Best Vancouver Instagram Spots – Iconic Landmarks + Hidden Gems

Capture Vancouver’s allure through your own lens at these can’t-miss Vancouver Instagram spots. From beautiful wildlife along the Stanley Park Seawall to stunning aerial views from Capilano Suspension Bridge and all the photo spots in between, Vancouver is a treasure trove for photographers, models, and creatives alike – in addition to making an easy subject for vacationers to photograph for souvenirs. 

These iconic landmarks and must-visit attractions in Vancouver are great places to grab group photos, selfies, and landscapes. 

Downtown Vancouver | Open year round

Stanley Park is a great place in Vancouver for Instagram photos. Whether you opt for action shots as you ride bikes along the iconic Stanley Park Seawall, pose with the water behind you, or capture stunning landscape photos, this 400-hectare park is home to plenty of trails to explore, including coastline and beach, giving you countless opportunities for photoshoots.

Water St. | Open year round

Historic Gastown is a popular place in Vancouver for Instagram photos for good reason. The original cobblestone streets, charming cafes, restaurants, and breweries, and variety of shops create a magical spot to explore and photograph. You can get awesome photos from street level, but don’t forget about the power of photos from higher up: many Gastown attractions boast second floors with windows for beautiful harbor views and unbeatable people watching.

15 minutes from Downtown Vancouver | Regular + seasonal hours

Capture new perspectives at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park! This 30-acre park is BC’s most popular attraction and the site of one of the city’s most attended holiday events, Canyon Lights. From the legendary Suspension Bridge to the rainforest canopy walk Treetop Adventure and the heart-pounding walk above the canyon on Cliffwalk and more, Capilano Suspension Bridge is not only a great Instagram spot in Vancouver but an incredible place to spend time with the city’s stunning natural offerings. 

Across False Creek from Downtown Vancouver | Public Market open all summer, 9 am to 8 pm | Individual retail hours vary

Granville Island is one of Vancouver’s top attractions, easily accessible from Carmana Hotel & Suites. Take candids while you browse local boutiques and vendors, see if you can let your phone eat first at one of the delicious restaurants, or even capture landscape shots from the Aquabus, the most popular way to get to Granville Island from downtown Vancouver.

999 Canada Pl., Vancouver | Event times vary

Take part in a truly Canadian experience when you visit Canada Place in Vancouver. From interactive and educational elements to world-famous events and celebrations, Canada Place is a popular destination right in the heart of Vancouver’s waterfront. The location and variety of activities and events makes Canada Place one of the most Instagrammable spots in Vancouver, giving photographers the chance to photograph a diverse range of subjects, events, and landscapes.

Want to leave your Vancouver vacation with unique photos that you won’t run across on everybody else’s Instagram? Check out these hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path locations for Instagram photos in Vancouver. 

South of West Hastings, between Seymore and Granville | Always open

From buildings painted in fun pops of color to the modern shapes on the walkway, Pink Alley in Vancouver is one of the city’s most photographed spots. Whether you’re on the hunt for bright and fun or colorful grunge, this alley between Seymore and Granville strikes the balance and is always bustling with photographers, models, and videographers searching for their perfect shots.

When you visit Alley-Oop, be mindful that this cute place for photos in Vancouver is still an active transport corridor for businesses nearby – watch for service vehicles and move to the side to allow them to pass!

Kitsilano Beach (Kits Beach to locals) is a favorite spot for locals and vacationers alike, offering plenty of space for relaxation and recreation. Just across False Creek from downtown Vancouver, this popular beach is a hot spot for sports like volleyball and basketball, yard games, and more. Take action shots of your group, enjoy beautiful coastal landscapes, or even try your hand at creating sand sculptures to photograph.

4600 Cambie St. | 6 am – 10 pm daily 

Queen Elizabeth Park is a well-maintained park in the city, and one of the most Instagrammable places in Vancouver. While the manicured spaces in this park are incredible year round, the park’s most popular time is during cherry blossom season. A variety of cherry trees in the park means a staggered bloom, keeping the park in business with pops of pink and white from early March to late April. A steady stream of photographers and creators comes through the park during this time. 

Find more places to see the cherry blossoms in Vancouver this year.

578 Carrall St. | 9:30 – 4 pm Wednesday through Sunday | Closed Monday and Tuesday

This unique venue is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Vancouver. As the site of cultural programming and events, festivals, concerts, guided tours, receptions, educational programs, exhibitions, and more, there is always something happening at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. This Ming-Dynasty style garden-home is the first of its kind in the United States, offering an incredible range of cultural and nature-based photography opportunities for novice and experienced photographers alike.

7102 Marine Dr. | 7 am – 10 pm daily

Home to over 200 marine animal species, breathtaking coastal landscapes, and views of surrounding mountains, Whytecliff Park is a popular Vancouver Instagram spot for good reason. This cliffside park located on the corner of Howe Sound provides not only incredible space for recreation and relaxation with your vacation group, but the opportunity for unique and interesting photo setups. 

Aside from the many Instagram photo opportunities around Vancouver year round, don’t miss out on these seasonal highlights and unique experiences in the 604. 

Thousands flock to Vancouver annually during cherry blossom season. The city is blanketed in pink and white blooms, with a variety of cherry trees creating a staggered bloom schedule that beautifies Vancouver’s streets, parks, and trails from early March to late April. Pose in front of the gorgeous trees, make use of fallen petals for flat lays and action shots, and don’t forget about an iconic “view from below” of the blossoms against a blue sky! 

Discover the best places to see the cherry blossoms in Vancouver this year.

A city like Vancouver with a variety of parks, public green space, and outdoor recreation areas thrives in the fall. The fall foliage in the 604 makes an amazing backdrop for photos and a shining subject in itself, with bright hues of orange, yellow, and red.

Visit VanDusen Botanical Garden in the winter to experience the Winter Lights Festival. This always-beautiful garden is transformed into a winter wonderland at night, featuring over a million twinkling lights spread across the garden’s 15 acres. In addition to fixed position lights, dancing light shows take place every half hour or so. 

This event typically takes place in the time between Thanksgiving and the first weekend of the new year. Details for the 2025 Winter Lights Festival will be available in fall 2024.

Many of Vancouver’s neighborhoods are home to street art and murals, especially Gastown, Railtown, and Strathcona. There are even self-guided tours in these areas to be sure you see everything and don’t miss any of Vancouver’s best Instagram spots. Created by local artists, the street art and murals in Vancouver make stunning backdrops for portrait photography as well as stunning subjects themselves. 

There is no shortage of local markets and cafes in Vancouver, each with their own unique aesthetic and offerings. With diverse menus and impressive dishes to choose from, the fun isn’t over once you’ve taken your photos. While these places are great to photograph and pose in front of, please remember that local businesses are just that – locals! Show your appreciation by shopping and dining where you can during or after your photography sessions. 

With these unbeatable photo opportunities at your disposal, your vacation photo dump just got an upgrade. The most Instagrammable places in Vancouver are easy to find and enjoy when you stay at Carmana Hotel & Suites, a boutique hotel located in the heart of the city’s shopping and financial districts. Your perfect Instagram post awaits!