Lifestyle The 30 Most Instagrammed Places in Chicago

If an event isn’t posted on Instagram, did it ever actually happen? Chronicling and over-hashtagging our adventures for all to see has become an obsession, so we got curious about which spots in Chicago are most popular for IGers. By crunching some geotagging data (and following a trail of hearts), we compiled the top 30 most Instagrammed places in the city.

A photo posted by Eric Delgado ™ (@_ericdelgado) on Nov 3, 2015 at 3:36pm PST



30. University of Illinois at Chicago While many students snap photos of their Sun Chips and Mountain Dew diets during midterms, some pause to share UIC’s more scenic properties outside of the classroom.



A photo posted by shorty baby (@daphnemylia) on Nov 7, 2015 at 2:25pm PST



29. Chinatown Square The two-story outdoor mall in Chinatown attracts shoppers and plenty of dim sum and bubble tea fanatics, especially come Chinese New Year in February.



A photo posted by D Y L A N J. E V E R S (@devs94) on Oct 31, 2015 at 5:55pm PDT



28. The Vic Theatre Everybody should tell everyone they know about that cool show they’re at on a Tuesday night… RIGHT NOW.



A photo posted by George Mullinix (@georgemullinix) on Sep 29, 2015 at 3:09pm PDT



27. Belmont Harbor Does it count if a drone takes your pic? Because you can get a pretty nice boat shot from above.



A photo posted by Chicago Food Authority (@chicagofoodauthority) on Jul 29, 2015 at 9:33pm PDT



26. Giordano’s Pizza in Lakeview The Lakeview Giordano’s is the place to be for deep-dish pizza and documenting the big moment, as long as you post before the cheese gets to your brain.

A photo posted by Ciera (@shetravelssouth) on Oct 31, 2015 at 2:24pm PDT



25. Hilton Chicago Hotel The Chicago landmark with a Beaux-Arts architectural style overlooks Grant Park, Lake Michigan, and the Museum Campus, not to mention its charming interior.



24. Palmer House The timeless Chicago hotel has all the fame and historic charm to make your green-eyed followers even more envious of your travels.

A photo posted by bennussbaum (@bennussbaum) on Oct 25, 2015 at 10:25pm PDT



23. Thalia Hall The iconic Pilsen hall has punch-filled cocktails in the basement, a beer hall on the main floor, and a music venue upstairs for all your Instagramming glory.

A photo posted by Lindsay Joy (@lindsaymeow) on Aug 13, 2014 at 1:13pm PDT



22. Montrose Beach Remember when it was still warm enough to do yoga on the beach? Thankfully, we’ll always have Instagram to preserve these memories and help us defrost again come winter.



A photo posted by Maria Fernanda Vaca-Loyola (@mariavaca) on Nov 4, 2015 at 6:01pm PST



21. Loyola University Chicago "Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” Just don’t try to jam that whole Malcolm X quote into a hashtag.​



A photo posted by Todd Rosenberg (@toddrphoto) on Nov 8, 2015 at 4:14pm PST



20. North Avenue Beach Instagrammers have spoken. All your ridiculous cute couple OR pondering solo (but are you really solo?) photos with the skyline in the backdrop must be taken here. Or if your volleyball team wants a group shot before hitting up the bar… that’s OK, too.



A photo posted by David (@irokwell) on Oct 12, 2015 at 9:59pm PDT



19. Allstate Arena If you’re into pro wrestling, the arena boasts one of the loudest crowds in the WWE. DePaul University's men’s basketball team, the Arena Football League, Chicago Wolves ice hockey, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Disney On Ice, and musicians also offer lots of action.



A photo posted by cory (@corygoldman) on Oct 23, 2015 at 9:10pm PDT



18. Aragon Ballroom The Uptown ballroom -- aka “the Aragon Brawlroom” -- may have left its days of marathon rock & roll acts (six hours or more!) behind, but it still has all the makings for terrific Instagram shots: big band names and a Moorish architectural style that resembles a Spanish village.​



A photo posted by 又 you are safe here 又 (@safecamps) on Nov 1, 2015 at 2:29pm PST



17. The Riviera Theatre Concert-goers have another Uptown venue making this list. Whether you’re waiting for the show or you're in the band, people sure like their photos of this iconic sign as much as the stage acts.



A photo posted by Elizabeth Wheeland (@elizabethwheeland) on Nov 6, 2015 at 10:12pm PST



16. Metro Chicago More rock shows to ‘gram. Why the hell not? The venue also houses Smart Bar underneath the main venue for some weird late-night shots.

