The 5 Most Beautiful Walks in New York

1/ From Brooklyn to Manhattan

This is my favorite walk in New York—and probably the most impressive. Do it in the morning when the sun lights up the Financial District, or at dusk. If it’s your first time in the city, this route will give you unforgettable views.

• Take the subway to Clark Street (lines 1 and 2).
• Head up Clark Street toward the East River. You’ll reach the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, a short walk with stunning views over the East River and Financial District. Look left and you’ll spot the Statue of Liberty in the distance.
• Next, head toward the Brooklyn Bridge. Stop at the base of the bridge and explore Brooklyn Bridge Park for great photos.
• Before crossing the bridge, walk through Washington Street to see the DUMBO neighborhood and the view featured in the film Once Upon a Time in America.
• Cross the Brooklyn Bridge—nearly 2 km (1.2 mi) of one of New York’s best panoramas.

On the Manhattan side, don’t miss City Hall. From here, you can easily reach the World Trade Center or Wall Street for your next stops.

2/ From World Trade Center to Battery Park

A short but lovely walk. Time it before taking the ferry to the Statue of Liberty so you can enjoy the morning light. Allow about 30 minutes.

• Take the subway to Chambers Street (lines A, C, E) or Park Place (lines 2 and 3) and walk up Vesey Street toward One World Trade Center. You’ll pass the base of New York’s tallest building.
• Continue straight ahead to the Hudson River. You’ll pass a monument dedicated to the Irish Famine—a lesser-known but worthwhile sight.
• Head to the Hudson River waterfront and turn left.
• You’ll cross the small but striking World Trade Center marina.
• Continue along the Hudson. You’ll see New Jersey across the water, and gradually, the Statue of Liberty comes into view.

At Battery Park, you can board a ferry to the Statue of Liberty or take the Staten Island Ferry. Another option: visit the heliport for a helicopter tour. For more details, see the page on Battery Park.

3/ The High Line

New York’s answer to Paris’s Promenade Plantée. Built in 2006 and expanded several times, the High Line follows an old elevated railroad track.

• For an afternoon walk, start at the southern entrance. Take the subway to 8 Av (line L) or 14 St (lines A, C, E) and head to Gansevoort Street. The sun will be at your back for the entire walk.
• Climb the stairs to the High Line entrance and head north. Take your time and look around—there are plenty of surprising murals along the way.
• The walk ends at the newest section, which loops around Rail Yards near the Hudson River, finishing at 34th Street.

You can also walk it in reverse—just start in the morning to avoid walking into the sun. For more information, see the article on the High Line.

4/ From Times Square to the UN

Another favorite of mine. This route connects some of New York’s most important landmarks and monuments.

• Start at Times Square, where New York pulses 24/7.
• Walk down Broadway to 42nd Street, then head east. You’ll find the charming Bryant Park, with a view of the Empire State Building’s tip.
• Continue on 42nd Street. Walk on the right side along Bryant Park for a clear view of the Chrysler Building. Peek inside the New York Public Library, which was featured in the film The Day After Tomorrow.
• Keep going straight and you’ll pass Grand Central Terminal, which you can visit. Then comes the Chrysler Building—a must for photos.
• A few more blocks and you’ll reach the United Nations, which you can tour if you book tickets in advance.

From the UN, you have options: head south to the Empire State Building, or go north to Roosevelt Island’s aerial tramway for a great view of Midtown.

5/ A Crossing of Central Park

Let’s be clear: you can’t see all of Central Park in one visit. The famous park covers 350 hectares (865 acres)—4 km (2.5 mi) long and 800 m (2,625 ft) wide. That’s roughly 480 football fields side by side. This route takes you through the park’s highlights. Do it in the afternoon with the sun at your back, ideally on a weekend when you’ll see New Yorkers enjoying themselves.

• Start at Columbus Circle (subway 59 St – Columbus Circle, line 1) and enter the park. Columbus Circle itself is worth seeing for the Time Warner Center’s twin towers, the design museum, and the large globe at the Trump Hotel entrance.
• Head north to around 65th Street and you’ll reach Sheep Meadow, one of the park’s most beautiful open spaces. Turn around and you’ll see the classic Central Park view: Midtown buildings rising above the trees. If you’re a photographer, come early to avoid backlighting.
• Cross Sheep Meadow toward the East Side, as if heading toward Fifth Avenue. You’ll come to The Mall, an iconic tree-lined pedestrian avenue.
• Walk north on The Mall to the famous Bethesda Fountain, right at the edge of Central Park Lake. Head left toward the West Side and you’ll see Bow Bridge, the park’s most romantic bridge.
• Don’t cross the bridge. Instead, continue to the West Side to find Strawberry Fields, a mosaic honoring John Lennon. You can then exit the park to see the Dakota Building, where he lived and was killed on December 8, 1980.

After this walk, you can continue north through the park or head back. Another option: walk up Central Park West to the American Museum of Natural History, just 4 blocks from the Dakota Building. For more details, see the page on Central Park.

What about you?

Have a favorite route you’d like to share? Describe it below. 🙂