What to see in New York Central Park
New York Central Park is huge. It, in fact, is bigger than the country of Monaco. Measuring 843 acres, Central Park is larger in land mass than the principality of Monaco which is just under 500 acres.
With the size of Central Park in mind, to make your experience enjoyable, we recommend exploring it with a plan, along with some comfortable shoes and maybe a bike rental.
New York Central Park is home to some world known attractions and countless movie scenes. Here we put together the list of the best things to see in here.
Belvedere Castle of New York Central Park
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Belvedere Castle is a stone castle miniature castle built to be a lookout for the Central Park. It was built in 1869, originally with no doors or windows. Belvedere Castle was intended to be a fantasy castle that provides a beautiful backdrop and views from it’s two balconies, it however wasn’t planned to have real intended purpose.
Inside is a visitor center and gift shop.
Later, in 1919 the National Weather Service began taking weather measurements from the top of the castle and it is still serving that purpose now.
Belvedere Castle is also home for The Henry Luce Nature Observatory. Upstairs of Belvedere Castle, guests can find an educational site that teaches visitors about nature and wildlife in Central Park.
The Observatory is Free to visit. Microscopes, telescopes, and Discovery Kits with binoculars are offered here, as well as maps, and paper for journaling in the Park.
New York Central Park Zoo
Central Park Zoo is really a perfect size family zoo with many, but not too many animals. Main attractions of the zoo are animals from the Asia, polar regions, and the West Coast. The Temperate Territory is home for red pandas, snow leopards, and snow monkeys.
At the Polar Circles find the much-loved penguins. The Sea Lion Feedings are quite a show *not to be missed daily at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.
The children’s zoo has a variety of farm animals, including the cutest alpacas and sheep that you can feed from your hand.
There is 4D Theater intended for visitors aged six and up. The theater charges a fee but is included with a Total Experience ticket.
Near the entrance is the charming Delacorte Musical Clock, where bronze animals encircle the time piece. Each day between eight in the morning and six in the evening the clock plays one of 32 nursery rhyme tunes every hour. The clock was a gift from publisher George T. Delacorte — he also commissioned New York Central Park’s famed Alice in Wonderland statue — in 1965. The Clock’s usual repertoire of songs changes to a collection of Christmas carols around the holiday season.
Location: 64th Street and 5th Avenue
Conservatory Water
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Conservatory Water, near 72nd Street, located on the East part of the park, also known as the Model Boat Pond. From spring until fall, people come to sail and race their model boats. Races are usually held on Saturdays, beginning around 10:00 am. Boat rentals are available as well as lessons for the budding model boat enthusiast.
Around the pond there are benches shaded by large leafy trees, making it a perfect place to relax and watch the miniature boat races. At the north end of the water is a sculpture of Alice in Wonderland and on the east side is Kerbs Boathouse, with Le Pain Quotidien cafe, offering a variety of light snacks and beverages that you can enjoy on a delightful patio overlooking the water.
Hours for Model Sailboat Rentals (April to October)
At Kerbs Memorial Boathouse
Monday to Thursday: 11am to 5pm
Friday: 11AM to 7PM
Saturday: 11AM to 7PM
Sunday: 10AM to 6PM
(Hours are subject to change due to weather or private events)
Cost: $11 for 30 minutes
Another fun activity on the Conservatory water is ice skating during winter. Permitted when the ice is consistently six inches thick. * Must bring your own skates.
Strawberry Fields
Named after one of Lennon’s favorite songs, “Strawberry Fields Forever,” the memorial is located just across the street from the Dakota apartment building, that was John Lennon’s home and the site of his tragic death in 1980. It was also a place where he would walk regularly. After John Lennon’s murder, his widow, Yoko Ono, worked with landscape architect Bruce Kelly and the Central Park Conservancy to create a peaceful and meditative spot in honor of her husband.
Recognized by 121 countries that endorse Strawberry Fields as a Garden of Peace. There is a plaque embedded in one of the boulders along the pathway leading to the mosaic.
The focal point of Strawberry Fields is a mosaic with the word “Imagine”. The piece was donated by the city of Naples, Italy.
