There is no shortage of Instagrammable places in Seattle. After all, it’s a magnetic city that attracts millions of tourists annually, largely due to how beautiful the city is. Between tourist attractions, artistic installations, and lush green parks, you’re never far from an Instagram-worthy photo opportunity.
Posting on socials is a big part of what I do as a travel planner, so I’ve spent a lot of time sussing out the best photo spots. If you’re striving for the picture-perfect viewpoint to share on your socials, consider this your guide to the most Instagrammable spots in Seattle WA!
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23 Instagrammable Places in Seattle
Save this to Pinterest for later because I’ll add more trendy Instagram spots in Seattle as I discover them!
Pike Place Market
website | neighborhood: Downtown (get directions) | location type: outdoor market
Pike Place is Seattle’s most iconic attraction, and thus, you’ll find tons of people snapping the perfect photo. The most common photo is of the Pike Place sign or the gum wall. I suggest getting there as early as possible to beat the crowds, or waiting until after the shops close and the crowds fizzle out (around 5 PM).
When you go, make sure to check out my guides to make the most of your visit:
- Self-Guided Food Tour of Pike Place Market
- Best Pike Place Market Restaurants
- Where to Get Breakfast in Pike Place Market
- What to Do at Pike Place Market
Seattle Center
website | neighborhood: Queen Anne (get directions) | location type: museums and public spaces
The Seattle Center is a massive performing arts/event center that encompasses multiple museums and public spaces, which means you can get a lot of photos from different perspectives. Some of the most iconic spots are the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum for colorful sculptures, MoPop for its eye-catching building, and the Space Needle for a bird’s eye view of the city.
Ferris wheel on the waterfront
website | neighborhood: Downtown (get directions) | location type: ferris wheel
The Seattle Great Wheel is the tallest ferris wheel on the west coast and offers a pristine view of the Puget Sound. Most visitors snap their photos of the ferris wheel at Pier 57, so you can see it in the Seattle skyline. If time allows, I’d suggest riding it so you get unencumbered photos of the water and cityscape.
Want to get a view of the waterfront? Go on the Argosy Harbor or Locks Cruise for great photos from the water. The hero image on this article is from there!
Murals
One of my favorite free things to do in Seattle is to go mural hunting for the perfect picture. This public art map highlights the more well-known spots for murals, sculptures, and artistic structures. My favorites are the various city murals in Seattle’s coolest neighborhoods, like the Georgetown one pictured above, and Art of Henry’s infamous Sasquatches in Interbay.
Sculpture Park
website | neighborhood: Belltown (get directions) | location type: sculptures and water views
There are over 485 parks in Seattle, each offering special photo spots of the cityscape and local wildlife. For artistic sculptures and water views, you can’t beat Olympic Sculpture Park. It’s an offshoot of the Seattle Art Museum and is one of Seattle’s best parks. After snapping some pics, walk north about 10 minutes to reach Myrtle Edwards Park for seagulls and seal watching.
The Spheres
website | neighborhood: South Lake Union (get directions) | location type: architecture
The Amazon Spheres are a must-visit near all the best restaurants in South Lake Union. They’re three spherical conservatories that you can easily photograph from the outside, but if you visit on the first and third Saturday of the month, you can take a free tour of the lush gardens inside.
Kerry Park
website | neighborhood: Queen Anne (get directions) | location type: viewpoint
Whenever you see a postcard of Seattle’s skyline and Mt. Rainier, it’s more than likely being snapped from Kerry Park. Not only is it one of Seattle’s best parks, but it has one of the best city views.
It can get swarmed with tourists, so I suggest heading there before or after golden hour. Or better yet, go to Marshall Park for another gorgeous view and fewer crowds.
Gas Works Park
website | neighborhood: Fremont (get directions) | location type: park
Gas Works is one of my favorite things to do in Fremont because of its distinctive architecture. The park is built on an old gasification plant, and you can often find people flying kites or playing in the giant play barn. There’s also a great view of the skyline and water views for a more eclectic photo-op.
University of Washington
website | neighborhood: U-District (get directions) | location type: libraries & gardens
The UW campus is one of the most photogenic campuses in the United States. There’s the Suzzallo and Allen Library reminiscent of Hogwarts, the Washington Arboretum for Japanese gardens, and come April, the quad comes alive with cherry blossoms. So no matter the time of year, it’s one of the best Instagrammable places in Seattle.
Seattle Central Library
website | neighborhood: Downtown (get directions) | location type: architecture
Surprisingly enough, one of my favorite things to do in downtown Seattle is visiting the Seattle Central Library. The solid glass building is gorgeous and makes for an impressive photograph from the outside, but even more so from the inside.
Alki Beach
website | neighborhood: West Seattle (get directions) | location type: beach
Alki Beach is one of the best known beaches in West Seattle. It does tend to get crowded, especially during the summer, but if you can sneak away to a lesser explored corner, you can get some epic sunset pics. A visit is also the perfect excuse to visit all the best West Seattle restaurants.
Hat & Boots Park
website | neighborhood: Georgetown (get directions) | location type: sculptures
Hats and Boots Park, also known as Oxbow Park, is located in historic Georgetown. It’s named after the massive cowboy hat and boots sculptures left behind after an infamous western-themed gas station closed in the 60s. The statues remain and make for one of the most Instagrammable places in Seattle.
Discovery Park
website | neighborhood: Lawton Park (get directions) | location type: park
Discovery Park is Seattle’s largest park and is, surprisingly, one of the lesser crowded parks in Seattle. It’s over 530 acres and offers unfettered views of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound, along with sand dunes and open meadows to boot. I suggest visiting for sunset to get a photo of the lighthouse surrounded by cotton candy skies.
