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Outdoors Central Park, Manhattan

Bethesda Terrace

An outdoor spot in Central Park, Manhattan, free to visit and worth about an hour. Best time to go: Early morning.

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Bethesda Terrace in Central Park, Manhattan
Photo: Julian Lupyan · CC0

Why go

Carved arcade and fountain at the heart of Central Park, a calm start before Midtown crowds.

It is one of 10 curated places we feature in Manhattan, alongside 4 places to eat, 3 sights and 1 activity. 6 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Central Park Midnight Run fireworks and Bemelmans Bar.

Type
Outdoors · Nature
Neighborhood
Central Park
Price
Free
Time needed
1 hr
Best time
Early morning

Nearby

Our closest curated picks, including 6 beyond Manhattan. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.

  1. 1
    Central Park Midnight Run fireworks

    Fireworks over Central Park at midnight start the New York Road Runners' four-mile Midnight Run.

    Sight · Midtown Manhattan · 0.0 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Bemelmans Bar

    Old-school piano bar in The Carlyle with murals by Ludwig Bemelmans.

    Drinks · Museum Mile · 0.4 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Bemelmans Bar

    Piano bar in the Carlyle hotel, with murals by Madeline author Ludwig Bemelmans and live music every night.

    Drinks · Midtown Manhattan · 0.4 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Sant Ambroeus Madison Avenue

    Milanese cafe for espresso and pastries a few blocks from the Met.

    Drinks · Museum Mile · 0.4 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    The Metropolitan Museum of Art

    Five thousand years of art; the Temple of Dendur and the Roof Garden are standout stops.

    Sight · Museum Mile · 0.6 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    The Metropolitan Museum of Art

    Vast art museum on Central Park; the rooftop garden opens in summer.

    Sight · New York City · 0.6 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Bethesda Terrace is a stop on our NYC Cultural Weekend route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More to do in Manhattan

Bethesda Terrace is our only outdoors pick in Manhattan; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Manhattan guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Manhattan run from 36°F in January to 85°F in July; October is usually the wettest month. For Bethesda Terrace itself, we suggest: Early morning.

Modelled monthly averages for Manhattan from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Manhattan weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Bethesda Terrace, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
New York, NY 10024, USA
Coordinates
40.77395, -73.97097
Destination
Manhattan, New York

Bethesda Terrace: quick answers

How much time do you need at Bethesda Terrace?

Plan on about an hour at Bethesda Terrace. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Bethesda Terrace?

Our pick: Early morning. Insider tip: Walk in from 72nd St and continue to Bow Bridge.

Is Bethesda Terrace free?

Yes, we list Bethesda Terrace as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Where is Bethesda Terrace?

Bethesda Terrace is at New York, NY 10024, USA, in Central Park. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Bethesda Terrace?

Bethesda Terrace appears on NYC Cultural Weekend, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Bethesda Terrace to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Manhattan.

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Also in Manhattan

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.