The Best Places to See Cherry Blossoms in New York City!

Spring has arrived in New York, and with it, the blooming of the flowers from over 40,000 cherry blossom trees that bring color to the city streets and parks every year.

To make your spring trip unforgettable, I’ve listed some of the most interesting places to see cherry blossoms in New York, and of course, take lots of photos.

Onde ver as flores de cerejeira em Nova York?

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When to see cherry blossoms in New York?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions for those coming in the spring, and the good news is that they don’t all bloom at the same time in all places, so chances are you can see them between mid-March and mid/end of April in different places around the city. To find out if they are in bloom, I recommend checking the website or social media of each park, as they usually have a “Cherry blossom tracker” or Cherrywatch that shows how the flowers are and where they are located. Such as this one from the Bronx Botanical Garden or this one from Brooklyn. Keep an eye on the social media of the main parks, as they usually share more about the flowers as well.

Riverside Park – Cherry Walk

Founded in 1930, Riverside Park is a continuous path almost 6.5 km long, following the Hudson River from 72nd to 158th Street. It has hundreds of cherry trees, but the largest concentration is between 100th and 125th Street.

Sakura Park

Sakura Park is located in Morningside Heights, Manhattan. The park was named after more than 2000 cherry trees were brought directly from Japan in 1912.

The cherry trees in the park were a gift from the Japanese Resident’s Committee to commemorate the Hudson-Fulton Celebration in 1909.

Next to the park, you will find Riverside Church, one of the most beautiful churches in the city.

Central Park

The best place to see cherry blossoms in Central Park is between 72nd Street and 96th Street.

On the East Side of the Central Park Reservoir, there are 35 Yoshino cherry trees, which produce pinkish-white flowers with a slight almond scent. On the West Side of the Central Park Reservoir, there are also several pink cherry trees to be enjoyed.

Other interesting places in Central Park are: Cherry Hill, Pilgrim Hill, the Great Lawn, Cedar Hill, some are also present behind the MET and a few others near the Bethesda Fountain.

Map of Cherry Blossom Trees in Central Park.

Downtown

At Union Square and Madison Square Garden, you can find Kwanzan cherry trees, which bloom a little later than others. The 5th Avenue is home to a single Yoshino cherry tree.

If you are interested in this last species of cherry trees, you can find many others in Washington Square Park.

New York Botanical Garden – Bronx

The New York Botanical Garden has over 200 cherry trees, including a beautiful variety of pink weeping cherry trees near the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.

Pelham Bay Park also has several Yoshino cherry trees, near the City Island Bridge.

Randall’s Island

On May 1st (in 2022), the island will host the Cherry Blossom Festival, however, the cherry blossoms will bloom before that. The best places to see the flowers on the island are at the Urban Farm and in fields 62 and 63. Check the official website of the island HERE for updates on the current year’s festival.

Roosevelt Island

Located between Manhattan and Queens, the island has its own collection of cherry trees that can be seen along the West Promenade. One side usually blooms before the other, so keep an eye out. Enjoy the flowers and the beautiful view of the city that the island offers!

Flushing Meadows Corona Park

Located in Queens, the park boasts an impressive collection of Okame cherry blossom trees, near the famous Unisphere installation. This species is one of the first to bloom, so make sure to add the park as one of the first stops on your itinerary!

Green-Wood Cemetery

Brooklyn’s cemetery has a collection of 172 cherry trees and on April 20th, will host the Hanami Festival. The name of the festival – Hanami – can be translated as “admiring the flowers”.

The largest concentration of flowers can be found at the Valley Water and Sylvan Water lakes.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

With over 200 cherry trees, the botanical garden used to receive up to 50,000 visitors during a single weekend before the pandemic. Of these 200 cherry trees, 76 are located in the famous Cherry Esplanade. Keep an eye on this year’s dates HERE!

Staten Island

In Staten Island, you can see cherry blossoms at Conference House Park, Clove Lakes Park, on the north side of the lake in Silver Lake Park, and along Cottage Row at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden. On this website HERE, you can see all types of flowers and their locations scattered throughout the island.

I recommend exploring Staten Island if you have more time in the city and it’s not your first time, because besides the beautiful flowers, it’s a nice option for a non-cliché trip. To get there, I recommend taking the free ferry from downtown.

Photo: Snug Harbor Cultural Center – Instagram

Prospect Park

Prospect Park is also an excellent location to appreciate the beauty of cherry blossoms in New York. Most of the trees are located in the area of Grand Army Plaza and Long Meadow.

On the park’s website, you can see other places to visit in the spring!

Hunters Point

The neighborhood is located in Queens and has a beautiful view of the city, with a few but beautiful cherry blossom trees! I’ve mentioned all the coolest things to do, places to see, and where to eat in my New York guide.

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