SOUTH AFRICA

@garethpon is an urban photographer from Johannesburg. His favourite spot to photograph in the city is Maboneng Precint. For him, photography is not so much about shooting pretty pictures, but about “being as honourable as possible to capture in a single image the story that a moment wants to tell”.

• Other Johannesburg Instagrammers he follows are @levonlock, @unclescrooch, @roywrench, @timvanrooyen, @alexioso and @ghostwitness.
  

UNITED STATES

The hills, the bay, the fog and the architecture make San Francisco a wonder for photographers. @lec101 tries to look for ethereal, magical moments that feel like refreshing escapes from city life, and says she is “forever mesmerized by the wild fog that is unique to San Francisco”. Her favourite parts of the city are the little forests and the Outer Sunset district: “As a child I grew up surrounded by trees and open spaces, so I tend to seek out those environments within the city.”

• Some of her favourite views of the city are seen through the eyes of @karlthefog, @travisjensen, @michiesharine, @junebugkim, @thatandrewkim, @chrisconnolly, @pketron, @ddent.

Here’s an unusual shot of an obvious San Francisco landmark, the Golden Gate bridge, as seen through the lens of @cafeaulei. Her favourite place in the city is Treasure Island, above the Bay Bridge, with the bridge lights and traffic below and the entire San Francisco skyline to the right. “The bridge is so special to me because I was almost born in it”, she says, as her mother went into labour while crossing it over. She also loves Hawk Hill, above the Golden Gate: “on a gorgeous foggy day you can see the entire city engulfed in fuffy white clouds!”

• Other San Francisco Instagrammers she follows are @pketron, @moneal, @artchang and @throughthetinylens.

@robinthesky is a photographer and designer from the tri-state area that surrounds the New York metropolitan area, so he has a mix of different locations to work from: he lives on the New Jersey shoreline, and New York isn’t far from him. Therefore, he can “capture everything from the beach to the pine barren woods that fill New Jersey to the majestic skyscrapers of New York”. But his favorite spot to photograph is “definitely at the beach, and a few spots around my town’s local inlet”, he says. His aim is to “capture anything that I can turn into something that will make you think, or anything that will stimulate your senses: I capture light and the magical moments that this earth has to share with us”.

• The list of other tri-state Instagrammers he would recommend “could go on forever”, he admits, but he did give it a try: @black_soap, @rachesq, @vananooch, @lastsuspect, @josetutiven, @fliickman, @jnsilva, @k_mustafa and @monaris_.
  

You recommended us: @nyonair

MEXICO

@lavicvic is an architect who captures moments from the daily life of Mexico City. She loves this giant metropolis because “it’s the kind of city that becomes what you want whenever you want. You can find all kinds of magical moments in it.” She likes her photos to be very clean and to play with colour compositions, textures and elements.

• Her favourite Instagrammers in Mexico are @elinsaciavle, @mikyalanis, @mylastnameistoolong, @elgatonegro_ and @pppaam.

@elgatonegro_ is a Mexican lawyer who has taken to Instagram to “capture a lighter and simple life”. On this photo, teenagers gather around the fountains of the Monument to the Revolution in Mexico City. His favourite spot in the city is Espacio Escultórico UNAM, part of an architectural ensemble in the country’s biggest university.

• He recommends following @mente_de_rufus, @elinsaciavle, @lanzgg, @el_triplede and @lavicvic.

CANADA

You would never guess at first glance that most of the photos from @othellonine’s feed are actually from a city. He benefits from the green spaces in Vancouver, where he recently captured the fog in Central Park. His favourite spot in the city is Stanley Park: “the seawall, the views, the tall trees, the beaches...”

• Other Vancouver Instagrammers that he follows are @bittadesign, @dudelum, @secretcities and @maurice, among others.

Here’s a very different Vancouver photo, taken from Stanley Park by @maurice. His favourite place to photograph from is also this beautiful park: “It is mere minutes from the downtown core, but offers a variety of features including quiet forest trails, public beaches, gardens and city views by day and night. In many ways, it’s a photographer’s dream.”

