Central Park Horse Carriage Ride: Scenic NYC Tour
4.7
30 Ratings
New York
Experience the beauty of Central Park on a horse carriage ride. Perfect for families, couples, or solo adventurers, this scenic tour includes popular attractions and stunning views.
Duration: 45 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Wollman Rink - Wollman Rink is the largest public ice rink in NYC and also famous for scenes from movies such as Home Alone 2, Limitless, and Serendipity.
  • Central Park Carousel - Originally crafted in 1908, the current Carousel is one of the nation’s largest merry-go-rounds, featuring 57 hand-carved horses and two decorative chariots.
  • Chess & Checkers House Visitor Center - The 24 tables surrounding this rustic pagoda are blessed with ample shade, ideal for a checkers game any time of year.
  • The Dairy Visitor Center and Gift Shop - Back in time, one of the critical needs of children was for fresh milk. Unfortunately, a series of scandals and cholera outbreaks placed the dairy production of the city under a cloud of suspicion. To lift suspicion and fulfill the Dairy needs of the people, the city provided a place where families could find a ready supply of fresh milk when traveling to the park. Thus, the dairy was built.
    Today, the Dairy serves as a general visitor center and provides the public with information on the design of Central Park, current park events and programs.
  • Central Park’s Literary Walk - This quarter-mile promenade is flanked by towering American elm trees. A stroll along the Mall can be a transcendent experience, precisely what Olmsted and Vaux envisioned for the Park’s only formal promenade. The elegant path is surrounded by North America’s largest remaining stand of American elms, whose interlocking branches create a stained-glass effect as sunlight trickles to the ground.
  • Balto Statue - A heroic sled dog immortalized in bronze, Balto is a beloved fixture in the Park.
  • SummerStage in Central Park - A spacious outdoor entertainment venue just off the eastern edge of the Mall, Rumsey Playfield features all types of cultural delights—music, dance, spoken word, film.
  • Conservatory Water - This ornamental pond was originally constructed in 1858 as a reflecting pool for a glass conservatory, but the plan for the structure was abandoned. Instead, in the tradition of Parisian parks, it became a playground for model boats—and, consequently, one of the Park’s most beloved children’s attractions.
  • Loeb Boathouse - Loeb Boathouse is best known as the launch point for the rowboats dotting Central Park’s iconic Lake.
    From Loeb Boathouse, visitors can also take a ride on an authentic Venetian gondola or enjoy a meal with a view at the Lakeside Restaurant. More casual fare can be found at the cafeteria-style Boathouse Express Cafe, where an inviting fireplace provides a cozy respite in winter.
  • Bethesda Fountain - At 26 feet high and 96 feet in diameter, this fountain is one of the largest in the City. Created by sculptor Emma Stebbins, it commemorates the 1842 opening of the Croton Aqueduct, which brought fresh water from Westchester County into New York City and ended the cholera epidemic. Angel of the Waters—the City’s first major piece of public art commissioned from a woman—references the gospel of John, which describes an angel blessing the Pool of Bethesda and giving it healing powers. The lily in her left hand represents purity, and the four figures surrounding the pedestal below signify peace, health, purity, and temperance.

The carriage will stop by the Bethesda Fountain, you will be able to have a short walk to the fountain and take pictures.

  • Cherry Hill - The carriage will stop at the Cherry Hill (aka Friends Fountain) to have a short walk and take memorable pictures. Offering plenty of benches and shade, it is a popular spot to picnic, relax, and take in the views of rowboats and nearby Bow Bridge.
  • The Lake - Central Park designers Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux imagined the Lake as a place for ice skating in the winter—a pastime not available to New Yorkers at the time—and boating in the summer. On December 19, 1858, some 300 ice skaters took to the Lake at an unofficial “opening” of Central Park. The activity was an instant hit and soon skyrocketed in popularity; on Christmas morning the following year, nearly 8,000 skaters showed up. Though ice skating on the Lake is a thing of the past, the warm-weather tradition of rowboats and gondolas has endured for over 150 years.
  • Sheep Meadow - Sheep Meadow was by far the most expensive part of Central Park’s original construction. Transforming the rocky swampland into a lush lawn was not easy. To build it, designers blasted out rock and put in several feet of soil in its place. From 1864 to 1934, the meadow had a dedicated team of somewhat unusual caretakers: a flock of grazing pedigree sheep. The sheep tended the meadow during the day and spent their evenings in the Sheepfold, in what is now Tavern on the Green.
  • Pinebank Arch - Pinebank Arch is one of the five remaining original cast-iron bridges in Central Park. It looks over the bridle path 11 feet below, a peaceful and scenic sight. In the winter when the trees are bare, look instead for views of the grand midtown skyline. The bridge is also famous for the movie “Elf” was filmed.
  • Columbus Circle - Columbus Circle is remarkable not only for its central monument but also for the subways beneath it and the collection of buildings clustered around it
  • Heckscher Playground - Heckscher Playground is not only the oldest playground in Central Park, it is also the largest at almost two acres. In addition to the typical park attractions, such as a variety of slides, swings, and seesaws, Heckscher Playground features both a water fixture and giant rocks for climbing.
  • Ghostbusters Building - Famous Ghostbusters Building and Marshmallow man church
What's Included
  • Entertaining and informative tour with stories about the park
  • Special treat for the horse
  • Exclusive experience for up to 4 adults or family of 5
  • All fees and taxes included
  • Complimentary photo service by the driver
  • Warm blankets provided during winter
What's Not Included
  • GRATUITY NOT INCLUDED. You can tip cash or card accepted. Thank you again!
Additional Information

