You shouldn’t miss the railway station with the most platforms in the world (44). Its architecture is majestic and the interior is sure to captivate you.

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Grand Central Terminal is so architecturally striking that it is the fourth most photographed spot in the whole of New York. It is visited by over 23 million tourists a year, in addition to 68 million regular passengers.

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We recommend combining a visit to the railway station with a trip to the SUMMIT One Vanderbilt observation deck, which is located in the skyscraper directly opposite.

Stunning architecture that will take your breath away

Grand Central Terminal is not just a railway station.

The building is an architectural gem, built between 1903 and 1913 in the Beaux-Arts style.

The station features many unique architectural elements.

Ceiling with a mural

The most striking feature of the interior is the central hall with its magnificent vaulted ceiling.

It is characterised by an unusual colour scheme, which is a combination of navy blue and khaki. The ceiling features restored murals depicting constellations and the starry sky.

The original paintings were created in 1913, but they gradually became completely covered in grime, and the entire ceiling was restored in 1996.

Beaux-Arts-style façade

The building is also interesting from the outside, where you will discover several beautiful architectural features.

Notable features include the eagle sculptures above the entrance and the 4-metre-wide clock with decorative stained-glass panels framed in bronze.

The American flag in the main hall

The most prominent symbol of the station concourse is the large American flag hanging above one of the main entrances.

It was hoisted following the terrorist attacks in September 2001 as a symbol of unity and resolve.

Whispering Gallery

The Whispering Gallery is a circular vault on the ground floor of the main station concourse, near the Oyster Bar.

If you stand on one side of the corridor and whisper towards the wall, someone standing diagonally opposite on the other side of the wall will hear what you are saying.

The sound is carried by waves that travel around the circumference and bounce off the walls. This phenomenon was first observed in St Paul’s Cathedral in London.

Campbell Bar

At railway stations, you’re probably used to seeing restaurants, fast-food outlets or cafés.

Grand Central Terminal has these too, of course, but on top of that, on the second floor, you can visit a unique and beautiful cocktail bar.

Campbell Bar is set in a stunning setting reminiscent of a chapel (to me, the room was more reminiscent of Hogwarts Castle from Harry Potter).

It used to be the flat of John W. Campbell, a member of the board of directors of the New York Central Railroad.

The bar has been operating here since 2006.

Cocktail prices at the Campbell Bar range from 22 usd to 26 usd, which is slightly lower than, for example, at the Overstory bar or the Peak restaurant.

If you’re planning to visit in the afternoon or evening, we’d definitely recommend booking a table.

Without a booking, the wait for a table is 30–60 minutes; alternatively, you can head to the bar without a booking.

• Book a table atthecampbellnyc.com
• Opening hours: daily 12:00–2:00

Hotels nearby

Thanks to its location in the heart of Manhattan, Grand Central Terminal is a great place to look for accommodation nearby.

We recommend the following hotels:

• Hotel Boutique at Grand Central **** – a smaller hotel offering excellent value for money
• Hyatt Grand Central New York **** – a huge hotel complex right next to the station
• Library Hotel **** – a stylish and highly rated hotel just 2 minutes from the station

How to get there

Directly beneath Grand Central Terminal is the underground station of the same name, where the following lines intersect:

• Green lines 4, 5, 6
• Purple line 7

About 350 metres to the west, you can also use the42nd St Bryant Park / 5th Av station, served by the orange lines B, D, F and M.

 

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