Best Parks in NYC

Often called Brooklyn's version of Central Park, this 526-acre urban oasis was designed by the same landscape architects, Olmsted and Vaux. The park features a 90-acre Long Meadow, the picturesque Prospect Park Lake, and the only remaining forest in Brooklyn.

This midtown Manhattan park sits behind the New York Public Library and offers a quiet respite from the surrounding skyscrapers. In summer, enjoy free movie screenings and yoga classes; in winter, visit for the holiday market and ice skating rink.

This 85-acre post-industrial waterfront site has been transformed into a stunning park with piers, playgrounds, and sports facilities. The park offers breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline, Brooklyn Bridge, and the East River.

Queens' largest park is home to the iconic Unisphere, a remnant of the 1964 World's Fair. The park also houses the Queens Museum, Queens Zoo, and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, where the US Open is played annually.

Stretching four miles along Manhattan's west side, Hudson River Park is the second largest park in Manhattan. The park includes waterfront esplanades, recreational piers, gardens, and numerous sports facilities with a backdrop of the Hudson River.

A landmark in Greenwich Village, this 9.75-acre public park is known for its iconic arch, central fountain, and lively atmosphere. A gathering place for artists, students, and locals, the park hosts street performers, chess players, and cultural events.

The largest public park in New York City at 2,772 acres, Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx offers extensive hiking trails, a 13-mile saltwater shoreline, the historic Bartow-Pell Mansion, and Orchard Beach, the Bronx's only public beach.

A 172-acre island in New York Harbor, accessible by ferry. Once a military base, it now serves as a recreational space with historic buildings, art installations, hammocks, and spectacular views of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Statue of Liberty.