College Visit Guides

Trip guide · 2 days, 3 campuses

New York City in 2 Days: NYU, Columbia and Fordham

A parent-first plan for touring NYU, Columbia and Fordham's Rose Hill campus in two days by subway and train from one Grand Central hotel: official sign-ups, transit, parking if you must drive, meals and things for siblings.

Low Memorial Library at Columbia, a domed neoclassical building with a columned portico above wide steps and a lawn, on a sunny winter day
Low Memorial Library, Columbia University (Feb 2025). Photo: Magpieturtle · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Last checked Oct 22, 2026. The small [S#] links open the page each fact comes from. Some hotel and tour links are affiliate links (disclosure).

Check before you go. Tour times, sign-up rules, parking and seasonal closures change often, sometimes weekly. Every campus section below links to that school's official visit page and shows when we last checked it. Confirm there before you book or drive. College Visit Guides is not affiliated with or endorsed by any college or university. Names are used only to identify them.

The short version

Trip at a glance

Schools
New York University (NYU), Columbia University, Fordham University (Rose Hill campus, the Bronx)
Days
2 (NYU + Columbia on Day 1, Fordham on Day 2)
Best base
Grand Central, in Midtown East: the start of NYU's 6-train route and of Metro-North to Fordham
Car or transit
Transit. NYU recommends public transportation, Columbia is on the 1 train, and Fordham is a Metro-North ride from Grand Central.
Weekday needed
Yes. Columbia's Visitors Center is open weekdays, and Fordham's guided programs run on weekdays.
Registration
Required at all three. Fordham takes no walk-ins.

1. Who this guide is for

This plan is for parents taking a high schooler, and maybe younger siblings, on a first look at three very different New York City campuses. NYU's buildings surround Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village; Columbia has a gated campus in Morningside Heights; Fordham's Rose Hill campus is in the Bronx.[S3][S6][S12]

All three schools require you to register for visits, and the whole trip works without a car.[S1][S6][S11][S3]

Why this order

  • NYU and Columbia are both in Manhattan, about 7 miles apart. NYU's visit runs about 90 minutes and Columbia's tour is one hour, so they fit in one day.[S19][S2][S6]
  • Fordham gets Day 2. Its Information Session with Tour lasts 2 hours (a guided tour alone is 1 hour), and it's a Metro-North ride from Grand Central.[S10][S12]
  • Also seeing Fordham's Lincoln Center campus? Fordham requires a separate registration for each campus. The two are 8 miles apart and linked by the Ram Van.[S10][S11]
Tour availability varies by season.
  • Fordham lists its Information Session with Tour (most weekdays) and its 1-hour Guided Tour (weekdays) for Sept 14–Nov 20. Outside that window, the self-guided tour is offered on weekdays and most weekends, year-round.[S10]
  • Columbia runs no visit programs on University holidays. Check each school's sign-up page before you book travel.[S6]

2. The suggested 2-day route

  • The drive column shows no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing. Manhattan traffic is usually much slower, so this trip is planned around transit, with directions from the schools' own pages.[S19][S20][S21]
  • Our recommendation, not a school rule: allow at least 75 minutes between the end of the NYU visit and the start of your Columbia tour.

Day 1: NYU (morning), then Columbia (afternoon)

  1. Hotel base → NYU Bonomi Family Admissions Center

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~10 min, 2.7 mi
    Subway and train
    From Grand Central, take the 6 train downtown to Astor Place, then walk about 10 minutes to the Washington Square Park area.[S19][S3]

  2. NYU → Columbia (Uris Hall)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~20 min, 7.2 mi
    Subway and train
    The 1 train to 116th St–Columbia University. If you start on a 2 or 3 express, transfer to the 1 at 96th St.[S19][S6]

  3. Columbia → hotel base

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~14 min, 5.1 mi
    Subway and train
    Back downtown from 116th St–Columbia University on the 1 train; check your connection to Grand Central before you go.[S19][S6]
  • NYU: a short information session led by an admissions counselor, then a student-led outdoor tour, about 90 minutes in all.[S2]
  • Columbia: a one-hour walking tour, mostly outdoors with stairs, rain or shine.[S6]

