Everybody knows that if you didn’t ‘gram it, it didn’t happen. This is why when you find yourself in sunny California you’ll want to make sure you do your mates a solid and up your holiday spam game. What’s a few unfollows between friends?
LA has it all from the Hollywood Hills to Venice Beach, but there’s so much more than the regular tourist traps. So, we’ve pulled together all the Instagram-worthy spots that guarantee a double tap for when you’ve nailed the usual suspects like the Hollywood Sign selfie and Santa Monica Pier.
Micheltorena Stairs
Silverlake's Micheltorena Stairs are among the most Instagrammed staircases in LA. Often referred to as the secret staircase (until now at least), you’ll find it at 3324 Sunset Boulevard, just near the Micheltorena Elementary School. With cacti and typical California palms adorning the signs, a quick search of the hashtag will give you all the inspiration (and justification) you need to nail the perfect shot.
OUE Skyspace
If your knees get queasy just looking at pictures of this one, maybe rethink your need to add this to your feed. OUE Skyspace is an open-air observation deck providing some killer 360-degree views of the city and is a must-capture-at-sunset kind of spot.
LA River
Remember the scene in Grease where Danny has a drag race with Leo? Or Drive with Ryan Gosling? Welcome to the LA River, quite possibly one of the most stunning urban locations in the city with an art deco industrial vibe that is the perfect backdrop for when you’re trying to look like you’re not trying at all. 90,000 posts to #lariver can’t be wrong.
Venice Beach Canals
Don’t worry you’re still in California, but we’ll forgive you for channelling some European vibes. Located off 25th Avenue in Venice Beach, the five canals each have their own unique bridges so there are plenty of photo ops. And sunsets here are the absolute number one reason to come.
Beverly Hills Hotel
With terracotta walls, palm trees and glistening pools, this is California life just like in the movies. Whether it’s a shot in front of their famed Martinique banana leaf wallpaper or the wall sign out the front, this is your Hollywood moment.
NoHo Station
It might seem kind of random to include a train station in a list of Instagrammable spots, but the North Hollywood Station in the NoHo arts district is an artwork in itself. Plan your outfit ahead of time to offset the vibrant colours in the tiled mural above the escalator.
Angel Wings By Collette Miller
Part of a global project, Angel Wings was coined one of Instagram’s best-known backdrops by the Los Angeles Times. The literal work of art courtesy of visual artist Collette Miller came to fruition in 2012 and is scattered across LA walls, just search #globalangelwings to find one near you.
Coloured Walls
Angel wings aren’t the lonely thing you’ll find on LA’s walls. From the Pink Wall on the side of Paul Smith’s flagship store and the Love Wall outside Smashbox Studios, to the Mondrian Wall on La Cienega Boulevard and Cisco Home’s Made In LA wall just a few blocks from the Pink Wall; if you didn’t ‘gram yourself in front of an LA wall, did you even go?
Urban Light At LACMA
Built in 2008 by artist Chris Burden, this urban light sculpture is located at the Wilshire Boulevard entrance to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and is impressive come day or night.
Griffith Observatory
Pretty much any TV show or movie filmed in LA will have a panning shot of the Griffith Observatory at some point, and the views more than explain why. Hike up to the top and then take a snap to prove it.
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Image credit: Tyler Nix