No matter what time of year it is, visitors can always find a variety of fun things to do in Central Park, which is located in the heart of Manhattan and is widely considered to be one of the best attractions in all of New York City. You may be surprised to learn that the fall and winter seasons in Central Park provide some of the best opportunities for activities and fun things to do in Central Park.
Central Park is known as one of the best parks in the city because it has a lot of lawns, fountains, walking paths, trees, and picnic areas. Central Park is a popular tourist and local destination, with lots of Best things to do in New York as well as hosting major events such as epic summer concerts and theatre performances, as well as the annual Winter Jam festival.
To get you started, here are a few of our best things to do in Central Park, though there are always reasons to visit. We've made up this list by season so you don't miss anything important and make the most out of your trip!
What You Should Know About Central Park, New York?
The best things in Central Park are lavish gardens, green woods, floral blooms, trails, a freshwater lake, and various other activities. It’s the best place to rest and relax from a busy life in NYC. If you are a tourist or visitor in NYC, you can find the best area to stay in New York around Central Park to get the lavish natural scenes and stunning views from the terrace.
You should know some interesting facts about the renowned Central Park in NYC. This large public park has several attractions for kids, toddlers, teens, and adults, and it is one of the best things to do in Central Park. Everyone can find something to do in this lush green space. Here are the most incredible facts about Central Park in Manhattan, NYC.
30+ Incredible Things to Do in Central Park NYC
1. Central Park covered a larger area, like a small country
Central Park is the largest area in the heart of Manhattan, covering eight-hundred and forty-three acres in NYC. It’s a larger area than the small European country ‘Monaco,’ spread only at five hundred acres in land. However, it’s not the largest park in NYC; let’s see the most significant space than Central Park.
2. What are the largest parks in NYC than Central Park
It’s a common misconception that Central Park is the largest park in NYC. However, it covers a large area, but it’s not the largest one. The largest park in NYC is the Staten Island Green Belt. It’s a network of green spaces, walking trails, and public parks that covers the largest area of 2800 acres. The second largest park is Van Cortland Park in the Bronx, which covers 1,146 acres of land in NYC.
3. Locals about 70%, like to visit the Central Park
About 70 % of local NYC residents often visit Central Park regularly to relax and refresh at this ample urban green space. Only 14 % of residents are unfamiliar with this massive public park and should be first-time visitors. It’s the best free public space for jogging, walking, yoga, meditation, and relaxing from the hustle and bustle of city crowds.
4. The Central Park is the most popular tourist destination in NYC
Central Park is the most famous tourist destination and highly visited green space in NYC. It has various fun places to go with friends and family in NYC. About forty-two million people visit this public park yearly in NYC.
5. Central Park has no more Natural Land Escapes;
The most exciting fact is that Central Park does not have natural land escapes. All land escapes, the pond, hillside, trails, lake, waterfall, and woods are artificial features, and all were artificial fantasy in the highly populated area of Manhattan.
6. A Massive amount of Gunpowder used for Land Escaping the Area
Central Park is created on a rocky area and large bedrock. It took extraordinarily hard work to landscape and design the space. They used the massive area to blast and remove through the gunpowder. This landscaping required a vast amount of gunpowder equally used in the battles of the past times.
7. Central Park has a Historical Victorian Gothic Castle
This famous public park has a historical monument, a Victorian Gothic castle on a hilltop Vista Rock. Belvedere Castle is a substantial gray stone castle that looks fabulous in this area and is the best place to visit in Central Park. This castle is a fascinating spot for sightseeing and getting iconic views from the higher point of the park.
8. Central Park is the most renowned location for shooting
Whenever you visit the park, you should notice a film crew shooting on location in almost all seasons. Central Park is the most renowned film location often used for film shooting from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The popular movies filmed in the park locations are Home Alone-II, The Avengers, and Enchanted.
9. Central Park has exclusive artwork installed at the space
Central Park has almost seventy artwork pieces installed in the massive area. The renowned bronze statue of Alice in Wonderland is one of the best masterpieces in the park and one of the best things to see in Central Park. Various other art pieces and statues honor the historical events, and these figures refer to literature, culture, and art. You can get a guided walking tour to explore all the artwork pieces in the park and learn the history of these artworks.