Day 2: Fordham Rose Hill

  1. Hotel base → Fordham Rose Hill

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~25 min, 11.5 mi
    Subway and train
    Metro-North from Grand Central to the Fordham Road station. The Third Avenue gate is a few steps from the station.[S19][S12]

  2. Fordham → hotel base

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~25 min, 11.5 mi
    Subway and train
    Metro-North back to Grand Central[S19][S12]
  • Fordham's Information Session with Tour lasts 2 hours and ends with a chance to talk with an admission counselor. The guided tour alone is 1 hour, and a self-guided visit takes 45–90 minutes.[S10]
  • Fordham doesn't provide lunch or transportation for visitors.[S10]

3. Campus by campus

The white marble Washington Square Arch with carved reliefs, seen from below against a blue sky with clouds, tall buildings at the sides
Washington Square Arch, next to NYU (Aug 2017). Photo: Marco Almbauer · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Campus

NYU (Washington Square)

Where visits start
  • Tours start at the Bonomi Family Admissions Center, 27 W. 4th St., New York, NY 10012.[S2][S3]
  • Each registration covers the student plus up to two guests; larger groups use NYU's group-tours page. For accessibility accommodations, contact the NYU Moses Center at least 5 business days ahead.[S2]
Visitor parking
  • NYU recommends public transportation. Street parking fills up quickly, and garage prices aren't regulated.[S3]
  • NYU lists several nearby garages, including the Thompson St. garage (221 Thompson St.) and the 91 Bleecker St. garage. Check NYU's directions page for the full list.[S3]
Nearest transit
  • West Fourth Street (A, C, E, B, D, F, M), 8th Street–NYU (N, Q, R, W), Astor Place (6) and Bleecker Street (4, 5, 6).[S3]
What to know
  • The tour circles NYU's buildings around Washington Square Park. NYU also offers a self-guided option through its "NYU Guided Tour" app.[S1][S3]
Contact
Undergraduate Admissions: +1-212-998-4500, admissions@nyu.edu[S1]

Last checked Oct 22, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: NYU: Directions, Maps, and Parking

Low Memorial Library at Columbia, a domed neoclassical building with a columned portico above wide steps and a lawn, on a sunny winter day
Low Memorial Library, Columbia University (Feb 2025). Photo: Magpieturtle · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Campus

Columbia University

Where visits start
  • The Columbia Visitors Center is in Hepburn Lounge, Uris Hall, open weekdays 9–5 when the University is open. Tours leave from Uris Terrace.[S8]
  • Enter by the ramp at the southeast corner of Uris Hall, across from Schermerhorn Hall. Uris is directly behind Low Library.[S8]
  • Registration is required. General tours cover Columbia College and Columbia Engineering; Engineering tours focus on Columbia Engineering's curriculum and research.[S6]
Visitor parking
  • Columbia's admissions page points drivers to a separate parking page, and the main gate at 116th St. and Broadway is closed to vehicles. We'd take the subway.[S6]
Nearest transit
  • 116th St–Columbia University on the 1 train, plus the M4, M5, M11, M60 SBS and M104 buses. The M60 SBS runs from LaGuardia to campus about every half hour.[S6]
What to know
  • Tours are led by current undergraduates, who mix the overview with their own stories.[S6]

Last checked Oct 22, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: Columbia: Visit · Columbia: Visitors Center in Uris Hall

Keating Hall at Fordham's Rose Hill campus, a stone building with a tall tower, framed by leafy trees
Keating Hall from the south, Fordham Rose Hill (Jul 2014). Photo: John Perry · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Campus

Fordham University (Rose Hill)

