Central Park

The 341-hectare green lung at the heart of Manhattan, with the Bow Bridge, Bethesda Fountain, Strawberry Fields, and lakes. It's great for walking, biking, or a horse-drawn carriage ride.

Designed in 1858 by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, Central Park is 4 kilometers long from north to south and 800 meters wide. It is one of the most filmed urban parks in the world. The southern half has the most attractions. Enter at the Fifth Avenue gate at 59th Street and continue past the Wollman Rink (open October to March), Sheep Meadow, a classic lawn for watching the skyline of skyscrapers, and The Mall, a tree-lined promenade. You'll reach Bethesda Terrace and the Angel of the Waters fountain, a favorite filming location for many movies. Continue to the Bow Bridge, where the autumn colors are at their best, then wander into The Ramble, a network of woodland trails. On the west side at 72nd Street, Strawberry Fields is a memorial to John Lennon, featuring the Imagine mosaic. The northern half has the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, with a 2.5-kilometer running loop offering views of the Upper West Side and Midtown skylines, along with the Conservatory Garden and Harlem Meer.

How to spend your time: walking the southern half takes about 2 to 3 hours. You can rent a bike (about $15 to $20 per hour) and ride the 10-kilometer loop road. Rent a rowboat at Loeb Boathouse (about $20 per hour). In summer, free Shakespeare in the Park performances and SummerStage concerts take place.

The park is free and open 24 hours, but entry is prohibited from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. Getting there: take the N, R, or W subway to 5 Av/59 St, or the B or C trains to stations along the park's west side. You can combine a visit with the Metropolitan Museum of Art (east side, at 82nd Street) or the American Museum of Natural History (west side, at 79th Street).

Note that horse-drawn carriages (about $60 for 20 minutes) and pedicabs often overcharge, so agree on a price before you ride. Avoid wooded areas at night.

Central Park

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby