A Guide to Visiting Central Park in Winter

The iconic Central Park in Manhattan is the oldest public park in the United States. This green space, which is sandwiched between the Upper East and Upper West neighborhoods, is one of New York City’s top attractions. It’s not only one of the country’s most gorgeous green urban spaces but is also one of the world’s most popular filming locations. Notwithstanding the season, Central Park has a ton of entertainment to offer. In fact, we were surprised to know that Central Park in winter has some of the best things to do. We saw lots of bundled up locals and tourists exploring its many picnic spots, walking paths, fountains and lawns. What’s more, it also hosts major some epic performances, concerts, festivals, and events even in cold weather.

Clearly, the park’s motto seems to be “Don’t let the cold keep you from having fun!” With snowy activities galore and fun, year-round attractions like the Carousel, there’s so much to do at this “People’s Park.” Here’s a guide to spending days in Central Park in wintertime.

Do you want to stay near Central Park? Here’s a list of the best hotels near Central Park.

Go Ice Skating at Wollman Rink

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Ice-skating at the famed Wollman Rink is one of the funnest things you can do in Central Park at wintertime. Central Park and ice-skating have a long, shared history, with the first ice-skating happening at the Lake in 1858. On Christmas morning in 1858, supposedly nearly 8,000 people showed up here to skate! That excitement is there even today, making it one of the most popular recreational activities here.

Be prepared for hordes of slow-moving newbies and zigzagging children, though! Also, there isn’t any room for fancy tricks or speed skating. However, braving the crowds is worth it for the stunning Central Park scenery. Plus, the views of the treeline and the city from the rink at the park’s southern end is unmissable. Did we mention that there’s a rink side bar and a cafe too? Yep. The best part is that we could not only purchase tickets but also rent lockers for our belongings and even ice skates.

Bethesda Terrace Arcade and The Mall

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The Mall is definitely one of our absolute favorite NYC photo spots. This long pedestrian promenade lined with commemorative statues and benches also has the world’s largest plantation of mature American elm trees! Walking beneath the enchanting canopy of trees is a treat in summer and fall, but it’s something else in winter. Besides the curving trees creating a stunning natural frame, also watch out for the snow sculptures created by artists on both sides of the promenade! Thankfully, there’s lots of seating, as this is a prime and beloved people-watching spot. So, expect to find lots of locals, tourists, coffee drinkers, dog walkers, etc. even thick in the middle of winter.

“The Mall was definitely one of our favorite spots in Central Park!”

WOW Travel

When you feel like walking, the Mall leads directly to Bethesda Terrace and the Fountain. Did you know that it’s the only place in the world with a Minton tiles ceiling? This place does. It’s one of the most romantic spots in the city, and you might even spot a proposal or two — it’s so popular! If you have the time, don’t miss checking out the Literary Walk at the southern end of the Mall, with statues of notable literary figures.

Christmas Carriage Rides

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Since we were in New York City at Christmas time, what better way to celebrate the festive season than enjoy a traditional horse-drawn carriage ride in Central Park? After all, it’s one of the most iconic things to do here! The four of us adults got into the holiday spirit with the Magical Christmas Lights Carriage Ride. We hopped onto the ride at the corner of 6th Avenue and 59th Street and traveled along the historical landmarks, complete with Christmas decorations. So, we saw everything from a lit-up St. Thomas Church and a magical Rockefeller Center to the fairytale-esque spectacle that was the Saks Fifth Avenue Light Show. As the lights made us feel all warm and fuzzy and festive, we felt the romance in the air while riding in a drop-dead gorgeous old-fashioned carriage.

Explore Belvedere Castle

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Did you know that there’s an entire castle – yes, castle – inside Central Park? We certainly didn’t! Welcome to the Belvedere Castle, an 1872-built mini-castle with sweeping views of Central Park vistas. It sits atop Vista Rock, which is the park’s second-highest point slightly north of the Ramble. Even in a snowy NYC winter, we could climb up to the castle’s viewing balconies, and that too for free, between 10 am and 5 pm, and that too any day of the week.

The structure stands out like a sore thumb, but of the good kind, due to its unique architecture. We could take in sweeping views of not just the Ramble and the Great Lawn, but also Turtle Pond. One thing which we did, and we’d recommend too, was getting a discovery kit (USD 20 deposit and 2 IDs) from inside the castle. It included a map, binoculars, and a guide for birdwatching in the Ramble’s woods. What fun!

Pro tip: One of our favorite photo op spots of the castle is from the opposite side of Turtle Pond. If you’re here for a while, don’t miss Shakespeare Garden next to the castle as well.

Visit Central Park Zoo

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One of most popular year-round activities in Central Park, and even more so during wintertime, is visiting Central Park Zoo. The Bronx Zoo usually takes the limelight, but its Central Park counterpart, managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society, is equally amazing. The 1864-established zoo is the oldest in the country and was originally intended as a menagerie of exotic animals “gifted” informally to Central Park.

Today, it has animals from three major world ecosystems: the Polar Circle, the Temperate Territory, and the Tropic Zone. Think everything from snow leopards and seals to penguins, sea lions, and more. We even saw grizzly bears and the rare red panda. Since we were with the kids, we also continued north to the Tisch Children’s Zoo, which was home to sheep, potbellied pigs, and Manhattan’s only cow!

