The 20 Most Instagrammed Places in Detroit

Instagram: it turns out, it's not just for brunch. In fact, people are snapping Motor City like it's a supermodel, which we know because we crunched the numbers, analyzed literally hundreds of thousands of geotags, and put together this list of the 20 most Instagrammed places in the city:


Detroit’s biggest international draw is our annual auto show held in the mild, temperate and downright balmy month of January. In other words, it’s the only reason any tourist would ever book a ticket to DTW in the dead of winter.


The city’s heart is this riverfront park with its intriguing fountain and sculpture. It hosts festivals from the aforementioned techno affair to the Pride rally to the jazz festival and many more. There’s hardly a weekend without something going on at Hart Plaza.


Everyone’s favorite haunted building in Detroit. From the outside, it’s ominous. On the inside, it’s a labyrinth with secret doors, chapels, concert halls, ballrooms and creepy Free Mason symbolism.


Food. Karaoke. Bowling. Booze. This kinda-new kid on the downtown block touts itself as an entertainment mecca and apparently its draw spreads wide.


Oontz. Oontz. Oontz. You may get a contact buzz (in your ears!) from all the photos posted on IG from this annual techno festival which draws electronic music fans from all over the world for a big love pile each May.


If you’ve never attended an event at the Fox, you really are not trying very hard at life. It’s hands-down one of the most beautiful venues in the city obviously making it a favorite for photographs.


This is a sexy building. No really, it’s quite phallic. But beyond that, this popular hotel’s riverfront location permits a gorgeous view across the city and its international waters.


The city’s shining light in terms of academia and research. The future is being born at WSU, and it looks like a lot of bathroom selfies.


One of the city’s pioneering locales in street art installations, the Heidelberg is a uniquely Detroit thrill ride for the eyes.


The gem is the largest island park in the United States. It’s good for everything from nature excursions to disc golf to romantic outings and of course, kayaking and beaching.


Currently at three-and-a-half miles of waterfront splendor, the Detroit Riverfront is one of the most beautiful assets of our city.

It’s old and a bit scuzzy, full of charm, and probably has the best sound of any venue its size in Detroit, and we love it ferociously.

Where those in the know have shopped for decades for quality goods and the best meat available in Detroit. Also -- barbecue karaoke on Saturdays. What more do you want?

One of the most photogenic markers in Detroit, this photogenic park is among the liveliest in town enticing our selfie-itis with a sandy beach in the summer and a skating rink in the winter.

Forever known to many as the State Theatre, Detroit’s Fillmore is a ritual stop for huge international acts as they roll through the region.


The home of the North American Auto Show and adjacent to Joe Louis Arena, we figure Cobo Hall gets tagged out of proximity. Though it IS where Kiss recorded Alive! and Bob Seger recorded 'Live' Bullet both in 1975: thus marking it the epicenter of Detroit Rock City and worthy of homage into the foreseeable future.

We love the DIA with a passion. Like, real hard. It’s the gem of the city, and it ups our IQ just a smidge every time we post from there.

Home to concerts and the winningest team in Detroit history: this home of the Red Wings won’t be with us much longer so ’gram the hell out of it while you can.

Really, it’s a given that 90% of the population looks positively boneable in the Lion’s Honolulu blue. Or at least they think they do.

If we aren’t at a Tigers game posting about how great we are because “Yay! We’re at the game!” chances are we’re looking at pictures of our friends doing just that.

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Megan Frye is a Detroit-based writer who has posted a selfie to Instagram at each of the locations listed above. Tweet her your favorite Detroit selfie location at @fryechild.