Visit Grand Central
WELCOME, READERS!
Every time is the right time to visit Grand Central Terminal! This historic NYC landmark is not only a transportation hub—it’s a shopping, dining, and cultural destination with 60 shops, 35 places to eat, and a full calendar of events. Don’t forget that Grand Central’s many activities are all under one magnificent roof, making it an easy visit rain or shine.
Grand Central Terminal is open daily from 5:30am to 2:00am, however individual shop and restaurant hours may vary and we recommend you check the individual pages for each.
Located at the intersection of Park Avenue and 42nd Street (89 E. 42nd Street, to be exact!), Grand Central is easily accessible by foot, by subway, by bus, and by Metro-North train. For more information about how to get here, visit our transportation page, or scroll down to the map.
Please note that the Terminal does not offer luggage storage. Please plan ahead. For answers to more questions, visit our FAQ page.
We can’t wait for you to start your Grand Central adventure. All aboard!
DID YOU KNOW?
A ton above you? Each of the chandeliers in Vanderbilt Hall weigh 2500 lbs. and glow with 132 bulbs surrounded by carved oak leaves.
DID YOU KNOW?
Grand Central underwent a complete renovation in the 1990s during which the Main Concourse ceiling was cleaned. If you follow the claw of Cancer on the ceiling to the corner, you can see a black brick—a reminder of what the ceiling used to look like before it was cleaned.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Main Concourse windows are over 60 feet tall and 30 feet wide. Before central air conditioning, they opened to allow air flow in the Terminal.
DID YOU KNOW?
The clocks in Grand Central are set by the atomic clock in the Naval Observatory in Bethesda, Maryland. They are accurate to within 1 second every 20 billion years!
DID YOU KNOW?
You can play tennis in Grand Central Terminal! Vanderbilt Tennis Club is located on the 4th floor and overlooks Park Avenue.
DID YOU KNOW?
When constructing Grand Central, engineers labored over plans to perfectly slope the ramps between the upper and lower levels. Commuters found the slope caused them to walk at a brisk pace down the ramps, and the expression “I’ll be ramping” became popular soon after Grand Central’s 1913 opening.
DID YOU KNOW?
Grand Central Market, a European-style marketplace, has 13 different local vendors selling everything from seafood and cooking spices to cheese and deli meats to cupcakes and jams.
DID YOU KNOW?
Grand Central Terminal goes by many names, including Grand Central, the Terminal, and GCT. Just don’t call us “Grand Central Station”—that refers to the US Post Office down the street or the subway station below.
PLAN YOUR VISIT &
THINGS TO DO
- Accessibility: The Terminal is accessible to visitors with disabilities. It has public elevators and ramps to help visitors get around without the use of stairs. Please check our directory for exact locations. The Terminal does not provide wheelchair rentals.
- Take a tour! You can see the most famous Terminal in the nation up close and personal on a grand tour. Learn more about our self-guided audio tour and our daily guided tours.
- Head upstairs if you’re looking for dinner under the stars at Cipriani Dolci or Michael Jordan’s The Steak House N.Y.C. or a cocktail at The Campbell.
- Head downstairs if you’re looking for a quick bite in the Dining Concourse. Shake Shack burger or a memorable meal at the historic Oyster Bar & Restaurant, anyone?
- Head to Grand Central Market if you’re looking for a unique shopping experience. Get all the ingredients for a great meal at local vendors like Murray’s Cheese, Eli Zabar‘s Farm to Table, and Pescatore Seafood Company.
- Stop by the Information Booth in the Main Concourse for up-to-date information about the Terminal. While you’re there, pick up the latest directory map and special offers book to make the most of your visit.
The Holidays at Grand Central
There are many reasons why over 1 million people visit the Terminal every day during the holiday season from November to December. Visitors come to shop the annual Holiday Fair and The Shops at Grand Central, dine at one of Grand Central’s amazing restaurants and bars, or behold New York Transit Museum’s Holiday Train Show. The building is also decked out in holiday cheer including wreaths, garland, and festive lighting on the Pershing Square Viaduct on 42nd Street.
Share your Experience
Head to TripAdvisor to share your experience with us or read other reviews and tips from recent visitors. We’re proud to be recipients of the 2017 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award and Certificate of Excellence, and we take our reviews seriously. If you have a question, we’ll get back to you, we promise!
Destination Midtown
Grand Central is just one of several stops on the Destination Midtown app. New York City’s top attractions present a beautiful, interactive tour guide to Manhattan’s most exciting neighborhood: Midtown. Featuring step-by-step walking tours of NYC’s most famous blocks, Destination Midtown is your perfect companion to all the best landmarks, museums, restaurants, and shops.
