🗺️ Where to take photos for the feed: 11 world locations

Every day, the same shots land in your feed. The silhouette of the Eiffel Tower, balloons over Cappadocia, a plane right above people's heads on a beach in Thailand. These places are recognizable in a second, even if you have never been there. We have put together 11 locations that most often become the backdrop for great photos. For each one, you will find what sets it apart from its neighbors on the list and when to go.

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How to choose the time for shooting

💡 In short:

Come at dawn or during the blue hour: the light is softer, and there are almost no people around the main sights.
Check the season in advance: blooming, flooding, or a festival completely change the shot.
Keep a spare battery handy: shooting at sunset drains the battery fast.

Light matters more than the location itself. At dawn and during the blue hour, it is soft and directional, so the shot has depth. At noon, the sun is high, and the image becomes flat. In popular places, a second problem appears: by 11 a.m., you are already shooting through a crowd at the main sights. Below are 11 locations from around the world and the best time for each.

1. New York, USA

Manhattan is recognizable from any American TV series. The Empire State Building, the Brooklyn Bridge, and Central Park have been seen even by people who have never been to New York. Times Square, with its giant screens and neon signs, floods feeds the most. The neon attraction runs around the clock, but the most striking shots come after dark.

Best time: after sunset, when the neon lights come on.
What to shoot: the Times Square screens and the facade of One Times Square.

2. Tokyo, Japan

Shinjuku skyscrapers with Mount Fuji in the background, Tokyo

In Tokyo, almost everything is photogenic. The Japanese turn even a repaired plate into art, so a building, a dish, or a fish market all look equally good in a shot. In spring, the city blooms with cherry blossoms; in autumn, the maples turn red, and the streets become a set for photo shoots. The catch of the season is that the megacity of millions is packed with tourists.

Book early. Hotel rooms run out during cherry blossom season, and you will have to stand in line for takeout bento. In the evening, when pink lanterns light up the cherry blossoms, the streets become a great backdrop.

Book in advance: tickets to TeamLab Planets on GetYourGuide.
Best time: evening under the lights and the blooming season.
The catch: during cherry blossom season, hotels get booked up, and you stand in line for food.

3. Burning Man, Nevada desert, USA

People on bicycles near The Man tower in the desert

Burning Man builds a temporary city in the Nevada desert for just a few days. It spreads out in a semicircle over several square kilometers and lives by its own rules. Stages, sculptures, and even guests' costumes follow a single theme for the year. Architects, musicians, artists, and designers come to the festival.

2026 dates and theme: August 30 - September 7, theme Axis Mundi, according to the official Burning Man website.

4. Cappadocia, Turkey

Fairy chimneys and valleys of Cappadocia, Turkey

The shot of hot air balloons over Martian-like rock formations is familiar to almost everyone. To recreate it, look for a hotel with a terrace set up for photography. If there is no terrace, the same view opens up from the Sunrise Point lookout. Shots taken at dawn and just before sunset usually come out the cleanest, and rugs and pillows add color to the frame.

Where to shoot: a hotel terrace or the Sunrise Point lookout.
When: at dawn and just before sunset.

Cappadocia hotels with balloon views are easy to compare on Trip.com.

5. Paris, France

Anyone recognizes the Eiffel Tower, but a shot of you holding it in the palm of your hand has long stopped surprising anyone. A view from an apartment window works better: open French shutters, the tower's silhouette in the sunlight, and fresh croissants on the table. In the evening, the tower turns on its sparkling lights for a few minutes every hour, which is enough for a short reel.

Saint-Eustache Church in Paris under a blue sky

Best shot: from a window with a direct view of the tower.
Sparkling lights: come on every evening for a few minutes each hour.

6. Ella, Sri Lanka

Nine Arches Bridge in the Sri Lankan jungle

The train through the mountains near Ella delivers one of the island's most recognizable shots. It passes tea plantations and green slopes, so bloggers' feeds are never without it. But there are risks: leaning out of a moving train for a dramatic shot is dangerous, and the shot itself often draws criticism instead of likes.

The catch: taking photos from a moving train is unsafe and often draws criticism.
Tip: shoot the train from a viewpoint near the Nine Arches Bridge.

