The 16 most Instagrammed places of 2016

Instagram has released its annual list of the world's most popular spots for taking photos — a veritable who's who (or, perhaps, a where's where) of the globe's top tourist destinations. We've compiled Instagram posts featuring the top 16 locations of 2016, to lighten your cold-weather blues. Plus, if you're making a New Year's resolution to travel more, this list might spark some inspiration.

16. Barcelona center - The heart of beautiful Barcelona, with its fascinating architecture — including the distinctive work of Antoni Gaudí — is a big hit with the Instagram crowd.

15. Tower Bridge - London's historic Tower Bridge is one of the most recognizable elements of the city's skyline, and it's no surprise that it makes this icon-heavy list.

14. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) - LAX, however, is a bit of a surprise. But Los Angeles's airport makes the list, suggesting that people really like to record all their comings and goings.

13. Madison Square Garden - Madison Square Garden makes the list not only because it's a popular spot, but because the New York venue can also provide Instagram users with some excellent chances to spot celebrities. Even the celebrities sometimes get in on the act.

12. Colosseum - With its instantly recognizable silhouette, Rome's Colosseum is not only a historical treasure but a visual icon.

11. Siam Paragon - Siam Paragon, in Bangkok, is one of the largest shopping centers in Asia, and its visually striking architecture and food make it an ideal spot to catch an unusual Instagram.

10. ВДНХ / Vystavka Dostizheniy Narodnogo Khozyaystva - This permanent trade show site and amusement park in Moscow provides gorgeous views that make for equally gorgeous snapshots.

9.Brooklyn Bridge - Beloved of everyone from hipsters to historians, it's no surprise this stunning span makes the list.

8. Santa Monica Pier - So much of Instagram is about showing other people how much fun you're having. California's Santa Monica Pier has been a place to do that for more than 100 years.

7. Las Vegas Strip - Maybe it's the neon. Maybe it's the vice. Maybe it's having flashy reproductions of the world's landmarks all in one place. Just remember that what happens in Vegas won't stay in Vegas if you share it with the whole world.

6. Louvre Museum - While many of the pictures snapped are of art in the Louvre Museum, there's also a lot of appreciation for the Paris building itself.

5. Eiffel Tower - While Las Vegas may have its own version of Gustave Eiffel's celebrated tower, there's no substitute for the real thing. The Eiffel Tower also earns the distinction of being the most-Instagrammed single location outside the United States this year.

4. Times Square - If you're in New York, nothing screams "I'm in NYC” as loudly as a classic shot of Times Square.

3. Central Park - The Empire State Building is further down on Instagram's list, but Central Park seems to draw more shutterbugs than anywhere else in New York.

2. Universal Studios Properties - Instagram gets a little looser with its definitions of a "place” as we near the top of its list, lumping together the many theme parks of Universal Studios. But the parks as a whole are highly visited; Universal also claims the third-place spot in California, plus spots No. 4 and No. 5 in Florida, with Universal Studios Florida and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Orlando.

1. Disney Properties - Disneyland is supposed to be the happiest place on Earth, so it's somewhat fitting that Disney parks are the snap-happiest place on Earth. Disney-owned parks also have the distinction of being the most Instagrammed spots in California and Florida.

Copyright: Washington Post.