Hostels are a budget travel hack to more frequent and longer vacations. As a cheaper alternative to hotels and Airbnbs, hostels are often centrally located, a great way to meet fellow travelers, and a nice space to set up shop with your laptop if you’re a digital nomad. I’ve stayed in my fair share of hostels over the years and am sharing my top hostels in Europe and the United States.

10 Top Hostels in the World 

• Líbere Córdoba Spain - Editor’s Pick
• HI Boston - Best U.S. Hostel
• New Samay Seville - Best Hostel for Solo Female Travelers
• HI New Orleans - Best Hostel for a Group Trip
• ECO Hostel Granada - Best Hostel for 30-Year-Olds
• YHA London Oxford Street - Best Hostel in London
• Young and Happy Latin Quarter - Best Hostel in Paris
• Kick Ass Greyfriars - Best Hostel in Edinburgh
• Euro Youth Hostel Munich - Best Hostel for Digital Nomads
• St. Christopher’s Inn - Best Hostel in Barcelona

Líbere Córdoba Spain - My Top Pick
Córdoba is located in southern Spain in the country’s Andalusia region. It’s perhaps most famous for the Mezquita, a mosque originally built in the 700s. Other notable sites include the Alcazar de Los Reyes Cristianos, the Synagogue of Córdoba, their ancient Roman bridge, and the Calahorra Tower.

Why the Líbere Córdoba Earned the Top Spot on My List
The Líbere Córdoba is not your run-of-the-mill hostel. First, it appears newer and not so rundown like other hostels I’ve been to, but it still retains the charming southern Spanish design you’ll find all around this city. The building surrounds a beautiful outdoor patio with plenty of tables and seating for people to hang out or work remotely. 

If sitting outside isn’t your cup of tea, they also have an indoor area where people can eat or work. Another plus is how clean the rooms are.

Pros: What I Love About This Hostel

• How it’s built - I love how this property is built. Most hostels I’ve been to are in one fully enclosed building, but the Líbere Córdoba was built around a beautiful outdoor patio space. This patio is great for socialization, relaxing, or work.
• Cleanliness - This was one of the cleanest hostels I’ve been to.
• Quiet - As someone also working remotely during my stay, I appreciated how calm and quiet this hostel was. That also meant it was easier to get a good night’s sleep!

Cons: Possible Drawbacks

• The bathrooms weren’t always working - We had two toilets in our room, and while one worked just fine, the other smelled like a rotting sewer. I would have liked the hostel to prioritize fixing that.
  Longer walk to sightseeing - I enjoy walking, and most hostels I go to are centrally located for easier walking around the city. While I still walked from this hostel to the big tourist sites there, it’s a longer walk than you might get with other hostels or hotels.

Learn more in my full-length Líbere Córdoba Hostel review


HI Boston - Best U.S. Hostel
Boston is one of my favorite cities in the United States. Washington D.C. may be the nation’s capital, but Boston and Philadelphia feel more representative of America’s founding fathers and history. Plus, Boston is just a 40-minute train ride from Salem, which means you can see two great places in one trip. 

Why the HI Boston Earned Best U.S. Hostel
Surprisingly, Boston has very few hostels, and the HI Boston is pretty much the Boston hostel. Despite limited options, this is a great choice for those who want to visit Boston and save money by skipping expensive hotels.

Pros: What I Love About This Hostel

• Location - The HI Boston is in the city’s Chinatown neighborhood, with easy walking access to popular areas like Boston Common and Beacon Hill, as well as a nearby subway station.
• Free breakfast - The HI Boston provides a free breakfast every morning. Granted, the options were essentially limited to toast, bagels, and cereal, but I still appreciated the free meal.
• Shower/bathroom setup - As a female traveler, I pay attention to the shower setup in hostels, and I loved the setup at the HI Boston. Here, they have a bunch of individual bathrooms and shower spaces on each floor, so you could have somewhere to shower privately and get ready for the day. 

