Are you traveling to New York City with your pup and can’t wait to explore the city together? New York City is one of the most famous destinations in the world! From the iconic Manhattan skyline to the Statue of Liberty, your activities and photo ops here are pretty much endless. I bet you can’t wait to snap all those NYC photos and post them on Instagram. I’m sharing the best dog-friendly Instagram spots in NYC and some tips for when you visit.
Before I continue, keep in mind that they call NYC the concrete jungle! Your pup will be walking on concrete pavement all day, so make sure you put on some paw balm for protection before heading out!
The Best Dog-Friendly Instagram Spots in NYC: 17 Locations
1. Central Park
Your trip to NYC with your pup won’t be complete without a Central Park photo! There are so many beautiful locations here, and you’ll often see them in artwork and postcards worldwide. I’ve got you and your pup covered with my ultimate dog-friendly guide to Central Park here.
Notable Locations:
- Bethesda Fountain and Terrace
- Bow Bridge
- The Mall at Literary Walk
- Gapstow Bridge
2. Oculus
The Oculus has one of the most modern architecture in NYC and is also a transportation hub. Inside here, you’ll find the major subway lines, New Jersey Transit trains, and tons of stores for shopping. Best of all, the shops here are dog-friendly.
Tip: The Oculus also connects to Brookfield Place, another dog-friendly mall with designer stores with a food court to visit with your pup.
3. Dumbo Brooklyn
Dumbo stands for “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass,” and it’s a trendy neighborhood filled with cobblestone streets, excellent restaurants for outdoor dining, and epic views of Manhattan.
The most famous spot to take a photo is Washington Street. This location is where you’ll get a shot of Manhattan Bridge with the Empire State Building peeking through in between the bridge on a clear sunny day.
You can either take the NYC Ferry (dogs must wear a muzzle or be in a carrier) or the subway (dogs must be in a carrier) from Manhattan to get here.
Tip: Washington street is always packed with people! The only time it was empty was during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Crowds are now back to normal. Make sure you head out there early. The best time to snap a photo here is about 7-8 am.
But wait, there’s more to see in DUMBO! After Washington street, stop by Brooklyn Bridge Park to find Janes Carousel and Pebble Beach just around the corner for photo ops!
4. Brooklyn Bridge
Walking over the Brooklyn Bridge is the ultimate New Yorker thing to do. You HAVE to come here for this classic photo. Gatsby and I still stroll through here now and then.
Tip: The best time to take photos here is in the morning, right at sunrise. There are not as many people around compared to sunset. Just remember that’s there’s no shade here, so if you’re arriving in the middle of a sunny day in the warmer months, bring lots of water for you and your pup.
How to get on the Brooklyn Bridge:
From Manhattan: Take the 4, 5, or 6 Train to the Brooklyn Bridge City Hall Station. From there, you’ll be right by the bridge entrance. Walk towards the center of the bridge to get the best photos. It’s a 15-minute walk uphill before you get there.
From Brooklyn: The access point is on Tillary Street and the Brooklyn Bridge Promenade. This location is near the 2, 3 Borough Hall Subway Stop and the N, R, W Jay Street Metro Tech subway stop.
5. South Street Seaport District and Pier 17
After Hurricane Sandy destroyed the Seaport back in 2012, it’s been rebuilt with a few restaurants and seasonal pop-ups like the famous pumpkin arch during Fall and winter globes during the holidays. Take a photo of the historic red Ambrose ship with the city skyscrapers in the background.
Tip: If you want to sit down and grab drinks and food with your pup, Industry Kitchen is an excellent choice with outdoor seating! Make sure to try their wood-fired pizzas!
6. New York Stock Exchange
The “Wolf” of Wall Street. Need I say more? It’s a must for your pup to take a photo here! You’ll also find the “Fearless Girl” statue – a powerful symbol and a campaign created to pressure companies to add more women to their boards and to support gender diversity in corporate senior-leadership roles.
7. Washington Square Park
Head to 5th Avenue and Waverly Place to capture the Washington Square Arch modeled after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. You’ll see the park filled with NYU students or locals in the neighborhood, people playing live music, and skateboarders. After you’re done with photos, stop by the dog park right in Washington Square Park.
Tip: If you visit during October, you can take a haunted ghost tour with your pup. The story has it that back in the late 1700s, this park was used as a burial ground, and supposedly, now this area is haunted! So spooky!
