Wave Hill
A 28-acre public garden and estate on a bluff in Riverdale, looking straight across the Hudson at the Palisades — the most composed view in New York City, and one of the least visited.
- What it costs
- Modest admission, with free hours on set mornings and a free day each week in the off-season. Check the current schedule before travelling — it changes seasonally.
- Best in
- Spring, Summer, Fall
- Where
- West 249th Street & Independence Avenue, Bronx, NY 10471
- Official site
- wavehill.org
The view
Wave Hill sits on a bluff directly opposite the Palisades, the sheer cliffs on the New Jersey side of the Hudson. Because that land was bought and protected a century ago, the view has almost nothing built on it — you are looking at the same river and rock face that Hudson River School painters were looking at.
There is a pergola on the lawn with chairs facing the water and no signage telling you to do anything. Sitting there for an hour is the correct use of Wave Hill.
The gardens
Small and unusually well designed — this is a gardener's garden rather than a big botanical collection. The Flower Garden, the Aquatic Garden, the Wild Garden on the slope, and a small greenhouse with alpine and tropical houses.
It takes about two hours to see properly, which makes it a half-day rather than a full one.
Getting in cheaply
Admission is modest by New York standards to begin with, and there are free windows — typically an early morning slot on certain days and a free day each week during the off-season.
The schedule shifts with the seasons, so check the visit page before you travel rather than relying on what a blog said last year.
Who this is for
If you want attractions and activity, skip it. If you have been in the city for four days and are worn down by it, Wave Hill is the antidote — it is quiet, small, uncrowded and beautiful, and there is a café on the terrace.
It pairs naturally with Van Cortlandt Park, which is the next thing east.
Getting there
The awkward part. Take the 1 to 231st Street, then the Bx7 or Bx10 bus to 252nd Street, then walk down the hill. Around an hour from Midtown all in.
Metro-North's Hudson line to Riverdale station is far nicer — about 25 minutes from Grand Central, and Wave Hill runs a free shuttle from the station on weekends and some weekdays.
There is also a free shuttle from the 242nd Street subway terminal on a published schedule. Check the schedule on the day — it's the difference between a pleasant trip and a long uphill walk.
Getting around once you're there
The main lawn, the pergola and the terrace are step-free with fine gravel paths. The lower woodland and the wild garden involve steep grades and steps. Riverdale Metro-North station is step-free; the subway-and-bus route is not.