The Most Instagrammable Spots Around New Orleans

A visit to New Orleans is a feast for your senses, and while we are known for our incredibly decadent food scene, you will quickly find that the colors and textures of the city mean that photo opportunities are never in short supply! Here are just a few of the fantastically photogenic spots around New Orleans that are sure to liven up your Instagram feed today.

French Quarter doorways

While you roam through the oldest part of the city, be sure you do not miss all the little details that make the visual aspects of the French Quarter so beautifully unique. The mash-up of old world and modern day make for a perfect backdrop, and if you are looking for a great way to frame your next selfie, look no further than all of the different doorways you can find around the French Quarter. Many of these doors provide a whimsical background with their bright colors and perfectly weathered paint. Others offer a small glimpse into the mysterious worlds behind the walls of these beautiful homes – tropical courtyards, flowing fountains, and picturesque bon vivant lifestyle.

Walgreens sign on Canal Street

Designed in the 1930s, the striking signage of the Walgreens drugstore at 900 Canal Street has become a beloved landmark of New Orleans. The sleek art deco style building, as well as its iconic sign, really brought to life one of the busiest corners of New Orleans central shopping district at the time. The drug store’s original design also included a 100-foot soda fountain bar, a restaurant, and plenty of storage for the business. While much has changed in the store and building’s structure inside, the outside appearance remains very close to the original. And after nearly 100 years, the sign is nearly identical, but with an important modern update: the original neon has been replaced with LED lights.

JAMNOLA

Are you ready for some great selfie spots to jazz up your feed? JAMNOLA is just the spot! Described as a “cultural funhouse,” JAMNOLA offers 17 different immersive exhibits exploring the food, music, and art of New Orleans, a true visual buffet. Hop in a crawfish boil pot, snag a selfie with Dr. John, or see yourself in a second line parade. You will not be able to stop yourself from staring in every direction as you take in the work of more than 30 artists who came together to create this wildly colorful space!

French Market

The French Market, one of the longest enduring institutions in the French Quarter, will provide the perfect backdrop for your next photography adventure. Built in 1791, this open-air market has been at the heart of the city for over 200 years, and while vendors and wares may have changed over the years, the spirit of the space remains the same: commerce, community, and culture. On any given day you can find locally grown produce, an array of cuisine from around the world to snack on at the food stalls, and trinkets and artwork galore. This market is great for snapshots and people watching as folks from all over the globe converge to do a little shopping while they visit the French Quarter.

Swamp tour

Whether you are going for a windswept selfie on an airboat ride or a shot of the local wildlife from a pontoon boat, a swamp tour offers some of the best photo opportunities in the area. Just a short drive from the city you will find yourself immersed in a totally different world of murky waters and lush greenery that will take your breath away. If you are quick, you can catch a great shot of our beloved alligators, or maybe you would rather snag some pictures of the ancient cypress trees stretching up toward the sky, the soft Spanish moss swaying in the bayou breeze. Whatever you choose to focus your camera on, you will be sure to find some picturesque spots in our world-famous swamps.

Crescent Park

If skyline shots are your thing, you will definitely want to head out to Crescent Park to catch some of the best views of the New Orleans cityscape. Running nearly a mile and a half along the mighty Mississippi River, Crescent Park offers incredible views of the ships and historic paddle-wheel boats moving along the water, as well as a perfect spot to see the skyline. The green space throughout the park also boasts plenty of native flowers and plants, creating a restful atmosphere in the midst of our bustling city. Several of the park entrances offer accessibility for those with mobility limitations, making this a fantastic, inclusive spot on your photographic tour of New Orleans!

Hancock Whitney Center

Maybe you are looking for something a bit more structured and linear for your photo backdrop. Look no further than the Hancock Whitney Center, the tallest building in the entire state of Louisiana. Built in 1972 in the International Style of architecture, this concrete giant stands 697 feet tall, towering over the city and providing an incredible spot for pictures. Whether you want stoic shots on the steps of the center or just want to capture the clean lines and angles of the building itself, make sure to include Hancock Whitney Center on your list of places to check out while you are roaming New Orleans.

