In today’s digital age, travel and photography go hand in hand—and nowhere is that more evident than on Instagram. From iconic landmarks to breathtaking natural wonders, certain destinations around the world have captured the hearts (and camera rolls) of millions. These spots aren’t just beautiful in person; they’re also some of the most shared and celebrated places online. We’ve rounded up the Top 10 Most Photographed Destinations on Instagram that travelers can’t stop posting about.
Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris
Notre Dame Cathedral ranks first as the world’s most Instagrammed religious landmark, generating 5M hashtags despite the devastating 2019 fire. The Gothic church is projected to reach 12M visitors in 2025 following its reopening, making it one of France’s most visited monuments. Even during reconstruction, the cathedral continues attracting tourists drawn to its architectural and historical significance.
Taj Mahal, India
Taj Mahal comes in second with 3.7M hashtags, confirming its reputation as India’s most photographed monument. About 7-8M people visit this white marble tomb each year, keeping it among the world’s most popular heritage sites.
Sagrada Familia
Sagrada Família takes third place with 3.6M Instagram hashtags. Antoni Gaudí’s unfinished basilica welcomes 3.2M visitors yearly, making it Barcelona’s major tourist attraction. This UNESCO site has been under construction for 140 years and is projected to be completed by 2026.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Angkor Wat holds fourth place with 2M hashtags, leading Southeast Asia’s religious sites on Instagram. The 800-year-old temple complex brings about 6M visitors to Cambodia each year, making it the country’s biggest tourist draw. Sunrise photos and the temple’s reflection in water create popular shots for social platforms.
Sacré-Cœur, Paris
Basilique du Sacré-Cœur takes fifth position with 1.3M Instagram hashtags, giving Paris two spots in the top five. The white church on Montmartre hill gets roughly 11M visitors yearly, just behind Notre Dame in tourist numbers.
Al-Aqsa, Jerusalem
Al-Aqsa Mosque lands in sixth place, collecting 1.24M hashtags from visitors to Jerusalem. This ancient mosque draws over 2M annual tourists who come for both worship and sightseeing at this historically significant site in the Old City.
Sheikh Zayed Mosque
Sheikh Zayed Mosque takes seventh position with 1.23M IG hashtags. Completed in 2007, the Abu Dhabi mosque welcomes over 3M annual visitors eager to experience this modern example of Islamic architecture.
Sri Harmandir Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple, ranks eighth with 1M Instagram hashtags. The Sikh holy site in Amritsar receives approximately 6M pilgrims and tourists yearly, serving as a spiritual center and also an architectural attraction.
St Peter’s Basilica
St Peter’s Basilica takes ninth place with 886K IG hashtags from its 7M yearly visitors. The Vatican church is one of the most important sites in Christianity, where visitors can photograph Michelangelo’s iconic dome. The site is expected to see a rise in tourist numbers this year following the recent papal transition at the Vatican, making it a historic time to visit.
Subotica Synagogue
Subotica Synagogue closes the top ten with 829K hashtags, doing surprisingly well on social even though it’s not as well-known as the other sites on the list. The Serbian synagogue gets tens of thousands of visitors each year, much fewer than the millions who visit other landmarks here, yet it still generates plenty of IG posts.
Laura Lynch, creator and writer of Savored Journeys, is an avid world traveler, certified wine expert, and international food specialist. She has written about travel and food for over 20 years and has visited over 75 countries. Her work has been published in numerous guidebooks, websites, and magazines.