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Bryant Park

A green oasis amongst skyscrapers and the hubbub of city life, popular with city workers taking a break.

TravelCurious Tip

Want a little reading to go with the green space? Head over to Bryant Park’s Reading Room, a Depression Era tradition recently revived in 2003

Bryant Park is 9,500 acre public park found in Manhattan. Tucked behind the magnificent New York Public Library, and just blocks from Times Square, it is a verdant oasis, perfect for a brief respite from the Manhattan madness.


It wasn’t always so: in the 80s Bryant Park was known as Needle Park. Taken over by drug dealers and addicts, it was considered a no-go zone by locals and tourists. Since then it has been dramatically rejuvenated through the introduction of amenities by the Parks Council, with the support of the Rockefeller family. They also implemented the “Broken Windows Theory” with a rigorous and rapid program to clean and repair the park. And it worked: Bryant Park is considered an emblem of the regeneration New York underwent in the 90s.


Today the park is a favourite destination for locals and tourists alike. It offers sprawling green lawns, coffee kiosks and spaces for al fresco chess matches. There’s also the Bryant Park Grill which, when not booked out for weddings, has a bar that’s perfect for a twilight cocktail, and its sister establisment, the Bryant Park Café, which provides a more casual alternative. The lawn itself serves not only as a lunchroom for office workers, but also as the seating area for some of the park’s major events, including the HBO Summer Film Festival.


Yippee ki-yay

At the other end of the calendar, Christmas in New York is special, as any Die Hard fan knows. At this time the Winter Village, replete with a giant, enchanting Christmas tree, offers ice-skating and is packed with lovely stalls serving much needed hot chocolate, coffee, hot apple cider, and crepes of all kinds. And, of course, Santa’s corner makes an appearance too.

Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in New York
Empire State Building
The building that defined an epoch, it stood as the world's tallest for over 40 years.
Fifth Avenue
The world's most prestigious (and expensive) shopping street.
Times Square
Neon-lit and monumentally busy, this most famous of intersections is a mecca for tourists, shoppers and protesters.
New York City Public Library
This magnificent building holds a collection of over 50 million volumes.
Grand Central Station
One of the USA's most famous landmarks, this historic transport hub made New York what it is today.
Broadway
There's a show for everyone in the world's premier theatre district.

Related Tours

Private Walking Tour of Midtown Manhattan
Experience the bustle of Manhattan in this private walking tour around some of New York City’s finest sights. On your private tour, you will: 

  • Enjoy the bustle and bright lights of Times Square and explore the theatre district.
  • Learn about what makes Broadway so special in the theatre world.
  • Walk the best of Fifth Avenue and visit Saks Fifth Avenue for some window-shopping of one of the world’s most spectacular department stores. 
  • Visit Neo-Gothic St Patrick’s Cathedral - the city’s beacon of Catholicism since 1878, standing in contrast to Saks Fifth and Rockefeller Plaza. (Only morning tours will be able to go inside the Cathedral).
  • This tour ends in Rockefeller Plaza, where you can admire some of the city’s best architectural and art deco masterpieces, like the Rockefeller Building, and Lawrie’s statue of Atlas.
On this highlights tour of NYC, you will discover some of midtown Manhattan’s best known and much-loved attractions. First, you will get the chance to one of the most iconic transportation hubs in the United States— Grand Central Terminal. Catch a perfect view of the gleaming spire of the Chrysler Building, another of New York's Art Deco masterpieces, explore the New York Public Library where you will meet the giant stone lions, and enjoy Bryant Park—a lovely green oasis in the heart of Midtown. You will then continue to the crossroads of the world —Times Square— to view the news ticker on the One Times Square Building, the NASDAQ board, and the myriad neon signs.

Soaking up the bright lights, learn about the evolution of Broadway and how theatre transformed Times Square into one of the most famous destinations in the world. As your tour continues, you will see the beautiful, gothic St Patrick's Cathedral, the seat of the Archdiocese of New York. Heading north toward Central Park, you will have your chance to be part of the shopping mecca that is Fifth Avenue, abounding in old-world glamour.

Have the pleasure of seeing many of the historic buildings in the area dating back to 1900, as you head towards the recently restored art deco masterpiece— Radio City Music Hall. 

A short walk will lead you to the Rockefeller Center, a magnificent complex of towering skyscrapers, where your guide will show you one of the great remaining art deco structures. Your guide will happily give you plenty of suggestions for how to spend the rest of your day to delve into Midtown or direct you to the nearest metro, so you can explore other parts of Manhattan. 
Private Full Day Highlights of New York City with Top of the Rock tickets
Explore the Big Apple - from the bustling streets of Downtown Manhattan to the serenity of Central Park.  On your private tour of New York City, you will: 

  • See the best sights of Downtown Manhattan, including Wall Street’s Charging Bull, Fearless Girl, and the National 9/11 Memorial. 
  • Experience the bustle of Midtown, including tours of Grand Central Terminal and Times Square.
  • Stroll through Central Park, seeing Strawberry Fields and Bethesda Terrace & Fountain.
  • Finish your tour gazing out on the city from the views from the Rockefeller Center.
Your tour begins in the heart of Wall Street, seeing the heart of the financial district and continues to the National 9/11 Memorial and visit Ground Zero— the original site of the World Financial Center. Here, your guide will share with you the history of the World Trade Center and discuss the tragic events of 9/11, as you tour the memorial.

