Belvedere Castle

Belvedere Castle

Belvedere Castle
4
Points of Interest & LandmarksLookouts
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Originally built in 1869 as a lookout, this Rococo-style castle now houses the Henry Luce Nature Observatory and weather measuring devices.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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The area

Address
Neighborhood: Central Park
How to get there
  • 81st St – Museum of Natural History • 5 min walk
  • 86th St • 9 min walk
Reach out directly

See what travelers are saying

  • Elsa C. L.
    New York City, New York5,264 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Soothing & tranquil view
    We had a good experience at this castle during a trying period in life. It’s a nice curvy and slightly hilly hike from Fifth Avenue. It was a dreary day but its tranquility and calming atmosphere lifted our spirits.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 8, 2024
  • TravelingSoccerLoon
    Saint Paul, Minnesota7,767 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Terrific Observation Deck
    Belvedere Castle in an interesting spot to visit when in Central Park. It was never a true residence or had any purpose when built in 1867. It has both Romanesque and Gothic architecture and provides a great observation deck with terrific views of the park and surrounding city.
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written April 10, 2024
  • FLHarlock
    Tavares, Florida4,944 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The crown jewel of Central Park!
    Visiting Central Park for the first time and Belvedere Castle was what I was most excited to see. It did not disappoint. The architecture and history is just mind blowing. The fact that it’s FREE is something that I’m not used to as well. When visiting Central Park this is a must. Highly recommended!
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 8, 2024
  • Rachel & Andy
    392 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fun Castle.
    Visited: 12/07/2023 A lovely little castle in the middle of Central Park. Fun to wander the steps and turrets that have been built in. You get a good view of the lake from here as well, and it’s nice to get a heightened view over the park.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 30, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles547 reviews
Excellent
167
Very good
271
Average
97
Poor
10
Terrible
3

Greg Harris
Bronx, NY2,137 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022 • Couples
The Belvedere Castle is one of the most iconic and widely visited attraction of New York City, NY.

Located in Central Park, the Belvedere Castle is a folly and a Romanesque & Gothic style building that was designed by notable architects, Calvert Vaux. and Jacob Wrey Mould in the early 20th Century.

The castle’s name “Belvedere” means “beautiful view” in Italian and since 1919, the castle has been open to the public to visit and tour.

In October of 2022 and on a gorgeous sunny day, I brought my wife and myself to visit Belvedere Castle, and we were in absolute awe of the beauty and grandeur of this well designed spectacle.

Additionally, my wife and I enjoyed the scenic views of the Great Lawn & Turtle Pond that can be seen from the observation decks of the castle.

When visiting New York, we highly recommend for everyone to visit, explore and take pictures of this beloved and perfectly made Central Park treasure!!!
Written October 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jack
Old Bethpage, NY3,409 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023
This was on my bucket list and was definitely worth it. The castle is right in the heart of Central Park and is very beautiful and architectural pleasing. It is free and today was raining, so there wasn’t many people. There is a gift shop and the staircase is very narrow meaning people can only go one direction at a time. You can go to the deck at the top for great views with views of Turtle Pond, the Great Lawn, and the surrounding buildings. It’s great! I highly recommend!
Written August 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

johnnnita
Napa, CA2,373 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2022
No doubt there was ample notification that Belvedere "Castle" was closed for some work being done. However, we didn't find out until we showed up. It wasn't a big deal, since there's still plenty to enjoy around it. Still, it would have been nice to go inside and look around.

If it still is closed, walk around the left side of the building to find great views of Turtle Pond, the Delacorte Theater, and the Great Lawn. During our visit, the theater was closed, but it was nice to see it from a distance.

By the way, while you're looking at the castle, make it a point to read the plaque inscription outside on the building. That's where you will find the description that raises the question in my title. Read for yourself.
Written July 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

bfltd0
London, UK624 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022
If you are walking in Central Park, you just have to visit this pastiche of a castle. It is almost like a Disney interpretation of a fairy take castle, just in miniature. There is a main deck, with castellations, and two more upper levels, which are reached through a 1-person wide turreted spiral staircase, so it is only one way traffic at ony one time and you may have to wait to go up or down.

Once up at the top level, it is a perfect selfie spot with good 360 degree views to the lake in one direction and over the Rambles in the other.

It doesn't take long to go through the entire place, but it is well worth a stop to visit here, especially if you have been walking around the park for a while.
Written May 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

srpanderson70
Milton, FL286 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022
It is a whimsical castle in the middle of Central Park that you can enter and climb up spiral staircases to the top and see Central Park. If you are not too set in your adulthood, it is a fun, whimsical, imaginative place to bring back childhood memories. A place, that if it was in your own backyard, then you would be the most popular person in the neighborhood!
Written May 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

therichastill
Stevenage, UK3,510 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Solo
Walking around Central Park I did not realise there was so much to see. I would definitely recommend spending at least half a day in the park as there are so many wonderful things to discover.

One of these was the fairytale castle sat on a small bluff with a small lake below. It's a perfect picture opportunity!

Belvedere Castle is open at certain times of the day and also for events. The architecture is truly beautiful and it is well worth checking out when you are in the park. Alternatively view it from afar and create your own stories about what goes on there.
Written January 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

The Swiss Nomad
Lugano, Switzerland3,495 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020 • Couples
I learned about Belvedere Castle from a book based in NY, and from that moment I was very curious to check it out.
On my first visit to the city I missed it somehow, but this time my girlfriend and I went from the great lawn towards Manhattan and we were finally able to visit it.
Castle is an exaggeration, as this is simply a construction on top of a rock overlooking the turtle pond, the great lawn and with a wonderful view on the Upper East Side.
We went to the top of the building and checked out the many turtle which were lazily tanning under the sun.
The inside of the building was pleasantly heated and there is a security guard inside who was quite gentle and was in charge of checking the stairs leading to the terrace.
If you are in Central Park make a detour and visit this cute castle, you will be pleasantly surprised.
Written March 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Maltipoo16
New York1,949 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Family
It wasn’t as big and exciting as I was expecting, but it was very pretty. The top of the castle is basically just a small concrete platform with viewing areas. There were excellent views of the park and the city from the castle. I wish the visitor center/gift shop was open past 5, because I really wanted to purchase something, and their main shop was too far of a walk for my handicapped dog.
Written April 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Traveller
New York City, NY3,322 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2022
I visited Belvedere Castle in Central Park one time in December 2021 and one time in January 2022. The first time, I just took a photo without climbing up. The second time, I climbed up. There was a nice view of Central Park, the Delacorte Theater (Shakespeare in the Park) and many other things. There was also a gift shop.
Written January 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

The Trusty Trip Gal!
England, UK244 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Couples
The last time I came to New York I saw this little Castle from across the lake but didn’t know how to get to it so this time I came to New York we got directions to it!

It’s only small is the Castle but it worth going to visit. There is some cute little views of the park from the top and even better! It is free!

A pleasant experience thank you!
Written October 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Belvedere Castle - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

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