Cons: Possible Drawbacks

• Some rude roommate behavior - OK, I understand this doesn’t reflect the hostel itself, but on my first night there, I had some of the most frustrating roommate behavior. One guy wore so much cologne that it gave me an intense migraine, and the older woman who stayed in our room was turning on the room lights all night long and playing music. Thank goodness they weren’t there my second night!
• Books up fast - To be fair, I stayed here in October, which is a busy time since many folks visit both Boston and Salem during this month. However, I was lucky to get in when I did, so this isn’t a hostel you’d want to book at the last minute.

Learn more in my in-depth HI Boston Hostel review


New Samay Seville - Best Hostel for Solo Female Travelers
Seville is a well-known city in Spain’s Andalusia region in the south, featuring incredible architecture like the Plaza de España and Giralda Tower, along with vibrant cultural charms like flamenco dancing. 

Why the New Samay Seville Earned Best Hostel for Solo Female Travelers
If you’re a woman traveling by yourself, safety will be a priority. From my experience, I felt very safe at the New Samay Hostel in Seville. The hostel felt safe and secure, and the neighborhood it’s in felt safe, too. Plus, it was easily walkable to popular tourist sites. This isn’t a party hostel either, which made it feel safer.

Pros: What I Love About This Hostel

• Privacy curtains - I love it when hostels provide privacy curtains with each bunk bed to keep out light and just give you a better sense of privacy when you sleep. 
• Quiet - Overall, this is a quiet hostel. I didn’t have any problems trying to sleep here.
• Free coffee - I love that the New Samay provides free coffee in the morning. 
• Spacious bathrooms - The bathrooms inside the dorm rooms are very spacious. You have both the shower and toilet in there, with plenty of space to change and get ready.

Cons: Possible Drawbacks

• Only one bathroom per room - I’ll admit, it was hard to come up with some potential drawbacks to this hostel. But one thing to consider is that there’s only one bathroom per room, which could be an issue if two people are up at the same time and need to get ready.

Find out more about this hostel in my full-length New Samay Hostel review


HI New Orleans - Best Hostel for a Group Trip
New Orleans is one of the most unique cities in the U.S., with a rich history and culture unlike any other city I’ve ever been to. It’s also a great place to go on a trip with friends. My friend Kirsys and I spent a long weekend in Nola for my birthday, and the HI Hostel allowed us to have a great stay while saving some money.

Why the HI New Orleans Earned Best Hostel for a Group Trip
This HI Hostel is a clean, well-kept hostel on Canal Street in the heart of the city, within walking distance of New Orleans’s iconic French Quarter and the Mississippi River. Of course, the French Quarter is a prime spot for friend groups to take tours, explore, or hit exciting bars and restaurants. While most folks go to New Orleans to see these spots, the HI New Orleans is also within walking distance to the street cars to take you to other areas of town like the old cemeteries and the Garden District. 

Pros: What I Love About This Hostel

• Location - I loved that we didn’t have to rely on Uber or Lyft here. We could easily walk to the French Quarter or the streetcars to get to other parts of town.
• Clean space - Similar to the HI Hostel in Boston, this one is well-maintained. They even have larger shower and toilet spaces to easily change and get ready in private.

Cons: Possible Drawbacks

• Canal Street can feel sketchy- I didn’t feel totally unsafe on Canal Street, where this hostel is located, but it’s important to be mindful of your surroundings. I saw some sketchy things there, and while I don’t think it should be a dealbreaker to booking this hostel, I wouldn’t walk back to the hostel late at night.

Helpful Tips: Guide to Visiting New Orleans for the First Time


ECO Hostel Granada - Best Hostel for 30-Year-Olds
Granada is located in southern Spain and is most famous for the Alhambra Palace, which sits atop a hill overlooking the city. However, I would encourage you to also visit the Royal Chapel there, which is where Spain’s most famous monarchs, Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, are buried.

