Tour Highlights

Rooms Nobody Talks About. A working tennis court above the terminal. A movie theater that vanished. Hidden passages that commuters walk past every single day.

The Ceiling, Explained. Why is it painted backwards? Learn the story behind one of New York’s most Googled questions, right underneath it.

Jacqueline Kennedy vs. the Wrecking Ball. The preservation battle that saved Grand Central and changed New York forever.

Stories Nobody Tells. The secret party on Track 61. The rocket that once stood in the concourse. The railroad executive who built a private apartment inside a working train station.

The Vanderbilt Empire. The private railroad apartment, the hidden power corridors, and the business dynasty that built New York’s greatest terminal.

Discreet wireless earpieces included for clear audio, even in busy areas

History made fun Great, knowledgeable, friendly guide , Ray, who offered fun and interesting facts.

Ann H
5/10/2026

A cool tour Great guide, interesting tour, learned a lot.

ABC
4/27/2026
Tour not to be missed! We really enjoyed this tour, very informative with lots of historical significance. Our tour guide Cullen was so knowledgeable. He provided pictures to support a lot of the historical facts he spoke about. Would highly recommend this tour.

Sharon K
4/26/2026

A Grand Central Experience Great very informative. Tremendous amount of history.

Jeff M
4/25/2026
Great tour with knowledgeable guide! Pete was awesome!!! We learned so much about GCS! Go on this tour if you like architecture and history!!!

Shanin
4/22/2026

Nice tour, nice guide 🙂 It was awesome! Can recommend 🙂

Gio Baba
4/19/2026
Grand Central Terminal Tour An enjoyable tour. Great way to learn about Grand Central Terminal. Mickey was a wonderful tour guide.

Joann L
4/19/2026

There’s so much more to Grand Central than the trains! What a fun, cool and interesting tour of Grand Central. This is for tourists and locals alike! I learned about things I have walked past my whole life… and was shown some new parts of Grand Central as well. John was a delight!

ellenj65
4/12/2026
Aanrader! Zeer interessante rondleiding die geen seconde verveelde. Micky is een fantastische gids!

Melissa K
4/11/2026

NYC Fun! We loved our guide who was friendly, knowledgeable, and easy to follow around. The hour and a half was a perfect amount of time for this tour!

Sandra A
4/05/2026
Very informative and interesting! Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

Jennifer H
4/02/2026

Grand Central Station secrets tour. Who would have thought that we would be seeing a tennis court in Grand Central Station? This was only one of several secrets we saw yesterday. Our tour guide, Cristian, was outstanding!

Jerold W
3/31/2026
Excellent and interesting experience! The tour guide was a very engaging and fun personality, and he showed us a lot of very interesting things. The crowd size was just right, and the people we were with were respectful. The fee wasn’t very bad for such a nice time, and we were there for almost an hour and a half. Overall, great experience for me and my teen! I probably wouldn’t recommend it for children younger than ten, they might be bored

Emily B
3/31/2026

Grand Central great tour Jonathan was a wonderful tour guide. This was a really interesting tour. There’s a lot of history at Grand Central terminal. I found the tour interesting and fun I would recommend.

Janet B
3/23/2026
Fantastic tour! This was a fantastic tour, showing all the hidden gems of this bustling place.

Ann G
3/22/2026

GCT like never seen before. We were a group of five adults. Our tour guide John was a New York native and knew everything there was to know about GCT. His excitement and eagerness to pleas was contagious. He moved along and shared an abundance of information. The technology was falling short due to WiFi connection inside so it made it difficult for some in group to hear at times and may have slowed things down a bit. But John was so engaging it likely didn’t matter. It was wonderful to travel to places within GCT we’ve never gone.

aimeez827
3/18/2026
Highly, highly, highly recommend! What a terrific tour. Our guide, Ben Wurtzel, was so generous with his time and expertise. He knew every nook and cranny of Grand Central, including those the average person never gets to see. His stories were so interesting and we could feel his passion for the Terminal and New York. We had an absolutely great time and could not have asked for more.

Helaine Katz
3/14/2026

Excellent! jonathan was excellent, very knowledgeable, professional, funny and courteous.

