Located amid the skyscrapers and bustle of Manhattan, Columbia University is home to a surprisingly sheltered and classic college campus complete with green quads and eye-catching architecture, including several National Historic Landmarks. Highlights include Low Memorial Library, Butler Library (inscribed with the names of luminaries such as Aristotle and Shakespeare), and Pupin Hall (associated with the Manhattan Project). And be sure to look out for filming locations—the campus has appeared in dozens of movies, from Ghostbusters to Spider-Man.
Wander around campus on your own, or go with a guide for additional insight. New York City tours, from Harlem and Upper West Side neighborhood excursions to bike jaunts and architecture-themed outings, often feature Columbia University.
Thanks to ramps and elevators, the bulk of Columbia’s campus is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.
Columbia is home to students, faculty, and staff—be respectful while you visit.
Find the visitor center in the Low Memorial Library.
Daniel Chester French’s Alma Mater statue—located on the steps of Low Library—is an important symbol of the university; for good luck, see if you can find the owl hidden in her robes.
To reach the Morningside Heights campus, take subway line 1 to 116th and Broadway station. Numerous bus lines serve the school campus, including the M60, which connects the university to LaGuardia Airport.
Columbia’s campus is free and open to visitors throughout the year, though entry to student buildings is limited to tours. In early winter, don’t miss the school’s festive tree lighting ceremony on College Walk.
Following your campus tour, explore the highlights of the surrounding Morningside Heights neighborhood. Visit the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, one of the world’s largest Anglican churches. Afterward, take a walk in Morningside Park or Riverside Park, and stop for a meal at Tom’s Diner of Seinfeld fame. Finally, head to nearby Harlem to see the Apollo Theater and other neighborhood attractions.
