The most photographed cities in the US

Words by Georgina Groom-Rietschy

From the lively streets of Lower Manhattan to the red sandstone peaks of Nevada, the sheer scale of the US means no two cities share the same light, character or reason to reach for your camera. We’ve analysed millions of customer photos using a rigorous, data science-led approach to reveal the cities that dominated camera rolls in 2025. 

New York City leads the ranking thanks to its striking streetscapes and cutting-edge cultural scene. The list that follows is full of surprises, with Bay Lake offering frame-worthy family memories at Disney World, and Houston drawing crowds for its Space Center. Read on to get the lowdown on the most photographed cities in the US.

To learn more about how the data was analysed and ranked to determine the photo index scores, see the methodology at the end of this article.

1. New York City, New York

Photo index score: 100

You’d be hard-pressed to find a bad angle of New York City. The big-hitting landmarks deliver, of course – Times Square (best shot at night looking down 7th Avenue), Brooklyn Bridge (arrive at sunrise to catch Manhattan awash in pink and orange hues) and Central Park (Bethesda Terrace has no doubt featured in your favourite film) – but venture off the tourist trail and you’ll be rewarded with showstopping compositions. 

Head to Manhattan Bridge for a spectacular look at Downtown, or make your way to Old 1 Pier in Brooklyn for views of Lower Manhattan set dramatically against the Hudson river. Capture sunset from the Empire State Building or seek out the Once Upon a Time in America viewpoint to photograph it perfectly framed by Manhattan Bridge. Trendy Brooklyn waterfront neighbourhood DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) is another highlight, with Water Street delivering an iconic shot against Brooklyn Bridge. Broome Street and Stone Street in Lower Manhattan are lined with beautiful shopfronts and buildings crowned with iron staircases. Don’t leave without walking The High Line – a former railway turned park – and be sure to linger at Brooklyn Heights Promenade for its sweeping skyline views across the river.

2. Los Angeles, California 

Photo index score: 91

On the West Coast you’ll find a landscape of blue skies, palm-fringed beaches and canyon ridges. The Hollywood Sign is best captured from Lake Hollywood Park in the morning before the haze swallows the letters by midday, and Venice Beach Boardwalk’s street art and murals are best shot early before the crowds arrive too. Santa Monica Pier, marking the end of Route 66, and Rodeo Drive are essential for first-time visitors, while Runyon Canyon Park rewards hikers with the entire city spread out below. Elsewhere, the Bradbury Building in Downtown delights with its ornate Victorian atrium, and Angels Flight Railway (the world’s shortest) is worth the ride up Bunker Hill – particularly at night with Downtown glittering behind you.

3. Las Vegas, Nevada

Photo index score: 90

You’d be forgiven for thinking Las Vegas is all neon, couples spontaneously tying the knot and Elvis impersonators, but the city is also bounded by the Mojave Desert – a dramatic rocky landscape that most visitors never see. Start with the classic shot beneath the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign early in the morning, then venture just 20 minutes outside the city to Red Rock Canyon, where Early Jurassic sandstone formations rise from desert valleys in vivid shades of rust and amber. 

Much of Vegas, however, is best photographed after dark. The Strip is at its finest when shot looking south from the Stratosphere end at golden hour. Elsewhere, the Neon Museum – a playground of more than 200 retired signs – is worth visiting once the sun goes down, particularly to see the pink Betty Willis-designed Moulin Rouge Hotel sign. Round off your camera roll at the Bellagio Fountains, a free spectacle of choreographed water and light that never fails to impress.

4. Bay Lake, Florida

Photo index score: 90

Bay Lake might not be an obvious location for the fourth most photographed city in the US, but it’s hardly surprising when you learn it’s home to the most visited theme park in the world. Walt Disney World is a bucket list trip for millions, so knowing where to point your camera matters. Inside Magic Kingdom, Cinderella Castle is the undisputed hero shot – arrive at rope drop and you’ll have Main Street almost to yourself. The castle forecourt is one of Florida’s most popular proposal spots and a magnet for family photos, but head to the bridge between Tomorrowland at nighttime and you’ll enjoy unobstructed views of the fireworks display.

Outside the resort, the town of Celebration was designed by Disney as a storybook neighbourhood characterised by pastel-hued facades and towering palms. Lake Eola Park in nearby Orlando makes for a welcome change of pace, with swan-dotted waterfront views and sunsets that are well worth capturing.

5. Chicago, Illinois

Photo index score: 89

There’s something utterly enchanting about Chicago, with its lakefront views and cultural scene buzzing with cool eateries, museums and boutiques. The mirrored Cloud Gate sculpture by British artist Anish Kapoor in Millennium Park is a standout shot thanks to its distorted reflection of the skyline, while the nearby Chicago Cultural Center is recognised for its remarkable stained-glass domes. For elevated views, opt for the glass-floored ledge at Skydeck of the Willis Tower, or head to 360 Chicago for a sweeping perspective over Lake Michigan. For the ultimate skyline photo, make your way to Adler Planetarium, where the city rises behind the waterfront.

