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Any destination can be a photographer’s paradise if you’re creative enough. But some places are massive overachievers! I’ve visited some countries, cities, and regions where beautiful shots lurk around every corner.
And it’s not always the places you think. I don’t always have the best luck shooting photos in Italy, for example. And as gorgeous as Savannah is, the shadows from the ubiquitous oak trees make it a challenge to photograph. And I was so upset when my first trip to Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, was a near-disaster due to poor photography conditions.
But when a destination gets it right, I have treasures that will last me a lifetime.
Here are my picks for the 10 most photogenic places I’ve ever visited. Some of them are obvious, like Paris and New York — but I’m sure at least a few of them will surprise you.
Copenhagen
I couldn’t believe how many great photos I got in Copenhagen. I don’t say that to brag about my skills; I say that because I was flabbergasted at how every aspect of the city was begging to be photographed. I had to restrain myself from covering my whole apartment in framed Copenhagen photos!
So, what should you look for in Copenhagen? I take a lot of photos of bicycles ordinarily, and Copenhagen is bike-crazy metropolis.
The Nyhavn, the famous ship-filled wharf along a canal, is the most photographed site in the city. I also happened to be there for Sankt Hans, when bonfires are lit in the canal and led to some awesome colors.
The picture with the lines was taken at the Superkilen, which is a great spot for black and white photography. That shot hangs in my black-and-white bathroom today.
Oh, and also get photos of very tall, very attractive people clad in nothing but black and charcoal gray.
Japan
I’m putting the entire country on this list because literally every part of Japan is a photographer’s paradise. Whether you’re in cities, more traditional areas, or in the wilderness, you’ll get to enjoy some of the world’s most beautiful light.
I urge you to see as much of Japan as humanly possible. Some of my favorite places for photography were the Dotonbori neighborhood of Osaka at sunset, Kyoto for the temples and rare geisha-spotting, the tech-crazy Akihabara neighborhood of Tokyo, and of course Shibuya Crossing.
One thing I’ve always said is that Japan turns you into a stereotypical Japanese tourist — suddenly you want to photograph everything because it’s so different! From vending machines to trash cans, everything is worthy of a photo. And Japanese people are lovely and a lot of fun; many of them turn into total hams when they see a tourist with a camera!
Cherry blossom season is, of course, a very popular and photogenic time to visit, but it can be tough timing it right. Personally, I’d love to visit in the fall when the leaves change.
Istanbul
I’ll spare you the Istanbul is where East meets West and old meets new drivel (god, I hate that so much) — Istanbul is on my list because nowhere else looks like it. I don’t know any other city that looks just as good up close (details in markets! Tulip-shaped tea glasses!) and far away (mosques and minarets dotting the skyline! Colorful seaside buildings!).
There’s so much to see in Istanbul, you could be occupied for weeks. I would start by visiting the Grand Bazaar, Spice Market, and every market that crosses your path. Bowls of olives, brightly colored spices, detailed lamps and hand-painted dishes make for amazing photos.
Istanbul has an amazing skyline and there are fabulous views from the Galata Tower. Istanbul also has some cool neighborhoods — I recommend checking out the hip zone of Kadikoy and the colorful Armenian neighborhood of Kumkapi.
One last thing to photograph — cats. Stray cats are all over Istanbul and they’re well cared for by the locals. Some of those cats are better-looking than most people!
Rural Australia
I’ve been to Australia twice, visiting four of its states, and while the cities are great, it’s the outdoors where Australia truly shines. In no other place in the world have I had as many “I can’t believe this place exists” feelings as I did in Australia. Some of the national parks make you feel like you’re at the beginning of time, a dinosaur lurking around the corner.
Some of my favorite photography spots are Uluru, Litchfield, and Kakadu National Parks in the Northern Territory and Hutt Lagoon (pink lake!), Shark Bay, the Pinnacles Desert, Rottnest Island, and Karijini National Park in Western Australia. I would love to explore the Kimberley, Queensland and Tasmania.
The challenge in rural Australia is getting around safely. WA in particular is very sparsely populated and there is very little public transit; most people either drive themselves or take an organized tour. Of course, driving leads to its own challenges, particularly when kangaroos like to jump in front of your car at night.
