Campus Visits

Sometimes there’s no substitute for firsthand experience. We find that’s true of New York City in general, but especially true of Columbia. A visit to Morningside Heights is your chance to engage with our diverse, dynamic community, explore our one-of-a-kind campus, imagine the life you’ll build here—and dream big about where a Columbia education could lead you.

We continue to offer several virtual programming options, including information sessions, Q&A chats and other special events, in addition to on-campus opportunities. You can explore our virtual events calendar and campus tour calendar to see a full list of visit opportunities. Visit programs are not offered during University holidays, so please visit the calendar and register for an event before making travel arrangements.

Visitors Information

Accessibility

For more information on wheelchair accessibility, please call Disability Services at (212) 854-2388.

Campus map

Please refer to these printer-friendly PDF maps to navigate around campus on your visit. Many campus and neighborhood attractions are also easy to locate using Google Maps.

Hotels

There are a number of hotels close to campus on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Columbia University has negotiated deals with several local options for campus visitors. Please visit the Travel Portal and click on NYC Hotels (in the Visiting Columbia section) for more information on specific Columbia rates and instructions on how to make reservations at participating hotels.

Budget Accommodations Near Campus

• Teachers College Guest Housing
  517 West 121st Street
  (212) 678-3235

• Hostel International New York
  891 Amsterdam Avenue (and 104th Street)
  (212) 932-2300

Parking

Information on parking near the Morningside Heights campus may be found on the Visit Columbia website.

Columbia Visitors Center

For more information, please contact the Visitors Center at (212) 854-4900.

Campus Directions

By New York City public transit

Five bus lines (M4, M5, M11, SBS-M60, M104) and one subway line (the No. 1 local) serve the Columbia neighborhood. The M60 Select Bus Service is a direct link between the campus and LaGuardia Airport. The Columbia stop for the buses and the subway is Columbia University/116th Street.

Please note: if you begin your subway journey on the #2 or #3 express train, be certain to transfer at 96th Street to the #1 train, as the #2 and #3 trains turn away from Manhattan’s Upper West Side before 116th Street.

Maps of bus and subway routes are available on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) website. Fares on subways and local buses are $2.90 per ride, with free transfers available; riders can purchase a MetroCard at all subway stations or use contactless payment.

By intercity train or bus

Train service to New York arrives at Grand Central Terminal or Penn Station; bus service arrives at the Port Authority Bus Terminal. From any of these locations, public transportation or taxicab service is available to the campus.

By air

LaGuardia Airport is the closest to the campus; a taxi ride is about $45 (not including a 18% tip), and the M60 Select Bus Service goes directly from LaGuardia to the campus every half hour for $2.90. For visitors arriving at any area airport (including Newark International Airport), public transit is available to the Port Authority Bus Terminal (see paragraph above). Coach service and taxicabs are another option; for example, a taxi directly to campus from Kennedy Airport costs approximately $70 (not including a 18% tip).

By car

The GPS address of the Visitors Center, Morningside Heights campus, temporarily located in Uris Hall for the Spring 2024 semester, is 3022 Broadway, New York, New York 10027​.

• From Riverside Drive and West 95th Street
  Go north on Riverside Drive to 116th Street. Turn right and go two blocks to Broadway and the University’s main gate (which is not open to traffic).
• From the North
  Take the New York Thruway (I-87) or the New England Thruway (I-95) south to the Cross Bronx Expressway (I-95) in the direction of the George Washington Bridge. Take the exit for the Henry Hudson Parkway south (last exit before the bridge). Exit the Parkway at West 125th Street. Merge onto Marginal Street (0.2 miles). Turn left onto 125th Street (0.2 miles). Turn right onto Broadway and continue south to 116th Street. The university main gate is on the left. The main gate is not open to vehicular traffic.
  
  Alternatively, take the Saw Mill River Parkway south to the Henry Hudson Parkway south. Cross the Henry Hudson Bridge into Manhattan. (Please note that this bridge is run by the MTA and therefore does not accept cash for tolls; click here for more information on how to pay.) Exit the Parkway at West 125th Street. Merge onto Marginal Street (0.2 miles). Turn left onto 125th Street (0.2 miles). Turn right onto Broadway and continue south to 116th Street. The university main gate is on the left. The main gate is not open to vehicular traffic.
• From the South or West
  Take the New Jersey Turnpike north or I-80 east to the George Washington Bridge. After crossing the bridge, take the exit for the Henry Hudson Parkway south. Exit the Parkway at 125th Street. Merge onto Marginal Street (0.2 miles). Turn left onto 125th Street (0.2 miles). Turn right onto Broadway and continue south to 114th Street. Make a U-turn and continue to 116th Street. The university main gate is on the right. The main gate is not open to vehicular traffic.
  
  Alternatively, drivers can enter New York City via the Lincoln Tunnel. Take I-280 north to I-95 north. From I-95, take Exit 16E toward the Lincoln Tunnel/NJ-3 ($12.50 cash toll heading into New York; westbound to New Jersey is always free). Keep left at the fork and merge onto NJ-495 east. Leaving the tunnel, take the exit toward 42 St./I-495 E/New York 9A; bear to the left and continue under the underpass onto Dyer Avenue. Turn left onto West 41st Street. Turn right onto 12th Avenue, the Henry Hudson Parkway. From the Parkway, take the West 96th Street exit. Merge onto 96th Street and turn left onto Broadway. Continue to West 116th Street. The university main gate is on the right. The main gate is not open to vehicular traffic.
• From Long Island
  Take the Long Island Expressway or the Grand Central Parkway west to the Cross Island Parkway north. Cross the Throgs Neck Bridge onto the Cross Bronx Expressway (I-95 south) and proceed as in “By Car from the North.”
• From LaGuardia Airport
  Take the Grand Central Parkway east to the Whitestone Parkway (I-678). Follow it across the Whitestone Bridge and onto I-95 south. Follow directions above for  "From the North."
• From Kennedy Airport
  Take the Van Wyck Expressway (I-678) to the Whitestone Bridge and across. Take I-95 south and follow the directions above for "From the North."
• From Newark Airport
  Follow directions above for "From the South or West."