20 Photo Spots You Can’t Miss In New York City

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Best Photography Locations in NYC Top of the Rock View Over Midtown Manhattan At Sunset

New York City is one of the world’s outstanding urban photography destinations. It’s a concrete jungle loaded with iconic buildings, landmarks, skylines and architecture that leaves photographers like us in awe. We’ve spent a lot of time walking around NYC with our cameras over the years, but that same excitable buzz hits us every time we go back.

In this guide we show you our 20 favorite NYC photo spots including tourist classics, hidden gems and Instagram favorites.

Our Experience

A couple taking a photo of themselves reflecting in mirrors at summit one in New York City with silver balloons on the ceiling
Here we are with our cameras in a mirror room at Summit One Vanderbilt

Landscape photography has been a major passion of ours since we started traveling the world in 2018. Framing mountains, lakes, beaches, canyons, countrysides sunrises and sunsets is what we love to do. But when we moved to New York City at the end of 2020 and spent months exploring the city from dawn to dusk in sun, rain and snow, we fell head over heels for a completely new genre: urban photography.

We used our Sony A7 III and Sony A7 IV cameras with 24-105mm and 16-35mm lenses to capture all the photos you’ll see in this guide. Our goal here is to help you take home the most amazing photos from your trip to NYC, so let’s start by getting you in the right places. Stay tuned until the end of the guide for our top tips and a map showing all of our favorite New York photo spots. Read more about us.

BROWSE: Our travel photography gallery

1. Central Park

Central Park isn’t just a place to go for a run or to walk your dog, it’s also one of the most photogenic places in New York City. We love how it transforms through each season with cherry blossoms, lush green leaves, fall foliage colors and brilliant white snow.

Bethesda Terrace

The inside of a tiled terrace with intricate artwork leading to a set of stairs and daylight through two columns Bethesda Terrace one of our favorite NYC photo spots
Orange tiles glowing in Bethesda Terrace

The stunning tiled ceiling in Bethesda Terrace Arcade is one of our top recommendations for serious photographers visiting NYC. It took us a few mornings arriving before sunrise to get a photo with nobody else in it, so you might have to be patient.

Bethesda Fountain

Couple in winter coats kissing on snow between columns in front of a fountain on a cloudy day
Here we are on a snowy day at Bethesda Fountain

After you get the perfect photo of the Arcade, do a 180-degree turn and you’ll be looking straight through a line of columns at Bethesda Fountain. It’s one of the most famous Instagram spots in NYC, and we saw plenty of engagement shoots and proposals here.

The Mall

Long bench next to a walkway surrounded by trees and grass
We used the long line of benches in The Mall

Take the steps out of Bethesda Terrace and you’ll be walking down The Mall, which you’ve no doubt seen in various movies. It’s always busy, so try playing around with statues, trees or benches like we did to create different perspectives.

Bow Bridge

Small ornate bridge next to a bare tree with snow on the ground in Central Park one of the top NYC photo spots
The stunning scene at Bow Bridge

We think Bow Bridge is among the most attractive photo spots in NYC, and it was even more magical when we had our first bona fide Central Park snow day.

John Lennon Memorial

A round mural on the ground with a photography technique used to create an effect
We created this cool effect at the John Lennon Memorial

Strawberry Fields is a poignant place to visit in Central Park. We love the kaleidoscopic effect we created with the word imagine by exposing for 2s and slowly zooming out during the exposure. You might need a ND filter if it’s a bright day.

READ: Our winter snow day in Central Park

2. Brooklyn Bridge

The iconic Brooklyn Bridge is another classic NYC photo spot you simply can’t miss. It’s the one place we gravitate to the most when we visit because there are so many great places to take photos on both sides of the East River.