Pack your wide-angle for the landscapes and your zoom for the wildlife. And be prepared to take a million selfies with the quokkas!
Oia, Santorini
Ah, the island that launched a thousand calendars. Santorini might be a giant cliché at this point, but clichés exist for a reason. And Santorini’s crown jewel is Oia, the white village on the northern tip of the island.
Oia has been photographed a million different ways, so finding your own take on the village can be a challenge. My recommendation? Just make peace with that fact and take whatever kinds of shots make you happy.
If you want to get the key sunset picture, shot from the fort, I recommend heading there an hour or so before sunset. Bring a book to read; you’ll be glad you have something to do. And don’t leave as soon as the sun dips beneath the surface — stick around for Blue Hour!
Another tip can be photographing the sunset in the opposite direction. It can be surprisingly entertaining to get photos of hundreds of tourists lined up with their cameras.
New York City
It’s a city full of icons. How could New York not be on my list? My only crime is that living here, I treat it less like a travel destination and don’t have nearly as many photos as I should! (That will hopefully change this flower season. I need photos of New York in bloom!)
So, what should you photograph in New York? Definitely get the icons in: Times Square at night, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Staten Island ferry, Central Park. If you want views from above, head to Top of the Rock or One World Trade Center (the Empire State Building is popular, but isn’t the point to have the Empire State Building in the photo?).
But I think the best New York photography comes from neighborhood wandering and seeing what comes your way. Some of my favorite neighborhoods for photography are the West Village, Bushwick, Harlem, SoHo, and the Lower East Side. Spend the bulk of your time here — and don’t fall into the trap of spending most of your time in midtown. Midtown is boring.
Season-wise, you can’t beat spring when everything is in bloom!
Nicaragua
Of all the countries in Latin America, I feel like Nicaragua was the best for photography. (“Not Mexico?!” yells everyone. Sorry, that’s how I feel! Maybe I’ll change my mind when I visit Guanajuato and Oaxaca.) Not only was Nicaragua one of the most colorful countries I’ve visited, it also has the rare combination of extremely photogenic cities and extremely photogenic rural areas.
Nicaragua is a place to focus on details and colors. Think markets, street art, all the fruits you can find. And try to visit at least one volcano; they’re all over the country.
I found León to be the richest photography destination in the country, so many colors and markets, plus that incredible white roof on top of the cathedral. And while I didn’t have a great volcano boarding experience with Bigfoot Hostel, you can’t deny that their orange jumpsuits against the black volcano and blue sky make for some striking shots.
And a little tip: your Instagram followers will love tropical shots of Little Corn Island the most.
Paris
I don’t have to explain why. You already know.
Like New York, I find it best to knock the Paris icons off your list and then dig deep into the neighborhoods. Some of my Paris neighborhoods for photography are Montmartre, St. Germain-des-Pres, and the Marais. My new favorite street in Paris is Rue Montorgueil in the 2nd, which is covered with food shops and cafes so perfect that they look like they’re out of a movie.
But if you’re looking for the best views of Paris, I recommend the top of the Arc de Triomphe, the towers of Notre Dame (gargoyles!), the Montparnasse Tower (I hate that building so much, so when you’re up there you don’t see it!), and the top of the Printemps department store.
Do be prepared for less than ideal weather. One thing that doesn’t get said often enough is that Paris generally has gray weather with sprinklings of rain, not unlike London. Don’t fight it; lean into it and learn to love your gray photos.
Want more? I’ve got 100 travel tips for Paris.
Lake Ohrid, Macedonia
The Balkans are my favorite region in the world to travel, and Macedonia is a particular delight. The first place I visited in the country was Ohrid, the town on the banks of Lake Ohrid (which spans both Macedonia and Albania) and it astounded me with its understated beauty. I’ve never seen water meld into the sky more cleanly than on Lake Ohrid.
I’ve only visited the Macedonian side, so I can’t speak to Albanian shores, but the town of Ohrid is a great place to base yourself. Everyone gets photos of Sveti Jovan, that famous church overlooking a cliff on top of the lake, and make sure you go inside the churches, too — they’re just as interesting as the outside.
One of the best things I did was take a boat trip to Sveti Naum, a few towns away. It’s home to pretty shoreline, an abundance of wild peacocks, and young Macedonian men who don’t speak a word of English but cut you pieces of watermelon with an enormous knife.
