11 Best Castles in New York, From Manhattan to the Finger Lakes, According To Reddit

Most people don't associate New York with castles — and that's exactly why they're missing some of the most extraordinary historic structures in America. From a six-story Gilded Age fortress built on a river island as a Valentine's gift, to a Victorian resort that looks lifted from a Scottish Highlands novel, to a Gothic stone tower rising improbably from the middle of Central Park — New York's castles are as dramatic as any in Europe, and far fewer people know they exist.

Reddit's travel communities have been quietly passing along these recommendations for years. Across r/travel, r/UpstateNY, r/AskNYC, and r/hiking, the same properties surface again and again — described with the kind of enthusiasm reserved for places that genuinely surprise.

Here are the 11 best castles in New York, from Manhattan to the Finger Lakes, according to Reddit.

1. Boldt Castle — The Thousand Islands' Greatest Love Story

Boldt Castle on Heart Island is the most visited castle in New York — and once you know its story, the appeal is obvious. George Boldt, the millionaire proprietor of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, began construction of the six-story Rhineland-style castle in 1900 as a gift to his wife, Louise. When she died suddenly in 1904, Boldt immediately halted all construction and never returned. The unfinished castle stood vacant for 73 years before restoration began.

Today, Boldt Castle is one of the Northeast's most compelling historic sites. The grand ballroom, underground tunnels, and surrounding yacht house convey the scale of Boldt's ambition. Access is by boat only from Alexandria Bay — Uncle Sam Boat Tours runs regular shuttles throughout the summer.

Reddit verdict: "I expected it to be touristy. It's actually genuinely moving. The love story combined with the architecture makes it unlike anywhere else I've visited."

2. Singer Castle — The Thousand Islands' Best-Kept Secret

Just 12 miles from Boldt, Singer Castle on Dark Island is, according to many Reddit travelers, the more impressive of the two Thousand Islands fortresses — and far less crowded. Built in 1905 for Frederick Bourne, president of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, the castle served as a fully furnished family retreat, complete with secret passages, a dungeon, and hidden rooms designed in the spirit of a Scottish hunting lodge.

Unlike Boldt, Singer Castle was actually lived in and completed — giving it a richness of detail that visitors find extraordinary. Guided tours run throughout summer and fall, with advance booking strongly recommended. The castle also offers overnight stays, allowing guests to have the entire island to themselves.

Reddit verdict: "Stayed overnight at Singer Castle. Woke up to mist over the river with the whole island to ourselves. Genuinely one of the best travel experiences I've ever had."

3. Bannerman Castle — A Hudson River Ruin With a Cinematic Silhouette

Bannerman Castle on Pollepel Island in the Hudson River isn't a castle in the traditional sense — it was built by arms dealer Francis Bannerman VI in 1901 as a military surplus warehouse, designed to look like a Scottish castle as a marketing statement. But its dramatic silhouette rising from the middle of the Hudson, best viewed from the Metro-North train between Beacon and Cold Spring, has made it one of the most photographed ruins in the Northeast.

Boat tours depart from Beacon and include guided walks through the grounds. The island has undergone significant stabilization in recent years. Reddit's hiking and history communities both recommend the tour for its remarkable combination of river scenery, Revolutionary War history, and the sheer oddness of the Bannerman story.

Reddit verdict: "The view from the train alone makes it worth the trip to the Hudson Valley. The boat tour takes it to another level entirely."

4. Mohonk Mountain House — Victorian Castle in the Shawangunk Ridge

Mohonk Mountain House, a National Historic Landmark perched above Lake Mohonk near New Paltz, is the closest thing New York has to a fairytale castle hotel — and it operates on a scale that still staggers first-time visitors. The rambling Victorian structure, built beginning in 1869, rises over the ridge with towers, verandas, and turrets spread across multiple wings. The surrounding 40,000 acres of protected Shawangunk ridge forest offer 85 miles of hiking trails.

Reddit's outdoor and travel communities regularly debate whether Mohonk is worth its premium price. The consensus: even day visitors who come only for the hiking and grounds leave impressed. Staying overnight — ideally for several nights — is how regulars insist you experience it properly.

Reddit verdict: "There is nothing else like Mohonk in the Northeast. A Victorian castle above a mountain lake with trails in every direction. Worth every penny."

5. Belvedere Castle — A Gothic Folly in the Heart of Central Park

Belvedere Castle in Central Park is one of New York City's most underappreciated landmarks and one Reddit's Manhattan visitors consistently point newcomers toward. Built in 1869 as a Victorian folly — a decorative structure meant to serve as a visual focal point rather than a functional building — it sits on Vista Rock, the second-highest point in Central Park, with panoramic views over the Great Lawn and Turtle Pond.

The castle houses the Henry Luce Nature Observatory, with hands-on natural history exhibits and free telescopes pointed at the park's bird population. Entry is free. Reddit's NYC communities recommend it as an essential stop on any Central Park visit, particularly for families.

Reddit verdict: "Most tourists walk past Belvedere every day without realizing what it is. It's genuinely beautiful and the views from the top of the rock are the best in the park."

6. Skytop Tower — Mohonk Preserve's Hidden Hilltop Fortress

Skytop Tower, on the grounds of the Mohonk Mountain House resort, is a stone observation tower that functions — from the outside — exactly like a castle turret transplanted to the top of the Shawangunk ridge. The one-mile hike from the Mountain House to the tower is considered one of the most rewarding short hikes in the Hudson Valley, with 360-degree views stretching across four states on clear days.

Day visitors who purchase a hiking pass can access Skytop via the surrounding Mohonk Preserve trail network. Reddit hikers often describe the approach — winding up through mountain laurel and exposed rock — as one of the most scenic short walks in the region.

