The Most Instagrammable Places in Raleigh, North Carolina

Raleigh, North Carolina, the destination we begrudgingly selected after we admitted that we wouldn’t have the time to drive down to Charleston for the weekend, and after I decided to stop grumbling, it turned out to be a pleasant surprise.

Charleston is on my bucket list, and has been for years, and absolutely no one travels to Raleigh for a weekend getaway. You never see Raleigh on a list of must-visit US cities. Ever. It’s not like we weren’t looking forward to our annual 3-day January weekend down south, but we had absolutely no expectations, and figured, at the least, it would be a good opportunity to have some quality sister time. We weren’t encouraged when our Airbnb host, upon receipt of the question “What are the must-do’s here in Raleigh?”, got nervous, shrugged, and said that there is nothing, that, “It’s not like there’s an Eiffel Tower or Great Wall of China of Raleigh or anything.” We were definitely hoping for an Eiffel Tower or the like, so that was disappointing.

Even without “an Eiffel Tower or Great Wall of China of Raleigh or anything,” we were shocked to discover that Raleigh was almost like Asheville 2.0: artsy, cute, tons of amazing culinary options, and a unique brewery everywhere you turned. Considering how infrequently Raleigh graces the feeds of Instagram, we were delighted with how very Instagrammable the city actually is.

Here are some of the most Instagrammable places in Raleigh, which might encourage you to stop by yourself, if only for a while.

SECU Daily Planet

Any globetrotter will appreciate the massive, 70-foot globe outside of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, which is not the largest globe in the world, but it is larger than the world’s largest rotating globe. Basically, it’s one big boy. The museum is great in its own right: free, with a wide variety of exhibits and the potential to fill many hours of your afternoon (the museum on insects, with displays of giant, live bugs, could probably have been skipped). The globe outside is also a perfect photo opportunity.

121 W Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27601

Marble Kids Museum

We actually stumbled upon the Marble Kids Museum purely by accident, but were smitten by its blindingly bright and colorful mural outside. It’s a non-profit children’s museum that offers interactive exhibits and educational programs (and a really fun photo backdrop).

201 E Hargett St, Raleigh, NC 27601

Brewery Bhavana

Recently I have rediscovered my love of reading, and being surrounded by books is calming and cathartic. My sister and I went brewery hopping on Saturday, but once we passed by Brewery Bhavana the next day (after swearing that we were done drinking forever), we stopped in briefly for a beer and a perusal of the shelves. Brewery Bhavana is unique: a four-in-one concept that includes a brewery, a flower shop, a bookstore, and a dim sum restaurant, all bundled together in a modern living room space. Its beers have been given eclectic names like Sow, Sprout, and Bloom. The marble bar gets crowded, but it stays refined, attracting a sophisticated group of people to which we clearly did not belong. It was probably one of the coolest places we’ve been, and definitely worth a visit.

218 S Blount St, Raleigh, NC 27601

Trophy Brewing Monster Mural

Though brought to life by a Brooklyn-based artist, the Morgan Street Monsters are representative of the region’s culture: painted in Duke and NC State colors, with the names of North Carolina’s most legendary jazz artists in the place of teeth. I was drawn to the mural because I am always drawn to the colorful and playful, but the fact that this mural was meant to bring more local flavor to the city, and is a tribute to great talents from the area, makes it even cooler. Plus, it’s right next to Trophy Brewing, so you can always stop for a beer after your photo shoot.

827 W Morgan St, Raleigh, NC 27601

James B. Hunt Library

I read somewhere online that this library, on the campus of NC State, is considered the most beautiful library in the country. I literally have no idea if this is true, or who came to this determination, or whether such a bold proclamation is valid to anyone but the author of this one, random article, but after seeing the library for myself, I can contest that it is seriously gorgeous. I have a weakness for color and brightness, if you couldn’t tell by now. This ultra-modern, innovative library has both.

1070 Partners Way, Raleigh, NC 27606

Poole’s Diner Mural

This must be that southern hospitality everyone’s always talking about.

426 S McDowell St, Raleigh, NC 27601

North Carolina Capitol Building

Raleigh, though rarely frequented by tourists, is actually the capital of the state of North Carolina, so the city wouldn’t be complete without a beautiful capitol building, as well as some statues paying tribute to some questionable (read: racist, slave-owners, etc.) American leaders.

1 E Edenton St, Raleigh, NC 27601

North Carolina Museum of Art

My sister and I spent little time here, because the windchill was somewhere around 20 degrees (yes, even in the south. What the HECK?), but we did wander along the trails behind the museum, per our Airbnb host’s advice. The trails are lined with interesting sculptures, and is a great place to get artsy Instagrams and pet other people’s puppies.

2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC 27607

Big Ed’s City Market

Oh my GOD. Big Ed’s City Market was some of the best food we’ve had in a while, and Raleigh is chock-full of incredible places to eat. It’s the place to be if you want farm fresh eggs, country ham, warm, fluffy biscuits, and buttery grits, for a very affordable price. Problem is, everyone in the state of North Carolina (or so it seems) wants a taste of Big Ed’s, so it’s best to try to get a table on a weekday to avoid the lines.

220 Wolfe St, Raleigh, NC 27601

Sprinkles Mural

This cat is named Sprinkles. She’s kind of creepy. But definitely fabulous. Look at that tiara. Probably pure gold, knowing Sprinkles.

407 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27601

Artsplosure Mural at Oak City Cycling Project

Artsplosure is an art festival held annually in downtown Raleigh, and this mural shares its vision with the city: art for all. More bright colors! For the capital of a very southern, conservative state, Raleigh works very hard to bring art and culture to its community. And I am all for it.

212 E Franklin St, Raleigh, NC 27601

Raleigh Beer Garden

Finally, I conclude with an establishment that is true to the funky, hipster nature of the city of Raleigh: The Raleigh Beer Garden. It’s rustic and inviting, with over 350 beers on tap and plenty of seating (we almost opted for the patio before we realized that our fingers were freezing off). Our Airbnb host told us that this beer garden holds the Guinness World Record for most beers on tap, which is kind of a big deal, so I don’t know why he went on about the lack of Eiffel Tower. GUINNESS WORLD RECORD, Michael!! Right there in your town! Be proud! Scream it from the rooftops!

The Raleigh Beer Garden also has a giant tree growing in the middle. So rustic. So chic. So instagrammable.

614 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27603

We were bummed about not getting to go to Charleston, but ultimately it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Raleigh is full of color and life, and it was a perfect, undiscovered spot for a weekend getaway. My Instagram feed is already thanking me.