Central Park is 843 acres, receives 42 million visitors a year, and is probably the most written-about park in the world. It’s also genuinely excellent. But Manhattan has 30 additional parks worth knowing about, and several of them are better than Central Park for specific purposes — quieter, more dramatically situated, or simply less crowded in ways that make the experience qualitatively different.
All of the parks in this guide are free to enter and access. None of them require purchasing anything. Several of them are so undervisited that on a weekday you can walk for an hour without seeing more than a handful of people.
Inwood Hill Park: The Borough’s Best-Kept Secret
Inwood Hill Park at the northern tip of Manhattan is 196 acres of forest, rocky outcrops, and Hudson River waterfront — and it contains the only remaining old-growth forest on the island. The tulip trees in the park’s interior are estimated to be 200 to 300 years old. The caves in the rocky hillside were used by the Lenape people as seasonal shelter. The site near the park’s entrance is traditionally identified as where Peter Minuit purchased Manhattan in 1626.
On a weekday morning in Inwood Hill Park you can walk for 45 minutes through actual forest, on actual dirt trails, and encounter almost no one. The views from the bluffs at the park’s western edge overlook the Hudson River and the Palisades. The Spuyten Duyvil Creek at the park’s northern edge connects the Hudson to the Harlem River Ship Canal and provides a quiet waterway view that feels completely disconnected from the city surrounding it.
Riverside Park: Quieter Than Central Park, Better Views
Riverside Park runs along the Hudson River from 72nd to 158th Street on Manhattan’s west side — 330 acres of waterfront park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. The same architect who designed Central Park created Riverside Park with the specific challenge of the terrain: the park has to accommodate the West Side Highway below it while maintaining the riverfront experience above.
The result is a park with more topographic interest than Central Park and consistently better Hudson River views. The 79th Street Boat Basin, where people live on boats year-round, is one of the more singular communities in the city. The esplanade along the river is excellent for running and cycling. The northern sections of the park above 120th Street are less visited and more peaceful.
Morningside Park: Dramatic Topography
Morningside Park sits on the rocky escarpment between Morningside Heights and Harlem, from 110th to 123rd Street. The park is built on the cliff face that separates the two neighborhoods, and the views from the top of the escarpment looking east over Harlem are among the more dramatic urban vistas in Manhattan.
The park has a pond at its lower level (which is at the Harlem elevation), a waterfall, playgrounds, and a community garden that has been operating for decades. It functions as the primary outdoor gathering space for Morningside Heights and Harlem residents and has a neighborhood energy that feels different from the more tourist-oriented parks in the borough.
Carl Schurz Park: East River Views
Carl Schurz Park on the Upper East Side runs along the East River from 84th to 90th Street, above the FDR Drive. The park’s elevated esplanade provides unobstructed views of the Hell Gate Bridge, the Triborough Bridge, Wards Island, and the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse across the channel.
The park is consistently less crowded than comparable parks in the borough. The dog run at the southern end is active; the esplanade is good for running with river views. Gracie Mansion — the official residence of the Mayor of New York — sits at the park’s northern end and is occasionally open for tours.
Fort Tryon Park and the Heather Garden
Fort Tryon Park in Washington Heights is 67 acres of wooded hillside with some of the best Hudson River views in Manhattan — from the park’s highest point you can see the George Washington Bridge, the Palisades, and miles of river in both directions. The park was designed by the Olmsted Brothers firm and donated to the city by John D. Rockefeller Jr. in 1935.
The Heather Garden at the park’s center is the largest public garden in the NYC Parks system, with over 60,000 perennials and flowering shrubs that peak in spring and early summer. The Cloisters museum is located within the park, though admission to the museum itself is ticketed (pay-what-you-wish for NY state residents).
Battery Park and the Esplanade
Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan is 25 acres of landscaped waterfront with direct harbor views — the Statue of Liberty, Governor’s Island, and the harbor entrance are all visible on a clear day. The park is surrounded by significant public art, including the Sphere, a Fritz Koenig sculpture that survived the September 11th attacks, and the Irish Hunger Memorial.
The Hudson River Park esplanade connects Battery Park to Riverside Park via a continuous waterfront path. Walking the whole length takes several hours and provides Manhattan’s best extended waterfront experience.
Madison Square Park
Madison Square Park at 23rd Street and Fifth Avenue is 6.2 acres in the middle of the Flatiron district, free to enter and consistently well-programmed. The park has hosted major public art installations — the original Shake Shack started as a hot dog cart in this park. The views of the Flatiron Building from the park’s southeast corner are the most photographed views of the building.
Frequently Asked Questions About Manhattan Parks
What is the best park in Manhattan besides Central Park?
Inwood Hill Park for old-growth forest and solitude. Riverside Park for Hudson River views. Fort Tryon Park for elevated views and the Heather Garden. Carl Schurz Park for East River views without crowds.
Are all NYC parks free?
Yes — all New York City public parks are free to enter. Some attractions within parks (like certain zoo areas or performance venues) are ticketed.
What is the quietest park in Manhattan?
Inwood Hill Park on a weekday morning is the quietest large green space in the borough. Morningside Park and Carl Schurz Park are also significantly less crowded than Central Park or the High Line.
Where can I see the best views of the Hudson River for free in Manhattan?
Fort Tryon Park’s highest point for the broadest views. Riverside Park’s esplanade for direct river access. Inwood Hill Park’s western bluffs for dramatic views of the Palisades. The High Line’s western sections at dusk.