Brooklyn Bridge Sunrise

The Brooklyn Bridge in NYC at sunrise with nobody on the walkway and a clear photo
It’s not easy getting a clear photo on Brooklyn Bridge

We love the photo we got walking across the Brooklyn Bridge at sunrise. It took around 10 minutes until we had a clear shot with nobody on the bridge ahead of us, and it worked perfectly with the sun’s position.

  • Half way across to Brooklyn

Brooklyn Bridge Sunset

The Lower Manhattan skyline of skyscrapers at sunset from Brooklyn Bridge with a long metal girder in the foreground
Use parts of the bridge in your frame

If you want to get the full experience, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset. It’s always packed full of people taking photos for Instagram and videos for TikTok or YouTube. Use the bridge to create cool frames like we did.

  • Closer to the Manhattan side

Brooklyn Bridge At Night

Tourist in winter coat and hat walking across the Brooklyn Bridge in NYC at night with nobody else on the walkway
Here’s Kristen walking the Brooklyn Bridge at night

We love walking across the bridge at night. It’s calm, quiet and has awesome views over the Lower Manhattan skyline. Our biggest frustration is getting blur-free photos. Even when we use a tripod to keep the ISO down, the bridge vibrates when cars pass underneath.

  • Closer to Manhattan side

Pier 17 Sunrise

River and bridge silhouetted at sunrise with yellow and orange colors
Stunning Pier 17 sunrise

As a bit of a bonus, we wanted to share our favorite NYC sunrise location called Pier 17 near Seaport. With coffees and winter coats we watched a vibrant and serene sunrise illuminate the buildings along Manhattan’s East River shoreline. Fantastic!

3. Observation Decks

What’s your first thought when you read the words “photos of New York”? Ours is a sprawling skyscraper heavy skyline as seen from above. We think the 5 observation decks in NYC offer some of the very best urban photography perspectives in the world, so you should do at least one when you visit.

Top Of The Rock

The New York City skyline from Top of the Rock observation deck in late afternoon with clouds in the sky and the city lit up with soft sunlight
Our view from Top of the Rock

The old but gold Top of the Rock is a fantastic observation deck because you can see all of Midtown and Lower Manhattan, as well as Central Park on the opposite side. We love the open top level with no glass or perspex for clear photos.

READ: How to visit Top of the Rock

Summit One Vanderbilt

Mirrors and people reflecting at sunset inside Summit One Vanderbilt in New York City
Summit One Vanderbilt

For us, Summit One Vanderbilt is more about exhibits and mirror rooms than it is a traditional observation deck with city views. It’s basically set up for Instagram photos and TikTok videos. We enjoyed it, but the skyline views weren’t as impressive.

READ: How to visit Summit One Vanderbilt

Empire State Building

City skyline lit up at night with thick clouds in the sky
Our view from Empire State Building 82nd floor

We think views from the Empire State are awesome in all directions because it’s located centrally within Manhattan. But you can’t see the Empire State from the Empire State, so your skyline photo isn’t going to be complete.

READ: How to visit Empire State Building

Edge Hudson Yards

Outdoor observation deck filled with people overlooking a city skyline at sunset
Our sunset view from Edge at Hudson Yards

We really like Edge at Hudson Yards because it’s an outdoor observation deck with plenty of fantastic photography opportunities. But there’s always a line for the corner as you can see in our photo above.

READ: How to visit Edge Hudson Yards

One World Observatory

Looking up at a towering glass skyscraper from below as it bursts into a blue sky
Looking up at One World Trade Center

We went up One World Observatory on a cloudy and rainy day so it wasn’t ideal. But even if it was clear, we much prefer the NYC skyline views from Midtown than from here in Lower Manhattan. Our favorite photo was from the base of One World Trade Center looking up into the sky.

READ: How to visit One World Observatory

4. Statue Of Liberty

You can’t go to New York City for the first time and not take home photos of the Statue of Liberty. It’s a rite of passage and par for the course. Now, Lady Liberty might be huge, but you need to be pretty close to Liberty Island to get good photos.

