Insta Landmarks: the 'Instagram Hotspots' that are must-see destinations

The world is bursting with incredible landmarks to discover. Some of them are famous thanks to their history and cultural significance – including being recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site – while others are famous simply because of how incredible they look. Top attractions like these are always a draw for travellers looking to see some of these magnificent sights for themselves and learn a little more about a destination – iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal or Big Ben feature at the top of many travellers’ bucket lists.

Thanks to the age of photo sharing and image-driven social media platforms such as Instagram, other picturesque locations have seen a surge in popularity thanks to the backdrop they provide for an Insta-selfie. From brightly coloured cafes in London to beach-side swings abroad – or well-known locations with stunning architecture – nowadays people often discover their must-see destinations via Instagram rather than a traditional guidebook or travel site.

So we decided to do our Insta-research to pull together a little inn-spiration! We looked at more than 1000 ‘Instagram hotspots’ around the world to reveal which top the charts as the world’s most popular Instagram landmarks.

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Here, we’ll be revealing:

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The world’s top 50 Instagram landmarks

Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

According to Instagram hashtag data, Dubai Mall is the world’s top Instagram landmark, with more than 7,237,343 posts found under the associated hashtag on the platform. The world’s largest destination for shopping, entertainment and leisure – with more than 12,100,000 square feet to explore! – the Dubai Mall is much more than just a shopping centre. The Human Waterfall, a waterfall reaching 24 metres in height, is a particular favourite of travellers looking for a like-worthy social media snap.

Dubai Marina follows in second place with 6,057,997 tags on Instagram. City Walk follows in third, giving Dubai a clean sweep across the world’s top three most Instagrammable destinations.

Other locations across Asia are popular with Instagrammers – the continent makes up more than half of the top 20 landmarks on our list! Ha Long Bay in Vietnam ranks in fifth place overall thanks to its iconic limestone mountains, with 1,277,216 photos tagged at this location on Instagram. Singapore’s spectacular Gardens by the Bay ranks in sixth, with Malaysia’s rainbow coloured Batu Caves in eighth.

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São Paulo’s Avenida Paulista, or Paulista Avenue, ranks as the top location in South America and seventh on the global charts, with 1,166,906 images on Instagram. Plus, if you’re thinking of visiting Ireland any time soon, you’re in for a treat! Ireland’s Cliffs of Moher place highest for Europe, as well as being the only European landmark in the top 10. The famous Temple Bar in Dublin comes in at number 16 – meaning a second entry for Ireland in the top 20 – with 608,968 images posted to Instagram from the iconic destination. This vibrant district is the beating heart of Dublin, well known around the world for its Irish music, whisky and beer collections and unrivalled craic for those looking for a good time.

