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Plaza with memorial markers, midcentury style gazebo, river, downtown buildings
Fannie Davis Gazebo, Brent Grulke Plaza, Ann & Roy Butler Hike & Bike Trail
Larry D. Moore, Creative Commons license

15 best Austin Instagram spots, mapped

From vibrant downtown artwork to the iconic Capitol building

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Fannie Davis Gazebo, Brent Grulke Plaza, Ann & Roy Butler Hike & Bike Trail
| Larry D. Moore, Creative Commons license

Austin has a wide variety of options when it comes to Instagram-worthy locations, thanks to a bounty of beautiful outdoor spots and vistas, its strong street-art game, and the much-advertised quirky nature of many of its citizens.

Sure, some of the most frequently Instagrammed spots tend to be tourist meccas—particularly those known for live entertainment (Dirty Sixth, Circuit of the Americas, Zilker Park during ACL Fest), meaning it’s often the show more than the spot that’s the subject of those photos. So where do you go for a good ‘gram that isn’t overrun with people? Plenty of places, as it turns out.

This list includes a selection of our favorite locations that’ll get your timeline in top-notch shape, ranging from tourist hot spots to under-the-radar places favored by locals.

Have a favorite spot where you like to capture good photos for Instagram? Let us know in the comments.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Mueller Lake Park

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The central park in the Mueller community offers a number of Instagrammable backdrops, from the pastoral area around the lake at sunset to the fun and colorful mosaic sculpture named “Nessie” for its/her resemblance to a certain mythical Scottish lake creature.

Sunday Stroll through the Park #muellerlakepark

A post shared by Jennifer Delahoussaye Hunteman (@delahoussayehunteman) on

University of Texas at Austin

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While there are loads of great photos of student life on the (now many more than) Forty Acres, when it comes to the intricacies of the campus’s physical environment, there’s really only one Instagrammer you need to know: temple_plaza captures its intimate spaces, captivating details, and grand statements with artfully composed photographs that offer a unique, captivating vision of the venerated institution’s grounds—as well as serving as inspiration for your own shots of same.

A post shared by Pam Peltz (@temple_plaza) on

Blanton Museum of Art/Ellsworth Kelly’s ‘Austin’

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There are many Instagrammable spaces among the Blanton Museum’s displays of its massive collection and touring shows, of course, but this 2,715-square-foot, freestanding work by internationally renowned modernist Ellsworth Kelly, which realizes his last sculptural work, is especially photogenic.

A post shared by Toph Ryan Swafford (@toph_photo) on

Texas Capitol

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The state’s most visible locus of political shenanigans is also one of the prettiest capitol buildings in the country—decked out in distinctive pink granite—and has a beautiful rotunda and plenty of well-kept historic design, entertaining portraits, and nifty acoustics to be explored, enjoyed, and, most important, captured for Instagram.

Whole Foods Market, ‘atx’ sculpture

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Created by 30-year-old Austin company Ion Art, which is responsible for numerous local landmarks from the State Theatre blade to the guitar that greets ACL Festival guests, the lowercase “atx” letters were an Insta hit from the moment they replaced the former signage at the Whole Foods mothership. Public art that lends itself to interaction, it’s a showcase for the imagination of locals and visitors alike.

‘Rhapsody’ mosaic mural

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The freestanding mosaic depicting Austin musicians by John Yancey, Luis Alicea, and Steven B. Jones is located at the Dr. Charles E. Urdy Plaza just east of IH-35, which makes it a great welcome to East Austin, its history, and its culture past and present.

Angelina Eberly Statue

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If there’s a more perfect statuary encapsulation of the spirit of Austin, we’d like to know what it is. In 1842, when Republic of Texas president Sam Houston attempted to have state documents removed from the capital city (then called Waterloo) to Houston (nee Washington-on-the-Brazos), inn-owner and proud Austinite Angelina Belle Eberly learned that Texas Rangers were loading documents out of the General Land Office and fired a cannon (kept loaded for surprise attacks) from her nearby Eberly house, blowing a hole in the side of the office and setting off what would come to be called the Archive War. The struggle was eventually settled peacefully—with Austin prevailing—but the statue of Eberly on Congress Avenue continues to serve as a handy symbol of our fierce civic pride, as well as of our love-hate relationship with other major Texas cities.