Why the ECO Hostel Granada Earned Best Hostel for 30-Year-Olds
There’s a slight misunderstanding that hostels are only for twentysomethings, but from my experience, I’ve seen people of all ages stay at them. That said, if you’re over 30, odds are you’ll probably want something more low-key than a rowdy party hostel. Hey, we need our sleep, right? The ECO Hostel was a quiet, calm hostel with a good mix of adults of all ages, which is why I think this is a good choice for the over-30 budget traveler.

Pros: What I Love About This Hostel

• Central location - The ECO Hostel Granada is a nice walk into the busy area where the sites are, including the Alhambra Palace. 
• Friendly staff - I loved the staff here. They were super friendly!
• Large bathrooms - I stayed in a six-person dorm. The room had a larger bathroom space where the shower and toilet were. This was great because I was in a co-ed room, and it gave me plenty of space to change and get ready in private.

Cons: Possible Drawbacks

• The timed showers - I get it. With the word ‘Eco’ in its title, they’re trying to help the environment. But still, the timed showers got pretty frustrating after a while. I almost felt like this made it take longer for me to get ready.
• No privacy curtains on the beds - Personally, I prefer privacy curtains on the beds. That won’t keep me from booking something, but it’s nice to have that extra piece of privacy, which I didn’t get here.
• Small lockers - The personal lockers are small, so you won’t be able to fit your entire backpack in them. Instead, you’ll only have to limit it to the most valuable items. However, I could at least fit my laptop in there, so they’re big enough for those.

Find out more in my ECO Hostel Granada review


YHA London Oxford Street - Best Hostel in London
London is one of the biggest and most famous cities in the world, but that also means staying here can get expensive. In this case, hostels are a great workaround for this. That said, in such a big city, you want to make sure the hostel you’re staying at is in a decent, safe location.

Why the YHA London Oxford Street Earned Best Hostel in London
There are multiple YHA hostels around London, but I chose to stay at the YHA London Oxford Street as this seemed like a good central location for someone who had never been to London before. The YHA on Oxford Street is near London’s West End, and even though it’s a busier area, I never felt unsafe here. 

The hostel is a secured building a block behind Oxford St., where you can get to buses. It’s also just a 10-minute walk to the Oxford Circus subway station. During my stay, the YHA London Oxford Street was clean and well-maintained. Also, even though the ‘Y’ in the title stands for ‘youth,’ I saw people of all ages, including families, there. 

Pros: What I Love About This Hostel

• The location - I liked how central this hostel was, with easy access to public transit and shopping on Oxford Street.
• Clean and well-maintained - Overall, this hostel was well-kept. The bathrooms and rooms were always kept clean.

Cons: Possible Drawbacks

• Busier area - While I didn’t mind that this hostel was in a central area, it might not be for everyone. Oxford Street is one of London’s busier areas, so if that isn’t your jam, I’d recommend one of the other YHA locations.

Discover more tips about London in this London Travel Guide


Young and Happy Latin Quarter - Best Hostel in Paris
Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements that sort of work their way up from the center out. This means that the lower your arrondissement number is, the more central you’ll be to the popular sites. For your first trip to Paris, I’d recommend finding accommodations within the first 10 arrondissements so that you’re close to the best sightseeing.

Why the Young and Happy Hostel Latin Quarter Earned Best Hostel in Paris
The Young and Happy Hostel is located in the Latin Quarter (A.K.A. Arrondissement 5) on a street called Rue Mouffetard. What’s special about the Latin Quarter is that it’s one of the city’s oldest and most historic neighborhoods, particularly for education, and it was where Ernest Hemingway lived during his time there in the 1920s.

Rue Mouffetard is also home to a local market, so you can find lots of yummy foods from local vendors. The Young and Happy Hostel’s excellent location made it easy for me to walk to the must-see Paris sites like Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower, among others. As for the hostel, I loved that it felt more historic, like the neighborhood it was in. I think my favorite part was the cozy hangout area below the main floor, which kind of felt like you were entering some catacombs or something. 