Next, your guide will take you to the heart of bustling Midtown, where you will explore Grand Central Terminal, the most iconic transportation hub in the United States, with beautiful celestial ceiling murals. After lunch in the area, catch a perfect view of the gleaming spire of the Chrysler Building, another of New York's Art Deco masterpieces, explore the New York Public Library where you will meet the giant stone lions, and enjoy Bryant Park—a lovely green oasis in the heart of Midtown. You will then continue to the crossroads of the world —Times Square— to view the news ticker on the One Times Square Building, the NASDAQ board, and the myriad neon signs.

From there, you’ll travel to the Upper West Side and into Central Park, which is larger than Monaco and the Vatican City combined! In the park, you will see some of the highlights before continuing down to Rockefeller Plaza. Here, your guide will give you your tickets for the Rockefeller Observation deck and part with you. Cap off your day in the city with a breathtaking bird’s eye view of Manhattan and the rest of the Big Apple. 
Private Walking Tour of Midtown Manhattan with Empire State Building Tickets
South of Central Park lies one of the world's most important cultural and business centres. With many of the city’s most famous sights, Midtown Manhattan is one of the best places to experience the spirit of New York. Soak up its unique ambience, breathe in its frenetic pace, and seek out its unforgettable highlights. On your private tour, you will: 

  • Meet your private guide in the heart of New York City in Central Park.
  • Stroll glamorous, affluent Fifth Avenue to gaze at the world-famous window displays such as Saks Fifth Avenue.
  • Marvel at Neo-Gothic St Patrick’s Cathedral - the city’s beacon of Catholicism since 1878.
  • Admire some of Manhattan’s most beautiful Art Deco structures, like the Rockefeller building, and Lawrie’s statue of Atlas.
  • Step into the bright neon lights of Times Square, NYC’s most famous intersection, a monumentally busy mecca for tourists, shoppers and protesters.
  • Learn about the city’s rich architectural history, seeing the classics including the Chrysler Building, the Flatiron Building, and Grand Central Terminal. 
  • Finish your experience with jaw-dropping views from the top of the Empire State Building, arguably one of the most iconic landmarks in the world (tickets included). 
Conjure up images of New York City, and it will be Manhattan: the ritzy, glitzy heart of the Big Apple jam-packed with big-name attractions. If there is a per-place limit on iconic landmarks, Manhattan flouts the rules - squeezing Central Park, the Empire State Building, the Met and MoMA, Times Square’s 3,685-square-foot flashing LED screens and Broadway’s bright lights into 22.7 small square miles. 

Well known by actors and stage junkies, New York’s dazzling Theatre District has been part of Manhattan since the late 19th century and its rich history provides a glorious mix of greasepaint, star-spotting and backstage gossip. While in the bustle of Times Square, learn how it earned its name when the New York Times opened an office there and erected an electronic news ticker - “The Zipper'' - in 1928. Though the newspaper office has relocated, the area remains a media hotspot, serving as host and home to the likes of MTV and Condé Nast. Times Square is an icon, a Hollywood backdrop, and the heart of the Big Apple, and where there is proof - should you need it - that New York is the city that never sleeps. After a long stroll past New York’s Public Library, depart from your guide in front of the Empire State Building, where you will enjoy tickets to the top of the Empire State Building to retrace your steps and gaze out upon the city that never sleeps. 

Please note: your tour guide will finish the tour at the base of the Empire State Building, and will guide you to the correct line with your tickets for the elevator to the top of the building, where you are free to explore the views at your leisure. 
The Best of Christmas in New York with a Private Guide
New York City is fantastic year-round, but during the holidays, the city comes alive with magic once a year. On your private tour of New York City for the holidays, you will:

  • Enjoy the iconic city at its best with a private tour guide.
  • Explore Midtown, as it lit up for the holidays.
  • Visit Christmas markets in several iconic sites, including Bryant Park and Grand Central Terminal.
  • Stroll Fifth Avenue’s world-famous window displays.
  • Visit the Rockefeller Center, see its spectacular tree, ice-skating rink, and its wonderful music. 
  • Please note: if you book the afternoon tour, you may even see the Saks Fifth Avenue light show. 
The magic of New York City at Christmas is best experienced in Midtown, where the major department stores each adorn their window displays with unique themes each year, and where the parks turn into ice-skating rinks and Christmas markets. On your private walking tour, your guide will be sure you see all of the highlights of Midtown – from Bryant Park and Grand Central Terminal—through Saks Fifth Avenue, Times Square, and Saks Fifth Avenue. 

