Central Park, New York, United States

A photograph of Central Park — Photograph · Ed Yourdon from New York City, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0

Open today, 06:00 – 01:00

Today: Open today, 06:00 – 01:00
Visit duration: 3 hours Editorial visit time estimate
Accessibility: Step-free
Price: Free entry
Standing: Must see · Heritage site
Rank: Rank 2 of 13,079

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

Plan your visit.

Opening hours

Monday	06:00 – 01:00
Tuesday	06:00 – 01:00
Wednesday	06:00 – 01:00
Thursday	06:00 – 01:00
Friday	06:00 – 01:00
Saturday	06:00 – 01:00
Sunday	06:00 – 01:00

Checked 2026-11-04 · Source

Admission

Per person	Free entry

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Access and facilities

Accessible toilets · Available
Pushchair access · Available
Step-free access · Available
Toilets · Available

Source · Checked 2026-08-31

About Central Park

Central Park is a public park of 843 acres in the middle of Manhattan, running from 59th Street to 110th Street between Fifth Avenue and Central Park West — about two and a half miles north to south and half a mile across. It is not a garden that happens to be large. It is a designed landscape, laid out in the 1850s over rocky and swampy ground, and almost everything in it that looks natural was put there on purpose.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

What's inside

The Conservancy's own list of its most-searched places runs roughly south to north, which is convenient, because a walk can follow it. The Mall, mid-park from 66th to 72nd Streets, was designed as an open-air hall of reception and is roofed by American elms; its southern stretch, Literary Walk, carries statues of writers. It ends at Bethesda Terrace, a two-level structure with the Bethesda Fountain and a heavily ornamented arcade, which the Conservancy calls the centre of the park.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

How long to spend

Half a day is the honest figure for a first visit, and three hours is the number recorded here. The Conservancy publishes no suggested duration for the park as a whole, which is fair enough: there is no route it expects anyone to finish. What it does publish are the lengths of its own walks, and those calibrate the estimate. Its self-guided walk through the heart of the park — the Zoo, the Delacorte Clock, the Balto statue, the Mall, Bethesda Terrace — is put at roughly a mile and about 60 minutes.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Season and crowds

Central Park is open daily 06:00-01:00; storms, events and maintenance can close paths or facilities. Worship, weather, restoration and events can replace ordinary access.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Tickets

Park access is free; zoo, skating, boating and programmes charge separately. The base ticket excludes transport, tours, premium access, special exhibitions and independently operated activities unless explicitly listed. Carry any required identity or concession document. Follow staff directions on arrival.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Getting there

Subway stations around Columbus Circle, Fifth Avenue, Central Park West and 110th Street serve different gates. Use the named entrance or stop because hills, security and historic streets change the approach.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

What to watch out for

Step-free entrances or public approaches, lifts where required, and accessible toilets serve principal visitor areas. Historic surfaces, crowds and security remain relevant.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Photography

Handheld cameras and tripods are welcome and need no permit. Anything beyond that, and any commercial shoot, needs the Conservancy's approval first and then an official permit from the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment. Drones are banned outright, of any size or function. For the skyline the Conservancy points at Sheep Meadow for the wide Midtown view, and at the exposed bedrock for height — Umpire Rock on the west side at 63rd Street, and Hernshead. Oak Bridge, west side at 77th, frames the Lake with Midtown behind it.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Place details and sources

Heritage grade: Grade 2 OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Type of place: Park OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Established: 1856 Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
Heritage designation: National Register of Historic Places listed place Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
Access: Open access OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Architect: Frederick Law Olmsted;Calvert Vaux OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Architect: Calvert Vaux Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
Architect: Frederick Law Olmsted Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
Operator: Central Park Conservancy Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
Wikipedia article: Central Park Wikipedia · Checked 2026-09-09

Website Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
View on Wikidata

Common questions

What are the regular hours?

Central Park is open daily 06:00-01:00; storms, events and maintenance can close paths or facilities.

What is base admission?

Park access is free; zoo, skating, boating and programmes charge separately.

Is the complete route step-free?

Step-free entrances or public approaches, lifts where required, and accessible toilets serve principal visitor areas.

Which public transport is named?

Subway stations around Columbus Circle, Fifth Avenue, Central Park West and 110th Street serve different gates.

Can operations alter access?

Yes. Weather, events, maintenance and security can change ordinary access.

Are premium products included?

No. Special tours, exhibitions and upgrades use separate tickets.

Questions about visiting this season

What are Central Park's opening hours?

Central Park is open daily from 06:00 to 01:00, according to the Central Park Conservancy.

Checked 2026-10-01 · Source

What are the Conservatory Garden's hours in September and October?

The Conservatory Garden opens at 08:00 every day. It closes at 19:00 in September and at 18:00 in October, and at 17:00 from November to December.

Checked 2026-10-01 · Source

What blooms in the Conservatory Garden in autumn?

In autumn the North Garden shows its seasonal display of Korean chrysanthemums. The North Garden is laid out as a French parterre around the Untermyer Fountain and its Three Dancing Maidens sculpture.

Checked 2026-10-01 · Source

Where is the Conservatory Garden in Central Park?

The Conservatory Garden is on the East Side of Central Park between 104th and 106th Streets. Its main entrance is the Vanderbilt Gate, and the garden covers six acres.

Checked 2026-10-01 · Source

Is the Conservatory Garden wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The Central Park Conservancy lists a wheelchair-accessible entrance at the North Gate, at Fifth Avenue and 105th Street.

Checked 2026-10-01 · Source

Are there official Conservatory Garden tours in October 2026?

Yes. The Conservancy's Conservatory Garden Tour runs on Saturday 17 October and Saturday 31 October 2026. It lasts 75 minutes and covers about 1.2 km, with a few inclines and some stairs.

Checked 2026-10-01 · Source

Is autumn a good time for birdwatching in Central Park?

Yes. Central Park lies on the Atlantic Flyway, and many species stop there during their fall migration to find food and safe places to rest. Hundreds of species visit the park each year.

Checked 2026-10-01 · Source

What time of day is best for birding in Central Park?

The Central Park Conservancy recommends early morning and late afternoon, when birds are most active.

Checked 2026-10-01 · Source

Where are the best birdwatching areas in Central Park?

The Conservancy's birding guide points to the North Woods, the Hallett Nature Sanctuary, the Ramble, the Pond and the Pool.

Checked 2026-10-01 · Source

How can I check Central Park's autumn foliage before visiting?

The Central Park Conservancy publishes a live Fall Foliage Tracker map, updated by the arborists who care for the park's 19,000 trees. It marks areas as No Change, Changing, Peak or Post-Peak.

Checked 2026-10-01 · Source

Is there a farm stand in Central Park in autumn?

Yes. The Central Park Farm Stand sells fresh seasonal produce every Saturday through 31 October.

Checked 2026-10-01 · Source

Which subway and bus lines serve the east side of Central Park?

The 4, 5 and 6 trains run along the east side of Central Park, and the M1, M2, M3 and M4 buses serve the east side. The B, C, 2 and 3 trains serve the north end.

Checked 2026-10-01 · Source