Grand Central Terminal: What to See and How to Visit

Grand Central Terminal is one of New York City's most important attractions, and definitely a place you should visit in Manhattan.

This building, also known as Grand Central Station or simply Grand Central, is one of the largest train stations in the world, with 75 tracks and around 50 platforms.

But it's more than a train station. Several subway lines meet here too, which makes it the prettiest subway station in New York. On top of that, it has 60 shops and 35 places to eat.

More than 750,000 people pass through it every day, a whirlwind that sums up the energy of this city we love so much.

What to See at Grand Central Terminal

As the city grew, the terminal ended up hemmed in by skyscrapers (the MetLife Building stands out), and since 2021 it has been flanked by One Vanderbilt and its Summit observatory, the newest observation deck in Manhattan, where you get a face-to-face view of icons like the Chrysler Building.

The Main Entrance of Grand Central Terminal

I recommend starting your visit at the main entrance on 42nd Street and Park Avenue, but before you go in, take a good look at the sculptural Tiffany glass clock, with the figures of Mercury, Hercules and Minerva above the facade.

Step into the Main Concourse and everything changes. It's a magnificent space with thousands of passengers coming and going, staircases worthy of a palace and an enormous celestial ceiling crowning the whole thing.

Keep reading to discover the secrets of this Beaux Arts gem built in 1913 (a great way not to miss a single detail is to take the guided tour of the station, included with the New York Pass):

1. The Main Concourse

You'll recognize the main concourse of Grand Central Terminal by its huge celestial ceiling, decorated with the major constellations, more than 2,500 stars in all.

It also features an enormous American flag, hung after the September 11 attacks, which is now part of the station's identity.

Stop and look at the giant windows. You'll see shadows of people going by, and it's not an optical illusion, those are pedestrians walking past, because the windows sit right at street level.

Another beautiful touch is the ticket windows (one of them is where you book the guided tours, more on those below).

The Ball Clock

The undisputed star of the Main Concourse is the four-faced clock, the ball clock, on top of the information booth in the center of the hall.

Fun fact: the clock, along with every other clock in the station, runs one minute fast to nudge travelers along. Clever.

The Grand Staircase

The Main Concourse has two magnificent staircases inspired by the Paris Opera House. Go up them. From the top you get a sweeping view of the station and great photos (which you can later turn into a photo book).

2. Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Terminal

Right next to the Main Concourse is Vanderbilt Hall. It hosts temporary exhibitions and other events, like the Grand Central Terminal Christmas Market.

It's a showcase of Beaux Arts decor, with gilded chandeliers and pink marble.

3. The Oyster Bar

The jewel of the Dining Concourse is the Oyster Bar, the oldest restaurant in the station and famous for appearing in hundreds of movies and shows (it's one of Don Draper's favorite bars in Mad Men).

Its specialty is fresh oysters and other seafood. The ceiling, a web of golden vaults, is a showstopper.

4. The Whispering Gallery

Across from the Oyster Bar is the Whispering Gallery, one of the most fun corners of the station and one you shouldn't skip (the audio guide explains exactly how to find it and why it's so special).

In this vaulted gallery, sound travels from one corner to the other. To try it, have two people stand at opposite corners and speak softly toward the wall. The surprise is that you'll hear each other clearly, as if you were standing face to face.

Be patient, because plenty of people line up to try the experiment 😉

5. The Shops

Beyond being a transit hub, Grand Central Terminal is home to around 70 shops.

Of course there are fast food counters and restaurants, most of them gathered in the Dining Concourse on the lower level.

If you're after gourmet food or delicatessen items, head to the Grand Central Market, near the Lexington Avenue entrance.

6. The New York Transit Museum

The station houses a small branch of the New York Transit Museum. You can pick up some nice city souvenirs here and check out its gallery, with exhibitions on New York's public transportation system.

The Official Grand Central Terminal Tour

The station is huge and full of hidden corners, so it's worth taking the official guided tour to make the most of your time and not miss any of the magnificent details.

The tour is an audio tour that walks you at your own pace through all the highlights I've described. You can buy it at the station or online (a good idea in high season, since it saves you time).

If you have the New York Pass, this audio tour is included.

Hours: audio guides are available from 9 am to 6 pm.

Audio guide prices: Adults US$ 9 – Children, students and 65+ US$ 7

Where: audio tours are picked up at the window marked «GCT TOURS», in the Main Concourse.

Length: depending on your pace, the tour takes anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.

Once you've explored Grand Central, take advantage of the attractions just steps away: the Summit observatory, the New York Public Library and the Chrysler Building.

The History of the Station

Grand Central Station was the vision of railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt.

In the early 20th century, trains still ran chaotically at street level, and this project buried the tracks beneath the terminal, bringing order to the mess.

Scattered throughout the station are decorative acorns and oak leaves, a nod to its patron. They were the symbols on his family crest, whose motto was Great oaks from little acorns grow.

As cars and air travel took over, the train station began to lose its prominence and gave up land for skyscraper construction.

It came close to being demolished a couple of times, but fortunately it was added to the register of historic buildings, preserving its beauty for all of us.

Today it connects the city with Harlem, the Hudson Valley, New Haven and other counties in New York State (Metro-North Railroad).

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Address
89 East 42nd Street (at Park Avenue).

Getting there
Grand Central Terminal subway station
Served by the 4, 5, 6, 7 and S lines

Hours
The station is open daily from 5:30 am to 2 am

Shop and restaurant hours vary

Map

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