Central Park Audio Guide – The BEST Way to Explore Central Park

While many visitors flock to Central Park, only a handful truly delve into the rich past and hidden gems of the 840-acre park!

Whether you have half an hour or an entire day to spare, the park’s sheer expanse offers something for everyone.

But how do you learn about these landmarks as you explore?!

Enter the Central Park Audio Guides which provide interesting audio readings of 40+ places in Central Park.

In this episode, we’ll dive into how to use the free audio guides, where to find them, and even give you a preview of what the audio guides sound like.

• Using the free Central Park audio guides
• What the audio guide signs look like
• List of locations/landmarks in the Central Park audio guide
• Central Park’s information kiosks
• How to get around Central Park
• This episode’s “You’ll Have to Check It Out” segment (new)

Let’s dive right into it. 👇

Related Reading: 21 Romantic Things to Do & Date Ideas in Central Park

Central Park Audio Guide Podcast Episode

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Using the Free Central Park Audio Guides

While you can certainly book guided tours of Central Park, those cost money & require you to be there at a certain time and for a certain amount of time.

If you’re more of a DIY explorer and like to go at your own pace, the Central Park Audio Guides are for you!

These guides offer historical information, fun facts, and little-known tidbits of info about 40+ landmarks. Each audio guide is available in English, Spanish, French, and ASL.

For most locations, the audio snippets range anywhere from 90 seconds up to about 4 1/2 minutes.

Here are the 2 ways you can use the Central Park Audio Guides. ⏬

Option 1: Phone Call

1. Call the phone number listed on the sign near the location
2. Enter the “extension number” listed on the sign
3. Listen to the audio (preferably with headphones)

If you want to save it in your contacts, here’s the Central Park Audio Guide phone number: 646-862-0997

The main disadvantage of the phone call route is that you have to find the extension on the sign in the park (or you can cheat and look at our list below).

Option 2: Bloomberg Connects App

Option 2 is to download the Bloomberg Connects app and find the Central Park Audio Guide there.

The advantage of the app is that you can search for locations/landmarks without being right next to them. That makes it easy to learn about sections of the park before (or after) you check them out.

I have found that the app can sometimes be buggy; honestly, the phone call is a straightforward option!

No matter which option you choose, use some headphones so you can listen and walk hands-free (and not bother people around you 😉).

What the Central Park Audio Guide Signs Look Like

The audio guide signs are located throughout the park, right near popular landmarks.

It’s a green sign that usually has:

• The name of the landmark/location
• The audio guide’s phone number
• The specific landmark/location’s extension
• A QR code to scan and access the Bloomberg Connects App

The Central Park Audio Guide signs look like this:

List of Locations Available in the Audio Guides + Call Extension Numbers

As mentioned above, the disadvantage of the phone call option for the audio guides is that you have to be at the location to see the extension number.

Well, we’re gonna make it a little easier on you with a full list of all the audio guide stops and each associated extension number.

Fun but Mostly Sad Note: From about 2009 to early 2023, the audio guides were ready by famous New Yorkers. For some reason, they got rid of it. Such a shame! Next to each location, we’ll include the name of the person who used to read the audio snippet.

PS- If anyone knows why they got rid of this feature, please let us know.

Alright, here are all of the locations available on the free Central Park Audio Guide & each corresponding extension number (if there’s a hyperlink, it’s for an article we’ve written about that specific landmark):

