Are you looking for ideas of places to see in walking distance of Grand Central Station?
Grand Central Station is a historic world-famous landmark located in Midtown Manhattan. You’ll have seen it in movies and TV shows (of course) but it mainly serves as a commuter hub for travellers coming in and out of the city. Grand Central Station is a hub of activity, and if you’re basing yourself around that area for your time in NYC, it’s a great place to be based!
So, as well as exploring Grand Central Station itself – you might be interested to know more about what there is to see and experience nearby Grand Central Station too!
If you’re looking for places to see in walking distance of Grand Central Station, this is the list for you!
Top tip! Don’t forget to explore Grand Central Station itself!
Grand Central Station is a location all in itself. It’s not just a transportation hub – Grand Central Station is also a shopping, dining, and cultural destination with over 60 shops, 35 restaurants and bars, and year-round events all under one historical, iconic and incredible roof. I adore the food market in Grand Central, all the restaurants, the champagne bar, the concourse… it’s all beautiful to look around.
If you do want to venture out of the station though, there are so many amazing NYC attractions within walking distance of Grand Central Station. Here I’ll talk through some of my favourites places to see in walking distance of Grand Central Station…
The Empire State Building
First on our list of the best places to see near Grand Central Station, it’s The Empire State Building. How could we write a list like this, and not include it?
Read more: The best places to Empire State Building tickets
The Empire State Building is an iconic choice for NYC sightseeing. With the 86th and 102nd floor observatories providing unforgettable 360° views of New York City and beyond (click here to book tickets), it’s a great place to go and get a real panoramic view of the city. It’s only 8 blocks south from Grand Central Station, so about a 10-15 minute walk.
Bryant Park
Next on my list of places to see in walking distance of Grand Central Station, it’s Bryant Park! Bryant Park is the closest park to Grand Central Station and it’s just a couple of blocks away – so only a few minutes walk.
Just walk west on 42 st, and you’ll notice when an entire block opens up to green space. It’s a gorgeous place to relax and enjoy the city, there are tables, coffee shops, games… It’s lovely. We love to relax there and just watch the world go by with a coffee in hand. If you’re looking for green space near Grand Central Station, then this is the best and closest option, for sure!
Times Square
Next on my list of places to see in walking distance of Grand Central Station, Times Square. A little bit more of a walk (but not far!) is Times Square. If you didn’t know, Times Square is a major commercial intersection, tourist destination, entertainment centre and neighbourhood in the Midtown Manhattan section of New York City.
It’s known for it’s colourful, bright and entertaining billboards (quite the opposite to Grand Central Station!) – and you’ll find loads of shops, street entertainers, theatres and restaurants in the blocks surrounding it. It stretches from West 42nd to West 47th Streets, and if you walk west from Grand Central Station, it’s about 4 blocks walking distance.
The Chrysler Building
Next on our list of places to see near Grand Central Station, it’s the iconic Chrysler Building. This amazing building is located right outside Grand Central Station, so it’s definitely worth walking outside and having a look.
This building right next to Grand Central Station, is beautifully designed, and the architecture is just stunning. If you love photography – this building is an amazing photography subject! Definitely worth a little stroll from Grand Central Station to admire it!
New York Public Library
Another great place to see in walking distance of Grand Central Station is the NYC Public Library. Located about 3 blocks west of Grand Central Station, the New York Public Library is a must-see in the city. It’s an iconic building (almost as iconic as Grand Central Station itself!), and it’s just such a special place in the city.
It’s also right next to Bryant Park (so it’s pretty easy to tick these both off your list at the same time!). Definitely make sure you check out this fantastic part of NYC if you’re close to Grand Central Station.
Read more about NYC: The Ultimate NYC Bucket List
Rockefeller Centre
Next on my list of places to see in walking distance of Grand Central Station, the Rockefeller Centre! Rockefeller Centre is a slightly longer walk away, but if you don’t mind a 15-20 minute walk, then Rockefeller is well worth visiting. Of course, there is the ‘Top of The Rock‘ there (which is my favourite observation deck in NYC) so it’s worth booking tickets and taking a trip up to the top to enjoy the view.
This is a great location for visitors around the Grand Central Station because it’s jam-packed full of so many great shops and attractions! And in the winter – you’ll find the famous Christmas tree there too!
Macy’s NYC
Next on our list of places to see in walking distance of Grand Central Station is Macy’s. Macy’s is located about 9 blocks south of Grand Central Station on 6th Avenue.
It’s an iconic shopping spot in the city, and it’s an unmissable destination if you love to shop until you drop. The shopping centre takes up the ENTIRE block, so it’s a department store you can well and truly get lost inside.
Barnes and Noble
If you’ve got a few hours to spare inside Grand Central Station, then you might be wondering if there’s a book store nearby. The answer? Yes there is! Barnes and Noble is an amazing NYC bookstore and it’s one of the best in the city! It’s only a few blocks from Grand Central Station, so it’s a great place to check out if you’re there.
United Nations Head Quarters
Ok, so this next suggestion for places to see near Grand Central Station, isn’t exactly the most touristy suggestion – but we wanted to include it anyway! This is still a really great part of the city to visit, and if you’re interested in politics and the UN – then this could really interest you. It’s only about 4 blocks away from Grand Central Station, so it’s within easy walking distance too.
Truly the heart of this famously popular tourist destination of a city, Grand Central Station is the arguably most important places in the city, and with its very central location most of the most popular places to visit are within a 20 minute walk.
