If it’s your first time visiting New York City, or even your fifth, you can’t beat the magic of Central Park at any time of the year. It is an iconic landmark in the heart of Manhattan and it’s a bucket list attraction for many who travel to the Big Apple.
Given its iconic status, you could be forgiven for thinking that Central Park might be a bit touristy – but nothing could be further from the truth. So, if you’re booking a private tour of Manhattan, make sure Central Park is on your itinerary!
Why is Central Park a must-visit New York attraction?
Central Park is a Unesco World Heritage Site, having been included on the illustrious register since 2017.
One of the main reasons it stands out as such an iconic attraction is its size. It spans a staggering 843 acres in the heart of the city. There are few large metropolises in the world that boast such a vast expanse of green space in such a heavily developed area.
What’s more, it is home to a range of world-renowned landmarks and many parts of the park have been featured in TV shows and movies over the years.
What is the history of Central Park?
The history of this green space is just as fascinating as its landscaping and attractions are today. It was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, an American journalist and agriculturalist, and architect Calvert Vaux, who was British born and trained.
The pair won a competition to design the vast outdoor space and set to work creating an area that complemented the natural geographic features while introducing various carefully designed landscapes.
Construction of the park took 15 years, running from 1858 to 1873. Different sections were opened as they were completed. Now you can easily spend days exploring the various sections of the park, either by following its 45km of pedestrian paths or by taking a quicker tour in a classic horse-drawn carriage.
These carriages travel along 10km of roads that run through and around the park, giving you an excellent overview of the space and helping you appreciate just how huge it really is.
What are the must-see sights in Central Park?
There are many iconic spots in Central Park – which you make a beeline for will largely depend on your interests. The following are some of the top sights that we recommend exploring while you’re in Central Park though.
The Mall and Bethesda Terrace
This is a tree-lined avenue that runs through the heart of the park. It was designed for gentle strolls and at its southern end you’ll find a selection of statues of writers and other literary figures.
Their inclusion at this end of the Mall often means this is referred to as the Literary Walk. The Mall ends at Bethesda Terrace, a large plaza that’s home to iconic archways and a large fountain.
In fact, the fountain here contains one of the park’s most famous works of art – the Angel of the Waters. Take some time to admire the sculpture and look out over the park’s lake. In the warmer months, you’ll see people boating here, while in winter it is often frozen over.
Although it used to be open for skating, these days a purpose-built rink is set up each winter for this activity.
Bow Bridge
Acting as a crossing point at one of the narrowest parts of the lake, Bow Bridge is elegant and instantly recogniseable.
It gets its name from the gentle curve of its design, which is said to resemble the bow of a violinist or archer. While you’ll want to cross this ornamental bridge, you’ll also want to grab a photo of it from afar so you can appreciate the Victorian design of its stonework.
Obelisk
Also known as Cleopatra’s Needle, this is a historic monument that was brought all the way to the US from Egypt. It once stood in Heliopolis, which is now part of modern-day Cairo, as part of a pair and is believed to date from around 1425 BCE.
From there, the obelisk along with its partner was moved to Alexandria by the Romans. From there, one was gifted to England while the one you can now see in Central Park was gifted to America to commemorate the opening of the Suez Canal.
Cleopatra’s Needle finally arrived in the US after almost a year of travelling and was installed in its current location in 1881.
This list barely scratches the surface of what you can see and do in Central Park, which is also home to a castle, a zoo and a wide selection of sculptures and other pieces of art.
