Bow Bridge

Bow Bridge is one of the most iconic landmarks in Central Park, often featured in movies and TV shows—and for good reason. Its elegant design and romantic setting have made it a popular spot for proposals, engagement shoots, and wedding photos (you’ll even see custom banners and photographers capturing the moment). While its fame may make it feel slightly less special in person to some, it still stands out as a highlight of any walk through the park. Whether framed by cherry blossoms in spring or vibrant foliage in fall, Bow Bridge offers a stunning view of the Manhattan skyline reflected on the water—an ideal spot for photos and a peaceful pause in the city. A must-visit for the romance, the views, and the timeless charm.

Iconic, romantic, and straight out of the movies! Bow Bridge is one of the most beautiful and romantic spots in Central Park. With stunning views over the lake, a graceful design, and peaceful surroundings, it feels like a dream—especially at sunrise or sunset. It’s also a favorite filming location and has featured in several Bollywood movies, making it a must-visit for fans! Whether you’re taking a scenic walk, capturing a photo, or just relaxing by the water, this place has timeless charm. Expect a bit of a crowd, but it’s totally worth it.

Oh, behold The Bow Bridge—an architectural marvel that bravely spans a dramatic twenty-foot gap over an offensively calm pond. Truly, it exists. With wood planks that mostly don’t wobble and railings that only slightly question your life choices, this stalwart structure performs its sole function: getting you from one side of a path to the other without drowning in two feet of water. Heroic. Inspirational. Absolutely adequate.

Bow Bridge is one of the most beautiful and peaceful spots in Central Park. The view over the lake is stunning, especially with the skyline in the background. It feels like a little romantic escape right in the heart of NYC. A must-see if you’re walking through the park, timeless and magical.

Beautiful and iconic spot in Central Park! The views are stunning, especially at sunset. A must-visit for a peaceful stroll or photo opportunity.

As a wedding officiant, the enchanting Bow Bridge in Central Park is one of New York City's most breathtaking and ideal locations for an intimate elopement or a small, heartfelt wedding ceremony. The picturesque views from Bow Bridge are simply unparalleled. With the stunning backdrop of the Central Park Lake, framed by lush greenery in spring and summer, vibrant fall foliage, or a serene, snow-dusted landscape in winter, every angle offers a postcard-perfect setting for wedding photography. The elegant cast-iron architecture of the bridge itself adds a romantic, timeless charm, making it a dream location for couples seeking a beautiful and iconic New York wedding experience. For small elopements and intimate ceremonies, Bow Bridge provides an incredibly romantic and private-feeling ambiance, even within the bustling heart of Manhattan. The natural beauty surrounding the bridge creates a serene and magical atmosphere that enhances the solemnity and joy of saying "I do." It's truly a dream wedding location for those who desire both natural beauty and an iconic New York City landmark as their backdrop. A crucial piece of advice I always offer to couples planning their Bow Bridge wedding is to schedule their ceremony for first thing in the morning. Arriving just after sunrise allows you to capture the most exquisite light for your wedding photos and, more importantly, to avoid the crowds that Central Park attracts throughout the day. This early start ensures a more private and peaceful ceremony, allowing you to fully immerse yourselves in the moment without distraction. Furthermore, it is highly recommended that couples secure a park permit for their wedding ceremony at this specific Central Park location. While the park is public, holding an organized event, even a small elopement, without the proper Central Park wedding permit can lead to unforeseen interruptions. To ensure your wedding ceremony proceeds smoothly and without incident, having the necessary event permit from the Central Park Conservancy is absolutely essential. Trust me, avoiding the potential disappointment of being "shut down" by park officials is well worth the simple step of obtaining your permit. The beauty of Bow Bridge as a wedding spot is truly something to behold, and the joyous expressions of the couples who exchange vows here are a testament to its charm. While Central Park boasts many other beautiful spots to get married, such as Ladies Pavilion or Wagner Cove, Bow Bridge consistently stands out for its unique blend of architectural elegance and natural splendor. It’s a truly memorable and sought-after location for any couple looking for a quintessentially New York wedding. Highly recommended for a truly unforgettable and beautiful elopement in Central Park!

this bridge is a famous landmark in Central Park and we can take beautiful pictures, nature was enhanced by the beautiful weather.lake and the bridge make it beautiful 🤩 we walk around sometimes there enjoy & relaxed ☺️ bridge architecture is stunning

This Victorian style bridge is a gem all four seasons. Make sure to go on the side walkways to get a picture of the entire bridge. My favorite time to visit is mid day.

This is my favorite bridge in Central Park. The area around it is so relaxing and I love watching the row boats around the bridge. It is a very iconic and picturesque location. Built in 1862, this Victorian-era bridge spans 60 feet over Central Park Lake. It connects Cherry Hill to the Ramble. It is the second-oldest cast-iron bridge is the U.S. and the oldest in Central Park. It is called Bow Bridge because of its resemblance to an archer's bow. I have taken so many photos of this bridge. There are so many beautiful shots that you can take from so many different angles. One of my favorites is of the flowers in the planting urns on the bridge with the lake in the background. These eight 3.5 foot cast-iron urns were removed yeas ago and replaced with exact replicas to match the ones that adorned this bridge in the early 1900's. Some other favorite photos I like to take are of ones with iconic buildings like The El Dorado in the background. Bow Bridge is known as the romantic heart of the park because of all the wedding proposals and first kisses that take place on this bridge. It has also been featured in many movies. Whenever I visit Manhattan, I always try to make sure I make some time to visit Central Park and the Bow Bridge on my trips.

