15+ Best Gardens in NYC (NYBG, High Line & Free Gems)

Let’s be real, living in this city is a whole vibe, but sometimes you just need a break from the endless concrete and that one guy playing “Despacito” on the sax. When you need to trade the skyscrapers for some actual sky and greenery, you need to check out the best gardens in NYC. Forget that sad little houseplant you’re trying to keep alive—these are the real deal.

Your Ultimate Guide to NYC’s Most Beautiful Gardens

Some of these spots are so next-level, they could easily be in a Most beautiful gardens in the World book or on a Best gardens in the world National Geographic special. We’re talking world-class green spaces right here in the five boroughs. Whether you’re looking for free gardens in NYC (we got you) or specific gardens in Manhattan, this list is the perfect start to building your own best gardens in nyc map.

New York Botanical Garden (NYBG)

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People always ask, “is the New York Botanical Gardens worth it?” The short answer: 100%. This place is a 250-acre monster of nature in the Bronx. It’s not just a garden; it’s a whole ecosystem with 50 different gardens, a Victorian-style conservatory, and even an old-growth forest with the Bronx River running through it. This is a really famous garden in New York and an all-day trip, so wear comfy shoes.

Price: $$$
Location: 2900 Southern Blvd, The Bronx NY
Contact: https://www.nybg.org | (718) 817-8700
Pro Tip: The tram is your best friend here; it’ll save your feet. Don’t miss the Orchid Show in the spring or the Holiday Train Show in winter.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG)

If NYBG is the epic blockbuster, BBG is the perfectly directed indie film. It’s smaller (52 acres) but packs a serious punch. This is the spot everyone floods for the cherry blossoms in the spring. The Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden is maybe the most peaceful place in the whole borough, and their bonsai museum is unreal.

Price: $$
Location: 990 Washington Ave, Brooklyn
Contact: https://www.bbg.org |+1 718-623-7200 | feedback@bbg.org
Pro Tip: Go on a weekday morning to avoid the cherry blossom crowds. The entrance near Prospect Park makes it easy to do a “park and garden” double feature.

NYBG vs. BBG: What’s the Difference?

Tourists (and even locals) ask this all the time. Here’s the simple breakdown:

Go to NYBG (The Bronx) if: You want to be blown away by sheer scale. You have a full day, love massive conservatories, and want to see things like a 50-acre forest in the city. It’s grand and impressive.
Go to BBG (Brooklyn) if: You want a more curated, intimate vibe. You have half a day, and your main goals are seeing the iconic Cherry Esplanade or the tranquil Japanese Garden. It’s charming and manageable.

Conservatory Garden (Central Park)

When people ask “what is the most beautiful park in NYC?”, they usually mean Central Park, and this is its crown jewel. Tucked away uptown, this is the park’s only formal garden. You enter through the giant Vanderbilt Gate (from the old Vanderbilt mansion) and find three zones: a French garden, an Italian one, and an English one. It’s one of the best free gardens in NYC.

Price: FREE
Location: 1233 5th Ave, New York
Contact: https://www.centralparknyc.org | +64 6-740 8097 | social@centralparknyc.org
Pro Tip: This is an official “Quiet Zone.” It’s the perfect spot to escape the Central Park crowds and actually hear yourself think.

The High Line

You already know it, but it’s on the list for a reason. It’s a 1.5-mile-long park built on old elevated train tracks, and it totally changed the west side of Manhattan. It’s less of a “wander around” garden and more of a “walk-through” experience, with amazing views of the Hudson and the city’s architecture.

Price: FREE
Location: Runs from Gansevoort St. to 34th St. on the West Side, Manhattan
Contact: https://www.thehighline.org | +1 212-206-9922 | info@thehighline.org
Pro Tip: It gets packed. Go super early in the morning or on a weekday. The “Chelsea Thicket” section (between 21st and 22nd) really makes you forget you’re on a bridge.

Little Island

This is one of the newer Gardens in Manhattan, and it looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. It’s an entire 2.4-acre park built on concrete “tulips” rising out of the Hudson. It’s got rolling hills, over 400 species of plants, and a cool little amphitheater for shows. The views of downtown are top-tier.

Price: FREE (but may require timed entry during peak season)
Location: Pier 55 at Hudson River Park, West 13th St, New York
Contact: https://littleisland.org | info@littleisland.org
Pro Tip: Get your free timed-entry ticket in advance online if you’re going in the afternoon. Otherwise, go before noon when it’s open.

Wave Hill

This is a true hidden gem in the Bronx. It’s a 28-acre public garden and cultural center with insane views over the Hudson River and the Palisades. It feels less like a city park and more like you’re visiting a rich friend’s historic country estate. The formal gardens and winding woodland paths are stunning.

Price: $$
Location: W 249th St and Independence Avenue, Bronx, New York
Contact: https://www.wavehill.org | (718) 549-3200
Pro Tip: Admission is free on Thursdays (check their site for current free day/hours). It’s a bit of a trek, but that’s what keeps the crowds away.

Queens Botanical Garden

Don’t sleep on Queens. This 39-acre garden in Flushing is an oasis and has a much more local, community feel. It started as part of the 1939 World’s Fair. They have a Fragrance Walk, a Bee Garden, and a really impressive herb garden. It’s also super affordable.

Price: $
Location: 43-50 Main St, Flushing, NY
Contact: https://queensbotanical.org | (718) 886-3800 | info@queensbotanical.org
Pro Tip: Admission is typically free from November to March. It’s a great stop if you’re already in Flushing for food.

Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden

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Staten Island has one of the city’s best-kept secrets. Snug Harbor is a massive 83-acre campus with museums, theaters, and, most importantly, gorgeous gardens. The main attraction is the New York Chinese Scholar Garden, which is one of only two in the entire country. It’s legit, with pavilions, a bamboo forest path, and koi ponds.

Price: FREE (grounds) / $$ (for the Chinese Scholar Garden)
Location: 1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY
Contact: https://snug-harbor.org | (718) 448-2500
Pro Tip: It’s an easy bus ride from the Staten Island Ferry terminal. Go for the gardens, stay for the Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art.

The Heather Garden (Fort Tryon Park)

Way, way uptown (like, almost out of Manhattan) is Fort Tryon Park, home of the Cloisters. It’s also home to the Heather Garden, one of the largest Free gardens in NYC. This spot has over 500 varieties of plants, and in the summer, it’s just a riot of color overlooking the Hudson.

Price: FREE
Location: Fort Tryon Park, 1 Margaret Corbin Dr, New York
Contact: https://www.nycgovparks.org
Pro Tip: This is the ultimate “two-for-one.” Visit The Cloisters (the medieval art part of The Met) and then decompress in this garden.

The Battery

Right at the very bottom of Manhattan, The Battery isn’t just for catching the Statue of Liberty ferry. It has some of the best perennial gardens in the city, designed by Piet Oudolf (the guy who did The High Line). It’s designed to look beautiful in all four seasons, with waves of grasses and flowers.

Price: FREE
Location: Battery Park, New York
Contact: https://www.thebattery.org
Pro Tip: The “Gardens of Remembrance” are on the east side and are a beautiful, quiet spot to reflect.

Green-Wood

Okay, yes, it’s a cemetery. But it’s also a 478-acre National Historic Landmark and a certified arboretum. It’s one of the first “rural” cemeteries in America, which means it was designed to be a beautiful, park-like green space. The landscape is incredible, the Gothic architecture is wild, and their cherry blossom collection rivals Brooklyn’s.

Price: FREE
Location: 500 25th St, Brooklyn
Contact: https://www.green-wood.com | (718) 768-7300
Pro Tip: Grab a map at the entrance. You will get lost, but that’s half the fun. The highest point at Battle Hill has an amazing view of the skyline.

Elizabeth Street Garden

This is a beloved, quirky community sculpture garden in SoHo. It’s this little patch of green and marble statues squeezed between buildings. It’s one of the most unique Gardens in Manhattan. On top of that, it’s volunteer-run and has a very local, “keep-SoHo-weird” vibe.

Price: FREE (donations welcome)
Location: Elizabeth St, New York
Contact: https://www.elizabethstreetgarden.com | info@elizabethstreetgarden.com
Pro Tip: Its future is often uncertain due to development plans, so visit it and show your support. It’s a great place to see real neighborhood passion.

6BC Botanical Garden

In the East Village, this is another community-run gem. It’s a tiny, lush, and slightly wild-feeling garden that’s 100% volunteer-run. This is the definition of a local secret spot. It’s quiet, shady, and feels a million miles from St. Mark’s Place.

Price: FREE
Location: 624 E 6th St, New York
Contact: https://www.6bcgarden.org | contact@6bcgarden.org
Pro Tip: Hours are limited (usually weekends and some evenings), as it’s only open when a volunteer member is there. Check their site.

Greenacre Park

A “vest-pocket park” in Midtown East, this is the ultimate urban oasis. It’s a tiny park with a massive 25-foot waterfall in the back. The sound of the water completely drowns out the city traffic. It’s not a place to explore, but it’s one of the best places to sit and have a coffee.

Price: FREE
Location: 217 East 51st Street(between 2nd and 3rd) New York City
Contact: https://greenacrepark.org
Pro Tip: There’s a small café inside, and the seating areas are heated in cooler weather.

The Noguchi Museum

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This one’s for the art lovers. The museum in Queens, dedicated to sculptor Isamu Noguchi, has a stunning and tranquil outdoor sculpture garden. It’s a perfect blend of stone, water, and plants. It’s less of a “botanical garden” and more of a zen meditation space.

Price: $$
Location: 9-01 33rd Rd (At Vernon Blvd), Long Island City
Contact: https://www.noguchi.org | (718) 204-7088
Pro Tip: Admission is free on the first Friday of every month (but you must book tickets in advance online).

Riverside Park

Four miles of green space along the Hudson on the Upper West Side. It’s a classic for a reason. While the whole park is great, the stretch from 96th to 116th is especially garden-like, with terraced plazas and the “Garden People” community garden plots.

Price: FREE
Location: 475 Riverside Dr, New York
Contact: https://riversideparknyc.org | +1 212-870-3070 | mail@riversideparknyc.org
Pro Tip: The 91st Street Garden (aka the “You’ve Got Mail” garden) is a must-see in the spring and summer.

Prospect Park

You can’t talk about Brooklyn parks without mentioning its 585-acre backyard. People fight over whether this or Central Park is the most beautiful park in NYC. It has a 60-acre lake, the Long Meadow (the longest unbroken stretch of meadow in any US park), and the Ravine, a stunning forest with waterfalls.

Price: FREE
Location: 95 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn
Contact: https://www.prospectpark.org |+1 718-965-8951 | info@prospectpark.org
Pro Tip: Rent a pedal boat on the lake or check out Smorgasburg on weekends. It’s the park that truly has it all.

Time for a Drink With That View?

After a long day of walking through all that green, you’ve earned a drink. And let’s be honest, the only thing better than a garden is a garden with a skyline view. If you’re ready to trade the ground-level green for a high-altitude hang, check out our guide to the 20+ Best Rooftop Patios In NYC for the best spots to grab a cocktail.

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