Washington Square Park

Washington Square Park is popular with locals and tourists alike

Washington Square Park
Washington Square Park cc licensed photo by Doc Searls

Where Harry met Sally, Washington Square Park is one of New York's most loved parks and has been a community meeting place and community center since it opened in 1826.

With an eclectic past as a cemetery, public gallows and military parade ground, Washington Square Park is well-known for its eccentricity and is emblematic of the Beat generation and hippie movement in bohemian Greenwich Village. Now, avant-garde street performers are a more common sight than the shifty types that plagued the park in the 1980s and Washington Square Park is once again one of the city's most popular spots for locals and tourists.

One of the most prominent features of Washington Square Park, Washington's Arch, was built in 1889, modelled after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, to commemorate the centenary of President Washington's inauguration. Originally built in wood and rebuilt in marble in 1891, cars were allowed to drive through Washington's Arch until 1971 when the park was redesigned and closed to vehicular traffic.

Washington Square Park's previously unnamed fountain was recently refurbished and relocated to the center of the park and controversially renamed the "Tisch Fountain", after a wealthy family of NYU benefactors. While officially access to the fountain is denied and a fence has been erected as a deterrent, it hasn't stopped visitors from using the fountain for its original purpose as a wading pool.

Children's play areas, dog runs, shady greens and walking tracks draw thousands of people to park daily. Chess tables in the southwest, where Stanley Kubrick played in his youth and featured in Searching for Bobby Fischer, always attract a crowd. Nearby cafes on Bleeker Street and MacDougal Street are lovely options to relax after a stroll in the park.

Facts For Your Visit

Fee: no

Regular Hours:
May differ on holidays

  • Monday: 6:00 AM – 12:00 AM
  • Tuesday: 6:00 AM – 12:00 AM
  • Wednesday: 6:00 AM – 12:00 AM
  • Thursday: 6:00 AM – 12:00 AM
  • Friday: 6:00 AM – 12:00 AM
  • Saturday: 6:00 AM – 12:00 AM
  • Sunday: 6:00 AM – 12:00 AM

Address: Washington Square, New York, NY 10012, USA

Official Website: Washington Square Park

Reviews

Rated 4.6 out of 5 Star Rating

5 Star Rating Awesome Park in the west village in Manhattan. Plenty of skateboarders, NYU students, musicians and artists hangout here. This park has a ling history in this historical section in the west village. Totally worth a visit and to explore!!! Highly recommended visit 👌 👍 😊
Buster Got it - in the last week

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5 Star Rating I’ve been taking my pup to this park since he was a little puppy and he loves it everytime he goes! He always makes a friend there and enjoys every bit of it especially jumping on the bench that surround the tree in the park. Everyone is very friendly and knows each other and it’s definitely worth the visit!
Miracle Bennett - a month ago

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5 Star Rating Fun atmosphere and vibes here. Great for just relaxing on the grass or on a bench. For such a small park (compared to Central Park) it really is a great little place. There are unusual several amateur performers busking away.
Chris Aldrich - 5 months ago

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5 Star Rating One of my favorite parks in Manhattan, the famous arch, the great view of 5th avenue from under the arch, good amount of benches, cheerful crowds, you will usually hear some live music, also nice streets to walk around from every direction, including Thompson or west 4th.
Mina Louis - 2 months ago

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Directions

Subway Line Nearest Station Walking Time
A, B, C, D, E, F or MWest 4th Street3 minutes
N or R8th Street / New York University5 minutes

How to get to Washington Square Park by Subway

Take the A, B, C, D, E, F or M train to West 4th Street, head northeast on 6th Avenue (Avenue of the Americas), turn left on Washington Place or take the N or R train to 8th Street / New York University, head southwest on Broadway, turn right onto Washington Place.

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