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Rank	Landmark	City	Country	Continent	No. Posts for Hashtag
1	Dubai Mall	Dubai	United Arab Emirates	Asia	7,237,343
2	Dubai Marina	Dubai	United Arab Emirates	Asia	6,057,997
3	City Walk	Dubai	United Arab Emirates	Asia	2,557,044
4	Marina Bay Sands	Singapore	Singapore	Asia	2,137,573
5	Ha Long Bay	Ha Long	Vietnam	Asia	1,277,216
6	Gardens by the Bay	Singapore	Singapore	Asia	1,264,647
7	Avenida Paulista	São Paulo	Brazil	South America	1166906
8	Batu Caves	Gombak	Malaysia	Asia	1,028,911
9	Wynwood Walls	Miami	USA	North America	966,407
10	Cliffs of Moher	-	Ireland	Europe	737,968
11	Park Guell	Barcelona	Spain	Europe	714,813
12	Wadi Rum	-	Jordan	Asia	682,955
13	Blue Mosque	Istanbul	Turkey	Asia	679,580
14	Grand Bazaar	Istanbul	Turkey	Asia	643,723
15	Hagia Sophia	Istanbul	Turkey	Asia	621,666
16	Temple Bar	Dublin	Ireland	Europe	608,968
17	Gamla Stan	Stockholm	Sweden	Europe	603,675
18	Pelourinho	Salvador	Brazil	South America	562,292
19	Canoa Quebrada	Aracati, Ceará	Brazil	South America	562,244
20	Maya Bay	Koh Phi Phi	Thailand	Asia	533,342
21	Hawa Wahal	Jaipur	India	Asia	507,353
22	San Cristóbal de las Casas	Chiapas	Mexico	North America	491,875
23	Beco do Batman	São Paulo	Brazil	South America	464,039
24	Atomium	Brussels	Belgium	Europe	448,611
25	Wat Pho	Bangkok	Thailand	Asia	434,063
26	Huacachina	Ica	Peru	South America	422,807
27	Plitvice Lakes	-	Croatia	Europe	420,883
28	Lagoa Azul	Ilha Grande, Rio	Brazil	South America	411,711
29	Villa La Angostura	Neuquén	Argentina	South America	406,441
30	Sidi Bou Said	Sidi Bou Said	Tunisia	Africa	405,241
31	Borobudur Temple	Magelang	Indonesia	Asia	403,096
32	Palermo Soho	Buenos Aires	Argentina	South America	392,062
33	Lake Bled	Bled	Slovenia	Europe	390,066
34	Casa Batllo	Barcelona	Spain	Europe	387,241
35	Petronas Towers	Kuala Lumpur	Malaysia	Asia	386,274
36	Kite Beach	Dubai	United Arab Emirates	Asia	378,402
37	Giants Causeway	-	Ireland	Europe	360,734
38	Comuna 13	Medellín	Colombia	South America	350,022
39	Morskie Oko	-	Poland	Europe	349,671
40	The Bund	Shanghai	China	Asia	348,893
41	Trinity College	Dublin	Ireland	Europe	347,030
42	Varanasi Ghats	Varanasi	India	Asia	343,644
43	Parque Lage	Rio de Janeiro	Brazil	South America	334,898
44	Moraine Lake	Alberta	Canada	North America	331,793
45	La Candelaria	Bogotá	Colombia	South America	327,221
46	Fell's Point	Baltimore	USA	North America	326,872
47	The Distillery District	Ontario	Canada	North America	326,244
48	Mount Bromo	East Java	Indonesia	Asia	318,307
49	Intramuros	Manila	Philippines	Asia	317,603
50	Longwood Gardens	Kennett Square	USA	North America	311,253

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Dubai Mall

1. Dubai Mall, Dubai, UAE - 7,237,343 posts for hashtag

Found next to the Burj Khalifa in the downtown area of the city, the Dubai Mall is a must-visit for anyone visiting Dubai.

With over 1000 shops inside, including luxury brands like Cartier, it’s the perfect place to visit for shopaholics.

However, there’s more to the Dubai Mall than just shops; with a spectacular indoor aquarium, ice rink and cinema – as well as observation points offering panoramic views of the city – there’s something for everyone to enjoy, plus plenty of spots to snap the perfect pic for your socials.

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Dubai Marina

2. Dubai Marina, Dubai, UAE - 6,057,997 posts for hashtag

The stunning Dubai Marina is a waterfront development that stretches along 3km of artificial canal in Dubai.

With luxury yachts, sky-high residential towers, vibrant nightlife and fine dining, it’s easy to see why it’s a popular attraction for both locals and tourists alike.

The waterfront setting offers a great location for taking photos of the city at night, with the city lights reflecting on the water and the canal’s bridges providing a spectacular backdrop.

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City Walk

3. City Walk, Dubai, UAE - 2,557,044 posts for hashtag

The last of the top three, City Walk is yet another vibrant destination to visit in Dubai.

With a mix of retail, dining and entertainment experiences on offer both indoors and outdoors, there’s plenty to explore.

The tree-lined avenues of the development also provide a brilliant backdrop for anyone wanting to capture their OOTD!

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Neal's Yard

The UK’s top Instagram landmarks

Neal’s Yard in London places as the top Instagram landmark in the UK, with 183,907 related posts on the platform. This picture-perfect courtyard, which can be found near the iconic Covent Garden, is a vibrant spot known for its many independent shops and cafes, tucked down a narrow alleyway near the centre of Seven Dials. So the next time you’re looking for things to do in London, head over to Neal’s Yard to snap some pics of this brightly coloured destination before tasting some of the local sweet treats on offer.