10. Enjoy the boat rides in the Central Park
Central Park has a vast lake, and you can enjoy the best boat rides on the lake water near the Loeb Boathouse restaurant. It’s one of the best things to do in Central Park. Enjoy the fascinating scene, delicious food and drinks at the waterfront boathouse restaurant, and boat rides on the lake with lush greenery around the green space. You can save these stunning scenes into the camera and share these fantastic clicks.
11. Conservatory Water at the Central Park near Kerbs Boathouse
The Conservatory Water in Central Park offers racing for mini sailboats and yachts at the Kerbs boathouse, and it’s one of the best Central Park things to see. This boathouse has a small café with an outdoor setting and serves the best food and drinks. The Kerbs boathouse offers boat rentals and stores model boats and yachts for racing and boating at the Conservatory Water.
12. Take in the sights at Central Park Mall, which is open year-round.
You will have the distinct impression that you have temporarily escaped the bustling city when you are in the shade of one of the largest stands of American Elm trees in North America and there is not a single skyscraper in sight. It used to be a place where people strolled in their Sunday best, but now it's a place where many artists and performers have quietly set up shop. It's a great place to find a bench, settle in for the afternoon, and watch the fascinating antics of strangers to you and those around you.
By submitting your email address, you agree to receive emails from Time Out containing the most recent news, events, and offers, as well as promotions from our partners. You also agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Statement.
13. Take a stroll through the year-round glass-enclosed garden.
Enjoy the allure of a European garden without having to travel all the way to Europe. This six-acre garden incorporates French, Italian, and English design elements, as well as a plethora of flowers, fountains, neatly trimmed hedges, and walkways. Just make sure you're ready for a swarm of people taking photos at your wedding, and by "swarm," we mean "photo-bombing." There will be an abundance of mums when autumn arrives. Peonies and lilacs are two of the first spring flowers to bloom.
14. Visit the Central Park Zoo, which is open all year.
The Tisch Children's Zoo, which is adjacent to the main zoo, also allows you to get up close and personal with goats and pot-bellied pigs. The cute critters at the Tisch Children's Zoo, which is located next to the main zoo, will delight animal lovers. Visitors to the actual Central Park Zoo can gawk at the daily feeding of the sea lions and penguins and watch the snow monkeys hop around playfully between the rocks. Tickets are $15 for children and $20 for adults if purchased in advance online.
15. Get ready to ramble (for the rest of the year)
There are still 36 acres here with winding trails, rocks, and streams that appear to be awaiting discovery. You can see many of the park's 230 different bird species here, making it the best place in the city for bird watching.
Everything you see was created by humans beginning in 1859, including the waterfalls, which can be turned on and off at will. But in case you are thinking of a peaceful atmosphere and relaxing space within the green woods, you must consider visiting Woodstock, there are some incredible things you can do in Woodstock nyc.
16. Scale the Belvedere Castle (open all year)
Belvedere Castle is a folly located on one of the park's highest points. Visitors can get a bird's-eye view of the Great Lawn, the Ramble, and Turtle Pond from here. Get a discovery kit from the castle, which includes binoculars, a map, and a bird-watching guide for the Ramble's woods. To obtain the discovery kit, you will need two forms of identification and a deposit of twenty dollars.
17. Show Seneca Village respect (an entire year)
Throughout the middle of the nineteenth century, the land that is now Central Park served as a community for African-American property owners. The land had not yet been developed into the vast green space that connects the Upper West and Upper East sides. Following that, the city purchased the land and forcibly removed its residents in order to build Central Park. This resulted in an excavation of the site in 2011 and the installation of historic informational panels on the park's west side between 82nd and 89th Streets. Although, the Conservancy offers tours in this area so that visitors can learn more about the long-gone neighborhood. You can also go to the theater, play a game, shop, see art, and do many fun things to do in beacon ny too.
18. Have fun riding the mechanical ponies all year round.
You can experience the nostalgic allure of the ride while bobbing along to organ music on one of the Central Park Carousel's 52 saddles. The carousel has gone through three distinct iterations since 1871: the first was powered by horses, and the two after that are said to have been destroyed in fires. The current version dates back to 1950 when it was discovered in a Coney Island trolley terminal. It is open seven days a week (weather permitting), and each ride costs $3.25.
19. You can visit the Alice in Wonderland statue at any time of year.
It's not a cause for concern if children clamber all over this bronze statue of Alice and her companions; after all, that's why it's there in the first place. Children have been able to explore the larger-than-life figures since 1959 when George Delacorte commissioned them after the death of his wife, who enjoyed reading the story to their children. The figures were dedicated to the children of New York City, and the ordering was done in her memory by George Delacorte it is such a sweet place yet one of those things to do in NYC at night. Make your way over to the nearby Conservatory Water, where you can sit on a bench and ponder life's deeper questions while motorized miniature sailboats zip by.
