Orlando has more to offer than its theme parks and tourist destinations — it’s also home to some of the most beautiful photo spots. Whether you’re an influencer, a photographer or model trying to build your portfolio or just an “Instagram husband,” Orlando has backdrops galore. We’re deemed the City Beautiful for a reason, you know.

Gallery by Maya James and Samantha N. Olson

Art & History Museums – Maitland 231 W. Packwood Ave., Maitland This historic museum offers breathtaking aesthetics, including a lily pond and stunning architecture. It’s no wonder that this museum is a popular wedding venue, but lucky for you, you don’t have to tie the knot in order to grab a beautiful photo here. Just keep in mind that you must get photography permission first, and there’s a fee for professional photo sessions (it’s definitely an engagement-photo spot). What are you waiting for? Photo via Art & History Museums – Maitland/Facebook
The Mennello Museum of American Art 900 E. Princeton St. The sprawling backyard of the city-owned Mennello Museum includes a lake view, sculpture gardens, and even a bridge over Loch Haven. It’s the perfect free spot for a photo any day of the week. Photo via Mennello Museum/Facebook
Dickson Azalea Park 100 Rosearden Drive Dickson Azalea Park is really the best, most quiet hidden getaway situated right in the city, with lots of greenery, trickling water, shade trees and places to sit and reflect while snapping the perfect picture. Photo via Dave Plotkin
Tom Fruin’s Glass House 13615 Sachs Ave. This beautiful landmark outside Canvas restaurant in Lake Nona was created by sculptor Tom Fruin as part of his ongoing ICON series. Visit this gorgeous work of art in the daytime for the perfect Instagram picture, or witness it lit brilliantly from the inside at night. Photo via Lake Nona/lakenona.com
Lake Nona Town Center 6941 Lake Nona Blvd. Right around the corner from Tom Fruin’s Glass House in Lake Nona sits the beautiful Lake Nona Town Center outdoor courtyard, with a cylindrical projection surface on the parking garage. It’s a prime photo spot, day or night. Photo via Learn Lake Nona/@learnlakenona/Instagram
Bar 17 Bistro at Universal’s Aventura Hotel 6725 Adventure Way While just about any rooftop bar will do for a killer photo, Bar 17 Bistro sits atop Universal’s Aventura Hotel and includes views of the renowned Volcano Bay water park and Cabana Bay resort. It’s perfect for Orlando natives and resident theme park junkies. Photo via Nicole Wills/Instagram
The Orlando Big Chair 25 Wall St., 407-849-0471 No matter what the occasion is, The Big Chair is ready for you to take a seat on its gigantic surface and snap a pic. After all, if you go to Wall Street and don’t snap a picture with the monument, did you even really go? Photo via The Big Chair/Facebook
Winter Park Train Station & Hannibal Square 642 W. New England Ave., Winter Park Winter Park Train Station may be just that, a station — but the surrounding area offers the perfect photoshoot location with its open space and park benches. Photo via Meloaraujo/Wikimedia Commons
Harry P. Leu Gardens 1920 N. Forest Ave. With its vibrant flowers and large expanse of trees, Henry P. Leu Gardens looks like something out of a fairytale. With a perfect photo-taking opportunity at every turn, this place should be at the top of your list when looking for a gorgeous spot to snap a few pictures in Orlando. Admission ranges from $5 to $10. Photo via Harry P. Leu Gardens/Facebook
Rollins College 1000 Holt Ave., Winter Park With a campus as picturesque as Rollins, you’re bound to find multiple great photo spots scattered all around the place. Spend a day touring the campus while adding premium photos to your Instagram feed, you won’t regret it. Photo via Rollins College/rollins.edu
Stardust Video & Coffee 1842 Winter Park Road Walking into Stardust Video & Coffee is like walking into a cozy library of sorts — lanterns cast a warm glow over the place, and shelves packed full of books line the walls. All of this sets the stage perfectly for a quality Insta photo and a cozy night of book reading and coffee drinking. Photo via Aidanna Olmo/Instagram
Walt Disney Amphitheater at Lake Eola Park 195 N. Rosalind Ave. This spot has always been a crowd favorite among Orlandoans, especially since it shows off the City Beautiful’s gorgeous Lake Eola and reminds outsiders of our outstanding LGBTQ+ presence. Photo via Monivette Cordeiro
Ice & Bites Café 3402 Technological Ave. Ice & Bites is already a trendy spot among college kids because of its quali-tea boba, constant K-Pop playlists and proximity to the University of Central Florida, but its light-up heart wall and board games definitely call for a quick Insta pic. Photo via Ice & Bites Café/Facebook
Vespa of Orlando 930 N. Orange Ave., Winter Park Although it’s just a Vespa retailer, you can’t help but stop at this sunshine-yellow storefront. Plus, who doesn’t love a good Vespa scooter as a prop? Just be careful with the scooters — you might need to ask permission to pose with one! Photo via Samantha Olson/Instagram
Avalon Exchange 745 N. Orange Ave., Winter Park While Avalon Exchange is essentially the vintage hipster version of Plato’s Closet, its storefront is just as aesthetically pleasing as the garments inside. A clean white building with minimal yellow details? Yes, please. Photo by Colin Wolf
