It’s no secret that I love Las Vegas. Great food, beautiful lights, fun activities, and yes, an Instagram paradise! I’ve written about fun things to do in Vegas that don’t require gambling or drinking, if you’re not much of a party person like me — but if you’re looking for stunning photo locations, I’ve got you covered.
As of the time of writing this, I’ve been to Vegas four times already, and I’m STILL not tired of it. It’s a surprisingly vibrant city, and while it may feel touristy on the surface, there’s plenty of hunting to be had for pretty spots for the ‘gram. Some of these, like the Las Vegas Sign, are spots that everyone knows about, and some of these are definitely hidden gems! (I bet you weren’t expecting to find the last one on this list!)
Without further ado, let’s jump into the best photo locations in Sin City.
The Red Corridor at the Venetian
The Venetian is, hands down, my favorite hotel in Las Vegas. As the name might suggest, its inspiration hails from Venice, Italy, complete with white-gold stone columns, a painted blue sky, red-and-white maypoles, and a network of indoor canals and bridges that span the length of the hotel and even wrap around outside. My favorite spot is this covered outdoor corridor that overlooks the front of the hotel property! The lovely architecture and carved stone details are stunning enough in their own right, and the floor pattern always has me coming back for more.
It can be a bit hard to get a photo without people in it if you’re trying to shoot down the length of the hall, so play with angles and be patient! Lighting here can also be finicky because the corridor is covered but also partially open to the elements, so don’t be surprised if the shadows are a bit harsh. I borrowed my friend’s portable reflector to get the warm glow on my face in the photo up top!
Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign
Yeah, call it touristy, whatever. This is THE most recognizable spot in Las Vegas (and it’s not just because the city’s name is on the sign). I try to stop by here every time I visit Vegas because it’s so picturesque! The tall palm trees in the background frame the sign and look so pretty.
Naturally, the best time to come here is in the morning so you don’t have to compete with crowds. On our last trip here, we swung by around 5PM and immediately changed plans because the line was easily over an hour long. But then we came around 7:30 the next morning and there was no one else here!
If you’re not up for waking up that early, I’ve also come around 9AM in the middle of summer and the line wasn’t too bad (maybe half an hour).
The Bellagio Conservatory
The Bellagio’s conservatory is one of my absolute favorite things to check out while I’m in Vegas. The staff there are extremely meticulous about taking care of the thousands and thousands of live flowers that make up the botanical garden’s beautiful sculptures and formations. Even better, they rotate the exhibitions seasonally, so you can always expect something new when you go back! For example, March 2021 had an around-the-world theme, June 2020 featured an Asian-inspired exhibit, and when I was there in October 2019, they were featuring a beautiful Moroccan-themed gallery. The gardens are incredibly fantastical and whimsical, and totally free to enjoy.
It can be hard to get pictures here because of crowd control — while coronavirus is going on there is a directed path through the conservatory and it can get quite packed. The lighting is also non-ideal after sundown because the conservatory uses mostly natural lighting. You might be seeing a trend here, but it’s better to get here early.
Mrs. Coco
This recently-owned café is just outside of Las Vegas and seems to have been made purely for Instagram shots. The inside is entirely pink and decked out in flowers, parasols, and stuffed animals, and the food and drinks are decorated with flower petals and cotton candy. It’s a bit like a step into pink French Wonderland! There are countless Instagram shots to be had here — flatlays of the extremely pretty food, the flowery bathtub, the floral booth with the neon Mrs. Coco sign, even the archway to the bathroom.
The staff is also super sweet and is more than happy to take your photos for you. Currently the café is reservation only, which you can make by calling them from the phone number on their website. We came at 2PM on a Monday and the café was pretty much deserted, meaning we could run around and take as many photos as we wanted!
The food and drinks are actually quite good, which is surprising for an Instagram café. Everything has a French theme and they also play French music in the background — it’s really quite relaxing and a lot of fun.
Seven Magic Mountains
The Seven Magic Mountains are a desert art installation located just outside of Las Vegas and have garnered considerable Instagram fame, rightfully taking a spot on this list (though it also made it to my under-21 Vegas activities list!). The colorful towers of boulders were created by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone and only take a minute to visit, but these aren’t something you’ll see every day. Originally, the mountains were only supposed to be on display for a year, but now they’ve been extended through the end of 2021 due to popularity — plus there are rumors that it might be made into a permanent installation. I wouldn’t count on it though — get in your visit before the year is out.