Quest10950562942
3/12/2026
History and architecture! Fabulous History and architecture come to life! Inside and out. There are details not to be missed! Gilded age fans will love the architecture and Vanderbilt history. Also fans of historical fiction- Fiona Davis, The Masterpiece- will love seeing the history come to life! Save time for shopping and lunch! We ate at The Oyster bar, a continuously operating restaurant!

mary c
3/12/2026

Great ecperience Excellent guide,?enthusiastic and knowledgeable.

HMCCKL
3/12/2026
We had a wonderful afternoon touring Grand Central and learning so many interesting facts and stories! Pete, our guide, was very knowledgable, engaging, and fun. He shared many historical details and great stories, along with helpful pictures. He also patiently answered all of our questions. I would definitely recommend this to someone visiting NYC or even a New Yorker just looking to learn more about their city!

Amy Speidel
2/16/2026

We had a great time! We had a great time learning the history of Grand Central Station. Richard was knowledgeable and shared all the juicy secrets!

Molly H
2/11/2026
Grand Central on a very cold day Grand Central Station has an interesting history.Our guide was great, very knowledgeable and an enthusiastic speaker. It was clear that he has had a long, personal relationship with Grand Station and his passion for the place was evident.

Ginny K
2/07/2026

The tour of Grand Central Station helped me learn about the history of this beautiful building. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and pointed out things I would have missed on my own. I thoroughly enjoyed Richard’s tour.

Deirdre Vriesman
2/07/2026
GREAT GUIDE, INTERESTING TOUR Our guide, Jonathan, was absolutely terrific. He’s one of the best guides we’ve ever had on a Viator tour. The history of Grand Central was interesting. Who would have thought that there would be a tennis court inside. HIghly recommend!!Steve, Palm Springs,CA

Steve U
2/03/2026

Worth your while! Listening devices were very helpful. Guide was knowledgeable and witty. Now the ap requires me to lengthen my review to a 100 characters.

sharlan
1/30/2026
Jonathan was a great guide he turns guiding into theatre Jonathan is a great guide he really knows his stuff regarding the Grand Central Station, very informative and interesting. I booked direct with Untapped only down side was a slightly large group over that stated but I was given a refund after raiding the issue. So tour is top marks well worth it

mike
1/30/2026

Time well spent! This tour was phenomenal. Our tour guide was very informative and kind. The information regarding Grand Central was full of facts and a little humor as well. Not only did we learn about Grand Central, it was rewarding to have a New Yorker that has interacted with many well known people and learn about the City and his life as well. It was time well spent and the tour guide made the experience worth it.

Jradrn
1/29/2026
Great tour Great tour with lots of interesting historical information about NYC and Grand Central. I’m a local and really enjoyed learning more about this historical place.

Lindsay D
1/21/2026

I Thought I Knew Everything but No! I’ve been exploring NYC for 40 years and I thought I knew everything! Boy was I wrong. I learned so much on this tour with Richard, it really put Grand Central into perspective and made me appreciate the building and its functions even more. And finally, after this tour, I think I will be able to find my way around Grand Central next time I’m there — I’ve gotten lost a hundred times, but Richard really showed all the nooks and crannies in a way that made me understand the layout.

Mark S
1/19/2026
Fun tour of a historic landmark Our family took the Secrets of Grand Central tour and had Ryan as our guide. We had a great time. The tour was interesting and took us all around the Terminal. We learned the history of the building, were taken to “secret” entrances and saw really cool places like the Campbell Bar, the whispering room and even tennis courts (who knew?). Also learned of the dedicated efforts to preserve and refurbish the building as well as seeing the new part of the LIRR. Ryan was a great guide, offering up the info with a dry sense of humor that really engaged the group. My 14YO son was a bit skeptical beforehand wondering how interesting it could be but he really enjoyed it as well. Great way to spend a dreary Sunday afternoon.

Margaret H
1/18/2026

The story of the station, interesting! The railway technical aspect is in minor Very interestingWarning: good level of English-American required.

Alain B
1/17/2026
Visit to Grand Central We walked to the station from our hotel to visit the dining level. We stopped at the Polish counter. Veselka’s. The food was amazing! Do yourself a favor, don’t pass it by. Then on to some of the bakery and bagel stops to make sure we had some to enjoy at the hotel and we were so glad we did. Magnolia bakery for their banana pudding and a brownie then on to “Zaros” for bagels. The station itself is very historic and still looks beautiful and trains still in an out daily. I visualize the GI’s coming home from WW2 while we were there.

