NYC Central Park Self-Guided Walking Tour
Overview
About
This self-guided walking tour is approximately 2.5 hours long and covers a distance of approximately 2.5 miles. Please plan your day accordingly and make sure to stay hydrated and energized throughout the tour.
What you'll do
What is included?
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
What is not included?
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Most travelers can participate
- How To Access: After booking, you’ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search “audio tour” in emails and texts). • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password sent by email and text. • MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. • Works offline after download.
- How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
- Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
- Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
- Savings tips: Walking tours: couples can share one tour by splitting headphones
- Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
- For the best experience, bring headphones/earbuds for your walking tour.
- For the best experience, please use an iPhone running iOS 15 or later, an Android device running version 9 or later, or an iPad/tablet with GPS and cellular connectivity, as these are recommended for navigation.
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Meet your host
Itinerary
New York City Walking Tours Itinerary (2026 Guide) – What You'll See & Do
Explore the full itinerary for NYC Central Park Self-Guided Walking Tour in New York City, United States. This walking tours experience includes 24 stops over 1 day. Duration: 2 hours. Activity level: Extreme.
Here is the starting point
Grand Army Plaza
Central Park Zoo
The Central Park Zoo sets the standard for all urban zoos to follow. This 6.5-acre zoo features all kinds of rare and endangered animals, including Antarctic penguins and a snow leopard!
Delacorte Clock
Balto Statue
This statue commemorates everyone's favorite husky, who became famous when he brought lifesaving medicine to a remote Alaskan town through blinding blizzards and subzero temperatures. The dog himself was actually in attendance for the unveiling of this statue!
The Mall and Literary Walk
Naumburg Bandshell
Bethesda Terrace
This gorgeous Italian-style terrace is the heart of Central Park. It was crucial to the original design for the park and remains one of the most beautiful places in New York City to this day. It has an upper and a lower section, both of which are simply breathtaking.
Bethesda Fountain
At 26 feet tall and almost 100 feet across, this fountain is impossible to miss. It's topped by a sculpture known as the Angel of the Waters, which was the only statue included in the original design for Central Park. Here, you'll also get a glimpse at Central Park's long cinematic history.
Central Park Boathouse
Hans Christian Andersen Monument
Alice in Wonderland Statue
This large statue of Alice, the Mad Hatter, and the White Rabbit from Lewis Carroll's classic book is a favorite among kids. It was actually designed to be climbed on, and the polished, shiny bronze stands as a testament to how successful this design ended up being.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Colloquially known as the Met, this is one of the most famous museums in the world. It boasts 5,000 years of art from all over the world, from European masters like Monet to artifacts from ancient Egypt and beyond. If you're a lover of art or history, this is a must-see spot.
The Obelisk
Alexander Hamilton Monument
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir
This enormous reservoir holds about a billion gallons of water and makes for a beautiful centerpiece to the park. It was once intended to supply the entire city with clean water. Today, it's a fabulous spot to take a break and admire the city's skyline.
Arthur Ross Pinetum
The Arthur Ross Pinetum was designed with one specific purpose in mind: Add a splash of green to the park during the long, bleak winter months. If you're visiting after the leaves have fallen from the other trees, it makes for a lovely change of scenery.
The Great Lawn
Delacorte Theater
This open-air theater is home to the Public Theater, which puts on regular performances of Shakespeare and other classic plays. One of the coolest things about it? Productions here are totally free! Visitors need only stand in line to get in.
Belvedere Castle
Belvedere Castle offers unbeatable views of the park and the surrounding city. It also adds a pleasant touch of fairytale whimsy visitors are sure to love.
Shakespeare Garden
The flora on display in this beautiful garden are only those mentioned in William Shakespeare’s many plays and poems. The aim was to recreate, in spirit, the English countryside where the Bard of Avon lived.
Strawberry Fields
This memorial honors the musician John Lennon. Yoko Ono, his widow, didn't want another statue in Central Park, so instead the sculptor created a striking mosaic unlike anything else in the park.
Sheep Meadow
Umpire Rock
Columbus Circle
This concludes the tour.
Walking Tours