There are many places what to see in Central Park essential, the most famous park in New York and also in the world. Located in the center of the island of Manhattan, this beautiful park has a rectangular shape and a length of 4 kilometers, which makes it an authentic green lung for the city.
The best views of Central Park You can get them by climbing to the Top of the Rock, located in the Rockfeller Center or from the MET terrace. We assure you that none of them will let you down.
The best time to visit the park is in spring or autumn, moments in which the colors of the leaves of the trees are at their maximum splendor, although in winter the emblematic skating rink in Wollman Rink is mounted, so this would be another Ideal time to visit Central Park.
And if you are looking for a special day, do not hesitate: Sundays in Central Park are incredible. Many New Yorkers enjoy their holiday with a picnic in one of their meadows or playing sports in the park.
We must keep in mind that Central Park is one of the best places to visit in New York to which you can dedicate a full day of your trip. On our first trip to New York in 11 days we dedicate a lot of time, but on this last trip by staying in an apartment with AirBnb, a few meters from the park, we have traveled it in conscience and detail.
Based on our experience we have made this list of what we believe are the 10 essential places to see in Central Park. We start!
1. The Lake
A romantic walk along the shore of The Lake is one of the best things to do in Central Park in New York and it is that in addition to being one of the most emblematic places, this beautiful lake has several beautiful corners in which the buildings of the Upper West Side are reflected in its waters.
The quiet path that surrounds the lake runs between nature and places to sit and relax while enjoying one of the best views of Central Park.
The Lake in Central Park
2. Strawberry Fields
Strawberry Fields, located on the west side, is one of the most essential places to see in Central Park and one of our favorite corners of the park.
This beautiful memorial is dedicated to John Lennon, who was murdered very close to here, at the doors of the building he lived in, the Dakota.
The mosaic on the floor with the words of his most famous song, ImagineIt is a place with a lot of charm. We advise you to sit on one of the banks and enjoy the art of many street performers and improvised tourists who pay tribute to the Beatles component by singing their songs.
A good option to not miss anything and get to know all the anecdotes of the park is to book this guided tour or this bike tour, both with a guide in Spanish. If you don't want to take a guided tour you can rent a bike and take a great route on your own.
Strawberry fields
3. Sheep Meadow
One of the best things to do in New York is to buy food to take away at a stand or supermarket and make a picnic in Central Park in one of its large lawn areas. Our favorite and that of many New Yorkers is Sheep Meadow, a place where the days with good weather are filled with people with their towels or blankets and their picnic baskets.
Sheep Meadow
This huge meadow overlooking the skyscrapers that surround Central Park is located right in the center of the park.
Of course, if you arrive here and once Sheep Meadow is full of people you can always opt for Great Lawn, another great perfect meadow in which to lie down and relax.
A place where we went to buy food for the picnic and that is very good value for money is Whole Foods Market, in Columbus Circle.
Enjoying a picnic after touring Cental Park
4. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir is a huge lake perfect for running on the surrounding path. This lake, which has come out in a multitude of movies, and in which if you are very lucky you can even meet a famous runner, he changed his name in honor of the New Yorker Jacqueline Kennedy wife of John F. Kennedy.
From one side of the lake you have beautiful views of the Upper West Side buildings, where the building stands out The Golden With its two characteristic towers.
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir
5. Bow Bridge and Gapstow Bridge
Bow Bridge and Gapstow Bridge are the two most beautiful bridges in Central Park, in addition to being two diamonds for photography lovers, since they are two of the places from which you can make some of the best photos of New York.
Gapstow Bridge is a beautiful 1896 stone bridge surrounded by greenery and located at the northeast end of the park from where you have magnificent views of the lake with the impressive skyscrapers in the background.
Bow Bridge is a romantic cast iron bridge, located on The Lake and has been featured in several films such as Manhattan from Woody Allen or As we were from Sidney Pollack.
Gapstow Bridge
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6. Belvedere Castle, one of the places to see in Central Park
Belvedere Castle is a small Victorian-style fortress located at the highest point of the park, Vista Rock. From here you will also have magnificent panoramic views of the entire park with the Great Lawn, a meadow with several baseball fields and Turtle Pond, the turtle lake, in the foreground.
In addition, under the castle is the beautiful Shakespeare Garden where you can find all the flowers mentioned in the works of the great English writer. As a curiosity do not stop looking for a small plaque with the quote that mentions it next to the plants and flowers.
Belvedere Castle
7. Bethesda Terrace and Bethesda Fountain
Bethesda Terrace and Bethesda Fountain are other important places what to visit in Central Park. The fountain located on the terrace of Bethesa is one of the most famous fountains that has appeared in more films in the world, next to the Trevi Fountain, which highlights the bronze sculpture of the Angel of the Waters, the first one that was put in Central Park.
From the terrace you have good views of Bethesda Fountain and on the lower floor you can see a beautiful set of arcades and tiles decorated on its roof.
This source has been featured in numerous Hollywood movies, if you are a movie lover you cannot miss this tour through the Central Park series and movie scenarios.
Bethesda Fountain
8. Alice in Wonderland
The sculpture of Alice in Wonderland, where you can see Alice sitting on a large mushroom next to the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter and the March Hare, is our favorite of Central Park. Located next to Lake Conservatory Water, where it is curious to see people playing with mini remote control boats, it is a lovely place, usually very crowded by children with parents taking pictures.
As a curiosity we will tell you that Alice in Wonderland was funded by a New York millionaire in honor of his wife, who was a follower of Lewis Carroll and his most famous novel.
Alice in Wonderland
9. The Mall
The Mall is one of the places in Central Park that has come out in more movies, besides being one of the most charming. This walk between great elms that begins at the southern end, on the Literary Walk, with several sculptures by writers and one by Christopher Columbus, ends at the Bethesda Fountain.
In autumn with the fall of leaves and in spring with its green colors, it is one of the places that you can not miss, besides being one of the Top Things to Do in Central Park. You can not stop sitting in one of the many banks of The Mall with a rich ice cream and enjoy the atmosphere.
The Mall, one of the places to see in Central Park
10. MET
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the most important museums in the world in which its rooms dedicated to Ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire stand out. This museum located on one of the sides of Central Park also stands out for its impressive roof that opens from April to October, from where you can enjoy one of the best views in New York.
Going up to your terrace to enjoy these, having a cocktail, is one of the best things to see and do in Central Park. The views with the skyline of skyscrapers with the sea of green forests and meadows of the park in the foreground, we are sure, will leave you speechless.
New York MET
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If you feel like helping us complete the list of 10 essential places to see in Central Park, add yours in the comments.
