- Notre Dame is the Most Instagrammed Site: Paris’s Notre Dame Cathedral ranks first globally with over 5 million hashtags, maintaining high popularity even during its reconstruction period.
- Blend of Ancient and Modern Sites: The top 10 list features historical sites like Angkor Wat (12th-century) alongside modern architectural wonders such as the Sheikh Zayed Mosque (completed in 2007).
- Multiple Indian Landmarks in the Top 10: Both the iconic Taj Mahal (second place) and the sacred Golden Temple (eighth place) rank among the world’s most photographed religious destinations.
- Strong Social Media Engagement: Religious landmarks consistently generate high Instagram engagement due to their blend of unique architecture, historical value, and cultural significance for travelers.
A fascinating new study highlights the immense popularity of global religious landmarks on social media, confirming their status as essential stops on every traveler’s itinerary. Research conducted by MyCross analyzed Instagram hashtag data to identify the world’s most photographed sacred sites, revealing that these ancient and modern wonders generate massive social engagement. This showcases the strong appeal of destinations that successfully merge unique architecture with profound historical and cultural significance.
Topping the list as the world’s most Instagrammed religious landmark is Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, boasting over 5 million hashtags despite the 2019 fire. Its projected 12 million visitors in 2025 following its reopening underscore its enduring global appeal. Other highly-ranked sites include India’s stunning Taj Mahal (3.7M hashtags) and the captivating Sagrada Família in Barcelona (3.6M hashtags), which continues its construction towards an anticipated 2026 completion.
The rankings demonstrate a wonderful blend of history and modernity, featuring Cambodia’s 12th-century Angkor Wat alongside the modern marvel of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Notably, India claims two spots in the top ten, with both the Taj Mahal and the Golden Temple (Sri Harmandir Sahib) proving to be immensely popular on the platform. The methodology was comprehensive, tracking both English and local language names for accurate measurement of global posting patterns. These sites provide meaningful content that resonates deeply with social media users, affirming that travelers are drawn to sharing images that represent both personal experience and cultural heritage.
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