Where visits start
  • Rose Hill campus, 441 E. Fordham Rd., the Bronx, next to the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Garden. For GPS, Fordham suggests 2691 Southern Blvd., Bronx, NY 10458.[S12]
  • Registration is required for every visit, including self-guided ones, and Fordham takes no walk-ins. Self-guided visitors get a tour booklet; residence halls aren't included.[S11][S10]
Visitor parking
  • All vehicles enter through the Southern Boulevard gate, not the Third Avenue gate. The daily rate for visitors is $25, and the garage has an 82-inch height limit. Pick-up and drop-off at the guard station is free.[S13]
  • Rideshare drop-off is at 191st St. and Bathgate Ave.[S12]
Nearest transit
  • Metro-North from Grand Central to the Fordham Road station (Fordham's visit page names the Harlem line). Exit left; the Third Avenue gate is a few steps ahead.[S12][S10]
  • Subway: Fordham's directions page lists the D train at Fordham Rd./Grand Concourse, a few blocks away; its visit page lists the B, D and 4 trains. Buses: Bx9, Bx12, Bx22 and Bee-Line 61.[S12][S10]
  • The Ram Van runs between campuses; schedule at 718-817-4346.[S12]
What to know
  • The 2-hour Information Session with Tour includes an admission presentation; the guided tour alone is 1 hour.[S10]
Contact
Scheduling a visit: visitus@fordham.edu. General: enroll@fordham.edu[S10]

Last checked Oct 22, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: Fordham: Visit Fordham · Fordham: Directions to Rose Hill

4. Where to stay: one base for all three

Expedia hotel links are affiliate links: if you book through one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Hotel · Our pick

The Westin New York Grand Central

212 E. 42nd St., New York

Why here

  • It's next to Grand Central, which NYU names as the start of the 6-train route to Washington Square and Fordham names as the Metro-North station for Rose Hill.[S3][S12]
  • NYU lists it among its hotel discount partners, 2.1 miles from campus.[S4]

Good to know

  • Parking: self-park $40/hour or $100/day; valet $100/day ($125 for SUVs and vans). Another reason to plan around transit.[S14]
  • Amuse Marketplace & Bar serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.[S14]
  • Check-in 4 pm, check-out 11 am. The minimum age to check in is 21. One pet up to 40 lb, $50 per night.[S14]
  • Phone: +1 212-490-8900[S14]

Check rates on Expedia → Hotel's official page ↗

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · Alternate

Washington Square Hotel

103 Waverly Pl., New York

Why here

  • A better fit if NYU is the priority. Open since 1902, it says it's a block from the NYU campus, and it's about a 7-minute walk (0.3 mi) to the Bonomi Family Admissions Center. NYU lists it as a discount partner, 0.3 miles from campus.[S15][S20][S4]

Good to know

  • The hotel's restaurant is closed for renovation, so plan to eat out.[S15][S16]
  • Steps from Washington Square Park and a short walk to Union Square and SoHo. Fitness room open 6 am–12 am.[S15][S16]
  • Phone: 212-777-9515, reservations@wshotel.com[S15]

Check rates on Expedia → Hotel's official page ↗

Expedia link is an affiliate link

NYU calls Greenwich Village the most convenient neighborhood for visiting but notes it has few hotels; uptown hotels are 25–35 minutes by train from Washington Square.[S5]

5. Meals between tours

Hours change, so check before you go.

Grand Central base

Eat

Amuse Marketplace & Bar

The Westin New York Grand Central, 212 E. 42nd St.

The Westin's restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.[S14]

Details →

Near NYU

If you stay at the Washington Square Hotel, its restaurant is closed for renovation, so plan to eat out around the Village.[S15]

At Fordham

Fordham doesn't provide lunch for visitors, so eat before you take Metro-North up or after you come back.[S10]

With siblings on the Upper West Side

Eat

American Museum of Natural History food court

Lower level, 200 Central Park West

Open daily 10:45 am–4:45 pm, with gluten-free and nut-free choices. You can leave the museum and return the same day on one ticket.[S17]

Details →

6. Things for siblings along the route

Viator tour links are affiliate links: if you book through one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

With siblings

American Museum of Natural History

200 Central Park West

On the way back from Columbia: the 1 train stops at 79th St., two blocks west, and the B (weekdays) and C stop at 81st St. Open daily 10 am–5:30 pm, closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Visitors from outside New York State pay $37 adults, $30 seniors and students, $22 children 3–12; under 3 free. NY State residents with ID pay what they wish, and anyone entering in the last hour gets in free (tickets still required). Stroller entrances: Rose Center (81st St.) and Gilder Center (415 Columbus Ave.). The 81st St. station isn't wheelchair accessible; the closest accessible one is 72nd St. (1, 2, 3).[S17][S18]