Sheffield’s Kelham Island ranks in second position in the UK, with 93,691 related hashtag posts. Once the heart of the city’s steel industry, it’s now a vibrant part of Sheffield’s culture – thanks to its trendy bars, restaurants, breweries and cafes, it’s become a hub for both foodies and craft beer enthusiasts alike.

Plus, with museums and historic architecture to discover too, visiting this landmark should be top of your to do list on Sheffield city breaks.

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Dean Village in Edinburgh completes the top three UK landmarks, with this picturesque neighbourhood easily among one of the most photographed spots in the Scottish capital. Not far from the city centre, this area was originally a milling village, but the quaint cobbles and well-preserved architecture make it a popular spot for travellers looking to enjoy the beauty of the area. The 82,643 images tagged at Dean Village speak for themselves, so make time for a visit on weekends away in Edinburgh.

Famous London landmarks take up most of the other top spots of Instagram favourites, with Lambeth’s graffiti hotspot Leake Street Tunnel – also known as the Leake Street Arches – ranking in fourth, the spectacular Sky Garden near London Bank placing in fifth and iconic Leadenhall Market in sixth. It’s not all about London though – Wollaton Hall in Nottingham, Jesmond Dene in Newcastle, St George’s Market in Belfast and Ashton Lane in Glasgow make up the rest of the top 10, showing that Instagrammers will have plenty of opportunities to get the perfect shot on days out in the UK.

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Rank	Landmark	City	No. Posts for Hashtag
1	Neal's Yard	London	183,907
2	Kelham Island	Sheffield	93,691
3	Dean Village	Edinburgh	82,643
4	Leake Street Tunnel	London	74,829
5	Sky Garden	London	74,297
6	Leadenhall Market	London	70,317
7	Wollaton Hall	Nottingham	50,674
8	Jesmond Dene	Newcastle	43,221
9	St. George’s Market	Belfast	33,452
10	Ashton Lane	Glasgow	31,971
11	Daunt Books	London	30,695
12	Rhossili Bay	Swansea	29,344
13	FarGo Village	Coventry	25,084
14	Birmingham Canals	Birmingham	24,675
15	Wapping Wharf	Bristol	24,248
16	Leeds Corn Exchange	Leeds	23,544
17	Grainger Market	Newcastle	23,234
18	Little Venice (London)	London	21,989
19	Duthie Park	Aberdeen	19,850
20	Southampton Common	Southampton	19,249
21	Mumbles Pier	Swansea	16,876
22	Victoria Baths	Manchester	15,720
23	Sneinton Market	Nottingham	13,892
24	Mackie Mayor	Manchester	13,563
25	Clarendon Park	Leicester	11,988

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Wynwood Walls

The USA’s top Instagram landmarks

Across the pond in the USA, the Wynwood Walls in Miami take the crown as the most posted landmark on Instagram – just shy of a million hashtag posts for the location! It’s a world-famous outdoor street art museum that showcases huge murals from some of the most prominent graffiti artists around the world. Murals are always popular on Instagram, so it’s no surprise that so many people flock to this location to snap a few pics for socials. The artwork changes periodically too, so it’s a location Instagrammers could visit again and again for fresh content.

Fell’s Point in Baltimore places in second, with 326,872 posts for the hashtag on Instagram. One of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods well known for its cobblestones and maritime history, it’s a great spot for a waterside walk with plenty of photo ops along the way.

With original storefronts, bars, restaurants and shops to explore, locals and tourists alike head to this destination to soak up the scenery – and the tasty seafood!

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Pennsylvania’s Longwood Gardens rounds off the top three for the USA, with 311,253 posts. A beautiful botanical garden spanning more than 1000 acres, Longwood Gardens has plenty to explore. Featuring stunning indoor and outdoor gardens, fountains and flower displays – plus events such as light shows, concerts and educational programmes – you could spend hours enjoying this scenic attraction.

