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An outdoor area in Philadelphia with lights and an arched skylight. Maria Young, DRWC

The 11 most Instagrammable places in Philly

The city is more Instagram-worthy than you think

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Whether your friends are in town or you just want to take advantage of that amazing sun and great weather this week (before it goes away for a while) now is the perfect time to get out and explore Philly.

And what better way to do that than with a camera in hand and Instagram at the ready? Catch the bright, bold, and beautiful spots all around Philly—both popular and not as well known—all while exploring the city, and getting in some great outdoor walks.

There’s some colorful ruins in Fairmount Park; stunning views from the Cherry Street Pier; bright lights on Percy Street, and a lot more. Bring a phone and a friend and enjoy!

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Fountain Street Steps

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Tucked in at Umbria and Fountain streets are these gorgeous, mural-clad steps. They’re almost hidden from the public eye—you walk down the steps and see nothing, but turn around? There’s a huge mural, reminiscent of Van Gogh’s “Starry Night.” The mural was dedicated in 2015 and is worth a photo. Sit on the steps with a coffee, sprawl across them, or simply walk down. There are a million ways to pose on the vibrant space.

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Market St & 51st St - FS

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It’s worth riding the MFL all the way west (facing toward the city) to catch the famous love letter murals that dot the houses, businesses, and other random buildings heading that way. One of the most popular murals has to be this one at Market and 51st. Hop off the train to take a look (and grab a snapshot).

Bartram's Garden

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From the rolling grass field to the vibrant trees, this garden is green on green on green. Get a shot against a tree, lay out in the grass, or simply overlook the river. All are prime spots for the perfect photo.

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The Cliffs

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Since Graffiti Pier was shut down last spring (although it’s reopening as a public park), you’ll need a new place to get all your best graffiti art and photos, and the Cliffs can certainly provide. Originally a 1700s home, the stone structure burned down in the late 20th century and has since become a kind of canvas for great graffiti art. Go exploring, bring a camera, and make sure to capture all its colorful glory.

For more places in Fairmount, check out our guide to the 17 hidden gems of Fairmount Park.

South 13th Street

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Step away from nature photos and into the heart of Philly for your next colorful adventure. For non-locals, South Philly has a great surprise. Travel down to South 13th Street (around Reed) and you’ll stumble across the crazy-beautiful “Miracle on South 13th Street.” It’s a street-wide project of lights and decorations to celebrate Christmas, but many of the decorations get left up year-round, meaning you can snap a beautiful, decorated, and definitely very South Philly shot in September

A post shared by Genevieve Story (@guenstorm) on

Love Park

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We wanted to put lesser-known places on this list but honestly, we couldn’t forgive ourselves if we didn’t include one of the most Instagrammed places in Philly.

That’s right, it’s the red, purple, and blue LOVE sculpture. Smack-dab in the heart of the city, this piece offers the perfect place for a romantic photo, a one-person shot, or anything else. It’s just, frankly, an iconic picture at any time of year.

Percy Street Project

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Any avid reader of Curbed Philly knows that we write about this place frequently. It’s an interesting spot, created by local artists to combat the rise of crime on this particular block. The piece now shows some cool neon lights that perfectly accent any photo.

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

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This is probably the first thing anyone thinks of when they consider where to do an Instagram photoshoot in Philly, and there’s a reason for that. The Magic Gardens are a zany, walkable mosaic, which include pieces of bikes, pottery, glass, and a million other objects you would never guess could fit in a mural.

Want to go off the beaten path? Check out one of Isaiah Zagar’s many other mosaics around Philly. We’ve got the best ones in a roundup here.

Chinatown

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So much of Chinatown is hectic and crazy in a wonderful way. There are a million shops worth visiting (we suggest the bakeries especially), there’s fantastic dim sum, and there’s the iconic shot underneath the arch. That’s the most colorful spot you’ll find in Chinatown, but you can certainly snap some more photos as you stop in at the various stores for pastries, food, and boba tea.

A post shared by Mei Kasumov (@mei_kasumov) on

Philly Special mural

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As the Eagles kick of fall the season, why not take a moment to remember one of the most tense and exciting moments in Eagles history? This was the play that clinched it and got the Eagles the Super Bowl win in 2018, and now it’s commemorated on a wall in South Philly. Perfect for a photo and some reminiscing. Go Birds.