Pros: What I Love About This Hostel

• The building has historic character to it - I loved how this building wasn’t overly modernized, keeping with the historic feel of the Latin Quarter. Again, the hangout area on the lower level is worth checking out!
• The location - The Young and Happy Hostel is in the Latin Quarter. Not only is this area central to sightseeing, but it also has a really cool history as one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods.

Cons: Possible Drawbacks

• No lockers in the rooms - This is the only hostel I’ve stayed at that didn’t have in-room lockers. Rather, they only had small lockers in the lobby area. I always had my valuables on me when I wasn’t in the room, but I didn’t have any issues with my other stuff, which I just kept underneath my bunk bed. 
• Limited privacy for changing - There wasn’t much privacy for changing here since they had co-ed bathrooms with just shower and toilet stalls. I recall having to change in the bathroom stall, which, hey, you gotta do what you gotta do, but it’s just not very convenient. 

Learn more about what to do in Paris with this Paris Travel Guide


Kick Ass Greyfriars - Best Hostel in Edinburgh
Scotland is one of my favorites of all the countries I’ve traveled to, with Edinburgh being one of the most magical cities I’ve ever seen. Seriously, I’m still dreaming of living there and writing in cozy coffee shops. 

Why the Kick Ass Greyfriars Earned Best Edinburgh Hostel 
The Kick Ass Greyfriars (previously known as Budget Backpackers) Hostel in Edinburgh was the very first hostel I ever stayed at, and it clearly left a positive impression. This hostel is in the heart of Old Town Edinburgh at the bottom of the iconic Victoria Street. If you’ve seen images of Edinburgh, you’ve likely seen that street. It curves and has colorful buildings along it. 

Because it’s so central, I could easily walk to major sites in the city like Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile. It’s also close to coffee shops, restaurants, bars, tours, etc. This hostel was also only a 15-minute walk to Waverly Train Station. Aside from a great location, the hostel felt safe and even provided meal and drink coupons for their restaurant and bar.

Pros: What I Love About This Hostel

• Location, location, location - The Kick Ass Greyfriars Hostel is perfectly located at the bottom of Victoria Street with easy walking access to everything.
• Laundry access - I was literally a budget backpacker on my trip, which means I had to do laundry. This hostel had working laundry, making it much more convenient to travel with a backpack.

Cons: Possible Drawbacks

• Larger dorm rooms could get noisy - I ended up staying in their cheapest option, a massive 30-bed mixed dormitory room. The largest I’ve usually seen outside of that is 12-16, but 30 people sharing a room means it can get loud. Ironically, I didn’t have much trouble sleeping since I was so tired at the end of the day, but if you’re a light sleeper, I’d recommend spending a little more on a smaller room there

Find out more on what to do in Scotland in this Scotland Travel Guide


Euro Youth Hostel Munich - Best Hostel for Digital Nomads
Munich was my favorite of the three big cities I’ve visited in Germany, which included Frankfurt and Berlin. While Frankfurt seemed too industrial and Berlin too overwhelming, Munich had some great character to it. To offset the price of a hotel, I stayed at the Euro Youth Hostel (also referred to as the Euro Youth Hotel Munich), which was conveniently within a roughly 10-minute walking distance of the city’s Central Station. 

Why the Euro Youth Hostel Munich Earned Best Hostel for Remote Workers
Working remotely while staying in a hostel can present a unique set of challenges. I ideally want somewhere with good Wi-Fi and a communal space with tables to plug in my laptop as needed. I’ve certainly found this at other hostels (and if I had to give a runner-up in this category, the ECO Hostel Granada would get that title). However, I picked this one because they have a larger community dining and hangout area next to the lobby with plenty of tables where I could easily get work done and order food and beverages.

On the flip side, I understand that some folks may want something quieter, and the good news here is that the Euro Youth Hostel in Munich also provided a table and chairs in the dorm room, so if I had to take a meeting, I was able to do it there with my headphones on.