Acorn Street in Boston ranks in fourth position for the USA, with Atlanta’s Piedmont Park and Ponce City Market following in fifth and sixth.

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Rank	Landmark	City	State	No. Posts for Hashtag
1	Wynwood Walls	Miami	Florida	966,407
2	Fell's Point	Baltimore	Maryland	326,872
3	Longwood Gardens	Kennett Square	Pennsylvania	311,253
4	Acorn Street	Boston	Massachusetts	269,750
5	Piedmont Park	Atlanta	Georgia	263,411
6	Ponce City Market	Atlanta	Georgia	248,391
7	The High Line	New York City	New York	213,179
8	Seven Magic Mountains	Las Vegas	Nevada	183,308
9	Valley of Fire State Park	Overton	Nevada	131,461
10	Bonneville Salt Flats	Wendover	Utah	128,245
11	Cadillac Ranch	Amarillo	Texas	126,212
12	Chihuly Garden and Glass	Seattle	Washington	125,935
13	The Last Bookstore	Los Angeles	California	113,284
14	Carytown	Richmond	Virginia	103,432
15	House on the Rock	Spring Green	Wisconsin	98,424
16	RiNo Art District	Denver	Colorado	97,439
17	Deep Creek Lake	Garrett County	Maryland	91,731
18	Driftwood Beach	Jekyll Island	Georgia	86,709
19	Roosevelt Row	Phoenix	Arizona	84,127
20	Minnehaha Falls	Minneapolis	Minnesota	83,099
21	Reading Terminal Market	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	73,606
22	Grounds for Sculpture	Hamilton	New Jersey	70,794
23	Luray Caverns	Luray	Virginia	65,275
24	Short North Arts District	Columbus	Ohio	63,620
25	Chincoteague Island	Chincoteague	Virginia	61,555

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The incredible San Cristóbal de las Casas in Mexico ranks highly too, with 491,875 posts from the location - which would place it second for the continent as a whole. With 331,793 posts, Canada’s stunning Moraine Lake ranks as the most posted location from the country, placing it in the top five overall for North America.

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Hosier Lane

Australia’s top Instagram landmarks

With more than 200,000 posts for the related hashtag on Instagram, Hosier Lane in Melbourne takes the crown as Australia’s most snapped location. Famous for its vibrant and ever-changing art, the street is popular with locals and tourists looking to explore the artistic side of the city. Like we saw with London’s Leake Street and the Wynwood Walls in Miami, it’s clear that Instagrammers love a mural!

The Grounds of Alexandria in Sydney is a popular cultural hub located in a former warehouse, featuring a cafe, roastery, bar, gardens and market. Best of all, The Grounds takes on a different theme every few months, with spectacular installations giving the space a whole new identity. Previous installations include Fiesta, Circus and Lavender Lane!

The beautiful Noosa National Park completes the top three for Australia with 120,914 Instagram posts including hashtags from the attraction. With spectacular views, beautiful hikes and an abundance of wildlife, it’s the perfect location to lose yourself in for an afternoon. Glenelg Beach in Adelaide follows in fourth position, with Eumundi Markets following in fifth.

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Rank	Landmark	City	State	No. Posts for Hashtag
1	Hosier Lane	Melbourne	Victoria	200,176
2	The Grounds of Alexandria	Sydney	New South Wales	121,716
3	Noosa National Park	Sunshine Coast	Queensland	120,914
4	Glenelg Beach	Adelaide	South Australia	70,399
5	Eumundi Markets	Sunshine Coast	Queensland	68,344
6	Mount Wellington	Hobart	Tasmania	59,541
7	Geelong Waterfront	Geelong	Victoria	55,666
8	New Farm Park	Brisbane	Queensland	45,153
9	Kings Park Perth	Perth	Western Australia	40,028
10	Tallebudgera Creek	Gold Coast	Queensland	39,605
11	Merewether Beach	Newcastle	New South Wales	38,391
12	Carlton Gardens	Melbourne	Victoria	37,887
13	St. Kilda Pier	Melbourne	Victoria	34,962
14	Pakington Street	Geelong	Victoria	31,531
15	Eastern Beach	Geelong	Victoria	30,381
16	Abbotsford Convent	Melbourne	Victoria	29814
17	Lake Illawarra	Wollongong	New South Wales	28,576
18	Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria	Melbourne	Victoria	26,755
19	Semaphore Beach	Adelaide	South Australia	26,504
20	Howard Smith Wharves	Brisbane	Queensland	25,978
21	Miami Marketta	Gold Coast	Queensland	25,021
22	Battery Point	Hobart	Tasmania	24,371
23	Maroochy River	Sunshine Coast	Queensland	23,935
24	McMahons Point	Sydney	New South Wales	21,190
25	Barwon River	Geelong	Victoria	19,890

