Palm Springs, California, is a photographer’s dream and an incredible location to create epic content. It oozes cool, with a retro vibe, mid-century architecture, palm-lined streets & an incredible mountain backdrop.
The houses, the hotels, even just the tall palm trees give you everything you need for Instagrammable places in Palm Springs.
So grab your camera and let me show you the best Palm Springs Instagram spots we could find.
If you are looking for more Palm Springs travel tips, don’t miss our perfect Palm Springs itinerary. If you are taking a road trip or looking for more to see in the area, make sure to check out the best things to do in Joshua Tree and where to stay near Joshua Tree as well as our full Southwest USA road trip itinerary.
Pro photography tip: The beautiful tall mountains behind Palm Springs mean that you’ll have a much earlier sunset. Make sure to plan shooting times accordingly to make sure you get the perfect lighting.
1. Indian Canyons Neighbourhood
The Indian Canyons neighbourhood is HOUSE GOALS (although you can see our home rennovation here). It’s a great place to drive around, take a walk or take a bike ride to see all the beautiful homes.
We spent hours walking and bike riding around this neighbourhood. There’s no wrong turn you can make, as every street and cul-de-sac has different interpretations of mid-century architecture and desert landscaping.
This area makes for perfect retro photo scenery, especially in the morning and around sunset when the lighting is soft. At these times the palm tree and mountain backdrop won’t be backlit and the full scene can be captured beautifully.
Among the colorful doors, you’ll also find the famous pink door house in Palm Springs here. The address is 1100 East Sierra Way. While there is a sign saying no photography, it is legal to take pictures from the road or sidewalk. Please be respectful of the owners though.
Tip: make sure to respect the privacy of the locals while cruising around this quiet (and expensive) neighbourhood.
2. The Ace Hotel Palm Springs
The Ace is one of the most popular hotels that embodies the vibe of Palm Springs. Mostly known for the pool and swim club, the hotel has created a canyon oasis feel thanks to the low rise building and palm trees that surround the pool area. We visited for a few hours and enjoyed the views.
3. The Saguaro Palm Springs Hotel
The Saguaro is another boutique hotel worth popping by to admire the poolside lounging vibes and mountain backdrops. The bright pastel colours of the hotel pop against the earthy palette of the surrounding vistas making it one of the best places for Instagram photos in Palm Springs.
You can find this rainbow hotel located at 1800 E Palm Canyon Dr. in downtown Palm Springs. Just down Palm Canyon Drive, you can also stop and take some photos at Moorten Botanical Garden (more below).
The Saguaro Hotel was a favorite spot for the bright colors, and it was clear to see why this is one of the best hotels in Palm Springs.
Tip: if you want to jump in the pool by yourself then make sure you are there early! The best time to capture this hotel when it is not busy is early in the morning.
4. Palm Springs City Hall
I loved the retro styling of this building. The City Hall is still a public place and very much in use. But if you time it right, you could be snapping some cool shots without anyone around.
5. Long Roads & Mountain Backdrops
I was clearly pretty obsessed with the palm tree clusters set against the mountains. Besides taking low angle shots, the best way to include a subject into this scene was finding long, straight streets that directed towards the mountains.
We found the best photo spots on the relatively quiet streets between E Sunny Dunes Road and E San Lorenzo Road.
6. Palm Canyon
We actually ran out of time to visit this ourselves, but Palm Canyon and the surrounding trails looks like a great spot to grab some more incredible shots.
The palms here have not been trimmed and pruned like the ones you see in town, and the shaggy trees make for a dense palm jungle along the canyon floor. This is one of the Palm Springs photo spots on our bucket list for next time.
7. Salvation Mountain
If you are staying in the Greater Palm Springs area for a few days, I recommend taking the 1.5 hour drive down to Salvation Mountain. This enormous hillside mural and message for LOVE is such a unique and fun spot to shoot. Note that walking around the top of the mountain is no longer allowed.
Other Instagram Photo Spots in Palm Springs
Parker Palm Springs – This hotel is pull of photo spots from the bar and restaurants to the pool area to the grounds and common areas to even the rooms themselves. You also get free bike rentals as a guest which makes it easier to explore the town.
Moorten Botanical Garden – For a $5 USD entry fee, you can walk around the botanical gardens and the Palm Grove Oasis located at 1701 S Palm Canyon Dr. There is an extra fee for photo shoots that is about $30 – $35 USD on top of the entry fee. There are plenty of great spots to shoot to make it worth the fee.
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway – Taking a ride up the world’s largest rotating tramway will give you stunning panoramas of the Palm Springs valley. For outdoor lovers, you’ll find hiking options at the top.
Palm Springs Windmills – If you’ve seen photos from the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, you’ve probably seen people posing with a backdrop of windmills near Palm Springs. You can’t miss the windmills when driving on I-10 northwest of Palm Springs. Access them by taking Indian Canyon Drive out of Palm Springs.
Twin Palms Estate (aka Frank Sinatra House) – You can stay in Frank Sinatra’s legendary Palm Springs house since it is open as a vacation rental. The Twin Palms Frank Sinatra estate is a 4-bedroom home that sleeps up to 8 and has a piano-shaped pool.
JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa – If you are looking for a full-service luxury resort with plenty of great photo spots as well as everything you need for a Palm Springs vacation, this is your place to stay in nearby Palm Desert.
Ice Cream & Shop(pe) – Need an ice cream to cool down after a hot Palm Springs summer day? Check out Ice Cream & Shop(pe) as one of the most Instagrammable places in Palm Springs. With vegan flavors available, neon signs and a gift shop, you’ll find the perfect mix here.
Looking for more USA travel tips?
Palm Springs Itinerary
Where to Stay Near Joshua Tree National Park
Southwest USA Road Trip Itinerary
Best Things to Do in Joshua Tree
Tucson Travel Guide
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