Brilliant Maps: maps worth staring at
Brilliant Maps posts quirky thematic maps several times a day: Europe as the Vikings saw it, a clan map of Ireland, countries without passenger trains.
What it is
Brilliant Maps is the Instagram account of the long-running map blog of the same name. It posts thematic and historical maps, one idea per image. The account has over 220,000 followers and roughly 15,000 posts, with several new maps a day. Captions are short: the map's title and a link to the full version on the blog.
Why we picked it
A good thematic map explains in a second what would take a page of text. The day we checked, the feed had Europe according to the Vikings in 1000 AD, a clan map of Ireland, and a map of the European countries with no passenger rail service. Each one makes you look at your own corner of the world and wonder how it compares.
We like the range: history, language, geography, transport, everyday life. It's not one narrow niche but a steady stream of small surprises, and because they're maps, you can take them in with a glance.
Where to start
- Find the Viking-era map of Europe for a sense of how differently people pictured the world a thousand years ago.
- Look at the clan map of Ireland and compare it with today's counties.
- Try guessing which European countries have no passenger trains before opening that map.
- When a map hooks you, follow the caption to the blog post for context and sources.
Who it's for
Geography and history fans, teachers looking for visuals for a lesson, and anyone who loses track of time staring at maps. It's an easy way to make your feed a little smarter without making it heavy.
Quick answers
How often does it post? A lot. In late September 2026 we counted more than ten posts in a single day.
Is there more beyond Instagram? Yes, the profile links to the blog with full-size maps and a newsletter.
Is it all serious history? No, the mix swings from medieval worldviews to modern transport and quirky statistics.