• Two of his favourite Instagrammers are @secretcities and the aforementioned @othellonine.

@akaalec is an Instagrammer from Vancouver whose inspiration for black and white photography started when he saw Robert Doisneau’s The Kiss. “I fell in love with the movement of people doing everyday things”, he recalls. For architectural shots, he tries to “find an angle that makes the building pop”. His favourite spot in the city is Gastown, one of the oldest parts of the city and a tourist hub, right on the waterfront. “It allows me to capture both architecture and people”

• Other snappers that he recommends from the city are @iamsengs and @missyjena.

You recommended us: @flolum, @racheycakes

BRAZIL

@paulodelvalle is a designer who tries to “capture all the beauty of Rio de Janeiro, showing beautiful spots and also the ‘carioca’ lifestyle”. His favourite place in Rio is the Mirante Dona Marta, from where you can see breathtaking views: “On the left, you can see the Sugarloaf (pictured), and on the right the Christ the Redeemer.”

• Two other Rio Instagrammers whose work he admires are @pripper and @minduim.

@ruduit lives in Porto Alegre and likes to photograph colours, art and nature. “I like the naturalness and simplicity of things”, he says. His feed has been all about travel lately, but you’ll also find snaps of this Brazilian city. A favourite place of his in the city is the central district, which is full of “old buildings and details”. He also enjoys moving around and photographing poorer villages, which he likes for their colours and for “the way they improvise structures”.

• He recommends following @michelikaroly and @gil_vg in his same town.

You recommended us: @kashkheirkhah, @jdelboux

NETHERLANDS

Amsterdam is full of beautiful urban scenes, and @p_d_y is a filmmaker capturing its daily life. His favourite spot in the city is the Jordaan district, because “it’s full of the things that make it an amazing city for a photographer: canals, bridges, small streets and historical architecture. It’s what the locals like to call the ‘real’ Amsterdam.”

• Other Amsterdam Instagrammers he follows include @sethcarnill, @regalphis, @panyrek, @maevdkrogt and @mariafranciska.

@macenzo describes himself with a simple sentence: “in love with the lines of the city”, and a look at his feed quickly confirms this. His favourite place in Amsterdam is high up in Cafe Blue: “They have the most amazing middle center skyline view of Amsterdam. I love to sit there enjoying a coffee and gaze over the city.”

• Other Amsterdam Instagrammers that he recommends are @sfennema and @ruu_da.

@regalphis tries to capture “the intangible beauty and uniqueness of Amsterdam and its vicinity”. His favourite spot in the city is the SkyLounge, one of the highest public places in the city. “The rooftop terrace is awesome and has some of the best views around,” he says.

• His favourite Instagrammers from Amsterdam are @mariafranciska, @sanneb10 and @sethcarnill.

@sfennema thinks of Instagram as “a channel for sharing the way I see my surroundings and as a way to meet people who think alike.” He doesn’t have a favourite spot, but he says what he likes is “to stroll around and find new places along the beautiful Canal Ring. There’s always something new to see!”

• Other Amsterdam Instagrammers he follows are @onahazymorning, @panyrek, @p_d_y, @regalphis and @mariafranciska.

You recommended us: @croyable

UNITED KINGDOM

@chaiwalla is a London-based Instagrammer, although lately his feed has also featured other European cities like Lisbon or Dublin. He likes to document his surroundings, whether nature or urban architecture, and enjoys including people in the shots -”to keep the photo unique”- and capturing unusual spots such as the Horniman Museum and Gardens (pictured), in the English capital. His favourite spot in London is the Monument, because “the 360º views are spectacular and, on a good day, you can see for miles”. Also, since it’s not enclosed, he explains, “there is no window reflection or glare to get in the way of the photograph”.