Get photos of the lake from every angle — I especially love shots of swimmers from high above.
Also, Macedonia is one of the cheapest countries in Europe and they make surprisingly good wine. Use those facts to your advantage.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a feast for the eyes. So many colors, so many interesting landscapes, an interesting blend of cultures, religions, and people. There is quite a lot packed into this small island, and I was deeply enamored with what I saw.
My favorite photography spot in the country was Galle, home to a Dutch colonial settlement, a fort, and clear cerulean waters. Galle also makes a good base for exploring the nearby beaches. Another must-photograph destination is Sigiriya, home to a giant rock in the middle of the countryside.
Two things that you shouldn’t miss photographing in Sri Lanka: women in their gorgeous dresses, and the tuk-tuks, which are somehow a million times nicer than the ones you’d see in Southeast Asia. And if you’re into mountains or temples, Sri Lanka has both in spades.
While I haven’t been to India, lots of my friends have said that Sri Lanka is so much cleaner and calmer than India. There’s something to be said for that.
Photography Notes: These days the camera I use is a Fuji X-T1, which has dropped in price now that the Fuji X-T2 has come out. I’ve tried the X-T2 and love it, but I don’t feel a pressing need to upgrade at this time.
I use two lenses: my main walking-around lens is the 18-135mm 3.5-5.6, which is versatile enough for most of the shots I take, and I also have a 16mm 1.4 wide-angle lens, which is FAST and FANTASTIC.
I’m also a big fan of the Pacsafe Camsafe V17 anti-theft bag, which is big enough for all my photography and tech gear yet small enough to put beneath the seat in front of me on a plane.
Those all look like beautiful destinations! I was just reading an article this week about how people are choosing travel destinations based on where they can get the most popular instagram photo…that makes me so sad! There’s so many wonderful places around the world to visit, and travel is more than getting the most likes and followers from a photo.
I say, let ’em have ’em! More to go around for those of us who cherish the experience.
You know…maybe that’s just one factor out of several. I could see it tipping the scales in one direction!
Very sad indeed… these apps are meant to help us connect not dictate the life itself!
I agree that it is a bit sad and I’m sure some people do that. But hey I think the majority of us travellers are there for the experience rather than just insta-wothy photos. I have to laugh at some photos of places made to look amazing and the reality is anything but!
Oh, my, Kate, so many beautiful places! I can’t believe I’ve only been to New York from the list (yep, I live in Europe and still never been to Paris or the Balkans!)… I hope I am able to travel more to see the world’s beauty. You posted such stunning photography, thank you!
Happy travels!
Ioanna
A Woman Afoot
Beautiful shots!
How come Italy did not make it to the list? 🙂 Amalfi coast or Lake Como or anything there really:) And honestly, personally I wouldn’t be able to narrow down the list to only 10 places, there’s too many of them.
I love Italy, and I’ve probably gotten the best pictures from Sicily, but I can’t think of any destination I’d put in my top 10!
Venice
So many amazing photos here! I particularly love the Istanbul and NYC ones. 🙂
These are so great and your pictures are beautiful. I just had a religious photographic experience in Bruges, Belgium. Every foot of that place is so damn pretty! And icons are icons but it’s the back alley details that make for the best pictures, in my opinion. Snap on, girl!
I went to Bruges back in 2006, long before the blog, and loved it! I’d love to go back.
love your pictures and I agree. You should travel more around Turkey though having been to different regions in Turkey I will say…the natural scenery is vastly different and so beautiful in the different reasons…its why I have visited 3 times already and still feel like im in a new place every time. Also Mykonos is far more beautiful in my opinion than Santorini (and Ive been to both).
I definitely agree with Copenhagen, the Greek Islands, Paris, and Japan. One of my favorite photo-friendly places, though, is Lisbon. I couldn’t believe how photogenic the Old Town was – beautiful white-washed churches, mosaic-tiled buildings, creamy custard tarts, and all!
Lisbon is great! The city feels like pure sunshine. And the hills make for some great angles.
Great shots! I’m happy to see Nicaragua on the list, I felt that I had come upon something special there as well.
