Columbia University Walking Tour, New York

Columbia University Walking Tour (Self Guided), New York

Established in 1754, Columbia University is the oldest institution of higher education in the state of New York and the fifth-oldest in the United States. A member of the prestigious Ivy League, this renowned institution boasts a diverse campus designed along Beaux-Arts planning principles. Columbia's main campus occupies more than six city blocks in Morningside Heights, New York City, and is spread across several iconic locations, some of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

For starters, Butler Library is the academic heart of the university, a place where students immerse themselves in research and study. It's a hub of knowledge and learning.

Just a short stroll away, you'll find John Jay Dining Hall, where students gather to enjoy meals and socialize. The camaraderie here is a vital part of the Columbia experience. Nearby stands Low Memorial Library, a majestic centerpiece of the campus that houses administrative offices and symbolizes the university's grandeur.

The Alma Mater Sculpture, a cherished symbol of Columbia, stands proudly on campus, embodying the institution's spirit of wisdom and learning. The adjacent Saint Paul's Chapel is a place for reflection and spiritual growth.

Avery Hall is home to the university's architecture program, while Uris Hall houses the esteemed Columbia Business School, where future business leaders are groomed. Pupin Hall is renowned for its contributions to scientific research and innovation.

For those inclined towards physical fitness, Dodge Fitness Center is a fantastic facility. Meanwhile, Teachers College and Union Theological Seminary are integral parts of Columbia's academic landscape, offering diverse educational opportunities.

Milbank, Brinckerhoff, and Fiske Halls are prominent residential buildings on campus, where students create lasting memories. Just across the street is Barnard College, a partner institution that further enriches the academic environment.

Riverside Park, adjacent to Columbia, provides a serene escape from the urban bustle, while the General Grant National Memorial and Riverside Church add historical and cultural significance to the neighborhood.

Columbia University's campus is a microcosm of learning, culture, and community in the heart of New York City. Whether you're a prospective student or an enthusiast of higher education, Columbia awaits your visit to experience its academic excellence and rich cultural heritage firsthand. Take this self-guided walk and be a part of the Columbia experience now!
How it works: Download the app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store to your mobile phone or tablet. The app turns your mobile device into a personal tour guide and its built-in GPS navigation functions guide you from one tour stop to next. The app works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Columbia University Walking Tour Map

Map Instructions: (1) Click the "Nearby Sights" button to view the nearby attractions; (2) click a map pin to see sight information.

Guide Name: Columbia University Walking Tour
Guide Location: USA » New York (See other walking tours in New York)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles

Sights Featured in This Walk

Butler Library

1) Butler Library

Sight description based on Wikipedia.
Avery Hall

6) Avery Hall

Sight description based on Wikipedia.
Pupin Hall

8) Pupin Hall

Sight description based on Wikipedia.
Teachers College

10) Teachers College

Sight description based on Wikipedia.
Barnard College

13) Barnard College

Sight description based on Wikipedia.

WalkBuilder (customize this walk)


Use the WalkBuilder tool below to customize this walk to suit your interests. Instructions: click at the upper right corner in the map above to view other sights in the city. To learn more about a sight, click a map pin. Click the “+” or “–” to add or remove a sight from the walk. To reorder the selected sights, simply drag and move them up or down the list in the left column.
Click here to view route map
Enter a name for your custom walk, along with your email address, in the fields below. You will receive the instructions for retrieving your custom walk in the GPSmyCity app by email. The GPSmyCity app offers turn-by-turn travel directions to guide you from one attraction to the next.
Walk Name*:
Email*:

Frequently Asked Questions


1. How do I access my walking tour in New York?
Save your walking tour on the website. Then download the GPSmyCity app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and sign in to your GPSmyCity account. Next, download “New York Map and Walking Tours” within the app. Your walk will appear on the Walks screen.

2. How do I view other attractions in New York?
At the upper-right corner of the map above, click the “Nearby Sights” button to show or hide other sights in the city. Click a map pin to view details about a sight. To add a sight to your walk, find it in the right column of the WalkBuilder tool above and click the “+” button next to it.

3. How do I re-arrange the sight order?
In the left column of the WalkBuilder tool, drag a sight to move it up or down the list. Then click “Click here to view route map”. Repeat this process until the route meets your needs.

4. Can I add my hotel to a walking tour?
Yes. You can add your hotel as the starting point, the ending point, or both (creating a loop route). This feature is currently available only in the GPSmyCity app.

5. Can I add my own sights to a walking tour?
Yes. You can add sightss that are not in our database and include them in your walk. To do so, sign in to your GPSmyCity account on the website or use the GPSmyCity app.

6. How many sights can be included in a walking tour?
For technical reasons, the number of sights in a walking tour is currently capped at 20. This limit may be increased over time.

Walking Tours in New York, New York

Create Your Own Walk in New York

Create Your Own Walk in New York

Creating your own self-guided walk in New York is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Midtown Manhattan Walking Tour

Midtown Manhattan Walking Tour

If you’ve ever pictured New York City as a canyon of skyscrapers, glowing billboards, and streets that pulse with constant activity, Midtown Manhattan is the version you likely imagined. Hard to believe, but this buzzing district started out as open farmland-proof that even the busiest corners of the world have humble beginnings... Everything changed after the Commissioners’ Plan of 1811...  view more

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Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
New York's Central Park Walking Tour

New York's Central Park Walking Tour

Arguably the most famous public park in the world today, Central Park has been called the lungs of New York City – literally “central”, it is where Manhattanites go to get a sense of space and air. Plan for at least half a day to wander along its many pathways, take a rowboat on the water, enjoy the landscaping and the numerous man-made wonders, spend some time at the zoo or bring a pair of...  view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.6 Km or 2.9 Miles
George Washington's New York

George Washington's New York

New York City hasn’t always been the all-steel, glass, and sky-high ambition metropolis it is today. In the late 18th century, it was a compact, strategic port where the future of a young nation was still uncertain—and where George Washington faced some of his most defining moments. While not really a New York fan himself, Washington held the city in high esteem, calling it “a post of...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
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Midtown Manhattan, alongside other things, is also the shopping hub for New York City. Attesting to this are the ever-busy Times Square and Rockefeller Center areas replete with designer goods offerings and street vendors at every corner.

The famed Fifth Avenue has long been synonymous with a shopper's paradise where you can find every kind of store imaginable, ranging from the affordable...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
NYC Greenwich Village Walking Tour

NYC Greenwich Village Walking Tour

Seeing Manhattan as a neatly pressed suit, one can easily imagine Greenwich Village as the shirt stubbornly refusing to stay tucked in. Its tree-lined streets, classic brownstones, and endless supply of cafés, jazz clubs, and Off-Broadway theaters have lured generations of writers, poets, artists, radicals, and runaways looking for a life less ordinary. This reputation was cemented in the...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Grand Central Station to Union Square

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Despite being smaller than almost everything around it, including the humongous MetLife Building that dwarfs it from behind, the Grand Central Terminal is just so gorgeous and palatial-looking that it still manages to be the centerpiece of the whole East Side of Midtown Manhattan. Passing from here to Union Square, our self-guided tour is bound to introduce you to some of New York City’s most...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles

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