Pros: What I Love About This Hostel

• Close to Central Station - This hostel is a mere 10-minute walk to Munich’s main train station.
• Great community feel - I loved the friendly vibe of this hostel. From the front desk to the people in my room, I had a great experience connecting with folks here.
• Felt safe and secure - This hostel felt very safe and secure, and I loved that the rooms were on the second floor and through secured entry.
• Walkable to tourist sites - This hostel is central enough to walk to tourist sites like Marienplatz, or you can easily access nearby public transportation.
• Free welcome drinks and their toastie sandwiches - Upon arrival, the hostel gives you a ticket for a free welcome drink. And while the food wasn’t free, I can’t recommend their toastie sandwiches enough. It’s the best grilled cheese sandwich I’ve ever had.

Cons: Possible Drawbacks

• Has the potential to get more rowdy - OK, to be fair, I’m really reaching with this one since I honestly didn’t find any major flaws with this hostel. That said, with it being a big city and a bar downstairs, there’s the potential to have more nosy roommates, but from my experience, I didn’t have any issues.

Learn more about my experience in Munich here


St. Christopher’s Inn - Best Hostel in Barcelona
Barcelona sits on Spain’s eastern coast along the Mediterranean Sea. The city has a lot to offer travelers, from the visually stunning Gothic Quarter and famous La Sagrada Familia cathedral to the beautiful beaches and food; I’d recommend it in a heartbeat.

Why St. Christopher’s Inn Earned Best Hostel in Barcelona
The St. Christopher’s Inn Hostel is centrally located near Barcelona’s Las Ramblas neighborhood, so you have lots of access to shopping and food. The hostel's location also made it easy for me to walk to all the sites I wanted to check out, including La Sagrada Familia, the Gothic Quarter, and Barceloneta Beach. 

Another location perk was how close this hostel is to the Barcelona Airport shuttle. I remember having to leave for the airport around 3 in the morning. I’ll admit I was pretty nervous since it was the middle of the night, but to my surprise, there were many people out and about (likely coming back from nightclubs), and people were already waiting for the shuttle.

As far as the hostel itself, they have a great bar area where people can socialize and watch games. I actually had the best three-hour conversation with a fellow female traveler from Denmark. They also have privacy curtains on the beds in the rooms.

Pros: What I Love About This Hostel

• Privacy curtains - I always appreciate it when a hostel provides privacy curtains on their bunk beds, and that includes the St. Christopher’s Inn.
• Great bar area - This hostel’s bar area is great for socializing, and the prices were super affordable. They also broadcast soccer games for folks to gather around and watch together.
• Centrally located - This hostel is centrally located in the Las Ramblas neighborhood, and you can easily walk to other major Barcelona tourist sites. 
• Short walk to airport shuttle - This hostel is barely a five-minute walk to and from the airport shuttle pickup and dropoff location, which is super convenient – especially if you’re stuck with an early morning flight!

Cons: Possible Drawbacks

• Party vibe - This might be a drawback for some and a win for others, but keep in mind that this hostel skews younger and more lively.
• Small bathrooms - There was only one tiny sink and mirror in the bathroom for a dorm room with at least 10 other women in it. You definitely have to try and get ready around each other, and there wasn’t really any adequate space to change in private unless you changed in the toilet stall.
• Timed showers - Again, I respect the desire to conserve, but constantly having to turn back on the shower because it’s a timed system got old quickly.

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Learn more in my St. Christopher’s Inn Barcelona review
Also visiting Madrid? Read my Ok Hostel Madrid review

Transparency Disclosure — The opinions on this website are independent and based on my own personal experiences. I may receive a referral fee for stays booked through the links on this site.

Idyllwild, California has some personal significance to me, so it was extra exciting to finally be able to see this California mountain town. I went with my fiancé and our dog to celebrate my fiancé's (somewhat) recent milestone birthday. Our overnight trip was in late February, and we were driving from Los Angeles.

