Midtown train station
The best of Grand Central
The official tour, the Secrets walk, the star ceiling and the Whispering Gallery: when a tour beats walking in for free.
See our 5 picks
Grand Central is a working train station, so walking in is free. A 90-minute guided tour from €35 shows you the star ceiling, the clock and the Whispering Gallery.
The official tour is run by Walks. The Secrets tour is run by Untapped New York. GetYourGuide shows prices in your own currency.
Our 5 picks for Grand Central
Two 90-minute tours, one with an Empire State option, one in French and one private tour. All five have free cancellation.
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from €35 per person Our top pick 1 h 30 min 4.7 (285) reviews on GetYourGuide
Official Grand Central guided tour
A 90-minute walk through more than 150 years of history. You see a railroad tycoon's old office, a former cinema and the Whispering Gallery. A private option is available.
Best for First-time visitors
Check availability: Official Grand Central guided tour on GetYourGuide -
from €35 per person 1 h 30 min 4.8 (874) reviews on GetYourGuide
The Secrets of Grand Central
A 90-minute walk to hidden tennis courts, a lost cinema and a tucked-away bar that was once a tycoon's office. Headsets help you hear the guide.
Best for History lovers
Check availability: The Secrets of Grand Central on GetYourGuide -
from €29 per person 2–4.5 hours 4.5 (15) reviews on GetYourGuide
Grand Central tour with optional Empire State
A guided tour with the Whispering Gallery, secret stairways and the backward ceiling. You can add the Empire State Building deck after the tour. Groups are up to 20.
Best for Visitors who want two sights
Check availability: Grand Central tour with optional Empire State on GetYourGuide -
from €53 per person 2 hours 4.9 (17) reviews on GetYourGuide
French-language tour of Grand Central and Midtown
A 2-hour walk in French, for up to 10 people. You see hidden spots in the station and famous movie scenes. It meets at 20 E 40th St.
Best for French speakers
Check availability: French-language tour of Grand Central and Midtown on GetYourGuide -
from €201 per group up to 15 2–3 hours 5.0 (12) reviews on GetYourGuide
Private tour of Grand Central and Penn Station
A private tour for up to 15 people, led by a licensed guide and urban planner. You can add Penn Station, with a subway ride between them. Earpieces are included.
Best for Groups up to 15
Check availability: Private tour of Grand Central and Penn Station on GetYourGuide
Grand Central tours compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Group size | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official Grand Central guided tour | €35 per person | 1 h 30 min | Not stated | First-time visitors | The official tour of the station, with 4.7 from 285 reviews. |
| The Secrets of Grand Central | €35 per person | 1 h 30 min | Not stated | History lovers | The highest-rated big tour here, with 4.8 from 874 reviews. |
| Grand Central tour with optional Empire State | €29 per person | 2–4.5 hours | Up to 20 | Visitors who want two sights | Two famous sights in one booking, with 4.5 from 15 reviews. |
| French-language tour of Grand Central and Midtown | €53 per person | 2 hours | Up to 10 | French speakers | A small group in French, with 4.9 from 17 reviews. |
| Private tour of Grand Central and Penn Station | €201 per group up to 15 | 2–3 hours | Private, up to 15 | Groups up to 15 | A private guide for your group, rated 5.0, but few reviews so far (12). |
Official Grand Central guided tour
€35 per person1 h 30 min 4.7 (285)
Details
- Group size
- Not stated
- Who it suits
- First-time visitors
- Why we picked it
- The official tour of the station, with 4.7 from 285 reviews.
€35 per person1 h 30 min 4.8 (874)
Details
- Group size
- Not stated
- Who it suits
- History lovers
- Why we picked it
- The highest-rated big tour here, with 4.8 from 874 reviews.
Grand Central tour with optional Empire State
€29 per person2–4.5 hours 4.5 (15)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 20
- Who it suits
- Visitors who want two sights
- Why we picked it
- Two famous sights in one booking, with 4.5 from 15 reviews.
French-language tour of Grand Central and Midtown
€53 per person2 hours 4.9 (17)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 10
- Who it suits
- French speakers
- Why we picked it
- A small group in French, with 4.9 from 17 reviews.
Private tour of Grand Central and Penn Station
€201 per group up to 152–3 hours 5.0 (12)
Details
- Group size
- Private, up to 15
- Who it suits
- Groups up to 15
- Why we picked it
- A private guide for your group, rated 5.0, but few reviews so far (12).
- None of the 5 includes hotel pickup: you meet on site.
- All 5 offer free cancellation.
- Group options: Official Grand Central guided tour, private option.
- Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 24 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Is Grand Central free to visit?
Yes, walking into Grand Central is free. It is a working train station, so you can look at the Main Concourse on your own.
A tour adds the stories and the hidden parts. Our tour picks show the Whispering Gallery and the secrets of the building.
Is there a free Grand Central tour?
We found no free official tour. A self-guided look at the concourse costs nothing. The official guided tour costs from €35 on GetYourGuide.
Grand Central tours: official and walking tours
Pick the official tour for a first visit. Pick the Secrets tour for hidden corners. Both take about 90 minutes and meet at 89 E 42nd St.
Grand Central says the official tour is run by Walks. It is in English, for up to 20 people. It meets at the Tour Information Booth.
| Tour | What it covers | Where it meets |
|---|---|---|
| Official guided tour | History, a tycoon's office, the Whispering Gallery | 89 E 42nd St |
| Secrets of Grand Central | Tennis courts, a lost cinema, a hidden bar | 89 E 42nd St |
| Tour with optional Empire State | Secret stairways, the ceiling, then the deck | Depends on the option you pick |
| French-language tour | Hidden spots and movie scenes, in French | 20 E 40th St |
| Private tour | Grand Central, and Penn Station if you like | Depends on the option you pick |
Grand Central history in five facts
Grand Central opened in 1913. These facts come from Grand Central's own pages:
- Opening: it opened at 12:01 am on Sunday, February 2, 1913. More than 150,000 people came that day.
- Ceiling: the Main Concourse ceiling has 12 gold-leaf constellations and 2,500 stars, 59 of them lit.
- Backward sky: the zodiac on the ceiling is painted backwards.
- Clock: the four-faced opal glass clock on the information booth is valued at $20 million or more.
- Whispering Gallery: near the Oyster Bar, tile arches let two people in opposite corners hear each other whisper.
Opening hours
Grand Central says it is open daily from 5:15 AM to 2 AM. Shops, the market and places to eat keep their own hours.
Getting there and things to do near Grand Central
Grand Central is at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown. Most tours meet inside, at 89 E 42nd St. Check your ticket for the exact spot. Metro-North trains to the Hudson Valley leave from here.
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt has its entrance on the Main Concourse. Book a SUMMIT One Vanderbilt ticket to see the city from the tower next door.
More walks, from SoHo to Harlem, are in our NYC walking tours.
Booking tips for Grand Central tours
Check what each tour covers
Tours show different parts of the station. Read the list before you pick one.
Find the meeting point
Most tours meet inside Grand Central, but some meet nearby. Your ticket shows the place.
Look up
The star ceiling is the main sight, and looking at it costs nothing. Find the backward zodiac.
Pair it with SUMMIT
SUMMIT has its entrance on the Main Concourse. You can do both in one visit.
Grand Central: questions and answers
How do I get to Grand Central Terminal?
Is Grand Central free to visit?
How long is a Grand Central tour?
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Sources (5), facts checked on 24 October 2026
Written by the Things to Do in NYC editorial team.