Best Parks in NYC

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.

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.

An iconic 843-acre urban park in the heart of Manhattan, Central Park offers endless activities including walking trails, boating, ice skating, and open-air concerts. With its sprawling meadows, scenic lakes, and diverse landscapes, it provides a refreshing retreat from the bustling city.

Cunningham Park is a large Queens green space with trails, ball fields, playgrounds and picnic areas perfect for biking, sports and outdoor fun.

Domino Park is a lively 6-acre waterfront park in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, that mixes cool industrial history with plenty of space to hang out and play. Opened in 2018 on the old Domino Sugar Factory site, it’s got quirky relics from the refinery, like giant syrup tanks, alongside a playground designed like a mini sugar-making adventure. You can stroll the elevated walkway for epic Manhattan skyline views, grab tacos at Tacocina, lounge on the grass, or join a game on the volleyball courts. With its mix of history, food, and fun, it’s one of the best spots in Brooklyn to relax by the water.

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.

Forest Park is a vast Queens oasis filled with winding paths and lush trees—fittingly, it’s the top producer of oxygen among all NYC parks.

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.

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.

Madison Square Park is a historic green oasis in Manhattan, offering gardens, art, and city views amid New York’s bustling Flatiron District.

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.

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.

The Battery is a historic waterfront park at Manhattan’s southern tip famous for it's view of the Statue of Liberty. It has gardens, harbor views, and ferries to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

A 1.45-mile-long elevated linear park built on a former freight rail line on Manhattan's West Side. This innovative urban park features naturalized plantings inspired by the landscape that grew on the disused tracks, as well as artwork and stunning views of the city.

Union Square, a vibrant Manhattan hub, blends history, markets, and park life with chess players, artists, and a bohemian energy.

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.