Even in the wintery months, Central Park Zoo is open daily from 10 am to 4:30 pm daily. Tickets cost USD 17 for senior citizens, USD 20 for adults, and USD 15 for kids.

Admire Central Park from Bow Bridge

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Central Park has more than 40 bridges, but the Bow Bridge is, undoubtedly, the most popular and also the most romantic and photogenic. The 1862-built bridge is reminiscent of an archer’s bow, hence its name. One of Central Park’s most photographed attractions, Bow Bridge almost always has some or the other photoshoot going on, right from engagement and wedding to even maternity photoshoots, even in winter.

The ornate structure is surrounded by trees and boasts excellent views, including some Upper West buildings. While the summer months see wonderful, lush views, the bridge looked even more stunning after a downpour of thick, crunchy snow. If you’re unable to take photographs without somebody walking into the frame, try walking around the area and look for different perspectives.

Did you know that the Bow Bridge is also the country’s second-oldest cast-iron bridge? Yep.

Go Sledding

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Can you imagine sledding in the heart of the Big Apple? Central Park has two amazing and popular sledding destinations, Cedar Hill and Pilgrim Hill. Both of them are open for sledding when the weather conditions permit, and the park gets six inches of snow at the minimum. Even when we went, we encountered an army of people, kids and adults alike, sledding down the small hills. Couples enjoyed romantic walks nearby even as groups of friends and families were enjoying thrilling snowball fights. As hordes of pro photographers captured the fantastic scenery, we grabbed our sled and enjoy the fresh, fluffy snow on these slopes.

Admire Arthur Ross Pinetum

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When they designed Central Park, Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmsted included a design for a “Winter Drive” of first, spruces, and pines from 72nd to 102nd Streets. When the trees needed replacement by the late 1800s, they were replaced by deciduous ones. By the 1970s, American businessman and philanthropist Arthur Ross set out to return pine trees to Central Park. His added goal was also to hide the buildings along the 86th Street Transverse Road!

Today, the 4-acre-huge Arthur Ross Pinetum boasts as many as 17 different species of pine trees. It’s all the more impressive in winter, with a fresh layer of snow on the ground and a welcome swath of green in the form of an evergreen pine forest. We had a lot of fun at the Pinetum Playground, which not only had picnic tables but also many swing sets, allowing visitors of all ages to enjoy the arboretum.

Snap Photos at Wagner Cove Landing

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At 20 acres huge, The Lake in Central Park is its largest water body. In the 1860s, there were 6 boat landings built along its shoreline, serving as docks for recreational boats and scenic lookouts, and complementing the surrounding scenery. After being reconstructed and removed during the 19th and 20th centuries, 5 of these were rebuilt in 2016, all of them featuring the original 19th-century design. One of them, and one of Central Park’s hidden gems, is Wagner Cove.

It’s really easy to miss this understated and rustic gem of a wooden shelter that sits right on the edge of The Lake near Strawberry fields. However, it actually even hosts a few low-key but extremely sought-after weddings annually. When we went in winter, it was completely covered in snow, looking just like a Central Park postcard. For the best view, head to the trees opposite the Falconer Sculpture and look from the nondescript gap.

Get Ready to Ramble

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Imagine walking through a 36-acree authentic Adirondacks Forest of streams, rock formations, rustic bridges, and meandering paths right in the middle of NYC. We’re talking about the Ramble, which was In an effort designed to provide respite from city living. While summers is a great time to spend amidst its foliage and birdsong, winter in the Ramble is something else altogether. Firstly, it was one of the quietest spots in the park. Secondly, walking the unique maze of narrow, incoherent winding paths that seemingly led to nowhere was one of the best winter outdoor activities we could enjoy in NYC.

Moreover, the variety of ponds, an old, abandoned cave, gardens, paths, and stone arches made for a very pretty picture in winter. Two of our favorite places in this twisting labyrinth during winter were Azalea Pond and the Ramble Stone Arch. Just ensure that you be extra careful as the paths could be slippery during the winter. Fun fact: Everything in the Ramble is manmade and dates back to the mid-1850s — even the waterfalls can be switched on and turned off!

Ride the Carousel

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No matter the season, no matter your age, the one unmissable thing in Central Park is to ride its famous carousel! There are oodles of retro charm in bobbing along to organ music on one of the 57 saddles or 2 chariots, which is the carousel’s third incarnation since its establishment in 1871. Even the current version dates to as far back as 1950; it was discovered in a Coney Island trolley terminal!

This popular family attraction sits at the park’s southern end and is part of the Children’s District, an area designed for kids and their caregivers. The famed attraction features 57 horses and 2 chariots bobbing around to calliope organ music. Today, it remains one of the largest carousels in the country!

Even in the winter, the carousel is open all days of the week (weather permitting, of course) and costs USD 3.25 per ride.

Which part of Central Park is best?

The southern end of Central Park, specifically the Upper East Side region, is the best, even in winter. It’s walkable and has tons of attractions.

How long do I need to explore Central Park?

You can explore Central Park for days on end, but we’d say that half a day is great for seeing most of its iconic spots.

What is the best way to see Central Park?

We’d say walking is the best way to explore the Park and see its best sights. Since it’s so large and has a ton of meandering paths, walking around isn’t a problem at all. Pick up a free map from the park’s staffed booths.