Place · Central Park: Bethesda Terrace to the Met
Central Park: Bethesda Terrace and the Lake
The park's central landmark, with a lake, arcade and fountain; walk it from the south in the morning, and allow 60–90 minutes.
go at hour · morningadmission: unknownNot field-verified
Map & directions
Directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Rules in force · 6Subway stations have few lifts and many stairs
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
- New York ↗Subway stations have few lifts and many stairs: with large suitcases, take a taxi or ride-hail car instead.
- New York ↗Popular sights (the 9/11 Museum, the observation decks, some Broadway shows) sell timed tickets: book before you fix your day.
Key facts
- Time on site
- 70–110 min
- p95 160 min
- Price
- Free
- Hours
- unknown
- Best time
- morning
- quietest window
- 28″ bags
- No
- Central Park: Bethesda Terrace to the Met: forbidden
Weather here, next 7 days
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Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Time on site (minutes)
45
min
70
worthwhile
110
typical
160
p95
The park is open daily; individual attractions keep their own hours.
Getting in
- Stop
- 72nd Street entrance on the west side, or the Mall from the south (field-verify)
- Exit
- —
- Ticket
- free · official site
- Stairs
- note: none of note
- Shoes
- Shoes on.
Crowds and switching
- Crowd clock
- Busy on weekends and warm days; quietest before 09:00.
- Sensory load
- 3/5
- Exposure
- high
Bailouts
- heat: Metropolitan Museum entrance (AC, WC inside)
- rain: Metropolitan Museum entrance (AC, WC inside)
Nearest rescue anchor: A — Bethesda Terrace arcade (shade, benches)
Combine in the same cluster
- The Met (walk, 18 min)
Red lines
- Do not feed wildlife; stay on marked paths.
Nearby
Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.
- ClusterCentral Park: Bethesda Terrace to the Met150 m · 2 min walk
- ClusterGrand Central & Bryant Park2.6 km · 42 min walk
- Sleep areaMidtown2.8 km · 45 min walk
- ClusterGreenwich Village & Washington Square5.1 km · ride, not a walk
- ClusterLower Manhattan (9/11 Memorial to City Hall)7.7 km · ride, not a walk
- Sleep areaLower Manhattan8.2 km · ride, not a walk
Sources1 source
Sources
- Central Park Conservancy (official)