An architecture cruise along the Chicago River captures its canyon of limestone and glass, but if you’re short on time, DuSable Bridge offers the same perfectly framed views. Stroll to State Street after dark to see Chicago Theatre’s red neon marquee, then seek out Pilsen’s murals or sunset scenes at North Avenue Beach and Navy Pier.

6. San Francisco, California

Photo index score: 88

Everyone wants that fog-wrapped shot of the Golden Gate Bridge, but not many realise the best angle is from Battery Spencer in the Marin Headlands with the city rising behind it in the early morning light. The Painted Ladies – the row of Victorian houses at Alamo Square – are best captured from the top of the park, with the downtown skyline climbing behind their colourful facades. Head to Twin Peaks at dusk for unparalleled views of the city lighting up below, or take the ferry to Sausalito to see the water from a skyscraper. Chinatown’s lantern-strung Grant Avenue isn’t to be missed – be sure to stop at Golden Gate Bakery for its mouthwatering custard tarts. For something more scenic, the 6km Lands End Trail traces the clifftops through cypress trees, passing Mile Rock Lighthouse and looking out to the Pacific Ocean.

7. Miami, Florida

Photo index score: 87

Miami is known for its cutting-edge creative scene and free-spirited attitude. Start at Wynwood Walls, an open-air gallery spanning six blocks of bold, floor-to-ceiling murals by international artists including Shepard Fairey, Lady Pink and local favourite Atomik. In Little Havana, Calle Ocho offers grit and atmosphere, with Cuban street art and eye-popping shopfronts adding to the appeal. Along South Beach, the bold, colourful lifeguard towers stand like installations on the sand, with staple designs including the starry, striped tower on 13th Street and the vivid pink tower on 17th Street. Don’t miss the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, a 1916 Italian Renaissance estate with manicured lawns, fountains and the occasional roaming peacock. Stay on Ocean Drive in South Beach, and make the slick Setai hotel your base for its pan-Asian cuisine and postcard-worthy pool.

8. San Diego, California

Photo index score: 87

Sun-bleached cliffs, turquoise coves and a laid-back energy set San Diego apart from other US cities. Balboa Park is a great starting point, where 1,200 acres of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, botanical gardens and lily ponds await. Head north to La Jolla Cove, where sea lions and seals bask on the rocks below the dramatic sandstone cliffs, then continue to Torrey Pines States Reserve to capture twisted pines clinging to the clifftops above the Pacific. The USS Midway aircraft dominates the Embarcadero, with the downtown skyline reflected in the bay offering a breathtaking golden hour shot. Food lovers should head to Little Italy, where fairy-lit piazzas, colourful murals and the scent of fresh pasta spilling from open kitchens make India Street one of the most photogenic and delicious areas in the city. Ciccia Osteria’s hand-crafted pasta is the crowd-pleaser – be sure to order the spaghetti pomodoro.

9. Washington, DC

Photo index score: 87

Few US cities rival Washington, DC, and rightly so – it represents the political power and history of the US. Arrive at the Lincoln Memorial at sunrise, when the Reflecting Pool mirrors the Washington Monument in perfect stillness – these are the same steps where Martin Luther King Jr delivered his era-defining speech. The Capitol Building anchors the other side of the National Mall, while the Tidal Basin transforms into a canopy of cherry blossom in spring, framing the Jefferson Memorial in pink. Carve out time to visit the Library of Congress, its ornate Great Hall is free to enter and is considered one of the finest interiors in the country, with white marble, mosaic floors and a stained-glass ceiling. For a taste of local culture, visit Ben’s Chilli Bowl on U Street, a Washington institution since 1958, before settling into a booth at Off the Record at the Hay-Adams Hotel, a long-time favourite with journalists in the shadow of the White House.

10. Houston, Texas

Photo index score: 86

The fourth largest city in the US is a sprawling, multicultural metropolis with a skyline best captured from Buffalo Bayou Park at golden hour, where it reflects in the still water below. It’s no secret that the Johnson Space Center Houston is the city’s most celebrated landmark – the official Nasa visitor centre invites guests to stand beneath a Saturn V rocket and peer into the original Mission Control room that guided the first moon landing. Montrose is Houston’s most eclectic neighbourhood, defined by murals, independent galleries and some of the top restaurants in Texas. Set aside an afternoon for The Museum of Fine Arts, where a light-filled pavilion offers a striking composition and a tranquil rooftop spot to recharge.

Methodology

To determine the most photographed cities in the US, Popsa’s data science team analysed millions of photos uploaded by customers in 2025. Using location metadata, we identified images taken within the boundaries of US cities and ranked them by total photo volume.

Each city was assigned a photo index score reflecting its relative share of images within the dataset. Scores were then normalised on a scale of 0-100, with the most photographed city set as the benchmark. The result is a ranking that reflects real traveller behaviour, highlighting not just where people visit, but where they are most inspired to capture their memories.