After a relaxing stroll through the iconic Central Park, you’re probably looking to continue exploring New York City’s best tourist attractions. Luckily, you don’t need to go far to find them, as there are plenty of attractive things to see and do nearby.
Cleopatra’s Needle
Cleopatra’s Needles are a pair of ancient Egyptian obelisks that were originally part of the Caesareum of Alexandria. One obelisk was gifted to London, UK, and the other arrived in New York City. The monument is inscribed with hieroglyphs celebrating the military success of Ramesses II.
Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met)
Since you are already checking out Cleopatra’s Needle, you might as well visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met), which is just a few hundred feet away. The museum, founded in the 19th century, has an extensive collection of ancient art and artifacts as well as artworks from all parts of the world. Its collection of European paintings is particularly impressive, containing the works of Johannes Vermeer, Rembrandt, Paul Cézanne, Claude Monet, Wassily Kandinsky, and Pablo Picasso.
Belvedere Castle
Designed in a fusion of Romanesque and Gothic styles, Belvedere Castle was built as a folly in 1869. The building has been used as Central Park’s official weather station since the early 20th century but has had various other purposes through the years. Today, it is particularly popular due to its observation deck that provides visitors with a spectacular view of the park.