Central Park Conservatory Garden

The Basics

The only formal garden in Central Park, the Conservatory Garden comprises 6 acres (2.4 hectares) of carefully maintained grounds covered with flowers, trees, and shrubs. The space consists of three distinctly styled areas, including an English-, Italian-, and French-influenced garden.

To fully experience the Conservatory and learn a bit about its history, consider booking a Central Park walking or photography tour. Most tours stop by the park’s most important sights, including the manicured expanse of the Conservatory Garden.

Things to Know Before You Go

• The Conservatory Garden is a must for nature lovers, gardeners, and those seeking a respite from the hustle and bustle of the city.

• The Conservatory Garden is a designated Quiet Zone, so it’s the perfect place for a peaceful rest.

• Consider visiting the seasonal floral displays—enjoy blooming tulips in spring, and experience flowering Korean chrysanthemums in autumn.

• The garden is accessible to wheelchair users.

How to Get There

The garden’s main entrance—the historical Vanderbilt Gate—is on Fifth Avenue between 104th and 105th streets, and is easily accessible by subway and bus. Take the 6 train to 103 Street and walk west. Alternatively, ride the M1, M2, M3, or M4 bus to the garden.

When to Get There

The Conservatory Garden is open—and lovely—year-round from 8am to dusk. A sunny afternoon is best, ideally with flowers in bloom, though the winter months imbue the park with a unique charm under a layer of snow. The garden hosts many weddings in peak season, so expect crowds during summer weekends. Consider a midday weekday stroll, for the most contemplative experience.

Top Museums near the Garden

New York's Museum Mile is just a stone's throw from the Conservatory Garden. Directly across from the garden's Vanderbilt Gate, you'll find El Museo del Barrio, which features primarily Latin American art. Walk just a few blocks down Fifth Avenue and you'll hit the Museum of the City of New York, the Jewish Museum, Guggenheim Museum, and Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum.

Ways to explore

Enter the Conservatory Garden through the ornate Vanderbilt gate marking its main entrance, then take a stroll around its three distinctly designed areas: the French-style North Garden, the Italianate Center Garden, and the English-style South Garden. Unlike the surrounding park, you don’t have to worry about runners or bikers breaking the calm atmosphere inside the garden.

To fully experience the Conservatory and learn a bit about its history, book a walking tour of Central Park that takes you to its lesser-known spots.

Accessibility

The Central Park Conservatory Garden is wheelchair accessible.

Age limits

None, but its calm, quiet atmosphere may not be suitable for rambunctious kids

What to pack

Packed lunch, sunscreen, headphones

What to wear

Dress for the weather: warmly in winter, lighter in summer

Not allowed

Excessive noise or amplification: The garden is a designated quiet zone.

Amenities

Restrooms, benches, water fountains

Address

The Central Park Conservatory Garden is on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, between 104th and 106th streets.

Driving

From Midtown Manhattan, head north on FDR Drive onto East 96th Street; continue west to Fifth Avenue, then north to East 105th Street. Paid parking is available at nearby garages.

Public transportation

The closest subway station is 103rd Street (on the 6 train), which is a 10-minute walk. Alternatively, the M1, M2, M3, and M4 buses stop near the garden at Fifth Avenue and East 105th Street.

Best times to visit

The garden opens at 8am daily and is most peaceful in the early morning.

Best days to visit

Weekdays get fewer visitors and promise the most relaxed atmosphere.

Best months to visit

Spring and fall are the best months for blooming flowers (including tulips) and fall foliage, respectively.

Special events

On the first Wednesday of May, the Women’s Committee of the Central Park Conservancy hosts a Hat Lunch fundraiser in the garden where attendees don elaborate headgear.