20. Learn about the cherry blossoms (in the spring).
Cherry blossoms on cherry trees are one of the most beautiful seasonal signs that spring has arrived in New York City. You are mistaken if you believe that the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is the only place in the world where you can see those stunning trees with pink petals.
Central Park, one of the many locations in the city where you can see cherry blossoms, is one of the best places in the city to see cherry blossoms. Hundreds of cherry trees line the Reservoir and begin to bloom in April. There is even a tracker that can predict when the cherry blossoms will bloom at their peak.
21. Be adventurous (in the spring and summer)
You can go on a Venetian gondola ride for fifty dollars for half an hour and let someone else do the paddling for you, or you can go on a romantic paddle around the lake for twenty-five dollars an hour and pay only in cash at Loeb Boathouse. It is without a doubt one of the most well-known things to do in Central Park, and it provides a picturesque setting ideal for a date or an engagement proposal.
22. People watch from Sheep Meadow during the summer.
Sheep Meadow is a picturesque 15-acre field on the southwestern edge of Central Park in Manhattan. On warm days, we can't think of a better place in Manhattan to gaze at attractive people than Sheep Meadow. On weekends, expect thousands of locals wearing only skimpy clothing, frisbee-throwing bros, guitar sing-alongs, and many people attempting handstands to take over the area. It will be easier to find a spot with some shade when the field opens at 11 a.m., it’s a very unique thing to do in NYC during summer.
23. Participate in pickleball games at Wollman Rink during the summer.
When the winter season is over, Wollman Rink transforms into an ice-skating rink, but in the summer, it transforms into a venue for a variety of summer sports. Since it will be the best time to have fun, you must do all these things in NYC this summer. It will be transformed into a pickleball paradise by 2023, with the largest pickleball installation in the Northeast. From the beginning of spring to the beginning of fall, the pickleball courts at CityPickle Central Park are open every day to players of all abilities.
24. Attend Shakespeare in the Park during the summer.
Shakespeare in the Park is one of New York City's most well-known democratic traditions, performed every summer at the open-air Delacorte Theater in Central Park by the Public Theatre. It is also one of New York City's most enjoyable free activities. Nothing beats hearing Shakespeare's immortal words performed outside in New York, with a natural splendour backdrop and the Belvedere Castle looming in the background like the world's most impressive set decoration. Nothing beats hearing Shakespeare's immortal words performed outside in New York. The answer is yes, standing in line for tickets is worthwhile it is one of the things you do in West Village.
25. Get your rock on at a live concert this summer.
Summer Stage is consistently one of the most exciting events on the calendar of summer concerts for New York City music lovers. Among those who put on warm-weather concerts, the City Parks Foundation series is a powerhouse. From legendary New York hip-hop artists in outer borough NYC parks to well-known indie rock bands on the mainstage in Central Park, they book it all.
26. Go to the New York City Marathon in the fall to cheer on the runners.
The TCS New York City Marathon is a 26.2-mile block party that is open to both runners and spectators. Although you might think it is one of the weird things to do in NYC it's one of the most important events to take place in New York City in November. The finish line is located in Central Park, directly in front of Tavern on the Green. If you want to watch the final yards of the race, you must purchase tickets for the Grandstand Seating area.
27. Take Part in a Traditional Pumpkin Flotilla in the fall.
Because it is one of the best parks in the city for viewing the fall foliage, Central Park is a great place to celebrate Halloween. Attend a costume parade, practice your pumpkin carving skills, and tell some good old-fashioned ghost stories. Following the events, the Central Park Conservancy will participate in a traditional Pumpkin Flotilla, in which fifty gourds, one of which may be your own design, will sail across the Harlem Meer as dusk falls.
28. Go ice skating at Wollman Rink in the winter.
If you decide to visit this well-known rink, keep in mind that it attracts large groups of families with small children as well as inexperienced skaters who move slowly. It is one of the most fun things to do in NYC with kids. Even though there won't be room for fancy tricks or speed skating, it's still worth braving the crowds to enjoy Central Park's breathtaking views. Skating under the stars with the city skyline as a backdrop is a favorite pastime of everybody, especially tourists, and the rink at Central Park's southern end has been a source of joy for both groups since it opened in the 1950s. And there is also a cafe and a bar right next to the rink, so you can easily take a break and snack.