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Outside of Australia, the picturesque Cathedral Cove ranks as the top location for New Zealand, with 123,400 posts from the beach on Instagram, placing it in second on the list for Oceania as a whole. The Franz Josef Glacier and the Hobbiton Movie set are also popular attractions, with both locations having more than 83,000 images on the platform.

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Cliffs of Moher

Europe’s top Instagram landmarks

As well as ranking in the top 10 landmarks globally, the Cliffs of Moher also rank as the top Insta landmark for Europe as a whole. One of Ireland’s most iconic natural landmarks, the incredible cliffs rise to 214m high and stretch for 8km along the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. They’re not just popular on social media either – the dramatic cliffs have been featured in a number of films including Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince!

Park Güell in Barcelona follows in second place, with 714,813 posts of the location on its Instagram hashtag. Designed by famous architect Antoni Gaudí, who also created numerous other famous destinations across the city, Park Güell blends fascinating buildings and sculptures – such as the lizard “El Drac” – with lush gardens, as well as stunning views across Barcelona. This historic park limits the number of guests each day to try and preserve it, so if you’re hoping to get some pictures of this iconic spot in Barcelona, make sure you book a ticket in advance!

Dublin’s Temple Bar completes the top three locations in Europe, with Stockholm’s Gamla Stan and the Atomium in Brussels rounding off the top five.

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Rank	Landmark	City	Country	No. Posts for Hashtag
1	Cliffs of Moher	-	Ireland	737,968
2	Park Güell	Barcelona	Spain	714,813
3	Temple Bar	Dublin	Ireland	608,968
4	Gamla Stan	Stockholm	Sweden	603,675
5	Atomium	Brussels	Belgium	448,611
6	Plitvice Lakes	-	Croatia	420,883
7	Lake Bled	Bled	Slovenia	390,066
8	Casa Batllo	Barcelona	Spain	387,241
9	Giants Causeway	-	Ireland	360,734
10	Morskie Oko	-	Poland	349,671
11	Trinity College	Dublin	Ireland	347,030
12	Vondelpark	Amsterdam	Netherlands	302,960
13	Preikestolen	Strand	Norway	285,747
14	Retiro Park's Crystal Palace	Madrid	Spain	280,967
15	Trolltunga	Odda	Norway	224,972
16	TimeOut Lisboa	Lisbon	Portugal	196,797
17	Krka National Park	Šibenik	Croatia	193,081
18	Aker Brygge	Oslo	Norway	188,604
19	Guinness Storehouse	Dublin	Ireland	188,524
20	Seljalandsfoss	Reykjavik	Iceland	185,314
21	Canal Saint-Martin	Paris	France	180,793
22	Transfagarasan	Albestii de Arges	Romania	177,293
23	Sighisoara	Sighișoara	Romania	171,335
24	Pena Palace	Sintra	Portugal	167,474
25	Fisherman's Bastion	Budapest	Hungary	162,544

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Avenida Paulista

South America’s top Instagram landmarks

South America is known for its beautiful natural scenery, vibrant colours and culture, but Avenida Paulista in São Paulo offers a different view of the region. One of the most significant thoroughfares in the city, the Avenida Paulista is known as an important commercial and financial hub, with many towering buildings flanking the street. It’s also lined with museums, art galleries and shopping centres, transforming into a pedestrian-only area on Sundays when it hosts street performances and other exciting events. The skyscrapers provide an impressive backdrop, which explains why the area is so popular with Instagrammers!

