16 Best Places to Take Pictures in Raleigh

Raleigh is one of the best places to strike a pose and engaging in a little Downtown Raleigh photography is one of my favorite things to do in the city. There’s lush green parks, urban beauty, murals and city lights all within walking distance.

If you’re a photographer, resident or tourist simply looking for things to do in Raleigh, I dish the perfect locations for your Instagram stories and camera with the best places to take pictures in Raleigh, NC. (A lot of them are great places to visit regardless of taking photos, too!)

Downtown Raleigh Photo Locations

All of the following locations are in downtown Raleigh and are within walking distance of each other. (As long as you have the time!)

1. Raleigh Founded Wall (Formerly Raleigh HQ)

What’s a trip to Raleigh for some downtown photography without a photo with a colorful wall that actually says, “Raleigh”?! Raleigh Founded is in the Warehouse District of the downtown area.

Strike a pose with friends and let the world know where you are! Don’t forget to hashtag #SometimesHome to support how you found it! Also be sure to tag the artist, Mayanthi Jayawardena of Serendib Creative.

Note that it used to be called HQ Raleigh and the mural previously looked like this prior to summer 2020 (by Lisa Gaither Art):

2. Downtown Raleigh Photography at CAM

CAM, or the Carolina Museum of Art, is next to Raleigh Founded in the Warehouse District. Its angular metal roof and bold yellow letters make it a point of interest and one of the key places to take pictures in Raleigh. They seasonally have food trucks and seating on the front gravel patio but with or without it it’s certainly picturesque.

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3. Nash Square Public Park in Downtown Raleigh for Lush Landscape

Nash Square is a beautiful little park! It’s the size of one square block and is situation right near some great restaurants in the warehouse district (including places to get some of our southern favorites, like Shrimp ‘n Grits) and Vita Vite wine bar.

We love that it’s filled with tall Magnolia and Oak trees and even small Japanese Maples. It’s such a favorite place for Downtown Raleigh photography in my eyes and we love it so much that Dan and I eloped and had our marriage ceremony almost where I’m standing in the photo below.

4. Fayetteville Street (Raleigh photographers Flock Here!)

This main avenue in the heart of downtown is one of the prettiest streets in North Carolina. It’s so incredibly well kept and looked after. A Raleigh photography trip would be incomplete without stopping here and it’s a must for downtown Raleigh Photography.

It has beautiful landscaping and flags that usually correspond to the month’s holidays or festivals. It’s not too heavily trafficked but be careful and look both ways if you stop in the center of the street to grab a downtown photo.

There’s a lot of great bars and restaurants on Fayetteville (and the nearby area) if you’re in the mood for some delicious food and cocktails.

If you’re standing on the street and look north you’ll see the Capital Building and if you look south you’ll see Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts. They’re both beautiful structures but don’t overlook how photo-worthy the street itself is too.

It’s very common to run into other photographers on Fayetteville street, capturing engagement session photos or wedding day pictures, especially for venues on Fayetteville Street, like The Stockroom.

5. The Capital Building, near Great Hotels in Downtown Raleigh

Raleigh is the capital city of the state of North Carolina. Thus, there’s a grandiose building in the city that pronounces its authority. The building has beautiful columns and green grass surrounding it. There’s a few notable statues here as well.

Walk around all four sides of it because there’s something different to see from every angle. I snapped my downtown Raleigh photography image below during golden hour, right before sunset.

6. The Exterior of Raleigh’s Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts Center

The other side of Fayetteville Street, opposite the capital, is capped by the Performing Arts Center.

We love the columns on the front of the building and the gorgeous landscaping all around. During summer, for instance, you can take photos downtown here with beautiful tropical plants behind you, like we did. You’d never know it was even Raleigh! It looks somewhere like Fort Lauderdale in south Florida.

7. City Market Raleigh

This market was first built around 1914 to serve the city’s residents with a place to buy local foods, including fruits, vegetables and baked goods. It’s long standing history as an icon of the city is still present in its architecture and cobblestone streets.

My favorite part of City Market is the lights that are hung high above the street. It’s a pretty scene during the day but it’s even more stunning at night when they’re illuminated. I photographed this wedding at a venue at City Market and loved the result when I photographed the bride and groom underneath the lights.

8. Globe at North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

You can literally put the whole world in your hands here! It’d be difficult to miss the large globe perched outside this museum at one of the best places to take pictures in Raleigh. This downtown Raleigh photography spot, which is on the sidewalk attached to the museum, reaches nearly three stories high. Where else can you take photos with the entire Earth?

11. Downtown Raleigh’s Union Station 

Just across the street from The Dillon is a station Raleigh invested millions of dollars into. The intent was to create a brand new train station in the heart of downtown. The new Union Station isn’t only top of the line – it’s an attractive urban playground for a Raleigh photographer.

