LA is the Venice Canals. Rain or shine, sunrise or sunset, Venice Canal Historic District is a beautiful place to capture your shot at any given time. Built in 1905, Abbot Kinney—the developer of the canals, made sure to recreate the feel of the original Venice Canal of Italy perfectly. Here, you can take a walk on several bridges and pedestrian pathways that traverse through gardens and charming homes.
Best time to visit: It is great year-round but, spring is the best time to visit as the visitors can witness the full bloom of plants.
Address: Venice, CA 90292
Opening hours: Open 24 hours (daily)
5) Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame is one of the busiest streets in the 'city of angels' and is undoubtedly one of the best places for street photography in Los Angeles. You literally have to go down to the street level to capture the picture with the star. Well, you may not find Johnny Depp, Jennifer Aniston, or Brad Pitt on your visit to LA, but you will find these stars easily on Hollywood Boulevard any day of the weekend.
That being said, as glam as this location sounds, it isn't all that. It's busy, and it's crowded, but it's still worth a visit to this popular area that's renowned worldwide.
Best time to visit: Morning, before the clock strikes 12pm, is the best time to visit to avoid crowds.
Address: Hollywood Boulevard, Vine St, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Opening hours: Open 24 hours (daily)
6) Hollywood Sign
Ah! The classic Hollywood sign in LA is an iconic landmark. No one would believe you were ever in Los Angeles without having a picture taken in this quintessential location.
Now, if you want a close-up shot of the huge, white block letters of the sign and don't mind a bit of a hike, then make your way towards Burbank Peak Trail that will take you to the edge of the hill. While hiking, make sure to check out the right side of the trail—you'll get to witness the pristine Lake Hollywood Reservoir views.
Best time to visit: Although it's open throughout the year, the optimal time to visit is during January to early February and October to November. You get a pleasant temperature and also the best views.
Address: Los Angeles, CA 90068
Opening hours: Open 24 hours (daily)
7) The Pink Wall at Paul Smith
Rome has the Colosseum, Eiffel Tower is in Paris, and India has the Taj Mahal. And among many other spectacular things LA boasts, one of them is the famous pink wall at one of the flagship stores of Paul Smith. Situated on Melrose Avenue, both locals and tourists flock to this iconic wall to get that perfect Instagram shot.
Because of its popularity, even a security guard is hired so that everything around is running smoothly. This includes preventing the traffic, people doing a commercial shoot, etc. No wonder why it's renowned as one of the best Instagram spots in LA.
Best time to visit: Because of its insane popularity, it's best to visit this landmark before 11am.
Address: 8221 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Opening hours: Open 24 hours (daily)
8) The Bradbury Building
One of the best Instagrammable spots in LA and also the oldest building in the city, the Bradbury Building is a perfect definition of modern meets antique when it comes to architecture. This is the main reason why many people from all over come to experience it up-close-and-personal.
Here, visitors can capture a photo by the vintage stairway that emits lots of natural light from the skylight on the roof. Along with the stairway, this spot is also notable for its brick construction.
Best time to visit: Late afternoon as several tours and big groups tend to visit in the morning
Address: 304 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 6pm; Sat-Sun: 10am - 5pm
9) The Broad
Situated right next to Walt Disney Concert Hall, The Broad, in the heart of downtown, is one of the famous Instagrammable spots in Los Angeles. The best thing about visiting this place is that you don't have to be a fine art connoisseur to appreciate the museum.
This place is a fun spot to photograph, be it day or night—thanks to its unique architecture. Among the famous exhibits and art pieces present in the museum, the most Instagram-worthy shot is taken at the Infinity Mirrored Room.
Best time to visit: Visiting the museum is preferable before the peak hours, before 12pm, and after 4pm.
Address: 221 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Opening hours: Wed - Fri: 11am - 5pm; Sat - Sun: 10am - 5pm
(closed on Mon & Tue)
10) The Getty Center
This architectural landmark of LA, the Getty Center, boasts enormous space for you to capture the best pictures at any time of the day. Spread over 9,000 square meters, this landmark is set within the Getty Museum that contains some of the finest artworks in the world. Exploring this space for pictures or otherwise is as fun as it gets. Now, go ahead and snap your best photos at one of the best Instagrammable spots in Los Angeles.
Best time to visit: Since it's a vast space, it can be visited at any hour of the day during visitation hours.
Address: 1200 Getty Center Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 10am - 5pm (closed on Mon)
The list above shows Los Angeles has a lot to offer for both visitors and locals alike. You can now level up your Instagram game by visiting any of these Instagrammable spots in Los Angeles. In fact, if you are looking to travel to LA soon, our travel designers can create the perfect gram-worthy itinerary for you.