• Other London Instagrammers that he follows are @tschang, @dearleila, @missunderground, @mattpike, @hellopoe, @zobolondon, @ecolephoto, @mrwhisper, @danrubin and @mattscutt.

You recommended us: @davidgriffen, @darrenseamark, @ash, @nialloleary, @mikekus, @theboygeniuz, @charlala, @rich__, @knockoclock, @imaginationdetonation, @adamsheath, @sparrowflu, @the_hat_, @hanootka and @theycallme_GT.

SPAIN

In this photo, @barrut captured Plaça de Sant Felip Neri, a charming little square in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter. He explains that he usually doesn’t look to capture anything in particular with the pictures; instead, “they capture me for different reasons”. He’s not hooked to his phone taking photos of every corner - he prefers to wait for a scene to catch his attention. He likes taking photos around the city’s coastline, and especially in the Fòrum area, his favourite spot.

• Other Instagrammers from Barcelona that he particularly recommends are @sanfigjo and @joelopez.

Cities are full of hidden gems, and the hustle and bustle of daily life can make it difficult to pay attention to them. @lidpop is a graphic designer who loves “Instagram’s power to capture details and moments”. He posts shots of unusual details from Barcelona and other Catalan cities, such as Girona. His favourite Barcelona locations are its streets - he loves to wander around and let the city surprise him visually. He also enjoys sharing “little personal obsessions” with other Instagrammers such as #calendaribalconitis (balconies), #persianisme (shutters) or #labarcelonalletja (ugly Barcelona).

• Some Barcelona Instagrammers he follows are @martabcn100, @martimanya, @lalauri, @philmusical, @arasanz, @inistis, @gina_compte, @oriolvm and @gdel_arco.

@nicanorgarcia is an architect and photographer from Barcelona. He uses his photos to “nose around and learn from what I look at, which can be architecture, the city or its people.” The title of this snap is Windows orchestra. He loves lots of places in the city and he would photograph most of them, because in all of them “an infinity of pictures are awaiting to be taken”. But if he had to choose an area he would pick Ciutat Vella, the old quarter, “for its variety, intensity and warmth”.

• Other Instagrammers from Barcelona that he would really recommend are @lullabycafe and @hectormilla.
  

You recommended us: @holayessica

PORTUGAL

@ritacordeiro is a graphic designer and crochet maker. She likes “remembering things, places and people in her daily life and taking pictures is the perfect way of perpetuating that”. She lives in a small portuguese city called Leiria, 130km north from Lisbon. Her favourite spot in Leiria is the Castle, located at the top of a hill. “Its view can be pretty magical”, she says. You can see it in her feed, as well as a lot of Lisbon shots like this one. In the Portuguese capital, she used to live in the centre so some of her favourite spots are Avenida da Liberdade, Baixa and Chiado. She also loves the riverside area, “where you can jog, ride a bike or simply walk.”

• Other Portuguese Instagrammers that she recommends are: in Leiria, @carlaoliveirasousa, @atgraces and @sandrinevieira. And in Lisbon, @ruicartaxorod and @mileu.
  

DENMARK

@sondergaard’s feed is an eclectic account of Copenhagen’s life and vibe, with street photos, architecture shots and the odd sunset. “I love my city and I love catching the different moods, especially with the changing seasons”, he says. His favourite spot is Kastellet, especially this time of year. “It’s the almost 400-year-old citadel which Copenhageners now mainly use for walking and running trips.” A lot of his photos tagged with #sondergaard_nakedtrees were shot there.

• He recommends following @mathias_milton, @bobbyanwar, @visitcopenhagen, @gittestark and @littlemycph.

@justhanni is another urban photographer based in Copenhagen. He tries to look for strong inviting subjects that catch the viewer’s attention: “often these are roads, railway tracks, silhouettes, patterns or symmetry”. He also enjoys taking shots of puddles and reflections every now and then. He shoots a lot in Ørestad, a developing new urban district. “Some of the most interesting architecture, waterways and infrastructure are found here,” he says. “It’s a very modern part of Copenhagen, but at the same time close to nature and open spaces allowing for some good light.”

