10 Most Instagrammable Places in Washington DC

The Lincoln Memorial with its gigantic statue of Abraham Lincoln seated majestically is one of the most iconic sites in the country and an ideal subject for your Instagram feed. Photo opportunities can be had both outside the building and inside, where you'll be surrounded by rows of iconic columns with fewer crowds. Everything in here is larger than life and is sure to take your breath away. The photos will have the same effect on your social media viewers.

The Lincoln Memorial is part of the National Mall, right in the heart of downtown Washington, DC. It's also open day and night, so you can catch photos in the sunlight or when it's gloriously illuminated at night.

Georgetown is a neighborhood just about 10 minutes from downtown that offers stunning colorful homes, murals, boutique shopping, and a picturesque waterfront that's perfect for Instagram feeds. The options for photo opportunities here are endless. You can capture images of quaint independent storefronts along walkable avenues or light up your feed with pictures of colorful, historic row houses. Walk along the waterfront and capture images of couples strolling along the shore or boats traveling down the river.

Georgetown is a historic and picturesque neighborhood with infinite opportunities to make your Instagram feed glow. It's a must-visit area for almost any trip to Washington, DC.

The United States Capitol is an iconic building with its columns and dome, and it allows a chance to photograph the place where the work of U.S. government happens. You can try to reproduce famous views of the Capitol from the outside, or you can book a guided tour to capture images of the historic halls, rooms, and artwork within. The Capitol is a must-visit on any trip to DC and will be a highlight of your Instagram account.

The Capitol is located on the far east side of the National Mall, in the heart of downtown Washington. It's also within easy walking distance of a number of other photographic attractions.

The Washington National Cathedral offers stunning Gothic architecture with over 230 elegant stained glass windows and over 100 statues to photograph for your Instagram feed. This building is one of the most important seats of religion in the nation and is gorgeous to photograph inside and out. Occasionally, it also hosts events like Children's Chorus of Washington concerts, which will expand your experience here.

Besides the gargoyles, statues, and stained glass windows, you can see gorgeous, colorful gardens outside and stroll the walking paths through green space. It's about 13 minutes northeast of central downtown.

The Library of Congress is among the world's largest libraries and one of the most photogenic buildings in DC, offering breathtaking opportunities for social media photos. Check out the Thomas Jefferson building, which dates back to the 19th century, to view over 50 paintings, sculptures, and murals from iconic American artists. Capture reading rooms that look like something out of one of the books they house.

While you're here, don't forget to take some time to contemplate and even photograph the quotes from some of the most influential thinkers in history etched on the walls of the Great Hall. It's right in the heart of downtown in the National Mall.

DC's Tidal Basin is a lovely, man-made reservoir in the heart of the National Mall and comes to life in the spring with chances to photograph vibrant, pink cherry blossoms. It's worth capturing pictures of all year long, however. The walking paths around the reservoir are lined with elegant, paved walkways, endless green space, and tended plants that give a sense of serene beauty no matter when you want to capture an image.

For a really stark addition to your Instagram, try capturing photos in the heart of cherry blossom season, then grab shots of the trees in the winter and juxtapose them in your feed. Your followers will wonder at the stunning transformation between the 2 seasons.

The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History is among the world's most magnificent buildings, boasting stunning architecture and thousands of photo ops of dinosaurs, art, and even iconic jewels. Here, you can catch photos of a full-sized, taxidermied elephant, real dinosaurs, Egyptian mummies, the Hope Diamond, and a 52-foot-long mega-toothed shark. You can capture photos of live insects and hundreds of rare items the museum calls Objects of Wonder.

What makes this museum stand out is the sheer size of the place. It's among the largest museums in the world, and your biggest worry may be running out of storage space on your camera before you've captured all the photos you want.

The United States National Arboretum offers miles of hiking trails winding through 446 acres of green space, with a stunning photo op of the National Capitol Columns at its heart. This permanent public art installation features 22 Corinthian columns that stood as the original support structures of the U.S. Capitol's East Portico in 1828. They are truly like a walk into the past and are fantastic to photograph either from a distance or from within.

To maximize your photo opportunity here, hit the brick patio of the columns right at dusk when the shadows are long. Don't miss the chance to capture a picture of the reflecting pool nearby as well. It's just 18 minutes east of downtown Washington.

The National Gallery of Art offers a spectacular building with gorgeous rooms, high-arched ceilings, marble floors, and fantastic artwork throughout to grace your Instagram feed. One of the highlights of this place is the LED tunnel that travels from the east side of the museum to the west, offering a backdrop for a unique and worthy photo. Of course, while you're here, don't miss the gigantic cobalt rooster known as the Hahn/Cock, created by Katharina Fritsch. It sits up on the roof and stands 15 feet tall.

The National Gallery of Art is located in the National Mall in the heart of downtown. From the roof, you can capture great photos of the many surrounding monuments, including the Capitol dome.

The Friendship Archway overlooks one of the busiest intersections in Washington, DC's Chinatown district and is a famed Instagram spot with stunning, colorful art to ignite your feed. This arch hangs over 7th Street and H Street NW and was built in 1982. It's a symbol of Chinatown and the friendship between the East and the West. It features more than 7,000 elaborate, colorful tiles and lights, with 272 brightly painted dragons all over its surface.

This one is an unusual, unique photo for your Instagram feed that's an ideal contrast to the very Western monuments you'll capture on vacation here. The Friendship Archway is located just 7 minutes to the southeast of downtown Washington.