Enjoy the masterful works of art on display throughout the city, which are only available to be seen for one month a year! Delight in the wonder of these window decorations, the music and lights throughout the city, and the yuletide cheer that captures everyone. Enjoy the best of the Big Apple, dressed up for the holidays. 
Private Walking Tour of Midtown Manhattan with Top of the Rock Tickets
Experience the bustle of Manhattan in this private walking tour around some of New York City’s finest sights. On your private tour, you will: 

  • See some of New York's best architectural and art deco masterpieces, like the Rockefeller Building, and Lawrie’s statue of Atlas.
  • Enjoy the bustle and bright lights of Times Square and explore the theatre district.
  • Learn about what makes Broadway so special in the theatre world.
  • Walk the best of Fifth Avenue and visit Saks Fifth Avenue for some window-shopping of one of the world’s most spectacular department stores. 
  •  Visit Neo-Gothic St Patrick’s Cathedral - the city’s beacon of Catholicism since 1878, standing in contrast to Saks Fifth and Rockefeller Plaza. (Only morning tours will be able to go inside the tour)
  • Finish your tour with entrance tickets to the Top of the Rock, where you can enjoy spectacular views of the city’s many skyscrapers. 

On this highlights tour of NYC, you will discover some of midtown Manhattan’s best known and much-loved attractions. First, you will get the chance to one of the most iconic transportation hubs in the United States— Grand Central Terminal. Catch a perfect view of the gleaming spire of the Chrysler Building, another of New York's Art Deco masterpieces, explore the New York Public Library where you will meet the giant stone lions, and enjoy Bryant Park—a lovely green oasis in the heart of Midtown. You will then continue to the crossroads of the world —Times Square— to view the news ticker on the One Times Square Building, the NASDAQ board, and the myriad neon signs.

Soaking up the bright lights, learn about the evolution of Broadway and how theatre transformed Times Square into one of the most famous destinations in the world. As your tour continues, you will see the beautiful, gothic St Patrick's Cathedral, the seat of the Archdiocese of New York. Heading north toward Central Park, you will have your chance to be part of the shopping mecca that is Fifth Avenue, abounding in old-world glamour.

Have the pleasure of seeing many of the historic buildings in the area dating back to 1900, as you head towards the recently restored art deco masterpiece— Radio City Music Hall. 
A short walk will lead you to the Rockefeller Center, a magnificent complex of towering skyscrapers. Your tour finishes here, where your guide will give you your tickets to ascend to the Top of the Rock for views across Manhattan. 

Please note: your tour guide will finish the tour at the queue for the Top of the Rock, and will guide you to the correct line with your tickets for the elevator to the top of the building, where you are free to explore the views at your leisure.
Private Full Day Tour of the Statue of Liberty and Midtown
Explore the highlights of historic New York City on a full-day, private tour. On your private tour you will: 

  • Visit Liberty Island and Ellis Island and the 9/11 Museum, with tickets, included to each.
  • Enjoy booked priority entry into the Liberty Island Ferry Screening Facility Queue in Battery Park.
  • See the Statue of Liberty up close and learn of her remarkable story, as well as her significance to modern America. 
  • Explore Ellis Island and the story of US immigration.
  • Enjoy a breathtaking view over the Manhattan skyline from the water.
  • Please note that for safety reasons tour guides are no longer allowed to guide inside the Immigration Museum. 
  • Take the metro and learn how to use the most popular public transport in the city led by your guide.
  • See the best of Midtown with a private guide. Stand in the centre of Times Square and explore the theatre district.
  • Admire some of Manhattan’s most beautiful Art Deco structures, like the Rockefeller building, and Lawrie’s statue of Atlas.
  • Walk Fifth Avenue to gaze at the world-famous window displays of Saks Fifth Avenue.
  • Finish your tour with a visit to the Top of the Rock for views over the city, including the iconic Empire State Building. 
You will begin your tour at Castle Clinton, a former Fort in Battery Park, where you will board the ferry to the famous Liberty Island. Along the way, you will learn about the remarkable history of the Statue of Liberty, as well as its significance to modern America. From here you will also be able to enjoy a breathtaking view over the Manhattan skylines and harbour. 

It is estimated that forty per cent of the entire US population can trace at least one relative's arrival to the US, through the port of New York and Ellis Island.
 
Boarding at Liberty Island, you will hear all about the fascinating history of the Liberty figure, and how this 100th birthday gift to America from France was shipped from Paris to New York, and finally unveiled after 10 years of construction in 1886.

After lunch, your tour continues in the heart of bustling Midtown, where you will explore Grand Central Terminal, the most iconic transportation hub in the United States, with the beautiful celestial ceiling murals. Catch a perfect view of the gleaming spire of the Chrysler Building, another of New York's Art Deco masterpieces, explore the New York Public Library where you will meet the giant stone lions, and enjoy Bryant Park—a lovely green oasis in the heart of Midtown. You will then continue to the crossroads of the world —Times Square— to view the news ticker on the One Times Square Building, the NASDAQ board, and the myriad neon signs. Then your tour will finish in Rockefeller Plaza, where your guide will give you your tickets for the Rockefeller Observation deck and part with you. Cap off your day in the city with a breathtaking bird’s eye view of Manhattan and the rest of the Big Apple. 
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