Reddit verdict: "Skytop Tower looks like it was pulled from a medieval fantasy. The view from the top is legitimately stunning and the hike is easy enough for most people."

7. Wing's Castle — A Folk Art Castle Built by Hand in the Hudson Valley

Wing's Castle in Millbrook is one of the most unusual structures on this list — and one of the most compelling. Begun in 1970 by sculptor Peter Wing and his wife Toni, the castle has been under continuous construction for over 50 years, built almost entirely from salvaged materials: antique doors, reclaimed stonework, old farm equipment, and architectural fragments gathered from demolished buildings across the region.

The result is a fantastical, living folk-art structure perched above the Hudson Valley with extraordinary views. Guided tours run periodically, and the property now operates as a bed-and-breakfast. Reddit's Hudson Valley and architecture communities describe Wing's Castle as "something you have to see to believe."

Reddit verdict: "Wing's Castle is unlike anything I've ever seen. One man's decades-long obsession turned into something genuinely beautiful. It belongs on every Hudson Valley itinerary."

8. Fonthill Castle — A Gothic Mansion Hidden in the Bronx

Fonthill Castle on the campus of the College of Mount Saint Vincent in Riverdale is one of New York City's most overlooked historic landmarks. Built between 1848 and 1852 by actor Edwin Forrest as a personal residence modeled after Gothic Revival architecture, the castle features pointed arches, battlemented parapets, and a dramatic hilltop position overlooking the Hudson River.

The building is used by the college and not generally open to the public for interior tours, but the exterior — visible from the campus grounds — is remarkable. Reddit's NYC history communities cite Fonthill as one of the city's best architectural secrets, hiding in plain sight in a residential Bronx neighborhood most Manhattan visitors never reach.

9. Staatsburgh Mills Mansion — Hudson Valley Gothic on the River

While not a castle in the traditional sense, the Staatsburgh State Historic Site — better known as Mills Mansion — is the kind of Gilded Age neoclassical estate that reads, from the outside, as thoroughly castle-like. The 65-room mansion, redesigned in 1895 by McKim, Mead & White for financier Ogden Mills, sits on the Hudson River with grounds stretching to the water's edge.

Reddit's Hudson Valley communities recommend Staatsburgh particularly for its free grounds access and waterfront walking paths. The house tours offer an unusually candid look at Gilded Age excess — the mansion served as partial inspiration for Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth.

Reddit verdict: "Free grounds, Hudson River access, and one of the most impressive houses in New York State. Nobody talks about Staatsburgh enough."

10. Hearthstone Castle — A Forgotten Ruin in Putnam County

Hearthstone Castle in Brewster — now in a state of romantic ruin within Putnam County's Ninham Mountain State Forest — was built in 1900 by George Ferris Jr. as a summer retreat. The stone castle fell into disrepair through the 20th century and is now a heavily overgrown, partially collapsed ruin accessible via hiking trails.

Reddit's urban exploration and hiking communities have made Hearthstone something of a pilgrimage destination — a genuine moss-covered, ivy-draped castle ruin in the middle of a New York forest. The hike is short and accessible; the ruin itself is atmospheric in any season, but particularly striking in autumn.

Reddit verdict: "Finding a real castle ruin in the middle of a New York State forest feels like discovering a cheat code on the map. Hearthstone is completely worth the hike."

11. Glimmerglass State Park's Hyde Hall — A Regency Manor on Otsego Lake

Hyde Hall in Cooperstown is the largest example of Regency architecture in the United States — a sprawling stone manor-house completed in 1835 on the shores of Otsego Lake (the same "Glimmerglass" lake that inspired James Fenimore Cooper's Leatherstocking Tales). Its 50-room interior, currently undergoing long-term restoration, conveys the ambition and scale of early American landed wealth in a setting of extraordinary natural beauty.

Reddit travelers visiting Cooperstown for the Baseball Hall of Fame consistently express surprise at finding Hyde Hall a short drive away. Tours run seasonally, guided by enthusiastic docents who bring the manor's 200-year-old story to life.

Reddit verdict: "Drove out to Cooperstown for baseball and ended up spending half my trip at Hyde Hall. Stunning building, incredible history, and almost nobody there."

The Bottom Line

New York's castle trail spans the full breadth of the state — from a Gothic folly in the middle of Central Park to Gilded Age river fortresses at the Canadian border. What makes them remarkable isn't just the architecture; it's the stories. A billionaire's unfinished valentine. An arms dealer's Scottish fantasy. A folk artist's 50-year obsession. A Victorian millionaire who turned a mountain into a resort.

Reddit travelers who've found these places tend to describe the same feeling: surprise that something this extraordinary exists, and frustration that more people haven't been told about it. Now you have been.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most famous castle in New York State?

Boldt Castle in the Thousand Islands is the most visited and most widely recognized, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. It's famous both for its architectural scale and the tragic love story behind its construction.

Can you stay overnight in a New York castle?

Yes. Singer Castle offers overnight stays that give guests exclusive access to the entire island. Mohonk Mountain House is a full-service castle resort with hundreds of guest rooms. Wing's Castle in Millbrook also operates as a bed-and-breakfast.

Are there castles accessible from New York City without a car?

Belvedere Castle (Central Park) requires no transportation beyond the subway. Bannerman Castle tours depart from Beacon, which is accessible by Metro-North from Grand Central. Fonthill Castle is reachable via Metro-North to Riverdale. Most other New York castles require a car.

What is the best time of year to visit New York's castles?

Fall — September through October — is the most popular season, with dramatic foliage framing castle exteriors across the Hudson Valley and Thousand Islands. Summer offers the longest operating hours and open boat tours to island castles. Winter provides an atmospheric, crowd-free experience at accessible sites like Mohonk.