12. Downtown Raleigh “The Dillon” Entrance and Wall

This is actually two spots in one. The Warehouse District is one of the latest to be redeveloped in downtown Raleigh. One of the most popular buildings that towers over the city now, especially in this neighborhood, is The Dillon building. There’s a restaurant at the corner of W. Martin Street and S. West Street, that’s part of The Dillon, where people love to take photos. And when you see it you know why.

The large steel-framed entry way, with the building’s glass behind it and restaurant landscaping on the right, is so pretty. And just within that oversized entrance, to the left if you walk through the photo below, is an exterior wall they kept up from a previous building.

The chipped white paint only adds more character to the three street-level “windows” that open to the sidewalk and Union Station across the street.

*Note that the white brick wall, within the building courtyard looking out to the street, may be hard to capture during winter. The adjacent restaurant, Barcelona, has an outdoor seating area with a temporary enclosure that’s currently taking up the space, wall to wall. (Probably a result of COVID-19 and needing more outdoor seating space.)

13. Boylan Bridge for a Downtown Raleigh Skyline View

The views of downtown Raleigh from Boylan Bridge are worth enjoying and it’s one of my favorite places to take pictures near me (or our apartment, I should say).

As the city expands the skyline is ever-changing; a downtown photo you take today may be vastly different from next year’s view. The top photo was taken during dusk in 2018 and the bottom during an overcast day around 2016. Even within two years you can see several new buildings that popped up!

Be sure to check out some modern Air BnB options nearby that we love and have curated for you.

Raleigh Photo Locations just Outside Downtown (Short Driving Distance)

The following locations should only take a five to ten minute drive from the heart of downtown Raleigh. And they’re worth it…or they wouldn’t be on our list of best places to take picture in Raleigh!

14. Monsters Wall near Trophy Restaurant and Brewery (a Truly Cute Place to Take Pictures near Downtown Raleigh)

This is one of my favorite Raleigh murals and places to take pictures near me! The “monsters” wall, painted by Kevin Lyons, has such personality. It’s located near Trophy Brewing and Pizza, on the east side of the building.

Since it was fading fast from sun exposure they invested in having the artist come back out to Raleigh to redo the mural, in color, in May 2018. I loved photographing part of a couple’s engagement session here when it was still black and white.

Note that unless you’re at this mural very early in the morning during a weekday or early in the morning on a weekend, there’s usually cars parked in front of it.

15. JC Raulston Arboretum

This arboretum is part of NC State college’s property. They generously invite visitors free of charge to enjoy their beautifully landscaped gardens. (Donations are welcome.)

They do not charge a photography fee (or require a photography permit) when pro photographers bring their clients here for sessions, thus Raleigh photographers flock to this beautiful arboretum.

Of course all hobbyist are always welcome too. They have a variety of photo-worthy spots from their Japanese Garden, to Elm Circle and Rose Garden. The image below was taken during this engagement session on the arboretum’s perennial border walkway.

Technically it isn’t downtown however it’s right next to it; it’s only about a 10 minute drive.

Note that during COVID, when NC State has been closed, so has JC Raulston Arboretum.

Downtown Raleigh Hotel Recommendations:

Our number one hotel recommendation in downtown Raleigh is the Longleaf Hotel. Read our extensive review of the hotel and decide if it’s right for you!

It’s walking distance to everything and a little bit off the main street. So if there’s a weekend festival, for instance, and you’re desiring something just off the street that will have the most hustle and bustle, this could be a good fit. We love how much the Longleaf Hotel supports local businesses in its design and offerings as well. It’s also owned by North Carolina residents.

If you’re wanting to stay on Fayetteville Street, blocks from the capital, we recommend the following hotels. They’ll put you in the center of the action:

1. Sheraton Raleigh
2. Raleigh Marriott City Center
3. Residence Inn Downtown Raleigh

Another great recommendation in downtown Raleigh, an easy 15 minute walk from the capital, is the Origin Hotel. We have enjoyed a few drinks there and love that it’s branded to the City of Oaks (the nickname for Raleigh, NC). It’s in a great location if you want to access the heart of downtown or Glenwood South, another popular area in Raleigh. There’s plenty of restaurants and bars to walk to from the Origin Hotel.

Lastly, also enjoy Aloft Raleigh, if you’re interested in Marriott Bonvoy rewards. It’s not as much within walking distance but it still very nearby by NC State’s campus.

By the way, we never leave home without our nodpod black-out weighted sleep masks.

Air BnB is a forever favorite of ours as well. Check out modern Air BnB options in Raleigh or click through the carousel below.

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Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post, which means we may earn a small commission if you click the link and proceed with a purchase. We only recommend products or services we personally use.

For more to do in North Carolina check out:

• The Only Photo Books we Print for Travel Memories
• The Best Photography Spots in Downtown Durham
• Ways to Improve Travel Photography using Our Guides and Tips

Which would be your first stop on the way to capture all 10?

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