Liberty Island

The Statue of Liberty in New York City on a sunny day with light clouds
Statue of Liberty from the ferry

We took the photo above at 24mm to replicate the real view of human eyes. So what you see above is what you’ll see when you take a ferry to Liberty Island. Remember, the ferry is moving and undulating so you need a higher shutter speed to freeze the frame and avoid blur.

Lady Liberty

Close up on a side profile of the Statue of Liberty holding her torch aloft into a cloudy sky
Close up profile of Lady Liberty

And here’s what you can do with a telephoto lens. We went all the way into 105mm with our lens to get close up details of her robe, tablet and torch. It’s good fun finding different angles and using different focal lengths to capture unique images of Lady Liberty.

READ: How to visit the Statue of Liberty

5. Lower Manhattan Skyline

For us, the Lower Manhattan skyline is about as dramatic as it gets in New York City, and especially at night when the skyscrapers light up. We love the Midtown skyline but it’s hard to get good vantage points. Whereas Lower Manhattan views from across the East River in Brooklyn are superb.

Brooklyn Bridge Park

Tourist in winter coat standing against a fence looking at a river and city lit up at night
Here’s Kristen enjoying the view over Lower Manhattan

The easiest and most obvious place to see Lower Manhattan light up at night is from Brooklyn Bridge Park. It’s right next to Dumbo ferry stop and just 10 minutes walk from Brooklyn Bridge pedestrian access on Washington and Prospect.

Old Pier 1

Snow covered stones in front of a harbor filled with wooden poles and city skyscrapers lit up at night
Snow capped rocks at Old Pier 1

We like to think Old Pier 1 is a bit of a hidden gem and a real goldmine for pro photographers. We shot this scene in so many different ways but we love this one with snow on the rocks on a cold winters day.

Helicopter Tour

Manhattan from a helicopter tour over NYC
The view we had over Manhattan from our helicopter tour

If you’re really desperate to take home unique photos of Manhattan, you should consider booking a helicopter tour over NYC. We went with Heli NY and it was awesome, but it was expensive and it was hard to get the photos we had in mind. They don’t exactly hover on a side and put the window down so you can get your photo, if you know what we mean!

READ: Our helicopter tour over NYC

 

6. Grand Central Terminal

If there’s one NYC photo spot you know you can’t miss, it’s Grand Central. The clock, the vast and ornate hall, the bridge outside, it’s all as photogenic as you’ve been led to believe.

Grand Central Clock

Four sided clock with an American flag behind in a grand hall
The famous four sided clock

We love the four sided clock above the information desk inside Grand Central Terminal. And we thought what better way to get the photo than with the enormous American flag flying proudly behind.

Temporary Exhibits

Swirling pieces of paper in a spiral inside Grand Central New York
Photogenic temporary exhibit in Grand Central

Okay you won’t be able to get this awesome Vanderbilt Hall photo because it was a temporary exhibit inside Grand Central when we lived in NYC in 2021. But the point is, don’t forget to check Vanderbilt Hall to see if there’s anything cool going on.

  • First right after entering via 42nd Street

Yellow Taxis

Line of four yellow taxis next to a sidewalk lit up by sunlight
Row of yellow taxis in NYC

It’s a shame those great old yellow cabs aren’t around in New York anymore. But the next best thing is a modern take on that same classic photo. And we found this taxi rank right outside the 42nd Street entrance to Grand Central.

7. Chrysler Building

We think the Chrysler Building might just be the single most photogenic building in New York City. So if you have a thing for buildings, you’re going to love the 1930’s art deco skyscraper on 42nd and Lexington.

Art deco Chrysler Building against a cloudy sky with an elevator shaft on another building
The picturesque the Chrysler Building

We’re not sure exactly where we found this viewpoint of the Chrysler Building, but we think it was around the back of Grand Central somewhere. We thought it was cool to use typical NYC construction side-by-side with the famous building.

