Central Park is the first park in America and its beautiful landscapes made it one of the most photographed and filmed places in the city. You can also take a tour while riding a horse carriage the Central Park.

When in New York, make sure you visit these top places in Central Park:

Bethesda Terrace

This is the location of the grand Bethesda Fountain or more locally known as the “Angel of the Waters.” I always wanted to visit this place since it was featured in movies like Enchanted, 27 Dresses, The Avengers and more.

This is the “only formal architectural setting” in the park with intricate sculptures made by Jacob WreyMould adorning the terrace walls and pillars. Also, the tiles on the terrace created acoustics that drew street musicians.

Central Park Zoo

Animal lover? Head to the park’s zoo. Tropical, temperate and polar animals are being cared for here and you can watch sea lions doing tricks during feeding times. The park also has a children’s zoo where young ones can interact with domestic and farm animals.

Central Park Zoo is the “New York Zoo” in Jim Carey’s movie Mr. Popper’s Penguins and the setting of the animated film Madagascar.

Conservatory Water

Kids (and kids at heart) love to hang out at the Conservatory Water or the Boat Pond. Try operating remote controlled mini boats – and maybe a Stuart Little hijacks your boat too.

I also enjoyed strolling to nearby statues of Hans Christian Anderson and Alice in Wonderland.

Gapstow Bridge

Fans of holiday movie Home Alone 2 may recognize this famous bridge. Have a selfie or a group shot here with the Plaza Hotel as your backdrop.

The bridge stands over The Pond found southeast of the Central Park and is a quick hideaway from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Loeb Boathouse

Want to be Carrie of Sex and the City and meet your Mr. Big someday? Or maybe you’re more like Sally who nears the end of a relationship with Joe in When Harry Met Sally. Whatever emotional state you are in, you might just be hungry. Grab a bite at the Loeb Boathouse. They have a lakeside restaurant, an outside bar and an express café

The boathouse sits on The Lake. This is the centerpiece of the park where you can rent a rowboat and glide on the water. The famous Bow Bridge is also found here.

Naumburg Bandshell

This is an original part of the park, meant as a place for locals to spend time listening to classical music. It also became the venue for Martin Luther King Jr’s speech and eulogy for John Lennon. The bandshell is also one of the locations for the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

The bandshell is part of The Mall, and it is responsible for bringing large crowds of people to the area during festivals and concerts. The Mall itself is known for its tree lined promenade and walkways with statues of famous authors. Even without festivals, this place is full of street performers, vendors, roller skaters and skateboarders so there is a lot to entertain.

Sheep Meadow

This is one of my favorite places to go to for a picnic when it’s not too hot to stay under the sun. Lots of other people go here to play Frisbee or just enjoy the midtown skyline. The evergreen expanse naturally invited film productions to roll here too including romantic flicks, It Could Happen to You and Little Manhattan.

Before people, this place was also once full of sheep – hence the name. Near the meadow is a place called Tavern on the Green which was once a sheepfold. Now it’s a restaurant that is also frequently in films like The Ghostbusters, Mr. Poppers Penguins and Wall Street.

Strawberry Fields

A memorial for John Lennon who lived and was murdered “across the street.” It was named Strawberry Fields after one of the famous songs of the Beatles. The landscape, designed as a meditative spot, was a collaboration between Yoko Ono Lennon, Bruce Kelly and the Central Park Conservancy. At the center of the American elm trees and benches is a mosaic with one of his famous song, Imagine.

The Wollman Rink

This is probably one of the most romantic places in the park made famous by films such as Love Story and Serendipity.

Since its opening in 1950, the Wollman Rink has been part of New York’s winter tradition opening the visitors to the city “skyline by day, and its twinkling lights by night”

The 843-acre green open space is a joy for many New Yorkers and tourists alike. It serves as a reprieve from their hectic daily schedule.

It is easy to get lost in the park, literally and figuratively. If you want to go around and catch most of the iconic places, I recommend you to get a guided tour with Gotham City Tour and go around the park either by horse and carriage, pedicab, bike, or by foot. Plus, you can have your own photo-shoot with photographers cum tourist guides for that perfectly captured memory.