Raleigh, North Carolina may be one of the nation’s northern-most Southern cities, but it is also one of the most charming. The downtown area is walkable, scenic, and most-definitely photoworthy – and thus the dream of photographers, instagrammers, and travel blogger’s alike.

From quirky street art, to unique architecture, to beautiful gardens and historic museums, we’ve curated a list of our favorite, most photogenic spots that the City of Oaks has to offer, and we’re sharing their locations/addresses below to make planning your trip a breeze!

NCMA Park

The North Carolina Museum of Art’s outdoor sculpture park is at the top of my list for insta-worthy places in Raleigh (even though this list is in no particular order). There are tons of sculptures thoughtfully placed among the Park’s trails that visitors are not only allowed, but encouraged to interact with. Many of the installations here are temporary, so the grounds are ever changing. Pro Tip: be sure to wear comfy shoes, because the paths here are expansive.
Address: 2110 Blue Ridge Road

The Monsters Wall at Trophy Brewing & Pizza

Stop in at Trophy Brewing and Pizza for a locally-brewed drink and a picture for your IG with the recently recommissioned Monster mural. Pro Tip: Victory has several locations in Raleigh, so be sure that you to the Morgan St. site.
Address: 827 W Morgan St

Barcelona Wine Bar’s Patio

Grab a glass of wine and some yummy tapas and then head to Barcelona’s patio for some fun sunset photos on Barcelona’s industrial patio.
Address: 430 W Martin St.

Raleigh [ ] Space Parklet

The Kickstarter-funded Raleigh [ ] Space Parklet is definitely worth checking out while you are downtown. Use #raleighspace when posting your photos to help the group collect data and support more parklets in Raleigh.
Address: Corner of S. Salisbury & W. Hargett

City Market in Downtown Raleigh

Built in 1914, City Market boasts immaculate vibes, cobblestone streets, historic architecture, and fairy lights, making it a great place for photos as well as a great place for shopping, strolling, and dining.
Address: 306 Parham St

J.C. Raulston Arboretum

The J.C. Raulston Arboretum is absolutely beautiful. This 10 acre green space is the perfect venue for ‘gram-worthy shots, however brides and grooms agree, so arrive early for access to all of the gardens.
 Address: 4415 Beryl Rd.

Morgan Street Food Hall

We were too busy eating everything to appropriately document the hip culinary affair that is Morgan St. Food Hall, but you get the idea from this photo of the Hall’s interior mural. Indulge to your heart’s content on any of the dozens of local food vendors’ fare, and don’t make the same mistake we did by not documenting your experience for the ‘gram.
Address: 411 W Morgan

The Feminist Disney Princess Murals

As a part of the No Damsel exhibit at the Museum for Contemporary Art and Design (CAM Raleigh), three murals of feminist Disney princesses were painted on exterior walls nearby. Not pictured: Aurora, Jasmine, and Pocahontas. They are a must-see.
Address: 409 W Martin St.

North Carolina Museum of Art & The Museum Gardens

We already recommended checking out the NCMA Park, but the NCMA’s indoor interactive exhibits also should not be missed. Start inside, then head to the outdoor gardens. If you’re lucky, you’ll be there when the lily pads are in bloom.

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

The world is literally at your fingertips outside of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. This larger-than-life globe is not to be missed.
Address: 11 W Jones St.

We hope this guide helps you to find and explore some of the most scenic locations that Raleigh has to offer and inspires you to plan a trip to this beautiful city. If you’re in need of some date ideas for your trip, we’ve also got you covered. We’ve curated a list of the most romantic places and experiences in Raleigh so that you can plan the perfect date night (or date day).