The 6 Best Places for a Selfie in New York

New York offers countless spots for the perfect selfie. Here are the 6 must-see locations to capture your best shots.

1/ Selfie on the Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge is the perfect backdrop for an iconic New York selfie. The Brooklyn Bridge is New York’s most famous bridge. You’ll capture both the bridge’s distinctive towers and cables and the skyscrapers of the Financial District behind you. Tip: go in the morning so the sun is at your back.
To get the entire bridge in your shot, head to the base of the bridge in Brooklyn Bridge Park. The streets of Dumbo also offer unique selfie opportunities. You can photograph yourself with the Manhattan Bridge in the background, just like in the film Once Upon a Time in America.

No visit to New York is complete without a photo with the Statue of Liberty. Go in the morning for the best light. After noon, the sun shifts and casts a shadow over the statue’s face.
Visiting the Statue of Liberty also gives you plenty of chances to photograph yourself with New York’s skyline behind you, from Liberty Island or Ellis Island. Ellis Island offers excellent vantage points for selfies. You’ll be right in the middle of New York Harbor.

The Top of the Rock is one of five observation decks in New York, alongside the Empire State Building, One World Trade Center, Summit, and The Edge. But Top of the Rock delivers the best selfies. There are no barriers like at the Empire State Building and no glass walls like at One World Trade Center or Summit. Top of the Rock also offers a spectacular view of the Empire State Building.
Two options for the perfect shot: visit in the morning to avoid backlighting on the Empire State Building, or go late in the day when the sun is softer and the sky turns orange.

Summit One Vanderbilt has become the place for selfies in New York. Since this observation deck opened in 2021, Instagrammers and YouTubers from around the world have flocked here. Summit features a unique mirrored room that reflects New York infinitely. You can also play with balloons and other art installations.
The deck also has two glass cabins where you can photograph yourself appearing to float above New York. Photos are free, but expect a wait in line.

Times Square is the place to be in New York, with its giant billboards and neon lights shining 24/7. This is where you’ll feel New York’s energy and dynamism. It deserves a selfie. For the best shot, photograph yourself after dark to capture the city that never sleeps. The lights and electric atmosphere of Times Square are far more striking at night.
Even better: take a selfie with your photo displayed on one of the giant screens. Here’s how to get your photo on Times Square.

Pose with the iconic Charging Bull to show you’ve made it in business. This symbol of the financial district stands at the start of Broadway, near Bowling Green (Bowling Green subway station).
Tip: the sculpture draws crowds all day, but with patience you’ll get your shot. If you want to photograph yourself alone with the bull, arrive around 7 am. Don’t miss a photo with the Wall Street street sign either.

Got a great selfie in New York? Send it to us and we’ll feature it here. Email your photo or reach out via CNEWYORK on Facebook.