After calling Tempe home for over five years I felt it was about time I put together a guide for its most instagramable places! As the center for college students, young professionals and a good time there are TONS of places that are picture perfect!

Tempe Town Lake Pedestrian Bridge

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Located just outside the Tempe Center for the Arts, this bridge is not only Insta worthy but somewhere I highly recommend checking out if you’re local or visiting. Walks along the lake are amazing and seriously beautiful at sunset!

Tempe Town Lake - Steps

Neil G. Giuliano Park, E Rio Salado Pkwy, Tempe, AZ 85281

With beautiful white steps, an open grassy area and more I love heading down here for photos! There are plenty of different background options and the natural lighting is beautiful! Plus there is a pretty good chance you’ll see some cute doggos - always a plus in my book!

Tempe Town Lake - Offices

33°25'51.3"N 111°56'20.8"W

While this isn’t just one spot it is a great location if you like more urban looks in your backgrounds. With plenty of beautiful glass office buildings, water fountains and more there are some great shots to get here. Plus, different architectural bits and pieces around this area allow for some fun opportunities for posing and trying out new angles!

(Seasonal) Oktoberfest

80 W Rio Salado Pkwy, Tempe, AZ 85281

Every October, Four Peaks & other local vendors put on Oktoberfest for an entire weekend! It’s filled with carnival rides, traditional german snacks and lots of local beers! Don’t forget to bring your laderhosen & snap some pics!

The Desert Botanical Gardens

1201 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008

With literal miles of beautiful desert & cactus filled landscape I can’t think of a better place to take South West inspired photos! There are all sorts of places to photograph from bridges to open areas filled with cacti large and small I highly recommend checking this out!

Pro Tip: visit on the first Tuesday of the month for FREE!

Papago Park

625 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008

Whether you’re looking for a fun short - or long- walk/hike or want to spend some time hanging around the small ponds there are a ton of outdoors photo ops I always go to when I’m looking for an outdoor place to shoot! The park is totally free and open from sunrise to sunset.

Downtown Tempe Neighborhoods

Historic Neighborhood Page

If you’re looking to wander around and shoot I highly recommend strolling the historic downtown Tempe neighborhoods. The houses are so fun and cute and if you happen to be visiting during the year when we have green on the trees photos are even more beautiful! While you’re out and about be sure to check out some of our most famous local restaurants like Casey Moore’s.

Arizona State University (ASU) - Palm Walk

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One of the most iconic parts of the Arizona State campus Palm Walk is perfect for those palm tree pics you’re after! While obviously people tend to use these more for grad photos, it’s a location perfect for anyone!

ASU - Gammage Auditorium

1200 S Forest Ave Tempe, AZ 85281

If you ever get a chance to see a show here, do. They’re amazing and the theatre is gorgeous. Just looking for a location to shoot? It’s unique architecture makes it the perfect place to get creative.

ASU - Old Main

400 E Tyler Mall Tempe, AZ 85281

With countless building set up around another iconic part of the ASU campus grad photos and any IG shots are made even more perfect here! Looking for lots of brick especially? This is your place!

ASU - Memorial Union Lights

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While only on at night this cute little area of the Memorial Union is such a fun spot for night photos! It is typically not too busy at night with only students leaving the MU or Library.

ASU - Coor Hall

976 S Forest Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281

I’m definitely biased since most of my education was housed in this particular building, I think Coor Hall has some of the coolest places for photos - especially this EXPLORE portion! If you’re wandering around campus, make sure to give Coor a stop!

Social Hall

715 S McClintock Dr, Tempe, AZ 85281

Come for the photos and stay for the food & drink. Our first apartment was pretty close to here to we loved stopping in for bites and drinks and even though we’re a little further now we still love it! The HUGE mural out front is perfect for photos but the inside has super fun options too!

In-N-Out

920 E Playa Del Norte Dr, Tempe, AZ 85281

Of course this isn’t the ONLY In-N-Out but it is the Tempe location and if you’re not from out West where In-N-Out can be enjoyed whenever, you GOTTA get a photo here (and be sure to enjoy a bite - or two)

Tempe Marketplace

2000 E Rio Salado Pkwy, Tempe, AZ 85281

With colorful buildings, walls full of greenery and flowers in bloom AND seasonal “Instagram” decorations outside this shopping center is a unique place to check out if you’re looking to spice things up and do some shopping!