7. Wings of Mexico, Dubai, UAE

Dubai looks like a city where the future has already arrived. The Dubai Fountain at Burj Khalifa, the man-made Palm Jumeirah island, and the Burj Al Arab hotel are all right there. For mass-appeal photos in this Arab megacity, people have claimed the Wings of Mexico sculpture. The same wings stand in Mexico City, Los Angeles, Singapore, Madrid, and Berlin, but the Dubai ones show up in feeds most often.

Where it is: the Wings of Mexico sculpture in Dubai.
Similar spots: the same sculptures exist in Mexico City, Los Angeles, Singapore, Madrid, and Berlin.

8. Machu Picchu, Peru

Terraces of the ancient city of Machu Picchu, Peru

The lost Inca city deep in the Andes draws tourists from all over the world. But what usually flashes through feeds is not the city itself, it is Huayna Picchu mountain with its green hills and wandering llamas. To climb up there, you need a Machu Picchu ticket with Huayna Picchu access. The route is physically demanding, so it is worth preparing in advance.

Tickets: sold online only, you cannot buy them at the entrance, so availability is worth checking ahead of time.
The catch: the climb is physically demanding and requires basic fitness.

9. Mai Khao Beach, Phuket, Thailand

On small islands, planes often land right over the coastal water, and the areas near the runway are usually closed to beachgoers. Mai Khao Beach is known for planes passing extremely low, almost right over people's heads. That close encounter is what earns the shot thousands of likes.

What makes it different: planes flying low directly over the beach.
The catch: you cannot just lie on a lounger right next to the runway.

10. Giraffe Manor, Nairobi, Kenya

Giraffe among bushes and trees against the sky

Breakfast at Giraffe Manor starts in an unusual way. You sit down at a table by the window, and a minute later a giraffe pokes its head through it, waiting for a treat. Sometimes more than one giraffe comes to the table, and then the feed-worthy moment creates itself. The hotel is five-star, so a stay here is expensive, but the memories last a long time.

The catch: the accommodation is pricey, it is a five-star hotel.

You can check prices at Giraffe Manor on Trip.com.

11. Earth orbit

International Space Station against black space

The rarest shot on this list was not taken on Earth. Only a handful of people have managed to photograph the planet directly from orbit, and the first such selfie from the ISS was posted by astronaut Steven Swanson. Today, the International Space Station account is regularly updated with photos of Earth, the Moon, and satellites. For now, this view is available only to astronauts, but Elon Musk promises to change that.

Source of the shots: the official ISS Instagram account.
Access: for now, only for orbital station crews.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to shoot at popular spots?

Early morning and the "blue hour" after sunset give you the best light. At dawn there are almost no people around the main landmarks, while during the day harsh overhead sun and crowds get in the way. Plan your shoot for the first hours after sunrise or the last hour before dark.

Where can I get a non-cliché photo in Paris?

Instead of the palm-in-front-of-the-tower shot, try a view of the Eiffel Tower from an apartment window. Open shutters and the tower's silhouette in morning light look fresher than thousands of identical photos.

Is it realistic to catch the balloons over Cappadocia?

Yes, if you pick a hotel with a rooftop terrace for shooting or head to the Sunrise Point viewpoint. Balloons launch at dawn, so you need to leave well before sunrise.

Is it dangerous to recreate the Ella shot?

Leaning out of a moving train for a photo is genuinely dangerous. Beyond the risk of falling, shots like that often draw criticism in the comments instead of likes. It's safer to photograph the train from a viewpoint near the Nine Arch Bridge.

What should I know about Machu Picchu tickets?

Entry is paid, and tickets are sold only online through the official website, so check availability in advance. The climb up Huayna Picchu is physically demanding, so it's worth training for about a month beforehand.

In short: what to book

Each of these spots is easy to fit into your trip. For a sunrise with balloons, book Cappadocia hotels; for a city-wide photo marathon, Tokyo tours work well; and for tickets to long-distance routes, Tiqets is the most convenient option. Below are three starting points.

Want balloons over your terrace: Cappadocia hotels on Trip.com.
Planning a city trip: Tokyo tours and tickets on GetYourGuide.
Heading for a long-distance route: Machu Picchu tickets on Tiqets.

11 Most photogenic places in the world and the best time to shoot