Belvedere Castle serves as a scenic lookout for park visitors. Climb to the top of the castle tower and gaze out over the Ramble, Great Lawn, Turtle Pond, and the open-air Delacorte Theater. Belvedere Castle is most commonly seen from afar and is often included as a stop on bike tours, e-bike tours, walking tours, running tours, and pedicab tours of Central Park.
Belvedere Castle is a must for travelers looking for a reprieve from the urban bustle of NYC.
The lookout at the top of the castle tower is accessible only via a narrow spiral staircase and is therefore not stroller- or wheelchair-accessible.
Turtle Park, situated at the base of Belvedere Castle, is a designated quiet zone and offers scenic views of the castle.
Find Belvedere Castle in the center of Central Park, north of the 79th Street Transverse and south of the Great Lawn. To get here by public transit, ride the subway (B or C trains) to 81st Street–Museum of Natural History. The castle is 5-10 minutes from the station on foot.
Central Park is busiest on sunny weekends, though its large size means it’s able to cope well with crowds. You may, however, have to wait to climb up the twisting stairway of the castle’s tower, as it can only accommodate limited numbers. To avoid waiting in line, come midweek when Belvedere Castle is typically quieter.
Belvedere Castle is just one of many major attractions contained within the 843-acre (341-hectare) sprawl of Central Park. Go creature-spotting at the Central Park Zoo, pay homage to John Lennon at the Strawberry Fields memorial, go boating on the Lake, or—from late October to April—skate on the Wollman Rink.
