The Most Beautiful Places To Propose In New York City

Apologies, Paris: New York’s most romantic locations make the case for crowning a new City of Love. To those planning on popping the question, let the Big Apple be your wingman on your big day. From gorgeous gardens to aerial escapes, here are the most beautiful places to propose in New York City.

Helicopter Ride Above the City

For a proposal that will have your partner walking on air, take to the skies on a helicopter tour of New York City. Helicopter sightseeing companies, such as Liberty Helicopters, can help make your moment memorable with their 15- to 20-minute aerial rides. Ranging from around $200 to $2,000, the company’s offerings include standard sightseeing tours above the city and proposal packages complete with choreography and a surprise gift.

Central Park’s Bow Bridge

Where better to bridge the present with your shared future than on a literal bridge? A popular proposal spot, Central Park’s Bow Bridge has it all: gorgeous trees, a reflective lake, and glimpses of Manhattan’s famous skyline in the distance. It’s the second oldest cast-iron bridge in the United States, built between 1859-1862, and the ornate carvings and bone-white glow make it look like something out of a storybook, befitting your fairy-tale ending.

New York Botanical Garden

Botanical Garden, Museum, Park, Zoo

Let your love bloom at the New York Botanical Garden, a flower-and foliage-filled oasis that gives new meaning to the phrase “urban jungle.” Founded in 1891, this Bronx-based National Historic Landmark is the largest botanical garden in the United States and is a testament to the beauty of life and growth. Although every area of this gorgeous garden is ripe with romance, the ever-evolving Seasonal Walk, the Victorian-style Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, and the brilliant Perennial Garden all make for perfect proposal sites.

Brooklyn Heights Promenade

Bridge

Brooklyn Heights Promenade features in many films with New-York love stories, including Moonstruck [1987], Annie Hall[1977]and, if you’re so inclined, your own. Situated in Brooklyn’s oldest neighborhood, the 1,826-foot-long waterfront esplanade offers stunning views of the Manhattan skyline, Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty, and East River—timeless sights for your endless love.

The Rink at Rockefeller Center

Building, Cathedral, Park

Warm your hearts this winter at the Rink at Rockefeller Center, one of New York City’s most renowned (and romantic!) cold-weather destinations. Each year, Midtown’s soaring skyscrapers and famous Prometheus statue serve as witnesses to many proposals, a common occurrence at this urban winter wonderland.

The High Line

Park

The High Line—a “revitalized piece of New York City’s past”—can be where you begin your future. Made for contemporary couples, this elevated park marries perennials, trees, street art, and architecture to create New York’s ideal destination for of-the-time engagements.

The Met Cloisters

Museum, Park

Not in Paris? Not a problem! Lend your proposal a touch of je ne sais quoiat the Met Cloisters, or the Cloisters, as they’re known colloquially. Occupying a secluded four acres overlooking the Hudson River and Manhattan’s Fort Tyron Park, the Metropolitan Museum’s Washington Heights branch brings French romance to the city. At the Cloisters, you’ll find perfectly preserved medieval French and European architecture, an authentic Middle Ages garden, and no shortage of proposal spots.

Governors Island

Whisk your beloved away on an island escape without leaving the city at Governors Island. Situated a mere 800 yards from Manhattan, and even closer to Brooklyn, this New York Harbor destination provides all the privacy and peace of a proper getaway (there are no cars allowed on the 172-acre island). Offering magnificent views, greenery, and wide-open spaces, Governors Island makes every proposal feel like a honeymoon vacation.

About the author

Julia Goicochea

Splitting her time between Miami and New York, Julia is a writer currently based in Brooklyn. She enjoys foreign films, 70s cookbooks, and bad detective novels.