Austin Central Library

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The Lake|Flato-designed space is among the newer of Austin’s attractions, but it’s a hit among locals and visitors alike. Its giant open spaces, filled with light, the geometric combinations made by stairs and shadows, the pops of color, the outdoor patios and indoor reading areas, the views, and the people-watching area all divine—as is, of course, its collection of books and other media.

A post shared by Julie Adams (@msmarylebone) on

Roy and Ann Butler Hike and Bike Trail

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Ten miles of gorgeous, tree-lined path that has the river on one side and the bustling city (north and south versions) on the other, and one that features the iconic Stevie Ray Vaughan statue, wanders past Auditorium Shores, and harbors a special space for bat-viewing is pretty hard to top.

A post shared by Pierce Ingram (@pingzer) on

‘Tau Ceti’ mural

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Austin’s tallest public artwork, Tau Ceti by Josef Kristofoletti, was inspired by a star in the constellation Cetus that is spectrally similar to Earth’s sun. It was completed in November, but the highly Instagrammable city street corner has already become a star in its own right. It rises 103 feet, or 10 floors, above the street at the corner of Brazos and East Second streets, bringing radiant color to a formerly drab parking-garage corner.

Fannie Davis Town Lake Gazebo

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The striking and historic structure was the first on the shoreline of Town Lake, created by the construction of Longhorn Dam in 1960, and is associated with the Town Lake Beautification Project that was a major focus of U.S. first lady Lady Bird Johnson, after whom the lake was eventually renamed. The gazebo’s design, the views of South Austin and the lake in its background, and its wisteria vines in bloom all make it an excellent place to snap a few shots. In 2020, it was listed in the National Registry of Historic Places.

‘Greetings From Austin’ mural

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After you’ve taken your mandatory shots in front of the “I Love You So Much” wall on South Congress, you might want to check out this postcard mural a few blocks over. It’s a different kind of Austin classic, and equally perfect for posing.

Larry Monroe Forever Bridge

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Austin loves its musical legends—including the radio deejays who complemented the burgeoning live music scene, taking listeners to school with their deep knowledge and commercial indifference, usually but not always on a public or community station. Larry Monroe, who hosted Blue Monday and other roots-music shows for 29 years at KUT, was among the most beloved. The community’s creation and the lasting appeal of the Larry Monroe Forever Bridge, initiated after his death in 2014 by life partner Ave Bonar and made by 100 volunteers overseen by artist Stefanie Distefano, is testament to his place in the city’s music-loving heart.

A post shared by Jaime (@aunt_jaimema) on

‘Your Essential Magnificence’ mosaic sculpture

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This colorful, tile-clad stature was commissioned by Austin’s Art in Public Places program as part of a Congress Avenue corridor improvement project and is specifically dedicated to honoring South Austin and its cultures. Mementos from the area’s weird icons past and present are embedded in its bold, colorful form. Climb on up and start the selfie-ing.

Mueller Lake Park

The central park in the Mueller community offers a number of Instagrammable backdrops, from the pastoral area around the lake at sunset to the fun and colorful mosaic sculpture named “Nessie” for its/her resemblance to a certain mythical Scottish lake creature.

Sunday Stroll through the Park #muellerlakepark

A post shared by Jennifer Delahoussaye Hunteman (@delahoussayehunteman) on

University of Texas at Austin

While there are loads of great photos of student life on the (now many more than) Forty Acres, when it comes to the intricacies of the campus’s physical environment, there’s really only one Instagrammer you need to know: temple_plaza captures its intimate spaces, captivating details, and grand statements with artfully composed photographs that offer a unique, captivating vision of the venerated institution’s grounds—as well as serving as inspiration for your own shots of same.

A post shared by Pam Peltz (@temple_plaza) on

Blanton Museum of Art/Ellsworth Kelly’s ‘Austin’

There are many Instagrammable spaces among the Blanton Museum’s displays of its massive collection and touring shows, of course, but this 2,715-square-foot, freestanding work by internationally renowned modernist Ellsworth Kelly, which realizes his last sculptural work, is especially photogenic.

A post shared by Toph Ryan Swafford (@toph_photo) on

Texas Capitol

The state’s most visible locus of political shenanigans is also one of the prettiest capitol buildings in the country—decked out in distinctive pink granite—and has a beautiful rotunda and plenty of well-kept historic design, entertaining portraits, and nifty acoustics to be explored, enjoyed, and, most important, captured for Instagram.

