The world’s most famous city park is situated in the upper half of Manhattan, stretching from 59th to 110th Street, and is a green oasis amidst the skyscrapers; it has been a National Historic Landmark since 1963.

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Although it ranks only fifth in terms of size among New York’s parks, Central Park is by far the most visited and, according to long-term statistics from photo banks, the most photographed place in the world.

The park has featured in several films, and we’re all sure to remember the scenes from *Home Alone 2: Lost in New York*.

Central Park was created between 1857 and 1876.

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Dimensions and size of the park

Central Park measures over 4 km from north to south and just under a kilometre in width. It covers a total area of 341 hectares and, when viewed on a map, has a perfectly rectangular shape.

The main circular path around Central Park is over 10 km long and is linked by dozens of kilometres of secondary paths, both tarmac and natural.

In total, there are 21 children’s playgrounds and numerous outdoor gyms in the park. The trees are complemented by vast grassy areas, rock formations and almost 10 lakes.

Activities in Central Park

A vast network of paths, ranging from wide tarmac tracks to narrow woodland trails, is perfect for long walks, running, skating or jogging. All year round, you’ll come across hundreds of runners, cyclists and skaters here. In winter, it’s not unusual to see people sledging down the small hills.

Wildlife enthusiasts will be in their element; you can reportedly spot up to 500 different species of animals here, mostly birds and the ever-present cheeky, fearless squirrels.

There are plenty of opportunities, particularly for sports enthusiasts. As well as running, skating or cycling – which you can do anywhere in the park – you’ll also find several publicly accessible sports facilities:

• The Wollman Rink ice-skating oval (wollmanrinknyc.com) in the southern part of the park
• Lasker Rink (nycgovparks.org/iceskating) in the northern part of the park
• Baseball pitches (nycgovparks.org/baseball) – booking required
• Basketball hall (nycgovparks.org/basketball) – booking required
• Tennis courts (nycgovparks.org/tennis) – season ticket required

On the largest lake, simply named ‘ "The Lake" ’, you can hire a boat from the Loeb restaurant on the eastern side; prices are around 20 usd per hour, and payment is by cash only. See the rental company’s website for details:thecentralparkboathouse.com.

What to see in Central Park

As well as the sports facilities in Central Park, you’ll discover many other attractions and famous film locations.

• Bethesda Terrace and Fountain – the park’s most visited spot, featuring a monumental terrace and a fountain on the lake’s shore; it was built in the late 19th century and has served as the setting for many films (such as Home Alone 2 and The Avengers) or TV series (Gossip Girl and Sex and the City).

• Umpire Rock – the famous rocks, offering a stunning view of Billionaire’s Row

• Central Park Carousel – a popular children’s carousel costing $ 4 usd e per ride (see the official website)

• Cherry Hill – a small square with a fountain strikingly reminiscent of the opening scene of the TV series *Friends*, although the actual fountain is on a film set in California

• Bow Bridge – a stone bridge over ‘The Lake’ with a touch of romance, particularly during the autumn months when the surrounding trees are beautifully coloured

• Gapstow Bridge – a ‘cinematic’ footbridge over the pond in the southern part of the park, offering a magnificent view of the Plaza Hotel

• Belvedere Castle – the manor house, dating from 1867, combines elements of the Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles and is a popular destination for tourists

Central Park Zoo

In the southern part of the park, visit the small zoo, which specialises mainly in smaller animals. The sea lions and penguins are certainly among the most popular attractions here; you can also admire dozens of species of birds, as well as monkeys and raccoons.

• Official website, ticket prices, opening hours: centralparkzoo.com

However, the zoo in Central Park is certainly not the main one in New York. Two much larger zoos are the Bronx Zoo and the Queens Zoo, both located outside Manhattan.

A ride in a rickshaw or horse-drawn carriage

The whole of Central Park and its surroundings are full of horse-drawn carriages and rickshaws, which you can take for a ride for as long as you like.

Payment is usually by cash only and the prices are quite high – a 30-minute horse-drawn carriage ride costs around 73 usd, whilst a 30-minute rickshaw ride costs around 45 usd.