Idyllwild is a mountain town located in the San Jacinto Mountains and is about a two-hour drive from Los Angeles. Idyllwild makes for a great day trip, overnight trip, or weekend trip. In this article, I’ll share what to know if you’re considering a mini-getaway to this quaint town in the mountains.

What is Idyllwild known for?
Idyllwild is a mountain town located in the San Jacinto Mountains in Southern California. It’s about a two-hour drive from Los Angeles. Idyllwild provides access to hiking, wilderness, and local businesses such as restaurants, shops, and wineries. The town is ideal for a short escape from the hustle and bustle of busier SoCal cities. Idyllwild is perfect for a day trip, overnight visit, or weekend getaway. 
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Does Idyllwild have snow?
Yes, Idyllwild has snow. This may be surprising considering it’s located in Southern California, but once you start driving up into the San Jacinto Mountains, it’s as if you’re being transported into a whole other world. You leave the desert climate of inland SoCal and enter a wintery landscape full of snow, beautiful mountains, and pine trees. Now, don’t expect snow in Idyllwild all-year-round, but if you go in the winter, there’s a good chance you’ll hit a beautiful snowfall. 

Is Idyllwild worth it?
Yes, Idyllwild is worth visiting. Idyllwild definitely embraces the quaint mountain town aesthetic. From cabin-like lodging to adorable local shops, you shouldn’t be disappointed. Plus, Idyllwild is super-relaxing and quiet; I slept the best I had in months during our overnight stay! Our dog, Piper, also got to meet the Idyllwild Mayor, an adorable golden retriever who made the rounds visiting folks in town. 

What is the best time of year to go to Idyllwild, CA?
I imagine different people will have different answers for this, but in my opinion, the best time to go is the winter to (ideally) see a real snowfall near LA. As someone originally from Michigan, it's really cool treat to just drive a few hours and experience a pretty snowfall in the mountains. We stayed in February, but I imagine this would be a gorgeous place to stay during the holidays i you're craving that snowy Christmas weather.

Where to Stay in Idyllwild
We stayed at the Silver Pines Lodge, which is located right around the corner from the center of town, so the location is great. Silver Pines Lodge offers cabin-style rooms that are very cozy. The rooms come with a fireplace that runs on a thermostat system, so it's easy to control. The main issue we encountered with our room was that the bathroom does not get heated, and as a result, the floor in there was extremely cold. A refrigerator was included with the room, though, which was a nice addition. They are also pet-friendly, so feel free to bring your dog on the trip if you stay here! 

How long should you stay in Idyllwild?
You should stay in Idyllwild for a day, overnight, or for the weekend. Idyllwild is not very big, so any time longer than a few days isn’t necessary. 

Transparency Disclosure — The opinions on this website are independent and based on my own personal experiences. I may receive a referral fee for stays booked through the links on this site.


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​What was once a sleepy downtown is now a thriving Midwest hub. The city of Grand Rapids is filled with new high-rise apartment buildings and exciting businesses. From locally-owned boutiques in Eastown to trendy bars and restaurants Downtown, GR is more alive than ever.

So, what better way to show that off than with the best instagrammable spots in Grand Rapids? These top Grand Rapids photo spots will provide you with stunning backdrops, bold colors, interesting art, and more. 

Where Can I Take Photos in Grand Rapids?

1. La Grande Vitesse
Starting off the list is Grand Rapids’ artistic claim to fame and a long-standing symbol of the city. La Grande Vitesse – or the Calder sculpture – is located Downtown in Calder Plaza. It was created by American artist Alexander Calder, whose iconic red sculptures can be found in museums, galleries, and gardens all over.