• Some of his favourite fellow Copenhagen Instagrammers are @bobbyanwar, @cirkeline, @sondergaard, @nikolajthaning, @s1000, @geographable, @gittestark, @jesperbulow, @jlvm33, @82seba and @kennethnguyen.

FRANCE

Paris is the protagonist in @juanjerez’s black and white pictures. His favourite place in the city is the distance he walks every day between his house and boulevard Voltaire. The French capital is “an astonishing theatre”, according to this architect and photographer. “Streets, squares and monuments compose its relentless scenography where the most beautiful drama takes place. I try to capture this drama”, he says.

• He particularly likes the work of @vutheara and @misscoolpics.

@wheninparis is an American living in Paris, with the motto ‘when in Paris, do as the Parisians do’. She captures daily life against the classic backdrop of the belle ville, with its beautiful architecture and monuments, as well as its more typical street scenes. Constantly looking to create stories in her photography, her shots often include people and “moments”, and she uses her outsider’s perspective to show off Paris in its best light. “It’s hard to take a bad photo of this gorgeous city”, she says. For views of the city, Shannon’s favorite spot is the top of the Arc de Triomphe, even if you have to climb its 284 steps to get to the top! But for the most charming photo opportunities per square kilometre, she says the spot to be Montmartre (pictured): “there is always a painter in his flat cap, the Sacré Cœur at the end of an alley, or a charming café just around the corner.”

• Other Paris Instagrammers she follows include: @jeffonline, @nathparis, @vutheara, @misscoolpics and @leoleoparis.

@lily__rose defines herself as a wanderer and a dreamer (and an animal lover) who enjoys exploring, wherever she is, and then sharing every moment of it. She spends most of her time in Paris, which features frequently on her feed. She loves Paris rooftops and the Jardin des Tuileries, because it’s a place which mixes nature and amazing French architecture.

• Other Instagrammers from the city that she would recommend are @wheninparis, @antone_lep and @_jibraeel_.

@jeffonline loves cityscapes, historic places, streets, playing with lines or reflections and photographing perspectives – all of which abound in #Paris, his city. His favourite spots are a handful of Paris landmarks: the area around the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre with the Sacré Coeur, the Louvre (pictured) or the Pont des arts.

• He would recommend other Instagrammers in Paris such as @nathill, @seb_gordon, @vutheara and @loxilaux.
  

You recommended us: @barbarablay, @nathparis, @seb_gordon, @leoleoparis, @oliviathebaut and @kerhouarn.

CZECH REPUBLIC

@prazakj posts pictures of Prague and its surroundings and enjoys taking shots of architecture, like this one of the Main Point Karlin building. One of his favourite spots is Lake ‪Hostivař‬, which he discovered recently and, he says, fascinates him.

• Some of his favourite Instagrammers in the Chech Republic are @tomasdvorak, @j1rk4, @jackob, @matescho, @sirondrej, @majkl_k, @domini_que, @hynecheck and @i_stau.

RUSSIA

@palchenkov is a Moscow-based Instagrammer who likes to capture “buildings and architecture, people and situations, light and shadows, geometry and minimalistic compositions” in the Russian capital and during his travels. His favourite place in Moscow is Gorky Park, the most famous recreation park in the city: “there, i can find everything that i want about street photography”, he says.

• He recommends @russian_moscow and @back2thailand, both capturing Moscow and other cities around the world.

Andrey, also known as @back2thailand, is a photographer from #Moscow. His favourite spot in the city is a field on the edge of Moscow, where he watches the sun go down every day: ¨I can see the sun set against urban skyscrapers and a huge industrial plant. This, I can watch endlessly; I feel the breath of the metropolis”.

• Other Instagrammers that he recommends from the Russian capital are @phatmn and @sun698.

You recommended us: @kirbase, @cat_morphine, @bones_of_man and @swinopass.

