The Big Apple is in full bloom! Over a century ago a Committee of Japanese Residents gifted NYC their first cherry trees and ever since then New Yorkers have embraced this Japanese tradition that celebrates the changing of the season with the Sakura tree (aka cherry blossoms). So whether you are taking a relaxing stroll through Central Park, enjoying a picnic or attending the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, make sure to enjoy this beautiful changing of the season by visiting some of the best places in New York to see Cherry Blossoms.
Central Park
Manhattan
Central Park is the main spot people want to go to in order to see the cherry blossoms, but as we know Central Park is HUGE! So where in Central Park is the best places to see the Cherry Blossoms? Let’s start between 72nd Street and 96th Street, with the highest concentrations around the Reservoir, Cherry Hill, Pilgrim Hill, Great Lawn, Cedar Hill, and the area just south of Cedar Hill between 74th and 77th Streets.
Sakura Park
Manhattan
This Park is located in Morningside Heights neighborhood in Manhattan, New York City, north of West 122nd Street between Riverside Drive and Claremont Avenue. Sakura in Japanese means a flowering cherry tree so this is very fitting!
Brooklyn Botanical Garden
Brooklyn
You can plan your Cherry Blossom seeing through their website.
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Queens
One of the city’s most iconic parks! Enjoy the juxtaposition of some futuristic steel monuments alongside the century old Sakura trees!
Queens Botanical Garden
Queens
Another spot in Queens, but this isn’t your typical Botanical garden! This is literally an oasis within the busy streets of New York City. So make sure to check out this 39-acre garden.
New York Botanical Garden
Bronx
Walk through the more than 200 cherry blossom trees planted in this park. Use their website to track when they are in full bloom!
Roosevelt Island
Island in the East River
Take a tramway to one of New York’s best kept secrets to Roosevelt Island and enjoy the view along the waterfront. The trees create a beautiful canopy creating a picture perfect view.
There is a spot in all five boroughs so make sure to check out some of the best places in New York to See Cherry Blossoms. This season along the Fall season are the two times in the year you can’t miss. If you are planning a trip in the fall make sure to check out this post on how to spend the perfect Fall Day in Central Park. For now let’s live in the moment and welcome the beautiful Spring Season here in the City!
Absolutely beautiful. I’ve visited central park on a trip from Australia to USA. Such a beautiful place. Now I have another reason to visit. There’s are stunning and I wasn’t aware of cherry blossoms in Central Park.
Central park! The infamous central park 5 story. That’s the first thing that came to mind. I’m not familiar with the rest but they sound like nice places.
Cherry Blossoms are so lovely! I like their shade of pink. They remind me of Jacaranda trees in my yard.
Thank you for these recommendations! Loved cherry blossom festival in DC many years ago. Would love to visit again