1. Explore the North End: #100
2. Blockhouse: #101
3. Fort Clinton: #102
4. McGowan’s Pass: #103
5. Great Hill: #104
6. The Harlem Meer: #105 (previously read by S. Epatha Merkerson)
7. The North Meadow: #106 (previously read by Jimmy Fallon)
8. North Woods: #107
9. Huddlestone Arch: #108
10. The Ravine and Loch: #109
11. The Pool: #110 (previously read by Susan Lucci)
12. Duke Ellington Circle: #111
13. Frederick Douglass: #112
14. Explore the South End: #113
15. The Pond: #114 (previously read by Sarah Jessica Parker)
16. Heckscher Playground and Ballfields: #115 (previously read by Scott Clark)
17. Children’s District and the Dairy: #116 (previously read by Kelly Ripa)
18. The Mall: #117 (previously read by Jerry Seinfeld)
19. Concert Ground: #118 (previously read by Paul Shaffer)
20. Bethesda Terrace and Fountain: #119 (previously read by George C. Wolfe)
21. Bow Bridge: #120 (previously read by Julia Louis-Dreyfus)
22. Cherry Hill: #121
23. Conservatory Water: #122 (previously read by Glenn Close)
24. Alice in Wonderland: #123 (previously read by Whoopi Goldberg)
25. Balto: #124 (previously read by John Stossel)
26. Sheep Meadow: #125 (previously read by Matthew Broderick)
27. Strawberry Fields: #126 (previously read by Yoko Ono)
28. The Lake: #127 (previously read by Penn Jillette)
29. The Ramble: #128 (previously read by Isabella Rossellini)
30. Hallett Nature Sanctuary: #129
31. Dene: #130
32. Adventure Playground: #131
33. Merchants’ Gate: #132
34. Grand Army Plaza: #133 (previously read by Regis Philbin)
35. Explore the Mid-Park: #134
36. Great Lawn: #135 (previously read by Alec Baldwin)
37. Seneca Village Site: #136
38. Delacorte Theater: #137 (previously read by Anne Hathaway)
39. Shakespeare Garden: #138 (previously read by Marcia Gay Harden)
40. Obelisk (Cleopatra’s Needle): #139 (previously read by Philippe de Montebello)
41. Arthur Ross Pinetum: #140 (previously read by Martha Stewart)
42. Reservoir: #141 (previously read by Kevin Bacon)
43. Bridge No. 28: #142
44. Welcome to the Belvedere: #143 (previously read by Lee Goldberg)

Previous locations on the audio guide (no longer included) were read by:

• Danny Meyer
• Tea Leoni
• Penn Jillette
• Meredith Vieira
• Sigourney Weaver
• David Copperfield
• Neil Patrick Harris
• Doug Blonsky
• John McEnroe
• Jason Alexander

Again, if anyone knows why they got rid of the celebrity readings, please let us know!

Central Park Information Kiosks

While the Central Park Audio Guides are priceless, you can also check out the Central Park Information Kiosks throughout the park for added information.

There is one near Columbus Circle (map link), one near 72nd Street (map link), and sometimes one near the 6th Ave entrance near Central Park South (map link).

Most will have physical maps and a knowledgeable park volunteer who can answer questions, give directions, and guide you on your journey in Central Park!

Those look like this:

Image Source

How to Get Around Central Park

As we’re talking about these audio guides, you may be wondering about the best ways to get around Central Park to see all these spots!

The short answer, walking is typically the most practical! You’ll also see parts of the park you will not see on a bike or other form of transportation.

Related Reading: Best Central Park Walking Route – Narrated

You can rent a bike (even a Citi Bike), but for any of those you pay for time. Walking is free and truly the best way to experience Central Park to the fullest extent!

Get out and walk.🚶‍♀️

Whatever you do, do NOT take a horse-drawn carriage or a pedicab! They’re a HUGE tourist trap!

Related Reading/Viewing: Narrated Walk Through Central Park (with our dogs)

Maki Maki Sushi – Episode’s “You’ll Have to Check It Out” Segment

In each podcast episode (if you aren’t following, do so here) we’ll be recommending one place to eat, drink, or snag some coffee throughout New York City!

This week’s segment is a delicious, fairly-priced, and close-to-the-park sushi spot. Maki Maki Sushi!

Their rolls are fresh, decently priced, and are packaged up nicely making them a perfect option for taking to a Central Park picnic!

Check out Maki Maki Sushi here.

Central Park Audio Guide Recap

Exploring Central Park should be at the top of the to-do list for any New York City trip!

Using the free Central Park Audio Guides is the best way to learn, explore, and take in all the beauty and history the park has to offer!

Again, you can download the Bloomberg Connects App or call the Audio Guide phone number to access the bite-sized audio snippets.

What part of Central Park did/do you enjoy the most?! Tell us in the comments.

PS- Want to snag a slice while in NYC? Check out our Best NYC Pizza guide!