The Top 10 Most Instagrammable Spots in Vancouver
Vancouver is a beautiful city. There are so many Instagrammable places in Vancouver that it was hard to list just ten. Vancouver is one of the most scenic cities I’ve ever been to and I’m not just saying this because I live here, it’s the truth. Just ask anyone who has ever visited as I’m sure they have their favourite Vancouver Instagram spots.
There are several articles online that highlight Instagrammable spots in Vancouver so you may be wondering why we need another one. My list differs from all the rest in a few key ways. Firstly, I decided to only include places that are in the city of Vancouver and not any of the equally-worthy places outside of the city, such as the North Shore Mountains or suspension bridges.
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Also, I have tried to focus on locations that I feel are must-see places when visiting Vancouver. I’m not sending you to a spot just for the sake of a photo. My list includes sights or landmarks that are unique to this city and worth seeing.
All of these are outdoor locations (read: socially distance approved). Based on these criteria, here is my list of the most Instagram-worthy places in Vancouver. Looking to explore more of Canada? Check out the 12 Best Canadian Cities to Visit.
Map of the most Instagrammable places in Vancouver
Top Ten Most Instagrammable Spots in Vancouver
1. Vancouver Public Library
I love unique architecture and the Vancouver Public Library is amazing from all angles. It resembles the Colosseum in Rome. If you swipe the above image you can see the resemblance. Not only is the outside beautiful, but the top two floors have outdoor spaces.
This might just be one of my favourite Vancouver Instagram spots. Not everyone knows this, but on the 9th level, there is a rooftop garden that offers public access to outdoor green spaces with spectacular city views. Current hours can be found online here.
2. Olympic Cauldron
Vancouver was home to the 2010 Olympics and the Olympic Cauldron is located in the picturesque Coal Harbour, right at Canada Place. This location will provide multiple photo-ops, including the Digital Orca.
I didn’t feel that it deserved its own spot on this list, but since you’re there anyway, you might as well snap a pic. This whole area is stunning and there are several restaurants in the area that overlook the water, making this a great place to visit overall.
3. Stanley Park Totem Poles
First off, I must start by saying that Stanley Park is a definite must-see when in Vancouver. The entire park is Instagram-worthy. You could easily spend an entire day here walking the sea wall, visiting the Aquarium, having lunch at the Tea House, or enjoying a picnic in the park.
For more detailed information and cool fact about Stanley Park, check out my post on 5 little-known facts about Stanley Park. I bet some of these will surprise you!
I chose the Totem Poles as my Instagrammable place in Vancouver because of their history and uniqueness. Pretty much every city worldwide has a park, but not totem poles. Totem poles are unique to the Northwest Coast and Alaska.
4. La Casa Gelato
This one is a treat, quite literally. Not only does this place have over 238 flavours in-store but La Casa Gelato also has a fabulous pink wall outside their building. I’ve seen other bloggers post about the pink wall outside La Pentola restaurant, but I chose La Casa Gelato’s wall for my Instagrammable list so you can also enjoy some delicious gelato. Win-win!
Update: La Pentola is now gone, and along with it the famous pink wall that was a very popular Vancouver Instagram spot. I’m glad I chose La Casa Gelato as one of my Instagram-worthy places in Vancouver!
Side note, I clearly need to revisit this place again as I had to go through the archives to find this picture. It was taken over 4 years ago!
5. Gastown Steam Clock
The Gastown Steam Clock is definitely one of Vancouver’s most Instagrammable places. You should try and time your visit to this location for the evening because I find it to be more picturesque at night, but that’s entirely up to you. However, you absolutely want to be there when the clock lets off some steam and whistles.
The Gastown Steam Clock goes off every 15 minutes, but it whistles and lets off steam at the top of every hour. It is one of the very few remaining steam clocks in the world that still functions, definitely making it worth a visit.
Five more Instagrammable spots in Vancouver
6. VanDusen Botanical Gardens
If you saw my previous photo gallery post about visiting the VanDusen gardens then you won’t be surprised to see this place on the list. It is stunning and provides multiple opportunities for excellent photographs.
One of the great things about the VanDusen Botanical Gardens is that its beauty changes with the seasons so no matter when you’re in Vancouver, this is a great place to visit.
7. Riding a Water Taxi
There aren’t very many cities where you can take a water taxi and I think it’s something every visitor should experience. I love hopping on the water taxi and jetting over to Granville Island for the afternoon. Once you’re on the water taxi, you have a multitude of Vancouver Instagram spots for great photos during your ride.
Granville Island provides lots of amazing spots to take pictures, as well as enjoy a patio drink. Sure, you could take an Uber, but a water taxi is a unique mode of transportation that provides a different view of the city.
You might not have thought that one of the most Instagrammable places in Vancouver was on the water, but it provides a unique view that you can’t see otherwise.
8. English Bay Laughing Sculpture
English Bay itself provides an epic backdrop for photos, including the Inukshuk found along the seawall. This entire area is one of the most Instagrammable spots in Vancouver and no matter where you take your photos they will be amazing.
If you are visiting during nice weather, you should plan to spend some time here. The sandy beach at English Bay is popular amongst locals and visitors alike and gets very busy on any sunny day.
9. Vancouver Murals
Ok, so this isn’t exactly ‘one spot.’ It’s more like 250 spots so I’m giving you lots of options with this one. The Vancouver Mural Festival takes place annually so the number of murals to see is continually growing, along with the number of locations of the murals.
The festival has grown to include 9 neighbourhoods! The maps are found on the Vancouver Mural Festival website. In my Instagram photos, I was exploring the murals along Robson Street. The original murals are located in Mount Pleasant, along Main Street and the surrounding area and there are over 100 murals to see.
If you like art and beer, I would recommend checking out this area because it has both. There are several local craft breweries in Mount Pleasant that make for the perfect pit stop. You can download both the mural and brewery maps on the Mount Pleasant website. All of these murals are Instagrammable places in Vancouver.
10. Kitsilano Wings
Rounding out the list is the featured photo for this post, the #KitsWings mural. It gets its own spot because it’s not part of the Vancouver Mural Fest. Also, it’s arguably one of the most Instagrammed spots in Vancouver.
Located just outside of the downtown core, the famed Kits Wings mural is at Burrard and 4th. In July 2017, this mural was painted on the wall by artist Sandy Bell. She was inspired by the bald eagles that live near Kits Beach.
There you have it, my list of Vancouver’s most Instagrammable spots. What do you think? There are so many more, but these are my favourites. Did it mention your fave spot or did I miss it?
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If you’re looking for more places to visit in Vancouver, check out my post about 5 Stunning Waterfalls a Short Drive from Vancouver. All five of these waterfalls are near Vancouver and require little hiking. Check out this post for more awesome photography ideas.
