Olmsted and Vaux's 843-acre park, opened from 1857; start at Bethesda Terrace, the park's one formal set piece, then walk the Mall north or the Ramble beyond the Lake. Duck into the arcade under the drive: its ceiling is nearly 16,000 Minton encaustic tiles in 49 panels, the only ceiling in the world made of tiles meant for floors.
- Address
- Bethesda Terrace, mid-park at 72nd St, Central Park, New York, NY 10024
- Hours
- Park Mon-Sun 06:00-01:00 (Google hours via Wanderlog, 2026-09); Bethesda Terrace restroom 06:30-21:00 late Mar-early Nov (Central Park Conservancy)
- Best time to go
- Morning, Afternoon · About 2 h
- Price
- Free entry
- Price level
- $
Details can change. Check hours and prices before you go.
Good to know
- Entrances every 5-7 blocks from 59th to 110th St; the 72nd St transverse puts you right at the Terrace.
- A full loop takes at least three hours on foot; a bike covers it faster.
- Brooklyn's Prospect Park, by the same designers, is the quieter alternative locals use (Lonely Planet).