Conservatory Garden

NYC Central Park Attractions: Conservatory Garden

If you're more comfortable on a quiet bench than on a busy trail, exploring the Conservatory Garden in Central Park may be a perfect laid-back location for you. Designed by Gilmore D. Clarke and opened to the public in 1937, many don't realize that this is the second version of the Conservatory Garden. Central Park, NYC city planners had first designed another attraction in its place, but found that it had to be revamped after it began to bear the hallmarks of deterioration and was no longer safe for visitors. Having undergone restoration in the 1980s, the current iteration is highly appreciated and perfect for enjoying some of the most beautiful flora that NYC has to offer.

Why Visit the Central Park Conservatory Gardens?

This can be a very nice spot to break from a busy NYC sightseeing schedule. If you're looking for a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the city, one of the best places to stop and smell the roses is the Conservatory Garden. Central Park features many designated Quiet Zones, and the Central Park Conservatory Garden is among them. Etiquette may dictate that those who want to ride a bike do so in a more populated area, but that doesn't mean that visitors can't use a bike to arrive at the Gardens. When you book a rental bike with our company, you can use it to tour Central Park and eventually find your way to all the beauty that is found in this six-acre sanctuary.

There's something for every floral preference at the Conservatory Garden. Central Park visitors will delight in finding that they have three separate gardens to stroll through and appreciate. Whether your favorite type of garden is traditional English, French, or Italian, the Central Park Conservatory Gardens are sure to tickle your fancy. If you want to enter through the formal entryway, go through the Manhattan entrance located between 104th and 105th Streets: it's easy to find, given that the beautiful Vanderbilt Gate is hard to miss. This gate has its own resplendent history: it was once part of the Vanderbilt estate, the home of one of New York City's most prominent families.

Learn More About The Italian, French, and English Varieties

Once inside the Central Park Conservatory Garden, you'll be spoiled for choice when you see the sheer number of blooms and blossoms that you can inspect. In the middle of the grounds lies the Italian Garden, which boasts a lush lawn and yew hedges; during spring, you can find its famous violets, wisteria pergola, and two varieties of crabapple trees in full bloom. Interestingly, the Italian Garden is home to a display of American history: medallions dedicated to the first 13 states of the country dot the walkway. To the north of this field, you can see for yourself why Europeans experienced Tulip Mania or take a gander at the "Three Dancing Maidens" fountain in the French Garden; if you miss the blooms in the spring, you can visit this garden in the fall to see Korean chrysanthemums and Japanese holly. At the southern-most end of the enclosure, you can find the English Garden which has five beds of spring-blooming and annual flowers, including magnolias and lilacs, as well as shrubs, trees, and perennial and woodland plants, which is topped off, fittingly, with a sculpture that nods to The Secret Garden.