It is Free to visit the memorial and it’s one of the most visited attractions in New York Central Park.
Bethesda Fountain and Terrace
Bethesda Fountain by sculptor Emma Stebbins in 1873 on Bethesda Terrace stands between the Lake and the Mall, is one of the architectural highlights of Central Park. Stebbins was the first woman to receive a major sculptural commission in New York City.
Other than being a place to experience nature in the middle of urbanization the Park also meant to provide a place where people could gather. They needed to create a center for socializing, for people to see and be seen. Bethesda Terrace is that perfect place for people watching. It also serves as a center stage to a wide variety of artists.
Now it is easily the most photogenic, photographed and movie-famous place in the Park.
Location: Mid-Park at 72nd Street
Conservatory Garden
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Conservatory Garden is the only formal garden in the park, this six-acre area has a more relaxing atmosphere than other portions of Central Park, with no cyclists or skateboarders.
The main entrance is through the large, wrought iron gate that originally stood at Fifth Avenue’s Vanderbilt Mansion. Inside, the garden is Actually split into three separate gardens: French, Italian, and English botanical designs, each with its own centerpiece fountain, all within the same six-acre area. The garden’s vibe is almost a fairy-tale like.
The gardens are particularly impressive in spring, when the fruit trees are in bloom and the tulips provide a showy display of color. There is an absolutely majestic Wisteria Pergola in the Italianate Center Garden. Conservatory Garden is often used for weddings and of course for wedding photography.
New York Central Park Carousel
The first New York Central Park Carousel was open for business in 1871. The very first carousel was powered by a horse, turning the mechanism around. Although, originally there were no features intended just for children in the park, this carousel quickly became a success. Today, 250,000 people take a carousel ride each year. This carousel is one of the largest merry-go-rounds in the United States
The current carousel was made in 1908 and added in the early 1950s, it features 58 hand-carved, painted horses, and 2 chariots. The carousel is currently under lease and is operated by Donald Trump’s, Trump Organization, who has promised to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in restoration over the coming years.
The carousel is open seven days a week when weather permits and * note that they only accept cash, at $3 per ride.
Loeb Boathouse on The Lake
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Loeb Boathouse is a beautiful restaurant on the lake with an indoor dining room and an outdoor seating area. The picturesque setting here makes it a famous location for weddings and other formal events.
You can sit here sipping coffee or enjoying a meal while watching people row boats on the nice calm water. You can also rent a boat yourself and go for a paddle around the lake.
The Mall and Literary Walk
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A nice walking area, the Mall is the only straight line in Central Park, a wide pathway running beneath a canopy of American elm trees runs from 66th to 72nd Streets.
At the south end, joining the Mall sits the Literary Walk, which features four statues of literary giant writers Fitz-Greene Halleck, Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and William Shakespeare.
During any season this spot offers a peaceful retreat from the busy streets of New York City and a chance to enjoy nature.
Cleopatra’s Needle
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The obelisk referred to as “Cleopatra’s Needle” is one of three similarly named (the other is by River Thames in London and another one is in Paris) Made of red granite, the obelisk stands about 21 metres (69 ft) high, weighs about 200 tons, the Needle is inscribed with Egyptian Hieroglyphs and is dated back to 1440 BC, where it was originally erected in the Egyptian city of Heliopolis on the orders of Thutmose III and later engraved by Ramesses II to commemorate his military victories.
Ice Skating in New York Central Park
Skating in central park is a fun winter tradition for many New Yorkers and visitors. This seasonal activity is open from late October to April. When visiting New York in winter, and wanting to experience the holiday spirit, this activity is a must. Memorable times, for families, couples or friends get-together is guaranteed
There are two options for skating in the park:
1. Located near the Central Park Zoo, the Wollman Rink offers outdoor skating for a fee (Please find their rates here) in a beautiful setting, surrounded by trees. Skate rentals are available.
2. The Lasker Rink serves as a skating rink in winter and a swimming pool in summer, it offers skating Academy as well as hockey training for different ages.
