The 10 most Instagrammed places in the world

Because if it doesn’t look good instagrammed, what’s the point?

Instagram is the traveller’s social media of choice these days and we’ve found the 10 hottest digital travel spots in the world. Here are the 10 most Instagrammed places on earth right now (with thanks to the tag-crunchers at Instagram). How many have you geo-tagged or hash-tagged?

1. Times Square, New York

New York was always destined to be on this list, but its centrepiece, Times Square, takes the number one most-Instagrammed title. Being one of the globe’s go-to New Year’s Eve focal points helps, with around one million people watching the ball drop live.

A post shared by Times Square NYC (@timessquarenyc) on Mar 24, 2017 at 8:01am PDT

2. Eiffel Tower, Paris

We’re a little surprised that one of the world’s most recognisable man-made structures, at the centre of possibly the world’s most amazing city, didn’t top the Instagram list. The trick is to get a new angle on Gustave’s wrought-iron icon. The ‘make the tower look like a toy by putting it between your fingers’ ’gram is as popular as ever.

A post shared by Carin Olsson (@parisinfourmonths) on May 3, 2017 at 3:03am PDT

3. Tower Bridge, London

London is a lively city but, with its overcast skies and muddled skyline it’s sometimes difficult to find that photographic focal point. It’s a void happily filled by instantly recognisable Tower Bridge; not to be confused with the blander-looking London Bridge a shade down river. The turreted Victorian structure sits close to many of the capital’s historic curiosities too.

A post shared by Alex On The Road (@a_ontheroad) on Jun 26, 2017 at 12:45am PDT

4. Red Square, Moscow

The fact that Moscow’s central square appears on the list shows just how much Russia is opening up as a tourist destination, but equally how much young Russian digital natives have embraced Instagram. The storybook St Basil’s Cathedral is often the focus of the huge public space – which, for the record, is not actually the colour red.

A post shared by International Traveller (@internationaltraveller) on Nov 24, 2016 at 2:17pm PST

5. Dodgers Stadium, Los Angeles

Well, there’s a curve ball… What do you get when you cross America’s second most populous city, its favourite game and a historic stadium full of phone-waving fans? The fifth most Instagrammed spot in the world, that’s what.

A post shared by @dodgerstadiumfood on Jun 26, 2017 at 5:47pm PDT

6. İstiklal Caddesi, Istanbul

It’s the Turkish capital’s go-to place for a stroll, one-and-a-half kilometres of everything you could ever want in a European city, from boutiques, galleries and cinemas to night clubs and chocolatiers. A glut of late-Ottoman architecture plus quirky old red trams help the pedestrianised street make it on the list.

7. Parque Ibirapuera, Sao Paolo

It’s not much of a mystery why a massive, beautiful parkland, servicing a city with a population of over 11 million, may just sneak onto the list. The 545-acre Parque Ibirapuera is equally popular with the active-wear crowd and the cultural elite, thanks to it housing plenty of museums and Brazilian cultural institutions.

A post shared by Parque Ibirapuera Conservação (@parqueibirapuera) on Jun 13, 2017 at 5:10pm PDT

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8. Vondelpark, Amsterdam

Yes, indeed, the Instagram crowd love parks; second case in point is Amsterdam’s escape of choice, Vondelpark. The 120-acre central spot once hit the headlines because authorities said it was okay to have sex within the boundaries, as long as it was at night. Apparently, the local police don’t necessarily agree, and we’ve seen no such related posts on Instagram.

A post shared by N A N C Y (@avocadofairy) on May 21, 2017 at 10:15pm PDT

9. Park Guell, Barcelona

Rounding out our Instagram park trilogy is incomparable Park Guell in Barcelona’s Gràcia district. It’s more than just your average public space and epically Instagrammable for a number of reasons, mainly because the UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to plenty of uber cool works and works by Antoni Gaudí, including El Drac, a mosaic dragon (lizard).

A post shared by International Traveller (@internationaltraveller) on May 1, 2017 at 4:12am PDT

10. San Francisco – Golden Gate Bridge

No prizes for guessing why the Golden Gate Bridge is so widely shot. It’s difficult to comprehend how a simple metal structure can show so many diverse personalities, changing moods depending on season, time and amount of fog around.

A post shared by Golden Gate Bridge (@golden_gate_bridge) on Nov 19, 2016 at 3:04pm PST

MORE… The 10 most Instagrammed Places in Australia

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Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.