29. Get into the holiday spirit (winter)
It wouldn't feel like the holidays if the city didn't take enough electricity in just a month to supply a medium-sized nation with fuel for ten years. For more than 20 years, the Central Park Conservancy has decorated the Charles A. Dana Center with beautiful holiday lights, and each year, they welcome the holiday season alongside a Santa Claus carrying a mug of hot cocoa. The Mistletones will be performing some holiday carols, which families can either listen to or sing along with by opening a songbook. Okamoto Studios' ice carvers will be on hand to carve a nutcracker and a polar bear directly on the ice, and the best part is you will be able to watch while snacking on cookies and hot chocolate.
30. Try out some winter sports during the winter months.
We don't know about you, but a snow day always brings out a little child in us in excitement. But let's be real you can't always rely on Mother Nature; Central Park Winter Jam makes up for the fact that things aren't always reliable. So, fasten your seat belts and prepare because indeed it is one of the most fun places to go in NYC with friends and participate in one of the most enjoyable winter activities with New Yorkers of all ages at the NYC Parks and Recreation event, which also includes ice skating, sledding, snowboarding, grub, and other activities. The best part is that they bring in a snow machine, so you will feel like it is snowing!
31. Go to Strawberry Fields
Strawberry Fields was basically built in memory of John Lennon, who actually just lived right across the street in the imposing Dakota building. It was supposed to be a very peaceful place for contemplation as well as meditation. Strawberry Fields' most notable feature is the Imagine Mosaic, which is always decorated with flowers and serenaded by the live musicians playing famous Beatles songs. The mosaic is in the middle of the field.
Yoko Ono, also known as John Lennon's widow, created this medley. The city of Naples gave it to the city of New York as a gift. This thoughtful gift honors John Lennon's legacy and the great impact he had on the world. Strawberry Fields was basically designed to be a very quiet place with beautiful views, but there is a lot of foot traffic there. But keep in mind that you will have to deal with crowds regardless of when you go. Most people go out of their way to see this because it is one of the most popular and best things to do in Central Park. You should definitely visit this incredible place.
Few things to keep in mind when visiting Central Park for the first time
Since it will be your first time you must keep a few things in your mind and understand since you must make the most of your trip let's see what things to do in New York for first-timers, let’s dig in.
- Wear sunscreen at all times. You're aware that we're all crazy about wearing sunscreen, aren't you? Put on the most effective sunscreen you have.
- Make a map for yourself. There are a number of helpful little stands scattered throughout Central Park, and the people working at these stands are friendly and knowledgeable, eager to help you make the most of your time in Central Park.
- Before you begin your journey through the park, get your hands on a map to get a sense of its scope.
- Every day of the week, dogs can run free in Central Park from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 9 p.m. to park closing. Dogs are free to run around the whole park without a leash during these hours. Now is a great time to go to the park if you like dogs.
- If you ask us when is the best time to visit Central Park, we could give you a charming answer like "Anytime is magical," but that would be deceptive. The seasons of fall and spring showcase Central Park at its best, making those times of year ideal for a visit. The spring and fall seasons bring out the full spectrum of colors in the park's diverse collection of trees. There are many trees in Central Park. The fact that the weather is pleasant makes exploring the vast park a more relaxing activity than it would otherwise be. While each season has its own distinct charm, visiting the park in the fall and spring is by far the most enjoyable time of year to do so.
- There are a few restaurants in Central Park, but the overall selection of places to eat in Central Park is quite limited. Among the options are the Loeb Boathouse, the Le Pain Quotidien (bakery), the Tavern on the Green, and the Dancing Crane Cafe, but keep in mind that these establishments are on the pricey side.
Apart from that, you’ll also find some great things to do Lower East Side and the most amazing hot dog stands in most of the popular spots in Central Park, so it’s a win win since they are too good.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we hope our guide has helped you, make the most out of your trip to Central Park since it is full of attractions, beautiful green meadows sprawling waters, gardens and unique bridges. It is one of the most amazing places in New York City for music and performance centers, educational facilities, classical architecture, and more. Just grab pen and write down all the places you’d want to visit. Its picturesque beauty boasts natural green landscapes and vistas as far as the eye can see those are all the best things to do in Central Park.