A photo posted by Marcelino DeLosSantos (@mldsphotography) on Oct 18, 2015 at 7:06pm PDT



15. Chicago Union Station The city's primary terminal for commuter trains, and the third-busiest rail terminal in the US after Grand Central and Penn Station makes this a prime spot for people-watching and snapping photos of the magnificent Great Hall.



A photo posted by sam bernero (@sambernero) on Nov 8, 2015 at 6:36am PST



14. The Adler Planetarium America’s first planetarium continues to inspire the next generation of space explorers... and onlookers vying to capture THE BEST skyline ‘gram.



A photo posted by Razvan (@razdood) on Nov 9, 2015 at 7:44am PST



13. Grant Park Lollapalooza might reign supreme in Instagram feeds during the summer, but Buckingham Fountain’s sovereignty is eternal year-round.



A photo posted by ChicagoArchitectureFoundation (@chiarchitecture) on Sep 30, 2015 at 6:49pm PDT



12. McCormick Place Sure, it’s the largest convention center (and hosts the biggest auto show) in North America. But did you know its four interconnected buildings with year-round trade shows also feature a rooftop garden with a view?​



A photo posted by Haley Paszkiewicz (@halespasz) on Nov 8, 2015 at 2:07pm PST



11. Millennium Park Downtown Chicago You could have guessed that Instagrams of “The Bean” dominate this spot (even when you’re not actually here, you’re here... or something like that). But an interesting fact is that almost nobody realizes “Millennium” is spelled with two n’s, a misspelling that actually screws with the official geotagging. It’s M-I-L-L-E-N-N-I-U-M. You know, like one of the best-selling albums of all time from the Backstreet Boys.



A photo posted by Anjo Aguilar (@anjoaguilar) on Oct 3, 2015 at 10:25am PDT



10. U.S. Cellular Field With over 40,000 unobstructed-view seats, the White Sox stadium is a good spot to capture your ice cream cone, the crowd, AND the field in one shot. Unless you’re going for the 3lb ice cream sundae in a batting helmet… you’re probably gonna need two hands for that.



A photo posted by @sirmeadows on Nov 5, 2015 at 5:01am PST



9. Chicago Midway International Airport Southwest Airlines flyers: they’ll battle you over seating assignments and gladly snap pics of the aftermath.



A photo posted by Livewire Dan Bushkin (@enjoytherideordie) on Oct 28, 2015 at 5:13pm PDT



8. The Field Museum No, pretending you’re a dinosaur like SUE the T-Rex or, alternatively, fleeing from her terrifying jaws and claws as if you’re reenacting a scene from Jurassic Park isn’t a requirement (though it should be)..



A photo posted by akdsso_ (@akdsso_) on Nov 11, 2015 at 4:03pm PST



7. Shedd Aquarium The mystical underwater world comes alive for those not actually at the aquarium via Instagram. We see all your jellyfish, dolphin show, and shark tank photos.



A photo posted by Santiago (@santografo) on Nov 11, 2015 at 9:26am PST



6. Skydeck Chicago at the Willis Tower Better hope the glass doesn’t crack again while you’re attempting that handstand… It can be mesmerizing to scroll through what people choose to do with their time on the deck and tag for the world to see.



A photo posted by Tommy Arkins (@tarkins3) on Nov 1, 2015 at 11:06am PST



5. Soldier Field The oldest NFL stadium is a stalwart Instagram destination for stoked football fans ready to #BearDown on #SundayFunday!



A photo posted by Devin O'Gorman (@therealogorman) on Nov 8, 2015 at 5:53pm PST



4. United Center Even when the Bulls look lifeless, the “Madhouse on Madison” is always a top contender for most Instagrammed place in the city.



A photo posted by a n g i batang (@xoangix3) on Nov 9, 2015 at 4:45pm PST



3. The Art Institute of Chicago There’s definitely cool art here, but we know you can do more than stare at it for your pics. Still, color coordinating with a work of art is a step in the right direction.



A photo posted by Mitch Duggins (@dugginsm) on Oct 22, 2015 at 3:48pm PDT



2. Wrigley Field Because you can’t come to Chicago and NOT see Wrigley Field, or pass up a chance to get a photo with the legendary marquee.



A photo posted by EJ Samson (@ejsamson) on Nov 12, 2015 at 12:18pm PST