What makes La Grande Vitesse so Instagram-worthy isn’t just its ties to the city (though that’s certainly a major factor) but also the variety of options you can use for your photo. Of course, there’s the obvious idea to take a photo of the sculpture in its entirety. However, if you want to mix it up for additional shots, you can utilize the beautiful bright red of the sculpture as a colorful backdrop. Simply walk right up against the sculpture and frame your photo so that you only see red in the background and boom: Instagram ready!

2. Corner of Monroe Center and Ottawa
This corner in front of Madcap Coffee in Downtown Grand Rapids provides a great city backdrop for your photos thanks to the gorgeous architecture of the buildings and the brick road that runs along Monroe Center.

You can opt for either portrait style or a regular background, but my personal recommendation is using this backdrop in portrait mode. For the optimal shot, stand across the street in front of the Grand Rapids Art Museum to get the full backdrop behind you. 

3. Ah-Nab-Awen Park
Located on Pearl St. in front of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, Ah-Nab-Awen Park is a perfect spot to capture a beautiful view of Grand Rapids.

There are plenty of interesting parts in this particular viewpoint that will create a beautiful photo for your Instagram, including the Grand River, Pearl Street Bridge, and city skyscrapers and buildings. Your ideal photo times will be either a sunny day or at night to capture the city lights. 

4. Follow Your Heart Mural
Murals are wonderful to photograph, and as Grand Rapids grows, so does its access to beautiful artwork. The reason I picked this one in particular is because it also represents a positive, uplifting message with the phrase ‘Follow Your Heart’.

This mural can be found at 368 Diamond Ave. SE – an eclectic, growing neighborhood just outside downtown. Created by artist Dave Battjes, this mural is somewhat hidden on a side street, which means you won’t have other folks walking into your shot and you can take more time so that you get the perfect image for your feed.

5. The Blue Bridge
The Blue Bridge in Grand Rapids is another iconic downtown location. It's over 100 years old and is great for photos.

This bridge extends across the Grand River, and as the name suggests, this bridge is painted a beautiful sky blue, which actually adds to its photogenic qualities. The bridge is especially great for portrait-style shots with the background slightly blurred for added dimension. 

FAQs 
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1. Where can I take engagement photos in Grand Rapids?
There are plenty of beautiful engagement photo locations in Grand Rapids, including the places mentioned above: La Grande Vitesse, the Corner of Monroe and Ottawa, Ah-Nab-Awen Park, the Follow Your Heart Mural, and the Blue Bridge. 

​If you plan to take sunset engagement photos, I recommend going to Riverside Park just outside downtown. The views along the river with the greenery are absolutely beautiful at that time of day and can make a romantic backdrop. 

Learn more: Why Summer in Grand Rapids is the Best
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2. What are some indoor photo locations in Grand Rapids, MI?
The Public Museum and Art Museum in Grand Rapids can be really great for indoor photo locations. Another gorgeous spot is the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, which boasts an elegant décor. The hotel is open for people to explore, and you'll likely find other visitors capturing photos inside the hotel.

3. Does Grand Rapids have a downtown?
Yes, Grand Rapids has a downtown. Since 2010, Downtown Grand Rapids has grown immensely, making it a popular spot to live, hang out, and of course, take great photos. 

4. Why is Grand Rapids famous?
Well, that depends who you ask! Grand Rapids has a lot of different claims to fame. It's been home to a major art competition called Art Prize, which drew artists from GR and around the world. Grand Rapids was also awarded the title Beer City USA for its exceptional craft beer selections. Those are just a few, but it's also just getting more notoriety because it's a growing city where more and more people are looking to move to.

5. What is there to do on a date in Grand Rapids, MI?
Another perk to a growing city is that you have lots of different date night options. There are plenty of great restaurants and bars downtown, along with great entertainment like the Civic Theater, Dr. Grins Comedy Club, and the Grand Rapids Ballet (to name a few). If you want to more adventurous, you can try out some Grand Rapids tours and scavenger hunts. 

​Transparency Disclosure — The opinions on this website are independent and based on my own personal experiences. I may receive a referral fee for stays booked through the links on this site.