Central Park Main Attractions Pedicab Tour

The hour-long pedicab tour moves through Central Park’s well-known sites while the guide shares details about each. Stops include the Victorian Garden with its winter ice rink, the Chess and Checkers House with its shaded tables, and the oldest carousel in New York City. The Dairy House from the Great Depression era is seen along with the Central Park Mall lined by American elm trees. The tour passes the Balto statue, SummerStage concert grounds, and filming locations for "Gossip Girl" and "Stuart Little." Other highlights are Pilgrim Hill, Bethesda Fountain, Turtle Lake and Boathouse with gondolas, Bow Bridge, Strawberry Fields, the Dakota Building, Sheep Meadow, the bridge featured in "Elf," and the park’s largest playground.

60 min

Central Park Carousel

This carousel was made in 1908 by Solomon Stein and Harry Goldstein. It is one of the largest in the U.S., with 57 hand-carved horses and two decorative chariots. The carousel remains operational over 100 years after its creation and has undergone multiple repairs and maintenance cycles.

Chess and Checkers House

Built in 1952, this octagonal brick building provides a space for visitors of all ages to play chess and checkers. Around the house are 24 game tables shaded by a wooden trellis.

Wollman Rink

Located in the southern part of Central Park, this public ice rink is open from late October to early April. It was funded by the Wollman family and has appeared in movies such as Serendipity, Rayn-o-Nyle, and Home Alone 2.

5 min

Rustic Stone Bridge

Featured in films including Home Alone 2 and Gossip Girl, this vine-covered stone bridge crosses a narrow pond neck. It blends with the landscape and offers viewpoints for photography.

3 min

The Pond

This 3.8-acre lake replaced natural rock outcrops and a brook in the original park design. It has appeared in Home Alone 2 and is surrounded by carefully planned scenery.

Central Park Zoo

Covering 6.5 acres at the park’s southeast corner, the Central Park Zoo is part of a group of four zoos and one aquarium managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society. It has been featured in movies such as Madagascar and Mr. Popper’s Penguins.

Balto Statue

This 1925 bronze statue of Balto, the Siberian Husky sled dog, stands in Central Park. Created by Frederick Roth, Balto belonged to musher Leonhard Seppala.

SummerStage Concert Grounds

Located on a hill, this site was originally a restaurant called the Casino designed by Calvert Vaux. It later became an Art Deco nightclub, was demolished, and replaced by a playground. Since 1990, SummerStage has been located here.

Model Boat Pond

Known as the Model Boat Pond, this ornamental pond is where children and hobbyists launch miniature sailboats. The nearby Kerbs Boathouse rents boats and has a cafe. The area also features statues of Alice in Wonderland and Hans Christian Andersen. In winter, the pond freezes for ice skating.

1 min

Central Park Mall

A wide path lined by American elm trees, designed by Olmsted and Vaux as a formal promenade. Visitors can stroll, sit, listen to music, and admire monuments and trees here.

5 min

Boathouse

The current Boathouse replaced a Victorian wooden structure in 1956. It offers refreshments and boat rides on the Lake and has heating to allow dining on the deck year-round.

Bethesda Fountain

Located on the lower terrace, Bethesda Fountain features the Angel of the Waters sculpture by Emma Stebbins, unveiled in 1873. It was the only statue funded by the city in the original park design. The statue references a biblical healing story.

10 min

Bethesda Terrace

Bethesda Terrace has appeared in films like Gossip Girl, Home Alone, Elf, Spider-Man, Law and Order, 27 Dresses, Avengers, and Made In Manhattan. The original Minton encaustic tiles of the arcade ceiling were removed during a 1980s renovation after the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission found restoration too costly. Mayor Ed Koch declared in June 1987 that the tiles would be restored. After being stored for over 20 years, the Conservancy began a 7 million dollar restoration in 2004, and the 14,000 original tiles were reinstalled in 2007.

10 min

Cherry Hill Fountain

This fountain, west of Bethesda Fountain, dates to the 1860s. Designed by Jacob Wrey Mould, it was originally a horse watering trough. It features a granite dome, bluestone basin with Minton tiles, and eight glass lamps atop the 14-foot tower.

5 min

Central Park Lake

Connecting the Ramble, Bethesda Terrace, and west side landscapes, this 20-acre lake is often called the park’s heart. Visitors can walk its shoreline or rent rowboats from the Loeb Boathouse.

3 min

Bow Bridge

Completed in 1862 by Vaux and Mould, and built by Janes, Kirtland & Co., the iron Bow Bridge was restored in 1974 and again in 2023. It appears in numerous films including Spider-Man 3 and Night at the Museum.

10 min

The Falconer Statue

Donated by George Kemp in 1875, this statue by English sculptor George Blackall Simonds was inspired by artwork Kemp saw in Europe.

Daniel Webster Monument

Daniel Webster served nearly 40 years as a Representative, Senator, and Secretary of State. The monument was donated by Gordon W. Burnham and sculpted by Thomas Ball, based on a statuette popular in American homes. The monument consists of a 20-foot pedestal and a 14-foot figure. It was placed at the intersection of West Drive and 72nd Street Cross Drive rather than the Mall to avoid blocking views and competing with trees, as advised by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux.

Strawberry Fields

A 2.5-acre landscaped area dedicated to John Lennon, designed by Bruce Kelly. It is named after the Beatles’ song "Strawberry Fields Forever," itself named for a Liverpool children’s home.

5 min

The Dakota Building

Constructed between 1880 and 1884, the Dakota was originally managed by the Clark family and became a housing cooperative in 1961. It has housed many artists and musicians, including John Lennon, who was killed outside the building in 1980.

Sheep Meadow

A 15-acre lawn in the park’s south end, popular for relaxing, sunbathing, reading, and picnicking while viewing the Manhattan skyline.

Tavern on the Green

An American cuisine restaurant built in the former sheepfold from 1870. It operated as a restaurant from 1934 until 2009, served as a visitor center from 2010 to 2012, and reopened after renovation in 2014.

Bridge from Movie Elf

This ironwork bridge integrates with the landscape and appears to emerge from rock outcrops. It is often photographed and offers views of the surrounding scenery.

1 min

Heckscher Playground

The oldest and largest playground in Central Park, opened in 1926 and located near Central Park South. It is named after philanthropist August Heckscher.