B. A. W.
1/16/2026

He put the GRAND in Grand Central!! We love these kind of tours anyway, but this guide was phenomenal. We learned so much. He was truly passionate about the subject matter.

Climber813621
1/14/2026
Delve into the Secrets of Grand Central Station I would highly recommend this tour for both NYC residents and tourists. The secrets revealed by our guide, Richard, were surprising and quite fascinating! He was truly knowledgeable about every aspect of Grand Central Station (NYC in general) and answered all of our questions in great detail, putting the information into historical context. 12/10 for Richard! He also made sure everyone in our group felt included and comfortable as we walked inside and outside of the building. Educational and enjoyable.

Belinda H
1/14/2026

Fun and educational The guide was very knowledgeable. He was professional and friendly, and an authentic New Yorker. We came away knowing so much about the history and beauty of Grand Central Station. Highly recommend this tour!

George M
1/12/2026
Great short tour of historican train station. Richard conducted out tour on January 11, 2026. He was funny, imformative, and pointed out a lot of interesting facts about Grand Central. This is a great way to spend 90 minutes. Really interesting.

rmnorton2
1/11/2026

We did the secrets to Grand Central tour with Richard and it was such a wonderful tour. Richard is so incredibly knowledgeable about GCT that most of us didn’t even have any questions. He was informative and knew his way around so well. Highly recommend and would definitely take another tour with Richard.

P F
1/09/2026
Recommended to all who are curious of the old and new history of Grand Central Station. “Secrets of Grand Central Station” was a fantastic tour, engaging, informative, and full of surprises. Our guide Bob was incredibly knowledgeable and genuinely friendly, bringing the history and hidden details of the station to life. Even if you think you know Grand Central, this tour will show you things you’ve never noticed before. Highly recommended!

planctot
1/08/2026

Grand Central Terminal The tour of Grand Central was great and exceeded expectations! Richard, our guide, was wonderful and so knowledgeable about the history of Grand Central. The length of time of the tour was just right and money well spent. We keep thinking of the interesting facts we learned. Take the tour!

Maida B
1/08/2026

guests on a walking tour looking at the ceiling

detail of grand central terminal ceiling

guests at Grand Central's whispering gallery

view of grand central main concourse from the glass walkways

Your Own Guide. Your Own Schedule.

Make this tour private

Itinerary

Meet your guide

Meet your guide in front of track 29, inside Grand Central Terminal’s grand concourse. Please arrive 10 minutes early.

Main Concourse

Begin in the Main Concourse, examining the ceiling, layout, and architectural details that define the heart of the terminal.

Vanderbilt Hall

Continue into Vanderbilt Hall, originally designed as a formal waiting room, to explore its role within the station’s original plan.

Pershing Square

Step outside briefly to discuss how Grand Central reshaped the streets and infrastructure of Midtown above and below ground.

Campbell Apartment

View the Campbell Apartment, a private space built by a railroad executive and later used for other purposes over time.

Hidden Tennis Court

See the tennis court hidden above the terminal and discover its lesser-known original use…

Whispering Gallery

Pause at the Whispering Gallery to experience its unique acoustic behavior.

Dining Concourse

Descend to the lower level to explore the Dining Concourse and notice features most visitors pass without stopping.

Lost Movie Theater

See what remains of the movie theater that once operated inside Grand Central and learn how the space is used today.

Tour Ends

The tour concludes inside Grand Central’s Main Concourse, near the starting point.

About This Tour

Grand Central is one of the most visited landmarks in New York, but most people experience only its surface.

This tour focuses on how the terminal was designed, how it functions, and the historical forces that shaped it. You’ll explore the Main Concourse and surrounding spaces on foot, uncovering overlooked architectural details, engineering innovations, and stories tied to the Vanderbilt empire and the preservation battle that saved the building.

Expect a 90-minute, story-driven walk inside the terminal. No transit ride. No additional tickets required.

Meeting location

How to get there

Cancellation policy

FAQ

Meeting location

How to get there

Cancellation policy

FAQ

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Secrets of Grand Central Tour