Cherry Street Pier

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There’s so much to love about this beautiful pier, which reopened after renovations only last fall. It’s got food vendors, music on select nights, and plenty of art. But most importantly (for the purposes of this list at least), it has stellar views. Stand under an arch and snap a picture in front of the Ben Franklin Bridge, or the open air garden. Grab a snapshot of Camden, or just a picture of the renovated industrial pier itself. There’s always a lot to look at.

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Fountain Street Steps

Tucked in at Umbria and Fountain streets are these gorgeous, mural-clad steps. They’re almost hidden from the public eye—you walk down the steps and see nothing, but turn around? There’s a huge mural, reminiscent of Van Gogh’s “Starry Night.” The mural was dedicated in 2015 and is worth a photo. Sit on the steps with a coffee, sprawl across them, or simply walk down. There are a million ways to pose on the vibrant space.

A post shared by Visit Philly (@visitphilly) on

Market St & 51st St - FS

It’s worth riding the MFL all the way west (facing toward the city) to catch the famous love letter murals that dot the houses, businesses, and other random buildings heading that way. One of the most popular murals has to be this one at Market and 51st. Hop off the train to take a look (and grab a snapshot).

Bartram's Garden

From the rolling grass field to the vibrant trees, this garden is green on green on green. Get a shot against a tree, lay out in the grass, or simply overlook the river. All are prime spots for the perfect photo.

A post shared by nickjmalf (@nickjmalf) on

The Cliffs

Since Graffiti Pier was shut down last spring (although it’s reopening as a public park), you’ll need a new place to get all your best graffiti art and photos, and the Cliffs can certainly provide. Originally a 1700s home, the stone structure burned down in the late 20th century and has since become a kind of canvas for great graffiti art. Go exploring, bring a camera, and make sure to capture all its colorful glory.

For more places in Fairmount, check out our guide to the 17 hidden gems of Fairmount Park.

South 13th Street

Step away from nature photos and into the heart of Philly for your next colorful adventure. For non-locals, South Philly has a great surprise. Travel down to South 13th Street (around Reed) and you’ll stumble across the crazy-beautiful “Miracle on South 13th Street.” It’s a street-wide project of lights and decorations to celebrate Christmas, but many of the decorations get left up year-round, meaning you can snap a beautiful, decorated, and definitely very South Philly shot in September

A post shared by Genevieve Story (@guenstorm) on

Love Park

We wanted to put lesser-known places on this list but honestly, we couldn’t forgive ourselves if we didn’t include one of the most Instagrammed places in Philly.

That’s right, it’s the red, purple, and blue LOVE sculpture. Smack-dab in the heart of the city, this piece offers the perfect place for a romantic photo, a one-person shot, or anything else. It’s just, frankly, an iconic picture at any time of year.

Percy Street Project

Any avid reader of Curbed Philly knows that we write about this place frequently. It’s an interesting spot, created by local artists to combat the rise of crime on this particular block. The piece now shows some cool neon lights that perfectly accent any photo.

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

This is probably the first thing anyone thinks of when they consider where to do an Instagram photoshoot in Philly, and there’s a reason for that. The Magic Gardens are a zany, walkable mosaic, which include pieces of bikes, pottery, glass, and a million other objects you would never guess could fit in a mural.

Want to go off the beaten path? Check out one of Isaiah Zagar’s many other mosaics around Philly. We’ve got the best ones in a roundup here.

Chinatown

So much of Chinatown is hectic and crazy in a wonderful way. There are a million shops worth visiting (we suggest the bakeries especially), there’s fantastic dim sum, and there’s the iconic shot underneath the arch. That’s the most colorful spot you’ll find in Chinatown, but you can certainly snap some more photos as you stop in at the various stores for pastries, food, and boba tea.

A post shared by Mei Kasumov (@mei_kasumov) on

Philly Special mural

As the Eagles kick of fall the season, why not take a moment to remember one of the most tense and exciting moments in Eagles history? This was the play that clinched it and got the Eagles the Super Bowl win in 2018, and now it’s commemorated on a wall in South Philly. Perfect for a photo and some reminiscing. Go Birds.

Cherry Street Pier

There’s so much to love about this beautiful pier, which reopened after renovations only last fall. It’s got food vendors, music on select nights, and plenty of art. But most importantly (for the purposes of this list at least), it has stellar views. Stand under an arch and snap a picture in front of the Ben Franklin Bridge, or the open air garden. Grab a snapshot of Camden, or just a picture of the renovated industrial pier itself. There’s always a lot to look at.