Hidden Gems: Instagrammable Spots Off the Beaten Path

The newest observation deck in New York City, SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, was practically made for Instagram with its 360-degree views, mirrors that look like those in a fun house, and reflective floors. The Snhetta-designed space, which is on the top three floors of the One Vanderbilt building in Midtown Manhattan, is a full-on assault on the senses in the best way possible. The elevator ride up 91 floors, which is filled with light, is just one example.

Gucci Paradiso will be loved by anyone who likes the Gucci family, the Gucci brand, or the movie with Lady Gaga. The Guccis often went on vacation to St. Moritz, where they still own a home and where the posh lounge is run by the legendary Badrutt’s Palace Hotel. It is 6,000 feet high between mountain peaks and is filled with pieces from Gucci’s home collections. There is also plenty of champagne and a group of resident DJs.

Holloway House is the newest member of the Soho House family. It’s a good place to take photos for Instagram, but you’ll need to make some friends first. The private members’ club is just a short drive from the West Hollywood location. It has 34 bedrooms, a rooftop, and not one but two bars. If you can’t get in, you can always shop online at the club’s interiors brand, Soho Home, and bring its mid-century modern style to your own home (if that’s your thing).

You won’t have a hard time finding a good place to take a picture in Tulum. It’s like looking for seaweed on one of its public beaches. But if you can’t decide where to go, think about Ziggy’s, which is one of the most popular beach clubs in town. You can use the lounge chairs, bar, and pool table, which are all surrounded by soft white sand and palm trees for shade. And if you stay long enough, you can have dinner at the restaurant next door, which has live music every night and a lot of dreamy string lights.

Le Meurice is the place to go for a photoshoot in the style of Marie Antoinette without having to leave Paris. The five-star hotel is one of the most famous in Paris. It has a view of the Tuilerie Garden and is close to the best shopping on Rue St. Honoré. A lot of the hotel’s guest rooms were recently redone, so even people who have stayed there before will find something new to enjoy when they go back.

If you like sleek Scandinavian interiors and happen to be in Copenhagen, Denmark, you should check out HAY House. The famous furniture store in the city just got a makeover and now has two more floors and a showroom where you can imagine your dream kitchen.

Sky Lagoon, which just opened in spring 2021, is one of Iceland’s newest geothermal spas. Its activities are based on the bathing culture of the area. To get the most out of your stay and the most photos, go for the seven-step Sky Ritual, which includes a dip in the true-blue outdoor lagoon, an optional cold plunge, a visit to the sauna, and time in the steam room. It’s a nice place to spend the morning or the whole day, and it’s only a short drive from the capital, Reykjavik. Just make sure to buy a waterproof phone case from them before you go exploring.

The 25,000-square-foot Scandinave Spa Whistler, in British Columbia, is an outdoor spa that looks out over the beautiful Whistler mountains. This place is like heaven, if heaven were a spa. It has hydrotherapy, steam baths, saunas, and Nordic waterfalls, all of which are traditional spa and bath practises in Scandinavia.

Antelope Canyon is on Navajo Nation land that is privately owned. The beautiful slot canyon reopened in 2021 after being closed for a long time by COVID. Reservations were especially hard hit by the pandemic. You can either book a guided tour (make sure to book with a native-run company) or paddle in from Lake Powell in a kayak. If you choose a walking tour, you can choose between the upper canyon or the lower canyon. The famous God-ray light, made famous by visitors like Miley Cyrus and Kendall Jenner, is in the upper canyon, which is arguably the path to take. However, the lower canyon is just as beautiful and has fewer people, so it may be easier to get tickets for that part. After you get the picture, you can go to Horseshoe Bend, which is also a great place to take pictures, and then spend the night at the luxurious Amangiri resort in Canyon Point, Utah.

Singapore just reopened to tourists, so you can once again take that famous picture from the Infinity Pool at Marina Bay Sands. The hotel looks a lot like an alien spaceship. The famous pool is on a thin, smooth platform that sits on top of three tall glass towers. It’s beautiful, but people who are afraid of heights shouldn’t go there. But in a city known for its mind-bogglingly dense urban views, there is no better view. After you swim, go get some of the island’s famous chilli crab to keep you from getting hungry.

magical. Moody’s Mysterious This is Quiraing, a strange hike that leads to one of Scotland’s most famous views. The whole two-hour loop is on the famous Isle of Skye, and there are no trees on it. It looks like a scene from Outlander, but it’s prettier and doesn’t have any of the 18th-century drama. From the top, you can see magical rock formations, sparkling lochs (hi, Nessie), old stone walls, lush green valleys, and, at one peak, the ocean. The weather on Quiraing can be unpredictable, just like the rest of the country, so bring rain gear and make-up that won’t run or run off. But if the weather is good, this is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and it was well worth the work it took to get there.