Best Instagram Spots in NYC: Places for Cool Pictures!
Here are the best Instagram spots in NYC. New York is considered a concrete jungle, with all its skyscrapers, but there are some hidden (and pretty obvious) spots that are best for Instagram, cool pictures, and selfies!
The Oculus
The Oculus is located in Downtown Manhattan where the World Trade Center stood before the attacks of 9/11. Today the ruined place (where all seven buildings, composing the World Trade Center, not just the Twin Towers) were leveled to the ground, so New York authorities quickly came with the idea of The Oculus.
In order to show support for the new World Trade Center, Oculus opened several high-end stores inside. It is not only a hub for commuters but also a one-stop-shop. You can buy clothes, repair your iPhone, or grab some sweets.
There are more than 350,000 square feet of retail and dining space.
In addition to shopping, this is one of the best Instagram spots in NYC. With tons of options for cool pictures. Whether you just want a photo or you are looking for the perfect group photo, open spaces and eye-catching interior spaces are the perfect environments.
Great photo manipulation is to go up to the second floor and shoot through the main traffic hall so you can capture the steel ribs of the roof above. Look at what I mean in the photo above, the other one was taken during a tour.
Technically, the building is open 24/7, so you can even stay late at night. If you visit after sunset, you will also notice that the building is lit up and its oval center is glowing.
Since a large number of commuters pass through Oculus every morning and afternoon, the best time to visit is actually any time outside of peak hours. In a week, you will find that from 11 am to 3 pm is the least crowded. And then again after 7pm.
The light show of Saks 5th Avenue
The lights of Saks 5th Avenue are one of the most famous in the whole of New York. The 10-story building is always impressed with its decoration. This year it’s equipped with 700,000 programmed LED lights.
This year, the six windows are inspired by the theme of reconnecting with family and loved ones. The company asked children in New York City, including members of the Madison Square Boys and Girls Club, to describe and describe their vacation dreams with loved ones.
Saks' incredible artists and engineers have brought this to life in an amazing holiday miracle. Sachs also worked with former first lady Michelle Obama to support the Girls' Opportunity Alliance. The partnership includes a $1 million donation, a Saks career development opportunity, and digital marketing activities throughout the holiday period.
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Another huge Christmas Instagram spot in NYC, this time – with a huge three. The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is one of the oldest Christmas traditions in town, dating back to 1933. It is visited by more than 100 million people each year, and the ceremony wasn’t canceled even in 2020 by the COVID – 19 pandemic.
This year, a 79-foot, 12-ton Norway spruce was adorned with more than 50,000 multicolored lights and topped with a 900-pound star with 70 spikes covered in 3 million crystals.
But it’s not just the Christmas tree that turns the Rockefeller plaza into one of the Christmas centers in NYC and one of the best Instagram spots. The very close proximity to some major attractions like Rockefeller ice skating rink, Top of the Rock, the Channel Gardens, the Radio City Music Hall, and some large department stores make it a lucrative point to visit both year-long and during the holidays.
The Bryant Park Winter Village and ice skating rink
Bryant Park's Winter Village by Bank of America is one of New York’s largest festive attractions. It is a wholesome experience, with a popular holiday market, and lots of places to eat.
However, the largest attraction by far is the 17,000-square-foot ice-skating rink! You need to pay a small fee for the skates, but if you bring your own you can use the rink for free!
The pop-up ice skating rink food hall called "The Lodge" (provided by Prime Video) will be a covered outdoor "post-skating escape" where visitors can enjoy festive cocktails, enjoy delicious food, watch skating competitions or enjoy the views! The open-air market itself also has many new vendors and restaurants, the full list of which will be announced soon.
The skating rink will open at noon on October 29th and then open daily from 8 am to 10 pm. For the whole season.
Rolf’s German Restaurant
Not only amongst the best Instagram spots in NYC but also a fine menu and a superb wine list. A beautiful place in itself, Rolf’s turns into a Christmas wonderland when the holiday season arrives. The place is covered top to bottom in festive decorations. With the extravagant floor-to-ceiling Christmas ornaments, twinkle lights, and ribbon, they really know how to pull in a crowd.
And to top of that – the menu is excellent as well! The elaborate decorations, they also have lots of hearty food choices influenced by French and German culture. This includes two types of schnitzel: fried or sauteed, and plenty of options for sauces and vegetables on the side. They also have a variety of imported beer on draft and a selection of festive holiday cocktails.
In conclusion
Of course, these are just a handful of the best Instagram spots in NYC. As popular honorable mentions, we can always include the ornaments on Sixth Avenue, the Cartier Window display, the Christmas tree on Wall Street, and Lotte New York Palace!