Whole Foods Market, ‘atx’ sculpture

Created by 30-year-old Austin company Ion Art, which is responsible for numerous local landmarks from the State Theatre blade to the guitar that greets ACL Festival guests, the lowercase “atx” letters were an Insta hit from the moment they replaced the former signage at the Whole Foods mothership. Public art that lends itself to interaction, it’s a showcase for the imagination of locals and visitors alike.

‘Rhapsody’ mosaic mural

The freestanding mosaic depicting Austin musicians by John Yancey, Luis Alicea, and Steven B. Jones is located at the Dr. Charles E. Urdy Plaza just east of IH-35, which makes it a great welcome to East Austin, its history, and its culture past and present.

Angelina Eberly Statue

If there’s a more perfect statuary encapsulation of the spirit of Austin, we’d like to know what it is. In 1842, when Republic of Texas president Sam Houston attempted to have state documents removed from the capital city (then called Waterloo) to Houston (nee Washington-on-the-Brazos), inn-owner and proud Austinite Angelina Belle Eberly learned that Texas Rangers were loading documents out of the General Land Office and fired a cannon (kept loaded for surprise attacks) from her nearby Eberly house, blowing a hole in the side of the office and setting off what would come to be called the Archive War. The struggle was eventually settled peacefully—with Austin prevailing—but the statue of Eberly on Congress Avenue continues to serve as a handy symbol of our fierce civic pride, as well as of our love-hate relationship with other major Texas cities.

Austin Central Library

The Lake|Flato-designed space is among the newer of Austin’s attractions, but it’s a hit among locals and visitors alike. Its giant open spaces, filled with light, the geometric combinations made by stairs and shadows, the pops of color, the outdoor patios and indoor reading areas, the views, and the people-watching area all divine—as is, of course, its collection of books and other media.

A post shared by Julie Adams (@msmarylebone) on

Roy and Ann Butler Hike and Bike Trail

Ten miles of gorgeous, tree-lined path that has the river on one side and the bustling city (north and south versions) on the other, and one that features the iconic Stevie Ray Vaughan statue, wanders past Auditorium Shores, and harbors a special space for bat-viewing is pretty hard to top.

A post shared by Pierce Ingram (@pingzer) on

‘Tau Ceti’ mural

Austin’s tallest public artwork, Tau Ceti by Josef Kristofoletti, was inspired by a star in the constellation Cetus that is spectrally similar to Earth’s sun. It was completed in November, but the highly Instagrammable city street corner has already become a star in its own right. It rises 103 feet, or 10 floors, above the street at the corner of Brazos and East Second streets, bringing radiant color to a formerly drab parking-garage corner.

Fannie Davis Town Lake Gazebo

The striking and historic structure was the first on the shoreline of Town Lake, created by the construction of Longhorn Dam in 1960, and is associated with the Town Lake Beautification Project that was a major focus of U.S. first lady Lady Bird Johnson, after whom the lake was eventually renamed. The gazebo’s design, the views of South Austin and the lake in its background, and its wisteria vines in bloom all make it an excellent place to snap a few shots. In 2020, it was listed in the National Registry of Historic Places.

‘Greetings From Austin’ mural

After you’ve taken your mandatory shots in front of the “I Love You So Much” wall on South Congress, you might want to check out this postcard mural a few blocks over. It’s a different kind of Austin classic, and equally perfect for posing.

Larry Monroe Forever Bridge

Austin loves its musical legends—including the radio deejays who complemented the burgeoning live music scene, taking listeners to school with their deep knowledge and commercial indifference, usually but not always on a public or community station. Larry Monroe, who hosted Blue Monday and other roots-music shows for 29 years at KUT, was among the most beloved. The community’s creation and the lasting appeal of the Larry Monroe Forever Bridge, initiated after his death in 2014 by life partner Ave Bonar and made by 100 volunteers overseen by artist Stefanie Distefano, is testament to his place in the city’s music-loving heart.

A post shared by Jaime (@aunt_jaimema) on

‘Your Essential Magnificence’ mosaic sculpture

This colorful, tile-clad stature was commissioned by Austin’s Art in Public Places program as part of a Congress Avenue corridor improvement project and is specifically dedicated to honoring South Austin and its cultures. Mementos from the area’s weird icons past and present are embedded in its bold, colorful form. Climb on up and start the selfie-ing.