Official Grand Central Terminal tours return after pandemic hiatus
All photos courtesy of Walks
Official guided tours of Grand Central Terminal are returning for the first time since the start of the pandemic. MTA Metro-North announced this week City Experiences’s sightseeing company “Walks” will become the new operator of the official tour of Grand Central. Tours of the historic landmark are available daily, starting at 3 p.m. Tickets cost $35 for adults and $30 for children.
Tour guides will take visitors on a 90-minute tour through the architectural gem, offering a new perspective on one of the world’s most famous train terminals and exploring the impact it’s had on the city and transportation.
Guests will see the terminal’s most iconic sites, including the Grand Central Market, Transit Museum, Grand Central Clock, Vanderbilt Hall, the Whispering Gallery, and the Main Concourse.
Guides will delve deep into the daily routine of the terminal, and give insight into the historical figures behind Grand Central who made it what it is today, including Cornelius Vanderbilt and Paul “Tick Tock” Kugler.
“Grand Central Terminal is one of New York City’s iconic locations with a rich history that will once again be told to visitors and fellow New Yorkers alike,” Catherine Rinaldi, Metro-North President and Long Island Rail Road Interim President, said.
“Metro-North is excited to bring tours back after a two-year pause and are confident that Walks’ storytellers will do the history of Grand Central, and all the terminal’s historical features proud.”
Constructed in 1913, Grand Central Terminal is a cathedral-like, Beaux-Arts style building that was constructed during the City Beautiful movement, which at the time celebrated an increasingly more diverse and vibrant New York City.
The structure is considered one of the most significant architectural achievements in the United States, ranking at number 13 on the American Institute of Architecture’s Favorite Architecture list.
“You cannot find a more iconic institution in New York and in the world than Grand Central Terminal, which is rooted in such a steeped history as part of the fabric of the City,” SVP Hornblower Group, President & Founder of Walks Stephen Oddo, said.
“We are honored to partner with Grand Central Terminal as the official tour provider as we continue to align with renowned landmarks in key global destinations that are synonymous with our company mission of creating amazing experiences for our guests.”
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