Craft & Common 47 E. Robinson St. As one of the trendiest coffee shops in Central Florida, Craft & Common has to live up to its hype when it comes to aesthetically pleasing interior design. Between minimalist decor, wooden tables and plants galore, what’s not to love? Photo via Craft & Common
Voodoo Doughnut at Universal’s City Walk 6000 Universal Blvd. Known for their monstrous donuts, Orlando CityWalk staple Voodoo Donuts has it all. From their awesome interior which features an eclectic mix of colors and patterns to their exterior that’s just as zany, you’re bound to take some pretty cool pictures here. Photo via Voodoo Doughnut/voodoodoughnut.com
Mathers Social Gathering 30 S. Magnolia Ave. Mathers Social Gathering brings a rustic edge through mismatched seating arrangements, vintage chests, vines and string lights. Think of Central Perk, the famed Friends cafe we all know and love, but way more sophisticated. However, don’t let the vintage vibes fool you — no shorts or flip flops are allowed, so dress up a little before you get your perfect pic! Photo via Mathers Social Gathering/Facebook
Citrus Fountain at Centennial Plaza 101 W. Plant St., Winter Garden The Citrus Fountain in Centennial Plaza stands out as one of the remaining pieces of history from the historic downtown area. It also draws attention as a great photo spot with its ornate detailing surrounded by trees. Photo via Centennial Plaza/Google Maps
Lobby at the Historic Angebilt Hotel 37 N. Orange Ave. The historic hotel built in the 1920s is not only picturesque from its vintage brick exterior, but its elegantly posh lobby. Photo via The Angebilt/Facebook
The back of the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum 445 N. Park Ave., Winter Park During business hours, you can take a photo in the outdoor portion of the courtyard without paying admission, but it’s worth a donation to see the nation’s preeminent collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany. Photo via Morse Museum
Dinky Dock Park 410 Ollie Ave., Winter Park One thing about Dinky Dock is that this place is where you jumpstart all your watersports adventures. After a fun day paddle-boarding through the Winter Park canals, close the afternoon with an action-filled picture or a relaxing sunset vibe. Photo via Google Maps
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort 4401 Floridian Way, Bay Lake Victorian elegance meets modern sophistication in this Disney resort. With magnificently massive architecture and a gorgeous stark white interior with exquisite chandeliers, “grand” is in its name for a reason. Photo via Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort/disneyworld.disney.go.com
The Glass Knife 276 S. Orlando Ave., Winter Park The folks at The Glass Knife know aesthetics quite well. So well, in fact, that the restaurant has to have one of the prettiest interiors in all of Winter Park. With that being said, everybody in Orlando should come in for a pastry and snap a picture here at least once. Photo via The Glass Knife/Facebook
Rainbow walkway at the Town House Restaurant 139 N. Central Ave., Oviedo While The Townhouse is widely recognized in Oviedo for their nostalgic diner food, they also are known to have an iconic rainbow walkway right in front of their establishment. I think you know where this is going — go out there and snap that perfect picture! Photo via Emily Levin/Instagram
Mead Botanical Garden 1300 S. Denning Drive, Winter Park Mead Botanical Garden is a 47.6-acre park that offers a variety of facilities including an amphitheater, butterfly garden, boardwalk, and a bike trail. It also provides a stunning, natural backdrop to any photo you desire, from its lush trees to its pathways overlooking a lake. Photo via Mead Botanical Garden/Facebook
Disney’s Boardwalk Villas 2101 N. Epcot Resorts Blvd. This spot is no stranger to Disney bloggers, as it’s one of the most popular resorts at the theme park. With beautiful vintage buildings reminiscent of St. Augustine and ferries passing on the waterside, we can’t imagine a more breathtaking backdrop. Photo via Disney’s Boardwalk Villas /disneyworld.disney.go.com
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando 5601 Universal Blvd. Stepping into Loews Portofino Bay Hotel will have you say “Mamma mia!” As one can tell by the name, this hotel is modeled after the scenic seaside village of Portofino, Italy. Shops and restaurants line the harbor and will make you feel like you’ve stepped into an Italian watercolor painting. Photo via Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando/loewshotels.com
St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church 526 N. Park Ave., Winter Park Although it may seem taboo to take a picture outside of a church purely for aesthetic purposes, St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church sits so prettily at the corner of N. Park Ave that it would be impossible to resist. As long as you have respect for those worshipping inside, get your Instagram on with the white building as the perfect backdrop. Photo via Google Maps
Cocktails & Screams 39 W. Pine St. Cocktails & Screams is for true purveyors of the spooky and frightful. With the walls adorned with Halloween masks and the staff dressed head to toe in costume, the entire place is practically one giant photo op. Photo via Cocktails & Screams/Facebook