The Pelourhino in Salvador is a spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its colonial style and pastel-coloured buildings. The 17th and 18th century architecture – combined with its cobblestone streets – help make this historic attraction a must-see destination. More than 562,292 photos have been tagged at the location, and it’s easy to see why!

Canoa Quebrada in Aracati, Beco do Batman in São Paulo and Huacachina in Ica, Peru complete the top five locations for South America, all with more than 422,000 photos tagged per location.

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Rank	Landmark	City	Country	No. Posts for Hashtag
1	Avenida Paulista	São Paulo	Brazil	1,166,906
2	Pelourinho	Salvador	Brazil	562,292
3	Canoa Quebrada	Aracati	Brazil	562,244
4	Beco do Batman	São Paulo	Brazil	464,039
5	Huacachina	Ica	Peru	422,807
6	Lagoa Azul	Ilha Grande	Brazil	411,711
7	Villa La Angostura	Neuquén	Argentina	406,441
8	Palermo Soho	Buenos Aires	Argentina	392,062
9	Comuna 13	Medellín	Colombia	350,022
10	Parque Lage	Rio de Janeiro	Brazil	334,898
11	La Candelaria	Bogotá	Colombia	327,221
12	Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas	Rio de Janeiro	Brazil	300,112
13	El Bolsón	Río Negro	Argentina	264,925
14	Escadaria Selarón	Rio de Janeiro	Brazil	242,796
15	Ollantaytambo	Sacred Valley	Peru	238,882
16	Praia do Amor	Pipa	Brazil	212,195
17	Valle de la Luna	San Juan	Argentina	209,486
18	Pedra do Telégrafo	Barra de Guaratiba	Brazil	171,983
19	Jericoacoara Beach	Jericoacoara	Brazil	145,564
20	Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca)	Cusco Region	Peru	116,004
21	Piedra del Peñol	Guatapé	Colombia	110,611
22	Salinas Grandes	Jujuy	Argentina	108,258
23	Vale da Lua	Chapada dos Veadeiros	Brazil	92,178
24	La Cumbrecita	Córdoba	Argentina	85,559
25	Quebrada de Humahuaca	Jujuy	Argentina	77,739

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Sidi Bou Said

Africa’s top Instagram landmarks

Tunisia’s Sidi Bou Said tops the list as Instagram’s most popular landmark in Africa with 405,241 posts, beating the spectacular Jardin Majorelle in Marrakesh (263,975) by some margin despite how photogenic the famous garden is!

Known for its cobbled streets and striking blue and white buildings – similar to those found in Santorini, Greece – this scenic village overlooking the Gulf of Tunis and the Mediterranean Sea is a favourite among photographers thanks to its stunning appearance and views.

Sidi Bou Said has also been home to many artists over the years and features a number of art galleries and shops selling unique crafts too!

Beautiful Diani Beach in Kenya and Cape Point in South Africa complete the top five for the continent.

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Rank	Landmark	City	Country	No. Posts for Hashtag
1	Sidi Bou Said	Sidi Bou Said	Tunisia	405,241
2	Jardin Majorelle	Marrakesh	Morocco	263,975
3	Diani Beach		Kenya	228,263
4	Cape Point	Cape Town	South Africa	196,162
5	Karnak Temple	Luxor	Egypt	146,428
6	Bo-Kaap	Cape Town	South Africa	137,276
7	Valley of the Kings		Egypt	129,242
8	Chapman's Peak	Cape Town	South Africa	102,193
9	Tozeur	Chott el Djerid	Tunisia	99,724
10	V and A Waterfront	Cape Town	South Africa	89,860
11	Tabarka	Tabarka	Tunisia	82,744
12	Jemaa el-Fnaa	Marrakesh	Morocco	77,690
13	Babylonstoren	Franschhoek	South Africa	77,667
14	Bahia Palace	Marrakesh	Morocco	68,560
15	Khan el Khallili	Cairo	Egypt	65,309
16	Nubian Village	Aswan	Egypt	54,466
17	Lake Nakuru	Nakuru	Kenya	53,507
18	Philae	Philae	Egypt	44,875
19	Mount Kenya	Nairobi	Kenya	35,965
20	Abu Simbel Temple	Abu Simbel	Egypt	35,513
21	Lamu Island		Kenya	29,134
22	Le Jardin Secret	Marrakesh	Morocco	28,528
23	Maasai Mara National Reserve	Narok	Kenya	28,284
24	Mosque Hassan II	Casablanca	Morocco	26,132
25	Ouzoud Falls	Azilal	Morocco	25,635