Places of interest along Central Park

In the immediate vicinity or even right on the edge of the park, you’ll come across other top New York attractions that you definitely mustn’t miss:

• The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) – 5th Avenue, situated right in the heart of the park
• The Plaza Hotel – 59th Street, on the southern edge of the park
• TheGuggenheim Museum – 5th Avenue, near the centre of the park
• American Museum of Natural History – situated on the western edge of the park
• 111 West 57th Street – the slimmest and one of the most interesting skyscrapers in New York

Accommodation near Central Park

Central Park is situated in Upper Manhattan, one of New York’s finest neighbourhoods. It’s a little quieter than the bustling commercial south side, but you’re still right in the thick of things, with a huge green space right on your doorstep. 

Among the cheapest accommodation options in the area is a decent little guesthouse The Central Park North on the northern edge of the park, in a quiet area a little further away from the hustle and bustle. Prices here start from 124 eur per night.

Among the popular budget hotels in New York is one Belnord Hotel *** about 1 km west of Central Park, with prices around 165 eur per night.

The southern edge of Central Park and West 59th Street are lined with famous luxury hotels that rank among the best in the world. If money isn’t a major concern and you don’t mind prices ranging from 495 eur to 1032 eur per night, then choose from these hotels:

• Park Lane New York ***** – one of the most affordable 5* hotels in Manhattan
• Trump International Hotel ***** – a luxury hotel with no compromises and a superb location
• The Plaza ***** – an iconic hotel on the south-east corner of Central Park, famous for its appearance in the film *Home Alone 2*
  • Tip: we stayed at the Plaza Hotel. What was it like? Find out in our review.

Practical information

The park’s official opening hours are 6.00–1.00, although Central Park isn’t fenced off in any way.

There are many free public toilets available throughout the park.

You can also find free public Wi-Fi hotspots at several locations throughout the park.

You certainly won’t go hungry in Central Park. You’ll find dozens of restaurants, snack bars and vendors selling sugared almonds.

• Central Park Conservancy – a private organisation responsible for the park’s management
• NYC Parks – the council department responsible for managing all public parks

Our tip: luggage storage and showers for runners

Central Park is a popular spot for running, jogging or simply taking long walks.

However, unless you’re staying at one of the nearby hotels (such as The Plaza, where we were staying), it’s rather impractical to travel across New York in sweat-soaked clothes.

For such occasions, the general public can make use offreelockers for storing luggage and clothes, as well as showers, at the NYRR Runcenter shop.

You don’t need to be a member of the NYRR Runcenter; anyone can use the lockers and showers.

The NYRR Runcenter is situated in the south-western part of the city, near Columbus Circle; the main entrance is on West 57th Street (see the exact location on the map).

It is open at the following times:

• Weekdays 9.00–20.00
• Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays 9.30 am–5.30 pm
• Official website:nyrr.org/runcenter

Map of places of interest in Central Park

To help you find your way around, we’ve put together a map of the places in Central Park and the immediate vicinity that we’ve visited.

How do you get there?

Central Park is best reached by the underground, with several lines serving the area.

• A, B, D – you can use the following stations: 59th Str./Columbus Circle, 72nd Str., 81st Str./Museum of Natural History, 86th Str., 103rd Str., Cathedral Parkway
• 1, 3 – 59th Str./Columbus Circle at the southern end of the park and Central Park North at the northern end of the park
• F – 57th St. on the southern edge
• N, W, Q, R – 57th St. on the southern edge
• N, W, R – 5th Avenue/57th Street at the southern edge

It’s also easy to get here by bus; these are particularly useful for travelling to the eastern edge of Central Park, which is served by the M1, M2, M3 and M4 routes; you can reach the western edge via the M10 route, and the southern part via the M5, M7, M20 and M104.

Central Park is also crossed at three points by routes M79, M86, M96 and M106.

The map below shows all the routes running close to Central Park. Click in the top left-hand corner to display a list of routes and stations, which will be highlighted on the map when you click on them.

What to see around

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