8. Radio City Music Hall
Still keeping its facade since 1932, this theater is home to the most famous Christmas show – Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Radio City Rockettes. Visit during the holidays, and you’ll feel all the Christmas vibes.
Fun Fact: Home Alone 2 – Lost in New York was filmed here.
9. Grand Central Station
Without a doubt, Grand Central Station is the most beautiful and classic transportation hub in NYC! I love coming here during the holidays with Gatsby. Head to the food court to grab some drinks and food with your pup because it’s dog-friendly!
Tip: If you’re trying to get a photo with no one around, I suggest coming here late at night, around 10 pm-11 pm. No trains are running at this time, so it’s less crowded.
10. The Vessel
The Vessel at Hudson Yards is a honeycomb structure of 154 interconnecting staircases with about 2,500 individual steps. You and your pup won’t be allowed at the top of the Vessel (it’s now closed due to increased suicide cases) but you can still take a photo of this fantastic structure outside.
11. Flatiron Building
Head to 23rd street and Broadway for a photo of the Flatiron building. It was built in 1902 and is an iconic NYC structure.
Tip: While you’re in this area, head to Shake Shack in Madison Square Park, right across from the Flatiron building. There’s a dog park here for your pup to run loose for a bit at Jeremy’s Dog Run.
If you’re into Italian food, Eataly Flatiron now has outdoor seating so you and your pup can enjoy some Italian together!
12. Nomo Hotel, Soho
Head to the Nomo Hotel on Crosby street for this stunning picturesque archway. This hotel is dog-friendly too!
Tip: Stop by Greene Street for cobblestone streets and shops. Maybe you’ll even bump into Taylor Swift as her apartment is in the heart of Soho!
13. Chinatown
You’ll find all the yummy Asian fruits, fresh seafood, markets, and great restaurants for dim sum, BBQ meats, dumplings, and so on! The best streets for photos are Doyer Street, Pell Street, & Mott Street.
Tip: Chinatown is always going to be busy. There’s no way to get around the crowds. Just be patient when taking photos with your pup.
Also, did you know that Gatsby and his friend Sky were invited to walk the Lunar New Year Parade in Chinatown? You can watch it below! The dogs stole the show!
14. Times Square
Times Square is best known for bright lights, skyscrapers plastered with digital billboards, the theatre district, and NYC’s New Year’s Eve venue. The big crowds and bright lights just give off big energy! That song “Empire State of Mind” by Alicia Keys and Jay Z is what comes to my mind every time I’m in Times Square with Gatsby.
Notable Locations:
- Times Square steps on 47th Street and Broadway
- Subway Entrance on 42nd Street and Broadway
- 45th Street and Broadway Street View
15. East Village
Head to 10th & Stuyvesant Street, and you’ll find the iconic Abe Lebewohl Triangle. The best thing about this Instagram spot is that it’s a residential neighborhood so you won’t get photobombed by tourists here.
TIP: While you are there, there are so many other things to do in the East Village, be sure to explore around!
- Stop by the famous Boris and Horton Cafe to let your pup mingle with other city dogs while you sip on a matcha latte.
- Let your dog run around at Thomkin’s Square Dog Run.
- Feel like your pup needs a quick bath? Head to Now You’re Clean Self Dog Wash to give your pup a quick rinse! You can read about our experience here.
- Many vintage shops around the neighborhood are also dog-friendly.
16. Staples Street Sky Bridge
A classic NYC street for all photographers, you must stop by here. This bridge connects the third floor to two building which was once a hospital.
How to Get Here: Head to Staple Steet, and you’ll see it right away as the road is only two blocks long! Take the 1,2,3 train to Chambers St or the 1, 2 trains to Franklin Street.
17. The Met Stairs (Metropolitan Museum of Art)
Spotted! You and your pup in NYC channels inner Blair Waldorf by posing on the same Instagrammable stairs of the Met. Gossip Girl fans from around the world will love this photo! XOXO.
Hope you found these dog-friendly Instagram spots in NYC helpful. Keep in mind that NYC is forever changing with new attractions, so I will do my best to keep this list up-to-date. Be sure to follow me and Gatsby on Instagram for the latest finds in NYC!
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Thank you for your support of this blog.