Official page → · Admission ticket on Viator → affiliate

With siblings

Central Park by bike

Central Park, Manhattan

A bike or e-bike rental bookable through Viator. Check the listing for the pick-up location, prices and age limits before you book.[S18]

Central Park Bike & E-Bike Rental on Viator → affiliate

With siblings

Washington Square Park

Greenwich Village

Right outside NYU's admissions center, in the middle of NYU's buildings.[S3]

Official page →

7. Practical tips

Getting around on transit

  • Subway and local buses: $3.00 a ride, with free transfers. Tap a contactless card or phone, or buy a reloadable OMNY card in a station.[S6]
  • Heading to Columbia, watch for express trains: the 2 and 3 leave the Upper West Side before 116th St., so transfer to the 1 at 96th St.[S6]
  • Fordham: Metro-North from Grand Central to the Fordham Road station.[S12]
  • Airports: the M60 SBS runs from LaGuardia to Columbia. NYU advises using the established taxi line outside baggage claim and not accepting offered rides.[S6][S3]

Driving and traffic

  • Drive times here are no-traffic estimates. NYU recommends transit and notes that New York City is actively reducing car traffic in the most congested parts of Manhattan.[S19][S3]
  • If you do drive: Fordham's visitor rate is $25/day, and self-parking at the Westin is $100/day.[S13][S14]

Weather by season (1991–2020 NOAA normals, Central Park)

  • Spring: April averages a high of 62°F and a low of 46°F, with 4.1 inches of rain.[S22]
  • Summer: July averages 85°F/70°F.[S22]
  • Fall: October averages 65°F/51°F; November 54°F/42°F.[S22]
  • Winter: January averages 40°F/28°F with 8.8 inches of snow, and February brings 10.1 inches. Columbia's tour runs rain or shine, mostly outdoors.[S22][S6]

Siblings on tours

  • NYU's registration covers the student plus up to two guests, so siblings count toward that.[S2]

Parent checklist

  • Register at all three schools before you book travel. Fordham takes no walk-ins, even for self-guided visits.[S11]
  • Want a guided Fordham program? Book a date between Sept 14 and Nov 20; outside that window it's self-guided.[S10]
  • Load a contactless card or phone for the $3.00 subway fare.[S6]
  • After each school, take five minutes to jot down what stood out to your student before the next one blurs it.

Trip planner

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Sources

All checked Oct 22, 2026. Tour schedules change constantly, so always confirm on each school's official sign-up page. Photo credits are under each photo and on our About page.

  1. S1 NYU Undergraduate Admissions: Visit Our Campuses (official sign-up entry)
  2. S2 NYU Visit: In-Person Tours (registration page, sample date)
  3. S3 NYU: Directions, Maps, and Parking
  4. S4 NYU Undergraduate Admissions: Hotel Discounts
  5. S5 NYU: Hotels and Neighborhoods
  6. S6 Columbia Undergraduate Admissions: Campus Visits (official sign-up)
  7. S8 Columbia: Visitors Center Relocated to Uris Hall
  8. S10 Fordham: Visit Fordham
  9. S11 Fordham On-Campus Visitation (official sign-up)
  10. S12 Fordham: Directions to Rose Hill
  11. S13 Fordham Public Safety: Rose Hill Campus Parking
  12. S14 Marriott: The Westin New York Grand Central
  13. S15 Washington Square Hotel
  14. S16 Washington Square Hotel: Amenities
  15. S17 American Museum of Natural History: Plan Your Visit
  16. S18 Viator Partner API (product search and lookups, Oct 2026)
  17. S19 OSRM routing (OpenStreetMap), driving profile
  18. S20 OSRM routing (OpenStreetMap), foot profile
  19. S21 OpenStreetMap Nominatim geocoder
  20. S22 NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Monthly Normals, Central Park, NY (USW00094728)