This is another one of those stops where if you show up in the morning, it’ll be completely empty, but by afternoon the tour buses will be rolling in. We showed up around 8 and we had all of the mountains to ourselves!
It’s pretty hard to get all seven mountains in one photo, though, so even if there are people here some clever cropping and angles is all it takes to give the illusion of isolation. There’s also absolutely nothing else here (it’s literally just stacks of rocks in the middle of the desert off some highway), so don’t expect to spend a lot of time here.
Outdoor Canals at the Venetian
The Venetian has both indoor canals and outdoor canals. If you’re just going for the experience, I’d suggest the indoor canals because you don’t have to worry about the weather messing things up or the often-blinding sun, but I think pictures at the outdoor canals are prettier! The lighting inside the Venetian can be a bit dim and it’s hard to get good pictures without people in the background.
You don’t even need to pay a pretty penny to ride the gondolas here — I think just standing by the beautiful water and the red and white maypoles is picturesque enough in itself! (Though if you’re interested in the gondola ride and other activities, check out my article here.)
Bellagio Fountains
This one’s not just Instagrammable, it’s also a lot of fun — so much that I put it on my list of things to do in Vegas besides gambling and drinking. Located in front of the broad hotel is a huge pool of water with hundreds of water jets that dance to music every half hour. The fountains start at 3P.M. and run until nighttime. The fountain is enjoyable from any angle, but if you want to catch the mini Eiffel Tower view like I did here, you’ll want to watch from behind the fountain (with your back to the hotel).
The fountain gets busier as the day goes on (Las Vegas is the kind of city that comes alive at night, after all!), so if you want to get pictures while the fountain is running, you’ll want to show up for one of the earlier displays — and take your spot early, too.
Valley of Fire State Park
Famous for its glowing red rocks that give it its name, Valley of Fire State Park is one of the best nature getaways from Vegas. It is the oldest and largest state park in Nevada, and the eye candy here is just stunning — and that’s from someone who’s hiked plenty of national parks in the United States, from the Grand Canyon to Arches to Zion. If you’re interested in visiting this natural beauty, you can read my guide to Valley of Fire State Park, which walks you through all the best viewpoints and trails and has some insider tips as well!
Valley of Fire is less than an hour’s drive from the Strip and is literally a breath of fresh air. I cannot recommend this place enough! The entrance fee is $10 per vehicle.
Hello Kitty Café
You may have seen the Hello Kitty Café trucks that make stops throughout the United States, but there is a permanent café is located in Las Vegas! It’s super cute — all the menu items are character-themed, from Hello Kitty (of course!) to Gudetama to Melody. I love Sanrio characters and I was just so taken with all the cute food and merchandise!
There isn’t much actual food here, just sweets, and they are indeed extremely sugary. I had trouble finishing even half of most of the items! That being said, I would recommend getting the apple Hello Kitty-shaped pastry, which has actually really great flaky puff pastry and some admittedly good jam.
Note: There’s no parking at the café itself, but you can park at New York New York and walk a few minutes from there. It’s also only open on weekends (Friday — Sunday), so make sure to plan accordingly! There will definitely be people no matter what time of day you come, but it’s not hard to snap a photo here because most people will be seated at their own tables.
Valley of the Falls at Mandalay Bay
Mandalay Bay is one of the quieter hotels on the Strip. I had actually never been here until the very last time I went to Vegas in March 2021, but I am so glad that I did! The Valley of the Falls is the outdoor portion located out in front of the hotel itself, and features a short meandering walk through some artificial cliffs with waterfalls and a rope bridge. I loved how peaceful it felt because it seems that most people don’t know about this spot or don’t bother spending any time here! The sound of the water also drowns out pretty much any other noise that would otherwise get in the way.
I’m a bit biased because I’m part Indonesian and the Valley of the Falls reminds me a bit of Bali, but I was super thrilled to find this spot. You do have to get a bit creative if you want a shot that doesn’t look too touristy — in this shot here I’ve climbed onto part of the railing — but you’ll be rewarded with looking like you’ve strolled straight out of the jungle. Bet you weren’t expecting to find this in the middle of the Nevada desert, huh?
There you have it — all of the most Instagrammable spots in Las Vegas. Did you enjoy this guide? Don’t forget to check out my other Las Vegas guide of things to do that aren’t drinking or gambling, my guide to Valley of Fire State Park, follow me on Instagram, and feel free to check out my other travel content!
