Manhattan is known for being the center of New York City, known for its skyscrapers and the non-stop hustle and bustle of its streets. Even though Manhattan is famous for its fast pace, there are still plenty of green spaces for locals and tourists to relax! These are the best parks in Manhattan are unmatched for relaxing and lounging around, engaging in fun activities, and admiring nature in the USA’s “Concrete Jungle.”
Note: These parks are listed from north to south, with Central Park being the northernmost park.
Must-Visit Parks
Central Park
No trip to New York City is complete without a visit to Central Park, which is why I’ve included it as a must-visit in both my 5-day and 1-day New York City itineraries. Central Park isn’t just New York City’s most famous park; it’s also one of the most visited parks globally. Spanning 843 acres, Central Park has activities for anyone and everyone.
Famous activities include using rowboats and gondolas on The Lake, Bethesda Terrace and Bethesda Fountain, the Strawberry Fields, and the Central Park Zoo. Renting bikes and riding them throughout the park is also very popular. The park is accessible via several different subway stations, located throughout the borders of the park, as well as at Columbus Circle. The park is open daily between 6am and 1am.
Things that make Central Park so famous are its portrayal in art, music, and literature, shaping how the world views New York City and how it is a fundamental part of the city’s identity, affecting everything from real estate to tourism. Central Park is one of the most filmed and photographed locations in the world and has been featured in several movies, TV shows, and music videos.
Built in the center of Manhattan, Central Park also offers an escape from the loud and often chaotic hustle and bustle for both locals and visitors who want a break from exploring the city. When walking throughout Central Park, you do not hear the noise that typically permeates New York City, something noted amongst locals and tourists. Moreover, apartment buildings that are close to the borders of Central Park are much more expensive to live in.
When visiting Central Park, don’t miss walking along The Mall and Literary Walk, a wide and long promenade leading to Bethesda Terrace that features statues of famous writers such as Shakespeare. The Mall and Literary Walk is featured in several movies and TV shows, such as Kramer vs Kramer (1979), Gossip Girl (2007-2012), Sex and the City (1998-2004), Enchanted (2007), Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961), and When Harry Met Sally (1989). Also, make sure to see Bethesda Terrace, Bethesda Fountain, and Bow Bridge!
A hidden gem in Central Park is Belvedere Castle, a miniature castle designed in 1867 and located on the second-highest point in Central Park. When the castle is open, visitors can walk inside for free and walk up a short spiral staircase to get spectacular views of Central Park’s Great Lawn and Turtle Pond. There are signs leading to the castle along the pedestrian paths in the park so you know how to get here; there are some hills to walk up, but they are not steep.
Bryant Park
Bryant Park is a 9.6-acre public park located in midtown, between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue and 40th and 42nd Street. The park is accessible via different subway stations, mainly the 42 St-Bryant Park and the 5 Av subway stations. The park is open daily between 7am and 11pm.
The park has clean public restrooms, several dining options, free Wi-Fi, and 24-hour security. The park features movable chairs and tables, allowing visitors to sit wherever they want. Other amenities include chess and ping-pong tables and a reading room with free books. The most famous aspect of Bryant Park is that it was the site of New York Fashion Week (NYFW), which took place on the park’s lawn for 17 years, between 1993 and 2010. The lawn also acts as an open-air cinema for the HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival.
The park also has a French Market that takes place between April and September. During the winter, the park features the “Bank of America Winter Village,” which includes a free-admission ice skating rink. Directly behind the park is the main branch of the New York Public Library, officially called the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, making it easily accessible to office workers, tourists, and residents alike.
While in the park, visitors and locals alike enjoy breathtaking views of iconic skyscrapers such as the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building, further cementing its status as a must-visit park in New York City!
Washington Square Park
Washington Square Park is a 9.75-acre public park in Lower Manhattan (specifically in Greenwich Village), around several New York University (NYU) buildings. The closest subway stations to the park are the W 4 St-Wash Sq and 8 St-NYU stations. The park is open daily between 6am and 12am.
Washington Square Park is known as the unofficial “quad” of NYU due to the park’s proximity to the school. Amenities of the park include children’s play areas, two dog runs, public restrooms, park benches, picnic tables, and areas for games like chess. At the center of the park lies a beautiful fountain, often running throughout spring, summer, and fall.
The most famous feature of Washington Square Park is the Washington Square Arch, located on the 5th Avenue entrance (northern entrance) to the park. The arch was built between 1890 and 1892, dedicated in 1895, and honors George Washington, the first president of the United States. The arch was inspired by Roman triumphal arches and is around 77 feet (23 meters) tall. The arch has become one of New York City’s most recognizable landmarks and is a powerful symbol of national pride.
Washington Square Park has been featured in numerous movies, including When Harry Met Sally (1989), Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), Big Daddy (1999), and Enchanted (2007). TV shows that feature the park include The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017-2023), Gilmore Girls (2000-2007), Glee (2009-2015), and Blue Bloods (2010-2024).
City Hall Park
City Hall Park is located in Lower Manhattan, next to the Brooklyn Bridge, which is at its eastern side. The park is accessible via several subway stations, the closest stations being the City Hall and Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall stations. The park is open daily between 6am and 12am. Like the name suggests, New York City Hall Park is located in City Hall Park. New York City Hall was built in 1811 and is one of the oldest continuously operating city halls in the United States. You can also see the New York State Supreme Court building that serves Manhattan just north of the park, located at 60 Centre Street in Foley Square.
Features of the park include the Jacob Wrey Mould Fountain and several notable statues, including those of Benjamin Franklin and Nathan Hale. Moreover, the African Burial Ground National Monument just north of the park commemorates the lives of enslaved and free Africans buried in the area during the 17th and 18th centuries. Many green spaces are fenced off, but there are several benches and tables throughout the park to sit and relax.