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Marina Bay Sands

Asia’s top Instagram landmarks

As well as ranking in the top three globally, the Dubai Mall, Dubai Marina and City Walk also rank highest among Asia’s top attractions on Instagram. The Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, Ha Long Bay in Vietnam and Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay complete the top five for the continent’s hotspots.

The Wadi Rum in Jordan, and Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar all make the top 10 in Asia, after narrowly missing out in the global rankings. Also known as the Valley of the Moon, Jordan’s Wadi Rum is a valley cut into the sandstone and rock in Southern Jordan and has become a site of significant importance thanks to the petroglyphs, inscriptions and ruins left by prehistoric civilizations. With so many breathtaking views, it’s no surprise that the site has also hosted film shoots for movies such as The Rise of Skywalker from the Star Wars series.

Famous for its stunning blue tiles, six minarets and ornate decoration, the Blue Mosque in Istanbul is a must-visit for any travellers heading to the city. The Grand Bazaar is similarly unmissable, with the labyrinthine alleyways and stalls of the covered market providing an unforgettable experience for visitors – though a tour guide may come in handy if you don’t want to get lost!

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Rank	Landmark	City	Country	No. Posts for Hashtag
1	Dubai Mall	Dubai	United Arab Emirates	7,237,343
2	Dubai Marina	Dubai	United Arab Emirates	6,057,997
3	City Walk	Dubai	United Arab Emirates	2,557,044
4	Marina Bay Sands	Singapore	Singapore	2,137,573
5	Ha Long Bay	Ha Long	Vietnam	1,277,216
6	Gardens by the Bay	Singapore	Singapore	1,264,647
7	Batu Caves	Gombak	Malaysia	1,028,911
8	Wadi Rum		Jordan	682,955
9	Blue Mosque	Istanbul	Turkey	679,580
10	Grand Bazaar	Istanbul	Turkey	643,723
11	Hagia Sophia	Istanbul	Turkey	621,666
12	Maya Bay	Koh Phi Phi	Thailand	533,342
13	Hawa Mahal ("Palace of Winds")	Jaipur	India	507,353
14	Wat Pho	Bangkok	Thailand	434,063
15	Borobudur Temple	Magelong	Indonesia	403,096
16	Petronas Towers	Kuala Lumpur	Malaysia	386,274
17	Kite Beach	Dubai	United Arab Emirates	378,402
18	The Bund	Shanghai	China	348,893
19	Varanasi Ghats	Varanasi	India	343,644
20	Mount Bromo	Surabaya	Indonesia	318,307
21	Intramuros	Manila	Philippines	317,603
22	KL Tower	Kuala Lumpur	Malaysia	281,593
23	TeamLab Borderless	Tokyo	Japan	274,407
24	Inle Lake	Nyaungshwe Township	Myanmar	252,943
25	Kampot	Kampot	Cambodia	25,635

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Have we got you feeling inn-spired to visit some of Instagram’s most famous landmarks? Then maybe it’s time to book a short break with us! As well as having great value UK hotels for Instagrammable city breaks in London, Sheffield, Edinburgh and Glasgow, our handy airport hotels are the perfect base for stopovers before jetting off to destinations further afield.

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Methodology:

1,066 popular photogenic sites, that are regularly touted as ‘Instagram landmarks’ were compiled using desk research of countries, cities and states from around the world – excluding many ‘traditional’ landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and Big Ben. The locations were then searched on Instagram, and the number of posts relating to their appropriate hashtag was recorded. This data was then used to rank the locations around the world, with those with the most posts deemed the most popular and crowned ‘Insta Landmarks’.

Data correct as of October 2024.