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Washington Square Park, New York, NY

Photo: Isabella Ruffalo-Burgat, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingIconicFreeLocal Gem

Washington Square Park

5th Ave, Waverly Pl, W 4th St and MacDougal St · New York, NY

Why you should go…

Washington Square Park covers 9.75 acres in Greenwich Village. Its marble arch, designed by Stanford White and dedicated in 1895, honors George Washington and frames the view toward the central fountain. The land was once a marsh, a potter's field and a military parade ground. Today you will find chess players, street performers, playgrounds, dog runs and statues, including one of Giuseppe Garibaldi.

  • #city park
  • #washington square arch
  • #greenwich village
  • #street performers

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Washington Square Park, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Nightlife
    Iconic

    Blue Note Jazz Club

    $25–$50

    Sit close to the stage for nightly live jazz with dinner and drinks at this Greenwich Village club.

    Steps awaySwitch it up: Nightlife

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Stonewall National Monument

    Free

    Walk Christopher Park and the streets outside the Stonewall Inn, where the 1969 uprising gave momentum to the LGBTQ rights movement.

    0.3 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Greenwich Village

    Free

    Stroll from the Washington Square Arch along Bleecker and MacDougal Streets past jazz clubs, cafes and small theaters.

    0.3 mi awayMore like this

  • Nightlife
    Iconic

    Village Vanguard

    $25–$50

    Walk down fifteen steps to a small triangular basement and hear two sets of live jazz a night.

    0.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Nightlife

  • Shopping
    Iconic

    SoHo

    Free

    Shop boutiques and flagship stores among Lower Manhattan blocks lined with 19th-century cast-iron buildings.

    0.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Flatiron Building

    Free

    See the 22-story triangular tower from 1902 where Fifth Avenue and Broadway cross at 23rd Street.

    0.8 mi awayMore like this