Famed as a hub for the 1960s counterculture movement, Greenwich Village is a bohemian neighbourhood in Lower Manhattan. It’s home to the people-watching green space of Washington Square Park and leafy streets lined with eclectic cafes, legendary jazz clubs and LGBT-friendly bars.
Things to do in Greenwich Village
Relax on a bench beside the centrepiece fountain of Washington Square Park, which encompasses four hectares at the base of Fifth Avenue. It has long been a meeting point for cultural activities and is surrounded by buildings once occupied by artist studios. You can admire the monuments dedicated to George Washington and Giuseppe Garibaldi or challenge the locals to a game of chess.
A short walk from Washington Square Park is the Center for Architecture, which is owned by the American Institute of Architects. It occupies a building designed by Andrew Berman and hosts changing exhibitions dedicated to architecture, urban design and environmental planning. The American Institute of Architects also runs walking tours of Manhattan with a focus on modern and contemporary design.
If you’re interested in the area’s history as a centre for the gay rights movement, head to iconic Christopher Street, home of the Stonewall Inn. It was here that riots broke out in 1969 in response to a police raid, with the event cementing Christopher Street as an international symbol of gay pride. Photograph the rainbow flags that flutter along the street before visiting Carrie Bradshaw’s Apartment from the “Sex & The City” TV series.
Getting around Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village is around 15 minutes’ drive from Grand Central railway station and 45 minutes from John F. Kennedy International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. The neighbourhood is served by several lines of the New York City Subway and buses travel throughout Greenwich Village.