Great Post !! You must visit Chefchaouen in Morocco and i bet you’ll add it to this post 😀
I don’t have much desire to visit Morocco, but I would LOVE to photograph Chefchaouen! All those pretty blues!
What great sights ! This post reminds us that we live in a fascinating world, if we do look at things positively. I was happy to see my country, Sri Lanka too featured. You are so welcome in my country. May your great experiences around the world continue. Wish you luck, Kate.
Your countrymen showed me a great time in Sri Lanka!
“There’s so much to see in Istanbul, you could be occupied for weeks.” Or years! Somehow it never gets boring.
Those all look like beautiful destinations! I was just reading an article this week about how people are choosing travel destinations based on where they can get the most popular instagram photo…that makes me so sad! There’s so many wonderful places around the world to visit, and travel is more than getting the most likes and followers from a photo.
I totally understand being motivated to photograph a particularly beautiful destination. But if it’s only to make your friends jealous…eh.
I am SHOCKED that Colmar/Alsace didn’t make the list!!! Every corner of that town/area is a living, breathing, postcard. The whimsical architecture! The rolling hills! Vineyards! Storks! Castle ruins! I am literally incapable of thinking about Alsace without exclamation points!!! 🙂
I know, right? 🙂 Alsace is definitely up there, but I didn’t think it belonged in my personal top ten!
Lovely photos, Kate! I’m heading to Istanbul and Lake Ohrid soon, and reading this post has made me even more excited to visit!
I was where you took the photos( except australia and lake Ohrid in Macedonia). Beautiful places of course but full of people! I was twice in Santorini and it was always so crowded…at moment I am in Procida island, near Capri and Ischia in front of Naples. Beautiful and quiet. I send you a couple of pictures.
Ciao
Anna
So Amazing photos and informativr write up. Nice one! ?
So excited to see Nicaragua on your list! I having playing with the idea of visiting the country soon =o) Thanks for the inspiration!
WOW! These are stellar photos. I love the mix of landscape, architecture and people. I find that people as a subject can help travel photos stand out! Great stuff!
The second photo of Copenhagen made me think of the gorgeous lavender fields of Provence in France for a second! An amazingly photogenic region! Last year I went to Andalusia in Spain and I got some stunning shots in Cordoba – the Mosque-Cathedral and Alcazar are a photographer’s dream! This year I’m really excited about going to Granada and Segovia in Spain, Tuscany in Italy and Strasbourg in France, and it was the photos I’ve seen that made me want to visit those places! Now to buy a decent camera.. any suggestions? I’d rather a compact over a DSLR just because I can’t be bothered to carry that around with me!
Thanks for the post 🙂
These places all look gorgeous!
One thing I notice with a lot of travel posts is that sometimes it feels like the same lauding adjectives are repeated; Beautiful, fascinating, incredible nature and scenery etc… (Not that you particularly do this, it just becomes this way with so many great locations)! What would be interesting to read is travel opposites, contrasting places and describing how they are different. Just a thought 🙂
Oh and I love your blog, my favourite travel blog by far!
Thank you, Emma! I do like to compare and contrast sometimes. On my post about the worst books I’ve ever read, I recommended books to read instead that are similar choices but much, much better books.
Hey Kate,
Lovely photos. 10 places to choose are tough but as you mentioned any destination can be a photographers paradise. I’ve been a couple of these places like Santorini but I’d love to go out to Europe and discover a few more places, play with angles, lights, and shoot photos. Appreciate the wanderlust!
Cheers,
Great pick of photos! My absolute favourite place to photograph is South Africa. I love taking photos of penguins and so far I haven’t found anywhere else to do it as well as in South Africa!
Incredible photographs! I enjoy taking pictures in Istanbul, Paris and the American West. Going to Copenhagen in June and can’t wait to see some of the places in your pictures!
Hi Kate
I’ve been thoroughly enjoying following your adventures for a few months now.
Your photo narrative here is sublime. I agree you can find fascinating pix almost everywhere and I love your selection.
My favorite photographic places are:
Laos – particularly Luang Prabang in the north where the Buddhist temples shine with gold and the long lines of monks dressed in their orange robes provide ever changing vistas.
New Zealand – everywhere in my country. I especially like the South Island in autumn when the leaves on the trees marching across the wide open spaces turn rich shades of yellow, gold and rust.
