Best Places for NYC Cherry Blossoms

Spring is blooming in New York City this week, including thousands of pink and white Japanese cherry trees with their fragrant and delicate pink and white blossoms.

Here are the best places to enjoy the cherry blossoms in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Bronx –

Cherry Walk, Riverside Park, Manhattan:

The walkway along the Hudson River, from 100th Street to 125th Street, is known as Cherry Walk.  The entire length of this promenade is dotted with cherry trees. 

It’s a lovely walk — but for those of you unfamiliar with the area, be forewarned that there is no exit between the the northern and southern ends of the walkway. 

So, unless you want to walk the full mile, pick the ‘unofficial’ Cherry Walk, just south of the official one. 

The section of Riverside Park between 96th and 90th street also is dotted with beautiful pink and white cherry trees.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden:

There are three areas for enjoying the world famous cherry trees here,  Cherry Walk and Cherry Esplanade, a huge lawn with parallel rows of trees, and the Japanese Garden, where petals are reflected in the water of a small pond. 

There are benches to sit and enjoy, or park yourself on the Esplanade lawn for a picnic.

Follow the BBG Cherry Watch website to find out what’s blooming where.

• There’s also a huge Cherry Blossom Festival, Sakura Matsuri, the last weekend of April.

New York Botanical Garden:

Dozens of cherry trees are sprinkled among some of the oldest trees in the city in this 50-acre pastoral escape in the Bronx.

Central Park:

There are several clusters of cherry blossoms. Find them around the bridal path at 90th St, East Drive at 66th St, the east side of the Boathouse at 74th St. and at Cherry Hill, which is mid-park at 72nd St., and around the Reservoir.

Cherry Blossoms Tour

Sunday, April 7 | 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Saturday, April 13 | 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Thursday, April 18 | 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Visit the hundreds of famous cherry trees that bloom around the Reservoir each spring. Learn about the history of this area, how these beloved trees came to Central Park, and what it takes to care for the variety of blooms throughout the Park.
Tickets $15 (Members $10)  Buy tickets

Randall’s Island:

Pedestrian and cycling trails are dotted with cherry trees.

This island park is on the East River between East Harlem, the South Bronx and Astoria, Queens. It’s difficult to get to, but worth the effort.

My NYC guidebook, Peaceful Places in New York City includes best places to see cherry blossoms in NYC.  It’s available in print and eBook versions at Amazon.

• The cover photo is the Bow Bridge in Central Park.  No cherry blossoms here, and, just a lovely place to visit.

This guide to NYC cherry blossoms has been published annually since 2014, updated for 2019