8. Manhattanhenge

Each year at the end of May and half way through July, the sun sets perfectly on the horizon at the end of Manhattan’s street grids. The best way to see it is to head as far east in Manhattan as you can and look west towards New Jersey.

Long road in New York City cutting through blocks of buildings and skyscrapers
This is a prime time spot for Manhattanhenge

We took this photo from Tudor City Bridge on 42nd Street, one of the most popular Manhattanhenge photo spots because the frame includes the Chrysler Building and Summit One. But as you can see it wasn’t on one of the 2 days of the year with the sunset.

9. Times Square

You don’t need us to introduce you to Times Square. It’s the vibrant, fun, intriguing, unique, tacky and over the top place you’ve seen a million times on TV. It’s not our favorite place to visit in New York, but it’s worth walking through to grab a few photos of the chaos.

45th Street Crossing

Road and advertising boards in Times Square completely empty of people or cars
The 45th Street crossing

Living in NY during covid was mostly awful but it had some benefits, like being able to walk around Times Square at 6:00am with not a single car or person in sight. This crosswalk at 45th on Broadway is the half way point.

Father Duffy Square

Couple standing together with nobody else around in Times Square NYC with advertising boards flashing
Here we are alone in Times Square

We always tell people we meet about this photo of us in Times Square with nobody else in sight. It’ll be teeming with people when you visit, but we set our tripod up near the red steps backing onto 47th Street at dawn and had the whole place to ourselves.

10. Vessel

One thing we really like about New York City is its unique and creative buildings. And they don’t come much better than the copper-steel honeycomb-shaped Vessel located in Hudson Yards.

Vessel in New York City large orange copper colored structure surrounded by tall skyscrapers with light clouds in the sky
The Vessel in Hudson Yards

It actually took a bit of working out to get this photo. We wanted a symmetrical front-on view of the structure, but the area below Vessel was packed full with tourists, there wasn’t enough room to get the frame and the background didn’t work. But we got there in the end!

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11. High Line

Walking The High Line is one of our favorite things to do when we meet friends or family in NYC. It’s easy, flat, free and photogenic, so what’s not to like?

Skybridges

Street in New York from a bridge looking at another bridge passing between buildings
Old skybridge between buildings on 15th Street

One reason we like The High Line so much is because it showcases superb NYC skybridge views. There aren’t many skybridges left, and the viewpoints don’t come much better than along The High Line, so don’t miss it.

Railway Tracks

Elevated pedestrian walkway covered in snow with a person on another persons back
Here we are walking The High Line in winter

The High Line is an elevated pedestrian walkway above the streets of New York that follows an old railway line. We used the photo above to show you the view along the railway tracks with Edge observation deck in the background.

  • Not far from Hudson Yards

12. SoHo

We think the best way to take home amazing photos of New York is to simply walk around its diverse collection of neighborhoods. And the glitzy celebrity hub of SoHo (south of Houston Street) is one of our favorites.

Cobbled street with cars parked on either side and boutique stores at the bottoms of tall buildings
The cobbled Greene Street in SoHo

A lot of places in Manhattan look similar, but there are some pockets where you’ll see outstanding architecture or features that really define a neighborhood. For us, the cobbled streets and colorful buildings around SoHo are among the best examples.

13. Oculus

We had to triple take the first time we saw Oculus from the outside. The brilliant white dove-shaped structure is so wacky and baffling that it looks entirely out of place, but in the best possible way.

Exterior

Exterior of Oculus in NYC a white dove shaped building surrounded by skyscrapers
The weird but wonderful Oculus exterior

From the outside we’re thinking okay this is a fun building, let’s walk around it and see how we can get the best perspective to show how much it contrasts with its surroundings. But we love it, why should everything match? And wait until you see the inside next…

Interior

Large cavernous building interior with a white floor leading up to tall white metal beams joining in the middle high above
The even weirder and more wonderful Oculus interior

Definitely one of the biggest eye openers we had in New York was walking inside Oculus. You can bet your bottom dollar we didn’t expect to see a great cavernous bright white hall. This is one for the must-visit pile if you enjoy architecture.