The corner of Royal and St. Peter Streets

Everyone knows that the French Quarter offers some of the most classic spots for photos in all of south, but perhaps no corner is more stunning than at the intersection of Royal and St. Peter Streets. Look up and you will find an incredibly ornate balcony, typically decked out for whatever season is upon us. This picturesque balcony demonstrates a fantastic example of the Spanish architecture influences that can be found throughout the French Quarter and the rest of New Orleans. The Spanish controlled Louisiana from 1763 to 1803, and in those forty years, several fires destroyed much of the French-built structures in the Quarter. The buildings were replaced with ones built by the Spanish, bringing in the bright colors and wrought ironwork that is now so famous across the city. Keep your eyes at street level, and you will find even more photo-worthy sights, such as the various bands and performers that busk in this section of the neighborhood, providing visually and auditorily stunning moments.

St. Charles Avenue and the Garden District

If you want even more breathtaking architectural shots for your Instagram feed, hop on one of the “green line” streetcars and head uptown to the Garden District. A ride along St. Charles Avenue offers views of some of the most stunning mansions and the stately live oak trees that are such recognizable trademarks of New Orleans. Hop off the streetcar and roam through the neighborhood to find incredible gardens and gorgeous homes just off the avenue too. And you cannot forget to look for our most famous “foliage” in the city – the evergreen bead trees! Since many of the famous Mardi Gras parades roll along St. Charles, many of the float throws, particularly strands of colorful beads, get caught in the branches of trees lining the street. Bead trees are particularly easy to spot in the spring, shortly after the Mardi Gras season ends, but you can find the occasional bead tree along St. Charles nearly any time of year.

The Carousel Bar at the Hotel Monteleone

While you hunt for all the best spots for photographs around the city, be sure to stop in and grab a cocktail at the world-famous Carousel Bar located in the Hotel Monteleone. Rated one of the top 20 bars in the world, it offers an extensive cocktail menu, live entertainment, and an incredible visual feast. Twenty-five seats surround the bar which rotates slowly, much like a merry-go-round. For nearly 75 years, bar patrons have enjoyed the high-end atmosphere as they slowly spin. Sip on a Sazerac, the official cocktail of New Orleans with quite a storied past, take in some live jazz music, and snap a few photos of one of the most beloved spots in the city for both locals and tourists alike.

Sunset on Bayou St. John

If a breathtaking sunset photo is what you are looking for, make your way over to Bayou St. John in the middle of the city. Used by the Indigenous Peoples in the area during pre-Columbian times, this waterway has been a significant part of the city since long before it was ever called New Orleans. In the 1800s, legendary Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau supposedly conducted many of her rituals along the bayou. Now the waterway runs through a bustling residential neighborhood and plays host to families, outdoor enthusiasts, and several outdoor events throughout the year. Sitting on the banks of the bayou, you can find a peaceful setting for a poboy picnic dinner and grab some beautiful shots of the setting sun and the striking silhouettes it creates on the water.

Exchange Alley

A pedestrian mall originally constructed in 1831, Exchange Alley offers a perfect spot to shoot some photos. Now lined with shops, cafes, and hotels, this area used to be a bustling center of commerce when local businessmen wanted to shift some of the economic happenings from the Creole-populated French Quarter to the Anglo-Americans in the Central Business District and Uptown parts of the city. Rich, brightly painted buildings crowded together, lush greenery hanging from intricate black wrought iron balconies, and old-fashioned pavers lining the street make for a perfectly picturesque backdrop.

No matter what you are looking for as you photograph your way through New Orleans, Gators and Ghosts is here to help! We offer a wide variety of NOLA sightseeing tours, including airboat swamp, ghost, plantation, and city tours, all perfect for snagging the best photos, so book yours today!