Attraction
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Met on Fifth Avenue is one of the world's great encyclopaedic art museums, spanning five thousand years of art from every corner of the globe.
Central Park
Manhattan's 843-acre green heart stretches from 59th to 110th Street, with lakes, meadows, bridges and landmarks such as Bethesda Terrace and Bow Bridge.
At a glance
- Type
- Urban park
- Area
- Manhattan, New York, United States
- Official site
- centralparknyc.org
Good to know
- Free entry
- Free restrooms
- Visitor centres
- Bike paths
- Boating lake
- Zoo
Why we recommend it
Central Park is the green spine of Manhattan, stretching from 59th Street to 110th Street between Fifth Avenue and Central Park West. Designed in the mid-nineteenth century by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, it was laid out to look natural, with rocky outcrops, lakes, woodland and long meadows, and it remains the place where New Yorkers run, picnic, cycle and simply get away from the traffic. The Central Park Conservancy looks after it in partnership with the city.
The southern half holds most of the famous sights. Walk up The Mall, the elm-lined promenade, to Bethesda Terrace and its fountain, then cross Bow Bridge over The Lake into The Ramble, a wooded area loved by birdwatchers. Strawberry Fields, the John Lennon memorial near West 72nd Street, is close by, and the Loeb Boathouse rents rowing boats in season. Further north, the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir has a running track with skyline views, and the formal Conservatory Garden near Fifth Avenue and 105th Street is one of the quietest corners of the park.
The park is open from 6am to 1am every day of the year and entry is free. Public restrooms are free too, except at the Central Park Zoo, where access requires a ticket. The Conservancy runs official tours, and its visitor centres and information kiosks are marked on the map on its website, along with a restroom map and an accessibility map.
How long to allow depends on your plans: an hour covers The Mall, Bethesda Terrace and Bow Bridge, while a half day lets you reach the Reservoir and the northern woods. Hiring a bike is a good way to cover the six-mile loop drive, which is closed to cars. Weekday mornings are calmest; the area around Columbus Circle and the southern entrances gets busiest on sunny weekends. Be wary of pedicab drivers offering rides without a clear price.
Subway stations line the park's edges, including 59th Street–Columbus Circle at the south-west corner and 5th Avenue–59th Street at the south-east. The M1, M2 and M3 buses run along Madison Avenue a block east. The Met and the American Museum of Natural History face each other across the park, so it is easy to combine a museum with a walk.
Central Park FAQs
Is Central Park free?
Yes. Entry is free, and so are the public restrooms except the one at the Central Park Zoo, which requires a purchase.
What are the park's opening hours?
Central Park opens at 6am and closes at 1am, every day of the year.
How big is Central Park?
It runs from 59th Street to 110th Street, between Fifth Avenue and Central Park West.
What should you see on a first visit?
The Mall, Bethesda Terrace and Fountain, Bow Bridge, The Ramble and Strawberry Fields are all in the southern half and can be walked in about an hour.
Are there guided tours?
Yes. The Central Park Conservancy runs official tours, listed on its website.
How do you get to Central Park from Grand Central?
It is about a 19-minute walk, or take the M1, M2 or M3 bus up Madison Avenue, a block from the park.
Who should you call with questions?
The Conservancy's general line is +1 212-310-6600, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
When is the park quietest?
Weekday mornings, especially away from the southern entrances near Columbus Circle.