The location of City Hall Park makes it popular with both locals and tourists; it is a perfect starting point for exploring other Lower Manhattan attractions, such as the Brooklyn Bridge, the Financial District (featuring Wall Street and the World Trade Center), and the 9/11 Museum and Memorial Pools.
The Battery
The Battery, formerly known as Battery Park, is a historic 25-acre public park at the southernmost tip of Manhattan, open daily between 7am and 6pm. It is accessible via the Bowling Green, South Ferry, and Whitehall St–South Ferry subway stations. The park is a significant site that has mirrored New York City’s evolution, serving as a crucial location for immigration, recreation, and tourism for centuries.
Due to the park’s location, it offers expansive and breathtaking views of Upper New York Bay, including the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Therefore, the park is the primary departure point for ferries to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Also easily visible from the park is the World Trade Center complex, a prominent feature of the Lower Manhattan skyline.
The Battery features extensive perennial gardens as well as the 4-acre Battery Woodland green space, which features native New York trees. Near the waterfront is a playground for kids. The park also has various food kiosks, carts, trucks, and nearby restaurants in Battery Park City. The park also showcases 20 monuments, many in an area known as “Monument Walk,” honoring soldiers, explorers, inventors, and immigrants. The Castle Clinton National Monument, a circular fort that has been restored to its early 19th-century appearance, now serves as a ticket booth for the ferries and has a small history exhibit. Over 8 million immigrants entered the United States through here, making it a pivotal point in American immigration history.
If you’re visiting Manhattan for a short period, definitely make time to visit The Battery. You will get spectacular views of the Statue of Liberty and the World Trade Center complex, two world-famous landmarks, alongside the historic charm of Castle Clinton.
Honorable Mentions
Note: These parks are also listed from north to south.
Union Square Park
Union Square Park is located in the center of Manhattan’s Union Square neighborhood, easily accessible via the three different 14 St–Union Sq subway stations on several different subway lines. Because its southern end is at 14th Street, Union Square Park sits at the border between midtown and downtown Manhattan. Its name comes from its location at the “union” of two major roads: Broadway and the former Bowery Road (now Fourth Avenue). The park is open 24 hours a day all year.
Union Square Park was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1997 and features several statues of historical figures, such as an equestrian statue of George Washington (1856), the oldest statue in NYC Parks’ collection, Abraham Lincoln (1868), and Ghandi (1986). One of the most famous features of the park is Union Square Greenmarket, established in 1976. This is one of the largest and most popular farmers’ markets in New York City and operates year-round on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The Union Square Greenmarket includes regional farmers and producers offering fresh produce, baked goods, meats, and artisanal products.
The park also hosts the popular Union Square Holiday Market during November and December, featuring numerous vendors selling crafts and food. Other amenities include a large and popular playground for kids and a fenced-in dog run. Bistro tables and chairs are provided from April through October for people to sit, eat, and relax.
The High Line
The High Line is one of New York City’s most innovative parks, something that makes it distinct from all the others. I mentioned The High Line in my NYC hidden gems post, talking about its features and how to get there. The High Line is a free 1.45-mile-long elevated linear park that features gardens and art on a rail trail built on a former New York Central Railroad on the West Side of Manhattan. It is easily accessible via the 34th St–Hudson Yards station. While walking through the park, you will see the Empire State Building, the Edge Observation Deck, and neighborhoods such as Chelsea, Hudson Yards, and the Meatpacking District.
As you walk along the High Line, you will notice original steel rails embedded in the concrete or gravel pathways, beautiful flowers, and unique pieces of artwork, including sculptures and murals. The park has several entrances (listed here), but if you want to start walking at the one of the ends to walk through the entire park, go to the 30th Street Hudson yards entrance across the street from the Javits Center or the Gansevoort Street and Washington Street entrance, which is close to the Whitney Museum of American Art.
While walking through the park, visitors get unique perspectives of the streets below, historic buildings, industrial architecture, and residential buildings, as well as the Hudson River to the west. There are also food and drink options available while you walk (usually at 15th Street and 22nd Street), which include various vendors. There are public restrooms available at Gansevoort Street (the southern entrance of the park), 16th Street, and 30th Street.
The High Line is an example of a park that uses elements of the city’s past to create a modern piece of architecture that combines gardens, art, and history that allow visitors to gain a unique perspective of New York City.
Little Island
Little Island is one of New York City’s newest parks, opening in 2021. I also mentioned this park in my NYC hidden gems post, talking about its features and amenities. The park is 2.4 acres and features tons of green space and gardens. Also at the park are benches and tables and chairs to relax, a food vendor, restrooms, and a small amphitheater for concerts.
What makes Little Island unique, like The High Line, is that it does not look like a stereotypical park; the park is made up of 132 “tulip pot” structures of different heights that look like they are floating above the Hudson River. The park opens at 6am daily and closing times vary by season; check the official website here to check closing hours per season.
While visiting this park, visitors get amazing views of several places. These include the Hudson River, the Whitney Museum of American Art, downtown Manhattan and the World Trade Center, and even the Statue of Liberty and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge (connecting the NYC boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn) in the distance!
Little Island is free to visit and no tickets are required! If you plan to visit, I recommend combining it with trips to Chelsea Market (a 5-minute walk away) and the Whitney Museum of American Art (a 10-minute walk away).
Conclusions
Even though Manhattan is known for its fast-paced lifestyle, a concept famously captured by the nickname “New York minute,” this relentless energy is beautifully balanced by an abundance of green spaces. From the sprawling expanse of Central Park to the urban oases of Bryant Park, Washington Square Park, City Hall Park, and The Battery, these are the best parks in Manhattan, providing essential opportunities for locals and tourists to relax and enjoy the outdoors in New York City’s urban core.