If you’re seeking an entertaining endeavor for both yourself and your children in New York City, a romantic outing, or conceptualizing your itinerary to Central Park, the Classic Central Park horse carriage ride is at your service! The meticulously organized tour incorporates the most sought-after features and picturesque panoramas. Attractions include Wollman Rink, Carousel, Chess & Checker House, The Dairy, Literary Mall, Bethesda Fountain, The Lake, Boat Pond, Sheep Meadow, Tavern On The Green, Columbus Circle, Balto Statue, Summer Stage, The Boathouse Restaurant, Bandshell, and Cherry Hill. On your journey, you will be privy to an array of fascinating trivia about Central Park and its points of interest, and will be able to capture unforgettable snapshots at Bethesda Fountain and Cherry Hill, fondly referred to as Friends Fountain.

  • Not recommended for travelers with serious Horse Allergy
Location
Central Park South & 7th Avenue
Our driver will call or text you with details about your carriage an hour before the ride.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.7
(30 Ratings)
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Erin_s
Dec 29, 2023
This is the tour to take - Niko was great! He hopped out and took the most amazing photo of us. It was shocking how good the photo was. 😂 very knowledgeable and kind.
Review provided by Viator
Suzanne_s
Dec 23, 2023
Magical Christmas Experience - Great guide - very knowledgeable and lovely horse Ringo. All the Central Park highlights - and photo stops.
Review provided by Viator
Kari_h
Dec 18, 2023
Awesome time - Loved the park ride and pictures along the ways with my family. The driver was kind and personable and made sure it was a sure success. I highly recommend to family and friends/ couples.
Review provided by Viator
Lynda_h
Dec 16, 2023
Highly Recommend! - Great experience- engaging driver - best way to see Central Park. I highly recommend a guided carriage ride.
Review provided by Viator
Jennifer
Jul 5, 2023
Nico was the best! - Our guide’s name was Nico. He was very nice and knowledgable when sharing the history on some of the locations we passed. He also gave us the opportunity to get out and take pics by two fountains. He was patient and very kind. It Was obvious that he enjoyed his job. I definitely would go back and recommend. It was a peaceful, beautiful ride.
Review provided by Viator
Kimberly_q
Apr 14, 2023
Amazing for families and kids! - Amazing trip! Atakan was friendly and always offered to let us get out and take pictures! Amazing time and will definitely be rebooking!!
Review provided by Viator
Allison_e
Apr 13, 2023
Horse drawn carriage ride - Everything.The weather was lovely.The horse and carrage and driver where wonderful He was full of interesting facts.
Review provided by Viator
Stephanie_m
Apr 6, 2023
Niko is the best! - Took tour with Niko. He was extremely friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating. Our teenage kids really enjoyed themselves even though they said they didn't want to go!
Review provided by Viator
Beverly_f
Apr 19, 2023
Central Park ride - We had a lovely ride around Central Park. Our driver was great, and showed where movies were made asking the ride. The only negative part is when we left. Many carriages were offering $90 for 1 hot . We paid $159 for 20 to 25 minutes
Review provided by Viator
E2509uulindah
Jan 3, 2024
Expensive short trip around a tiny part of the park - It’s very overpriced for what you get. Some of the horses don’t look in great condition. We were unable to choose the horse and carriage we wanted. The prices reflected on the side of the carriage don’t actually reflect what you pay. Make sure you ask as we spoke to several before deciding to do it and paid less than originally quoted. We would have liked a longer tour and asked however it wasn’t available. They all want to get people in and out as quickly as possible. Checking facts afterwards, the fountain they stop at and tell you is from Friends, it isn’t really and when you check your pictures you’ll see the difference! The website tells you they stop and let you off to take pictures, they don’t. We’ve done it however I wouldn’t necessarily recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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June 2024
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