A surprising number of excellent tours explore New York’s famous Grand Central in a variety of ways. Here’s a roundup of the best options.
(Photo: Getyourguide.com)
Grand Central Terminal may well be the world’s most famous train station. The vast main concourse is not only a space used by commuters, its central location, at the corner of 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Manhattan, makes it an ideal to meet people. This fact has not escaped the attention of film and TV creators, who have used it to make everything from short films to big budget action movies. Walking tours and behind the scenes access tours are the most common, but there are many ways to experience the beautiful Beaux-Arts construct. Here are five of the best.
Grand Central Terminal Self-Guided Walking Tour
The simplest and best-value way to take an informative tour of Grand Central Terminal is on this self-guided walking tour. It is designed to lead you through the entire terminal building (at least the parts that are open to the public), while providing a map and narration along the way. The tour is accessible via an app, which is packed with information, including details of the various works of art that are dotted around the station, which would normally escape the notice of somebody who doesn’t know to look for them. Available at any time. From $8 per person.
(Photo: Getyourguide.com)
Official Grand Central Terminal Walking Tour
For a guided walking tour of Grand Central that guarantees an unfettered glimpse at the hidden history of this lauded station, there’s this 90-minute option. This includes wandering through a 1920’s-style speakeasy, the Grand Central Market, and a number of elements that would be all too easy to miss when exploring on your own. Examples include the inverted celestial ceiling, and the Whispering Gallery in the lower levels of the station. Tours run twice daily. From $35 per person.
The Secrets of Grand Central Terminal
If you didn’t already know that there’s a hidden tennis court in Grand Central Station, then this might be the kind of tour for you. Discover what became of a railroad tycoon’s former office, locate a useful gem worth millions that stands in plain sight, and hear about how the station was once falling into disrepair. Tours depart at least once a day at 2pm. Additional tours at 10am run on Tue, Thu and Sat. From $35 per person.
(Photo: Getyourguide.com)
Superheroes in New York Walking Tour
For a more unusual type of Grand Central tour, look to the silver screen. Filmmakers bringing both the Marvel and DC universes to life have always looked to New York City for inspiration, in the same way the original creators of the comics did. Both Superman and The Avengers have immortalized Grand Central. This walking tour stops by the famous transport hub, along with many other Manhattan hotspots to bring those filming locations to life. Tours run daily. From $39 per person.
New York City Guided Bus Tour at Night
Another type of tour that commonly incorporates Grand Central Station into its itinerary is the bus tour. For anybody not too keen on walking tours, this is the way to go. This half-day adventure, which runs on Tue and Thu-Sat each week, enjoys a packed itinerary, weaving up through Manhattan, taking in sights such as Grand Central, along with the Empire State and Chrysler buildings, the East Village and other boroughs, such as Brooklyn, along the way. Tours depart at 5:30pm. From $59 per person.