North Vietnam around Sapa and the market day in Bac Ha. The local tribes dress in their beautifully hand crafted garments, complete with silver jewellery and parade around. The sights created sensory overload and a photographer’s dream.
One of my regrets from my travels is not getting many photos of Luang Prabang (even though I wasn’t much of a photographer back then). I was only there for about two days or so and spent the bulk of my time hanging out with friends and biking through the countryside, not exploring the temples.
Yet another reason to go to New Zealand!
Wow! These places are so picturesque! I would love to go to each one of them, Kate!
Beautiful shots! I like how each of these destinations provide more than one kind of photos – street, people, city, architecture, nature, etc, yet still maintain some sort of consistency between them. It helps me to think of different perspectives for photography on my next trip. I’d also love to be able to visit all the destinations on your list, thanks for sharing!
I actually don’t photograph people very often; I like to keep my distance. I should do more of it, though.
You have a great eye for photography! I’ve only been to a few places on your list (Paris and NYC), but they were very photogenic. The others look just as lovely!
Thank you, I had fun taking them!
You take beautiful pictures! Thanks for sharing!
I am a nature travel type of girl and Rural Australia looks like just the place for me. Amazing. Also, that backdrop of you biking (assuming it’s you) in NYC is pure heaven. Thank you for blessing my eyes with all the beautiful images!
Amazing list, and even better photos! <3 I think you're obviously missing a few, but I'm sure this list could go on and on for days haha.
I moved to Vienna nine months ago, and am amazed at what this city has to offer and how I seem to do nothing but take photographs 🙂
Before this I lived in Thailand for 14 years and, yes, incredibly photogenic too 🙂
Lovely blog by the way and gorgeous photos. Especially love the ones of Paris and Japan.
Thanks for sharing this article! My favorite are Instanbul and Copenhagen 🙂
I’ve been to 5 countries on your list and they all are amazing. I’m Australian and I love it’s vast contrasts from one state to the next. I totally agree the outback is like immersing yourself into another time. Thanks for sharing.
I think you should visit Nepal once. One more place would definitely go in your list.
Beautiful photos. Namibia, Botswana, Japan, and Greece would be at the top of my list.
If you are looking for somewhere both picturesque and adventurous I couldn’t recommend the Falkland Islands enough! I am no photographer, and even I seem incapable of a bad photo!
I see that you have visited the most beautiful places in Europe, but still my favorite is Istanbul.
Istanbul is the real mix between history and modern world
Beautiful places and amazing pictures. Totally in love with this post.
Are your photographs for sale? I love them!
Email me through my site — I could sell you a print for your house!
Wow, such amazing photography! But those photos of Oia, Santorini took my breath away! Definitely going to have to plan a trip to Greece after this incredible article – and all the other destinations you listed!
Macedonia added to the bucket list. Thanks Kate!
Carl Kruse
Fun post! But, I’m surprised why India is not in your list of most photogenic places…Anyway, I like your list, especially rural Australia. I’m super excited to explore the unseen Australia on my next visit. Thanks for the inspiration! It’d be difficult for me to mention one or two favorite places, but I’d say Hampi (South India) and Kashmir are divine!
I would love to have enough money to travel the world and see these magnificent places!
Really your post is awesome… Thanks for giving me suggestion for best places for my upcoming travel plan.
Great Job!!!…
Wow Kate very inspiring post with some amazing photos. Unfortunately for me I’ve only managed to see Australia and New York City. But many more of those destinations are now on my travel list. Thank you for creating a desire to see more.
Lee
Last year i visited Istanbul and i can feel it in your pictures. beautiful pictures.
How awesome to see your best and favourite photos all together in one post like this! Great exercise, I really need to do this too 🙂 After 10 months in SEA we have soooo many lovely pictures. I love learning from other photographers and see the world through their lens! Thanks for sharing!
These are really amazing photos! I’m really glad to see Lake Ohrid on the list as I’m currently planning a trip there, and I was wondering if it is better seen from the Albanian side (Pogradec) or from the Macedonian side (Struga/Ohrid). I’ll be travelling through both countries anyway (and a couple more) but want to be efficient and pick the best side. Thanks so much!