Walking Tours
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Discover the Park's history, ecology, and design on volunteer-led walking tours sponsored by the Central Park Conservancy.
Year-round, the Conservancy offers at least 10 different walking
tours that highlight several areas of Central Park.
Our free guided walking tours take place year-round, rain, or
shine, except in extreme weather conditions (heavy rain, sustained winds of 30 mph or more, snowstorms, and temperatures of 25 degrees and below, or 95 degrees and above). The tours, led by experienced, knowledgeable guides who are volunteers in the Central Park Conservancy Walking Tour Program, last about one to one and a half hours. No reservation is required for individuals or groups of six (6) or fewer people. Groups of seven (7) or more should call 212-360-2726 to schedule a custom tour (see information on custom tours below). Please be at the designated location at least five minutes before the start of the tour.
Please note: Children under 16 must be accompanied by at least one parent or guardian.
Event dates and times are subject to change without notice.
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Click on the following links for more informtion about:
Free Tours - December 2009 Tour Schedule (PDF)
January 2010 Tour Schedule (PDF)
February 2010 Tour Schedule (PDF)
March 2010 Tour Schedule (PDF)
Custom Tours
Self-guided Tours
Calendar of Events
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Free Tours
Amble Through the Ramble
Pass over streams, under arches, and through the woods along a maze of pathways in this secluded 38-acre woodland respite.
The Castle & Its Kingdom
Take a walk around the lands dominated by Belvedere Castle, situated high on Vista Rock. Visit this tiny 55-acre realm on an eclectic tour of history and nature.
Cross-Park Promenade
You will see many surprises: a hidden bench that tells time, miniature boats powered by the wind, a magnificent sculpture celebrating fresh water. These are just some of the sites on this east-to-west walk through the Park.
Conservatory Garden
Come discover Conservatory Garden, the only formal garden in Central Park. Learn about its history, design, fountains, and seasonal plantings while walking through the six-acre Italian, French, and English style gardens with a member of the Garden staff.
Manhattan Adirondacks
Olmsted and Vaux designed the North Woods to replicate the forests of the Adirondack Mountains, with their crystal streams, tumbling cascades, rustic bridges, and picturesque pools right in New York City’s backyard.
Memorial Walk
Combine a walk through Central Park with a look at how different generations of New Yorkers viewed the Park as a proper place to remember their veterans (offered on Memorial Day and Veterans' Day only).
A Road Once Traveled
Holding the Park's northern highlands was key in the American Revolution and the War of 1812 because armies could see their enemies approach as they sailed down the East River. History buffs will love this tour of the Harlem Meer and its strategic environs.
Seneca Village
Seneca Village was Manhattan’s first known community of African-American property owners, on land that would become Central Park. Learn about the history of the village, the property owners, and what New York City was like at the time.
Views From the Past
As you promenade through the heart of Central Park, imagine living in 19th-century New York City. Learn about the Park’s history and hear how its designers, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, struggled to make their vision our reality.
Waterways & Vistas
Walk from the Dairy to Belvedere Castle and learn about the intricate design of Central Park’s web of pastoral landscapes and formal romantic vistas.
West Side
Stories
Walk through a scenic area on the western edge of the
Park, much of which is off the beaten track for most visitors. See rolling meadows, Lake
views, bridges of different styles, and a garden with flowers and plants
mentioned by Shakespeare.
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Custom Tours
Perfect for that special occasion - a birthday or anniversary, a welcome to New York, a retirement or going-away - let us help you design your very own tour. Custom tours led by experienced guides with specialized knowledge, who are volunteers in the Central Park Conservancy Walking Tour Program, are available for individuals or groups of 6 to 25 people at a cost of $12.00 per person with a minimum cost of $100. (Please note that the fair market value of a custom tour is $30). The non-refundable minimum payment of $100 is required to guarantee the time, the date, and the tour guide. Additionally, one month's notice is required to book a custom tour. For more information about our customized tours call 212-360-2726 leave your name and number and your call will be returned as soon as possible. You may also e-mail your request to mcregg@centralparknyc.org.
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Self-guided Tours
If you are unable to join one of our scheduled tours, you might be interested in one of our self-guided tours described below. Each tour will take you to the most visited and the most popular sites in Central Park. Just click on the title of the tour to see more information.
South End Tour
This tour, which takes you from East 59th Street to East 65th Street, includes the Dairy, the Chess and Checkers House, Wollman Skating Rink, the 59th Street Pond and the Hallett Nature Sanctuary.
Mid-Park Tour
This tour includes Belvedere Castle, the King Jagiello statue, Turtle Pond, the Obelisk, and the Great Lawn. It will take you from mid-Park at 79th Street to 85th Street.
North End Tour
This tour includes Conservatory Garden, the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, Harlem Meer, and Fort Clinton at the northeast part of the Park between 104th Street and 110th Street.
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