Bowling Green
Bowling Green
3.9
About
Colonial gentlemen used to "bowl" here, at New York City's oldest park, paying one peppercorn per year for the privilege.
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Downtown Manhattan (Downtown)
A captivating blend of old and new, Downtown Manhattan offers a unique view into the past, present, and future of New York City. Iconic landmarks like the historic Wall Street, the poignant 9/11 Memorial, and the awe-inspiring One World Trade Center punctuate the skyline, while the lush greenery of Battery Park provides a tranquil respite from the urban landscape. For foodies, the neighborhood is a culinary wonderland, featuring everything from Michelin-starred restaurants to diverse food markets such as the famed Eataly. Art lovers will find themselves drawn to the stunning exhibitions at the Whitney Museum of American Art or captivated by the street performances in Washington Square Park. With several subway lines crisscrossing the area, exploring the rest of the city is just a train ride away.
How to get there
- Whitehall St – South Ferry • 2 min walk
- South Ferry • 3 min walk
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7,591 within 5 kms
Attractions
2,739 within 10 kms
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
3.9
233 reviews
Excellent
45
Very good
121
Average
63
Poor
4
Terrible
0
krishna292
Hyderabad District, India1,402 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
This is a historical park, believed to be founded in early 1700 and was known to be a public gathering place. it is situated in the lower Manhattan area. In early days a bronze statue of King George III dressed like a Roman Warior was erected within this park. Later during the American revolution that statue was demolisehd and bronze melted from that statue is known to have been used for making ammunition during the war. Even now the park is having a variety of beautiful flowers and greenery and is surrounded by the original cast iron fence. It is a small park from the present standards and a Bronze statue of Bull is erected at the northern tip of the park facing the Wall street, the financial district of Manhattan. This bull is estimated to weigh about 7100 pounds and is about 11 feet tall and 16 feet long. This bull symbolises the financial optimism and prosperity. The bull is known to have been sculpted by Arthur Di Modico follwing the crash of Stock Market in 1987. A citybank branch is located in a building across the Whitehall street that is supposed to be the building housing the old stock exchange. The present Stock Exchange building is located about a km away in Wall Street. Nearby this bowling area is a ticket counter for cruise to Statue Of Liberty.
Written 30 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tinaNtravel
San Jose, CA2,143 contributions
Sept 2021
This is a pretty, small park with trees, grass and plenty of benches. It also has a beautiful large fountain. This may not be worth a separate trip, but if you are visiting the Museum, that is right next to the park, you may want to come into the park and sit and eat a snack, for example.
Written 24 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mikesierra
Bourne, UK1,980 contributions
Dec 2019
A great area on Broadway at the lower end of the financial district and directly opposite the American Indian Museum in the architecturally interesting Old Customs House. At the north end is the Charging Bull statue for a photo stop. Dating back to the17th century it was used as a cattle market and in the18th century had a large statue of English King George III. It’s in a great area to visit just north of Battery Park so worth including in a walking tour of Lower Manhattan. In December, when we visited, there was a rather poor French Christmas Market here too.
Written 4 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Justin W
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ7,300 contributions
May 2024 • Solo
I love going to Bowling Green Park. Not only is it one of the oldest and most historical parks in New York City but one of the most picturesque. All the buildings surrounding it have some historical features and the former headquarters from some of our original companies.
In the summer, it’s nice to sit in the park and enjoy the shade and breezes but the Spring brings all the beautiful flowers and the opening of the fountain.
Take time to look around at all the plaques and understand the significance history of the park and its role in the Revolutionary War.
In the summer, it’s nice to sit in the park and enjoy the shade and breezes but the Spring brings all the beautiful flowers and the opening of the fountain.
Take time to look around at all the plaques and understand the significance history of the park and its role in the Revolutionary War.
Written 10 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SalvatoreCandiano
Pozzallo, Italy122 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
In New York every corner that always something to see, here we arrived after the Statue of Liberty, a lot of people, could not miss the photo with the bull, of the Italian sculptor, both in front and behind. Children have fun
Written 24 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bwco
New Jersey1,741 contributions
Sept 2017 • Couples
We stopped here during a break on a hop on/hop off tour of Manhattan. Its a nice area, but it was way too crowded. Don't even try to get near the bull, the crowds were out of control there.
Written 19 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gboi77
Taipei, Taiwan1,156 contributions
Nov 2016
The park is small and unremarkable at first glance and unsuspecting visitors may not be aware of its historic significance until they read about it, particularly its designation as the oldest park in the city and how it became a symbol of US independence from Britain after the existing statue of the British monarch was toppled. Hard to believe, too, that this was once the tip of Manhattan before the area was expanded through landfilling. It is worth a visit if only for these remarkable facts.
Written 15 November 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ktsnowowl
Hervey Bay, Australia5,241 contributions
Home of the Charging Bull, Bowling Green is a cute little park in the Financial District.
With all the works going on in Battery Park at the moment, Bowling Green provides a nice oasis in this part of town.
It's by no means a huge park but it's a great spot for people watching or enjoying a coffee whilst waiting for a photo with the bull. Be sure to take a moment to enjoy when your in this part of town.
With all the works going on in Battery Park at the moment, Bowling Green provides a nice oasis in this part of town.
It's by no means a huge park but it's a great spot for people watching or enjoying a coffee whilst waiting for a photo with the bull. Be sure to take a moment to enjoy when your in this part of town.
Written 1 March 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andy M
Guildford, UK194 contributions
Oct 2013 • Couples
This was surprisingly disappointing. Not for any other reason than the fighting of tourists to get in front of the bull for pictures. Just when you think sensibility has taken over and people are allowing everybody time to do their own pictures - a new herd of tourists get bussed in and pure in front of you - pushing everybody else out of the way.
Has the world forgotten how to take things in turn?
Has the world forgotten how to take things in turn?
Written 17 October 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sdhomegirl
South Dakota143 contributions
Jun 2019
I'm guessing the trick to truly enjoying Bowling Green is all in the timing - not at lunch on a Friday, as happened to us. We were still excited to see the Charging Bull and the park in person, but there was no place to sit and enjoy because of the crowds. Just plan your timing better than we did. :)
Written 19 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hola, me podrías recomendar la agencia por la cual realizar el tour gratis? Gracias
Written 21 July 2018
I've read dozens of reviews of Bowling Green Park and viewed even more photos of the park and goggled on the internet every phrase I could dream up to answer my question. So far I know more than I need to know about the bull; but I have never seen one review even mention the name of the building that shows up in most photos of the fountain/flowers. It is large, with 2 statues in the front center, mindful of the library on 5th Avenue. It could be historic or just an office building. There are apparently letters across the front near the top, but I have never been able to read them. Anybody that can curb my curiosity?
Written 3 August 2016
The building is the National Musem of the American Indian, I never went in to the building as I didn't have time but it looks nice
Written 4 August 2016
Bom dia Juliano,
Estou indo para NY pela primeira vez.
Poderia te mandar o roteiro que estou planejando mais ou menos para vc dar uma opinião?
Obrigado,
Carlos
Written 30 April 2015
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