Central Park in New York: The ultimate guide to NYC's backyard

Discover hidden gems in New York's Central Park, plus perennial favorites, free tours and nearby date spots.

Central Park

Central Park Photograph: Courtesy the Central Park Conservancy

Map out your next trip to Central Park in New York with our handy guide to the park’s must-see attractions. Whether you’re looking for a free tour, a serene picnicking spot, an off-the-beaten-path area or a historical monument, we’ve got you covered. You’ll also find the lowdown on the park’s more tourist-friendly musts—the Central Park Zoo, boat rides on the Lake, the Bow Bridge, Belvedere Castle—that are perfect for visiting friends and family members. Plus, we rounded up some great hot spots—restaurants, bars, museums—to hit after your trek, and compiled the essential route of the park’s loop for bike and running enthusiasts.

Things to do in Central Park

Central Park Zoo

  • Price band: 1/4
  • Critics choice
  1. Southeast corner of Central Park (enter at Fifth Ave at 64th St)
More info
  1. Midpark, enter at 79th St
More info

Central Park, Conservatory Garden

  • Critics choice
  • Free
  1. Fifth Ave at 105th St
More info

Museums and attractions near Central Park

  1. Central Park West at 79th St
Book online
  1. 5 W 81st St between Central Park West and Columbus Ave
More info

The Frick Collection

  • Price band: 2/4
  • Critics choice
  1. 1 E 70th St between Fifth and Madison Aves
More info

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

  • Price band: 2/4
  • Critics choice
  1. 1071 Fifth Ave at 89th St
More info

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

  • Price band: 3/4
  • Critics choice
  1. 1000 Fifth Ave at 82nd St
Book online
  1. 1220 Fifth Ave between 103rd and 104th Sts
More info

Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

  • Price band: 1/4
  1. 11 W 53rd St between Fifth and Sixth Aves
More info

Lincoln Center

  • Price band: 2/4
  1. Broadway between 62nd and 63rd Sts
More info