14. Dumbo

We’d put Dumbo in Brooklyn near the top of our favorite photo spots in NYC because it has the best bridge views in the city. And not just Brooklyn Bridge, but also the Manhattan Bridge.

Manhattan Bridge View

Street in Brooklyn with cars parked next to buildings leading to the Manhattan Bridge from Dumbo
This Dumbo view is iconic but busy

What a view. The Manhattan Bridge View in Dumbo is arguably the top NYC Instagram photo spot. We tried three sunrises here and every time we had to fight our way through scores of swirling dresses and tripods. It’s not fun, but it’s an iconic shot so you shouldn’t miss it.

Pebble Beach

Carousel underneath Brooklyn Bridge crossing the East River with Lower Manhattan in the background at night
Photo we took from Pebble Beach

A few steps from the Manhattan Bridge View is Pebble Beach, where we used a telephoto lens to capture this photo of Jane’s Carousel, the Brooklyn Bridge and Lower Manhattan at night.

Time Out Market

Close up photo of a bridge crossing a river into New York City with skyscrapers at dusk
Brooklyn Bridge view from Time Out Market

Before you leave Dumbo, head up to the top floor of Time Out Market, grab a delicious meal and beer inside (we got the BBQ), then find a spot in the corner to take this great photo of Brooklyn Bridge and Lower Manhattan.

15. Chinatown

You’ll find amazing food, vibrant decorations and a host of great photo spots as you walk through Chinatown in NYC. If you go out at night, don’t forget your tripod and head for Doyers Street.

Doyers Street

Streets with murals and shops in Chinatown NYC
Mural in Chinatown

We enjoy a good bit of wall art (Bushwick in Williamsburg has plenty of it), so this worked for us at the top of Doyers Street just before we sat down for dinner.

Hole In The Fence

City street from above and through a hole in a mesh fence on a cloudy day
Madison Street through a hole in the fence on Manhattan Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge hogs all the attention, but you can also walk across the Manhattan Bridge for more amazing views. It’s not as nice, but do it during the day for great photos including this one of Chinatown through a hole in the fence.

16. Flatiron

Landmarks don’t come much more iconic than triangular shaped Flatiron in New York. It’s a fantastic photo spot but the building has been covered in scaffolding every time we’ve been in the city since 2020.

Flatiron building in New York City on a sunny day with the gold clock and flowers next to the road
The Flatiron Building covered in scaffolding

We tried to liven up the photo by using flowers, a bus and the golden clock in our foreground, but it’s just not going to work until that scaffolding comes down.

17. Financial District

Don’t dismiss the Financial District as a boring and cold place to visit. There’s actually quite a lot going on and you’ll find a few popular photo spots that will be busier than expected.

Wall Street

Wall Street leading to Trinity Church on a sunny day
Trinity Church through Wall Street

Wall Street is an attractive part of Downtown Manhattan with cobbles and clean sidewalks. But turn around towards Broadway for a great shot of Trinity Church (from National Treasure) through Wall Street’s narrow buildings.

Fearless Girl

Small statue of a person looking up at the New York Stock Exchange
The Fearless Girl and NYSE

Right outside the New York Stock Exchange you’ll notice crowds and tour groups bunched around a 4-foot tall bronze statue of the Fearless Girl with a defiant look on her face looking up at the NYSE as if to say “I’m coming for you”.

Charging Bull

Photo of a tourist in winter coat smiling next to a large statue of a bull in NYC
Here’s Kristen with the Charging Bull

This one of the Charging Bull is a bit more of a tourist favorite but it’s worth a quick stop as you pass through Lower Manhattan. Don’t forget to look around the bull’s back side for a surprise that’s said to bring good luck.

