Hotels near Central Park

Central Park is the 843-acre rectangle of designed landscape that keeps Manhattan sane, stretching about 4 km from Midtown to Harlem. Laid out by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in the 1850s, it folds meadows, lakes, woodland and formal gardens into the middle of the grid, ringed by the skyline on every side.

Highlights include the Bethesda Terrace and Fountain, the Bow Bridge, the Lake with its rowing boats, Strawberry Fields honouring John Lennon, and the Belvedere Castle viewpoint. In summer the park hosts free Shakespeare and concerts; in winter, ice rinks. You could spend an hour here or a whole day.

Pro Tip: Rent a bike or walk the loop to cover ground, and reach Bethesda Terrace early for photos before the crowds. The park is free, so it pairs perfectly with the Met on its eastern edge or the Natural History museum to the west.