Spanning 60 feet across Central Park Lake, Bow Bridge is a very popular attraction in Central Park, and I can see why -- the beautiful setting and the lovely architecture. The Bow Bridge is so-called because it resembles the curve of an archer's bow, and apparently it is the second oldest cast-iron bridge in the US, having been completed in 1862. While we passed over the Bow Bridge, there was a busker playing a lovely rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" on the mandolin, and we saw several cute goslings. [Yelp collections: East Coast 2022; NY Summer 2022; NY Central Park; Bridges and Castles]

What a cool bridge. While we were here, either a bride was getting her pictures taken or it was a shoot for a commercial. Either way, the photo shoot made our visit a once in a life time thing. Views from the bridge were beautiful.

I'm not going to Bow to pressure to review this bridge. OK I will. Everybody loves this bridge and I can see why. It's probably my favorite bridge in Central Park and it's absolutely gorgeous and splendid and amazing. And very historical. It's made out of iron and it's a great place for lovers to come and hang out. One of my favourite parts of the park.

I love the serenity of this bridge! When it isn't crowded w/couples doing googley-eyed poses or families/tourists trying to do squished in selfies, it is such a tranquil place. But, it is in the middle of ZooYork, so the peaceful serenity is oft short-lived. I will say, I enjoy the views of the bridge than the views from it. The simplistic soft arching beauty of this bridge actually reminds me of the Ha'Penny bridge in Dublin, Ireland. I found a great little nook around the corner to view it from that I had to myself for quite awhile and was in Central Park heaven!

Bow Bridge is the largest bridge in Central Park. It's 87 feet long made of cast iron. It's a pedestrian walkway located in The Ramble and Lake area of the park. It's the most beautiful foot bridge I've ever seen. I love the detail. I'm sure all Tourists would love to see this historic bridge. When you're in NYC and visit the park, walk to the bridge. When you're on the bridge look around at the beautiful views!

Lovely cast iron bridge over the Lake. It's beautiful, and lots of couples think so. There's a lot of pda here. Very pretty with people in rowboats.

3.5 stars. If Central Park is depicted on the big - as well as small - screen, this guy will make the cut, even if for just a few seconds. This iconic bridge is an immortal symbol of this park, with loving couples kissing on the top as well as below on a romantic boat ride. I don't think it looks particularly amazing, but you can't deny the charm of its fame.

First time in this area and I loved it. Beautiful scenery and plenty of shaded and grassy area that is perfect for a picnic. It is not too far from other attractions such as the Strawberry fields, The Mall and Literary Walk, & the Bethesda Terrace & Fountain. I love how a lot of people were on row boats near Bow Bridge. I asked around for rates and it's $15/hour until 5 pm. Will definitely go back to try it out. Ps-I walked and lounged around this area for about an hour and ran into a lot of rats, so be aware. Lol

Did not know we could review this thing. I have walked over it a bunch of times while in Central Park. It's a wonderful looking relic from the mid 1800's that spans over the lake and offers terrific views and picture opportunities. It connects The Ramble to Cherry Hill. Over the years it has been seen in movies, tv shows, and photo shoots. It's a nice throwback to an era when architecture actually had character. Still, what is up with the 5 star reviews for this thing? Did these people have mad sex on it or something? It's just a little bridge not the GWB!

A must see if you're in Central Park! It's just around the corner from the Bethesda fountain! Beautiful bridge with beautiful scenery!

This bridge will always hold a special place in my heart simply because it's where I got married almost 4 years ago. We were looking to do a small, simple, informal ceremony and our Justice of the Peace suggested Bow Bridge. We had never heard of it until we looked it up and instantly fell in love with the spot. I have not been back to Central Park or Bow Bridge since my wedding day but I'm planning to come back this summer and bring our little boy with us as it's where we started our married life and ultimately was the start of our son's family.

How could you not love this bridge? Its an old cast iron bridge with 19th century charm. Its romantic and unique at the same time. More proposals happen on this bridge than another landmark in NYC. So much PDA occurring on this bridge. Come feel the .-.-. .-.-. .-.-. .-.-. ( l .'( o .'( v .'( e .' `.( `.( `.( `.(

The most recognizable, and my favorite, bridge in all of Central Park, Bow Bridge connects Cherry Hill to the Ramble. I can not even begin to think how many times I've walked, ran, biked, skipped, etc. over this bridge throughout the years but trust me when I say it's easily in the hundreds. This particular bridge can be seen in SO many movies as well as television shows ( maybe you remember it from the opening credits of " Mad About You " ) and has also figured in countless romantic moments in the lives of couples from not only New York but all over the world. Soon to be 150 years old, our little 60 feet cast-iron bridge was built by the same company who brought you the dome on The Capital in Washington, D.C.

Beautiful Bridge. 1) The view from here is amazing. 2) Great place to get a feel of the lake. 3) It is close by to Strawberry Fields. 4) The bridge is great for taking pictures.

Great spot, both from a distance to take in and to photograph. Arguably even better once you're on it, offering great views of either side and unobstructed vistas of the surrounding buildings.

this was a pretty stop on an impromptu tour of the park, i like finding locations from movies in this city.

Small little romantic bridge in Central Park, just a few steps from Bethesda Fountain. Almost every time I come here, there's a marriage proposal. It's very nice, you see the rowers in the summer row by and the buildings of the UWS peeking behind the trees. Watch your step though, as they recently renovated the bridge and there's a little gap heading towards Bethesda Fountain that people trip over.