Seward Park
website | neighborhood: Seward Park (get directions) | location type: park
If you’re visiting in the fall, I recommend Seward Park for fall foliage. The park is right on Lake Washington and features 300+ acres of forestland, plus a native plant garden and hiking trails for photographing the natural plant and wildlife.
Green Lake
website | neighborhood: Green Lake (get directions) | location type: park
Green Lake is one of my favorite parks in Seattle because it’s family-friendly, has diverse landscape, and is great for people watching. I think this would make a great park for snapping pictures of the family at the playgrounds or catching fall foliage without wading through swarms of leaf peepers.
The Nest
website | neighborhood: Downtown (get directions) | location type: rooftop bar
Out of all the best rooftop bars in Seattle, I think The Nest on top of the Thompson Seattle Hotel is one of the best places to take pictures in Seattle. It’s centrally located and you can get a birds eye view of Pike Place Market, Elliott Bay, the Great Wheel, and the water in one fell swoop. I suggest going around sunset so you can catch the cotton candy skies as you sip on cocktails.
King Street Station
website | neighborhood: Pioneer Square (get directions) | location type: historic train station
King Street Station is an iconic train station built in 1906 with vaulted ceilings, a massive clock tower, and ornate cast stone ornamentation. The outside is picture-worthy, but the real showstopper is the interior. It’s filled with white crown moulding, so it has great light for photos.
Rainbow sculpture in Capitol Hill
website | neighborhood: Capitol Hill (get directions) | location type: sculpture
Artist Ben Zamora constructed the Rainbow Sculpture where Capitol Hill, the Central District, and First Hill converge. The side facing east towards sunrise is warm-toned, whereas the side facing west towards sunset is cool-toned, making for a unique photo spot at either time of day. While you’re there, visit some of my top places to go in Capitol Hill Seattle.
Smith Tower
website | neighborhood: Pioneer Square (get directions) | location type: historic building
If you only have 2 days in Seattle and want to capture the most iconic photos, head to the Smith Tower. It’s a historic building with a rooftop bar and observation deck that offers pristine views of the city and Mt. Rainier.
Pioneer Square
website | neighborhood: Pioneer Square (get directions) | location type: neighborhood
Smith Tower is in Pioneer Square, one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, so it’s a great spot to explore and take photos. Some of the most Instagrammable places in Seattle are within its limits, including Waterfall Garden and Occidental Square.
Fremont Troll
website | neighborhood: Fremont (get directions) | location type: sculpture
No trip through Fremont would be complete without paying a visit to the Fremont Troll. It’s close to Gas Works Park under the Aurora Bridge and has been a Seattle staple since its inception in the 90s. Get there early so you miss the afternoon crowds, or else be prepared to wait in line for your photo-op.
Chinatown-International District
website | neighborhood: Chinatown-ID (get directions) | location type: neighborhood
Another one of the most Instagrammable places in Seattle is another historic neighborhood: Chinatown-International District. There is beautiful architecture like the entrance gate and dragons lining the telephone poles. Plus there are a lot of great restaurants perfect for a food crawl.
Fairmont Olympic Hotel
website | neighborhood: Downtown (get directions) | location type: architecture
One of the coolest places to stay in Seattle is the Fairmont Olympic Hotel. The historic building has an epic lobby featuring glamorous decor. Soak it up with a drink at their lobby bar or see if you can find one of the best Seattle speakeasies hidden in plain sight.
How to take Instagrammable photos in Seattle
Finding the iconic places to take Instagram photos in Seattle is one thing, but knowing how to capture the perfect shot is key to getting the most out of your visit. Here are some tips to make sure you get a great snap.
Seek morning or early evening light
The best lighting for photos is known as “golden hour,” AKA the last hour before sunset and the first hour after sunrise. This is when the sun’s light is warm and diffused, helping to cast flattering shadows. For example, this photo from The Nest was taken at golden hour right before sunset.
Make sure the subject is facing the light to avoid shadows
If the person you’re photographing is facing away from the light, a strong shadow will crowd them out. Have them face at least halfway towards the light so you can capture their image in detail. You should also avoid the light coming from behind the person, or else they will be in full shadows.
Find filtered light vs. direct sun
Snapping photos in direct sunlight is difficult because it casts harsh shadows. So unless you’re going for an artsy look and know how to control the harsh sunlight conditions, use filtered light when possible so it diffuses more evenly over the subject. Overcast days or windows filtered by a white gauzy curtain are a photographer’s best friend.
Use a low aperture to blur out crowded backgrounds
Using a low aperture (or a high f-stop on your camera) creates a shallow depth of field and helps to blur out busy backgrounds. You can get a similar effect by using portrait mode on your iPhone.
Leverage the rule of thirds and leading lines
The “rule of thirds” refers to dividing a frame into nine equal sections and placing key subjects at the intersection of these lines. This helps create an interesting and more balanced photo while positively working in negative space.
Leading lines refers to lines that draw your eye around a photo. For example, taking a photo on a railroad leads your eye toward the background, making the image feel expansive.
Find your perspective
Photos taken straight on can appear flat and one-dimensional, so try to incorporate different perspectives. This could mean lowering your body to take pics of items from below or even turning your phone upside down to get a different angle. It’s also wise to have something in the foreground to help anchor the subject.
Do a lot of micro movements to get candid shots
Have your subject gently sway back and forth and try moving their head so you can take a bunch of photos and decide later what you want. I take all of my iPhone photos in live mode so I can pick and choose which frame is worth posting to the ‘gram.
More to do in Seattle
After you check out these Instagrammable places in Seattle, head to my other guides for more ways to explore the city.
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