READ: What you can’t miss in Lower Manhattan

18. Rockefeller Center

The entire area around the Rockefeller Center is touristy but definitely worth visiting. It might not be the first place you think you’ll need your camera or phone at the ready, but there’s a handful of photo spots you shouldn’t miss.

Rockefeller Center

Tall narrow building bursting into the sky lit up purple and blue at night by lights on two flanking buildings with a plaque in the foreground
The Rockefeller Center lighting up at night

Top of the Rock is at the top of Rockefeller Center, but what does the building look like from below? Well, turn into The Channel Gardens from Fifth Avenue and find a great spot to set up your tripod looking up at the night sky.

Atlas

Statue of Atlas lit up with orange light from below at night in NYC
Looking up at Atlas on Fifth Avenue

Next to the Rockefeller Center you can stand below a statue of Atlas holding the world on his shoulders. We wouldn’t say it’s unmissable, but if you’re in the area it’s another cool photo to add to your growing list.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Cathedral lit up at night in a city with tall buildings around
Illuminated St. Patrick’s Cathedral

On the opposite side of the road you’ll see St. Patricks Cathedral, which contrasts sharply against the surrounding city buildings at night. We used our wide angle lens to get more in the frame.

Radio City

Radio City Music Hall in New York lit up with purples and reds at night
The famous Radio City at night

Right as you leave the exit from Top of the Rock you’ll see the legendary Radio City lit up at night. It’s such an iconic music venue and it’s an easy NYC night photo so don’t miss out.

19. Steam Pipes

Some of the more unique photos we took in New York City were of various orange and white steam pipes scattered around the streets. They move regularly throughout Manhattan, so you’ll just have to stumble across them.

Steam pipe with billowing steam on a road making a fun and unique New York City photo
Steam pipe on Broad Street

We turned down the saturation and increased the vibrance on this photo to highlight this steam pipe we saw when walking down Broad Street in Lower Manhattan.

20. NYC Subway

Have you taken photos in London’s Underground, Paris’ Metro or Singapore’s MRT? Us too, it’s something you just have to do. And here, it’s the famous New York subway.

Subway Entrance

NYC subway entrance leading to stairs
An entrance to Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall subway station

There’s nothing special about this photo, it’s just a nice and simple shot of an empty subway entrance at Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall. But sometimes the simple photos are the most effective.

Subway Train

Moving subway train with a long exposure to create a cool effect
Half second exposure of a moving subway train

We wanted to capture a fun subway photo, so we handheld a 0.5s exposure of a moving train and it just about held steady for the photo above. There’s so many ways you can get great photos in the subway.

NYC Photo Spots Map

Click or touch the map below to activate.

Zoom in and out, move around and click on any of the dark blue icons to see which photography location it represents. Alternatively, you can click the arrow in the top left to open a column on the left side and specifically find any of the NYC photo spots you’re interested in.

Note: The column lists photo spots in the same order you read them throughout this guide.

New York City Photography Tips

NYC is a goldmine for unique photo locations, which makes it’s perfect for beginners and professionals alike to experiment and find new perspectives. Here are our top photography tips for your visit:

  • Get out early if you want people-free photos
  • Use crowds for effect if it’s busy
  • Choose your sunset spots wisely
  • Stay out at night and use a tripod
  • Walk instead of taking the subway
  • Always look up and over your shoulder
  • Carry different lenses for options
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More From New York

Want more NYC information? Head over to our New York City Travel Guide for help with planning your first visit.


We hope this guide on our favorite photo spots helps with planning your visit to New York City!

Please let us know if you have any questions or comments below.

Happy Travels,

Mark and Kristen

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4 thoughts on “20 Photo Spots You Can’t Miss In New York City”

  1. Thank you so much for this valuable post!
    I am so excited to get to NYC in the next April 1st to 10th.
    As soon as I get there, I will grab a new Fuji-XE4 and a monopod, and start to seek this shots!

    Reply

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