GERMANY

@davidgnad is a motion designer “who found a new passion, mobile photography”, and uses it to capture Berlin’s diversity. One of his favourite spots is called Schwedter Steg (pictured), located on the former border between east and west Berlin. It looks just like another nice place for Instagrammers to take a great bridge shot, but it’s actually “like an open book”, he says. “The scars are still visible. People walk past, runners cross the bridge, trains from all directions loaded with commuters pass by… There are trees down the bridge but also areas of plain grass, because the soil was poisoned to avoid trees growing in order to see refugees more easily. Just so many things to spot”, he explains.

• Other Berlin Instagrammers he recommends are @berlinstagram, @uwa2000, @dosavocados, @livinberlin and @justiciere.
  

CHINA

Even though Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, @siumomomo’s feed is full of urban oases, peaceful spots and human interactions. This one was taken in a rooftop in Mong Kok (the busiest area in Hong Kong). Her favourite place in the city is Yau Ma Tei, a small district “with mixed culture and social classes: from the poor to the middle classes to the highly educated, they all live next door to each other”, she says. This area also has “many local, very Hong Kong-style food stalls and street art”.

• She recommends following @maubolung, the frontman of a Hong Kong band, and also @pan_tang, @deonwong, @momomomoc.

You recommended us: @slcinhk, @alex_ogle, @edwardkb, @raskalov and @jantong.

INDIA

@mumbaipaused is a feed full of human stories and captivating images from the Indian metropolis. “Mumbai is a melting pot of different cultures and it’s always on the move. I try to make sense of it through still images”, says Gopal, the person behind the project. It’s tough for him to pinpoint a favourite place, as his top spot keeps changing. “Right now it’s the playgrounds in the city. Mumbai has too few of them, so children and adults convert streets, alleys and other places into playgrounds”, he explains.

• Other Instagrammers he likes from the city are @riteshuttamchandani, @kometjuice and @hashimbadani.
  

You recommended us: @tanweeer

AUSTRALIA

@cleocoppinger tries to capture Melbourne as she sees it through her eyes: “A beautiful city filled with dreamers, coffee shops, incredible food, and all my favourite people. Many of those around me are constantly saying ‘Melbourne is so boring’, but I’ve always thought it was something very special, so I try to show that through my photos.” Her feed is a mix of daily life snaps, recipes and views of the city. Her favourite spot is Captains of Industry, a mix of barbershop, shoe maker and cafe: “It looks over the constantly buzzing Elizabeth street, making it perfect for people watching.”

• Her favourite Melbourne Instagrammers are @streetsmith, @agiasidi and @stephanie_somebody.

@stephanie_somebody lives in Melbourne and tries to capture “images that make the viewer stop for a moment to take it in”. Her favourite spot in the city is hard to choose. She tells us that “for coffee it’s Market Lane, for shopping it’s Mr Kitly, and Hellenic Republic to get lunch boxes for food”.

• Other Instagrammers from Melbourne she thinks are doing amazing things are @popandscott, @thebrainerystore, @afloralfrenzy, @taratakesphotos and @beciorpin.

@mark_pc lives in Sydney and primarily posts “minimalist digital art in little square boxes”. He tries to “capture uncluttered scenes with a solitary person or a couple of people connecting with their surroundings”, he says. The steps at Maroubra beach are his favourite place: “Sydney is lined with beaches from the north to the south, and from the city you’re only 15 minutes away from many of them”. This is a photo of the entrance to the ‘Museum of Contemporary Art Australia’, which is “a beautiful building and a must-visit for anyone coming to Sydney.”

• His favourite Sydney Instagrammers are @twistdee, @_m0e, @william_patino, @bobby_j and @dawa_lhamo.

You recommended us: @John_OCal and @twoguineapigs.

This is, of course, a small imperfect sample. We have included your recommendations from the comment thread, but do keep telling us what other urban Instagrammers from particular cities you recommend through our @GuardianCities Instagram account.