Timeline
06:33
Grab a quick breakfast at Tom's Restaurant. The diner opens at 06:00 on Sundays and weekdays, giving you plenty of time to eat before the campus gets busy. It is a local institution that doubles as a pop culture shrine from Seinfeld.
06:48
Walk to the Columbia University Visitors Center in Low Library. You must sign up for a campus tour or have a guest pass from an affiliate to enter the campus. Arrive just before the 09:00 opening to secure a spot or check the schedule for the earliest available tour.
07:38
After your tour, head to the Columbia University Bookstore. It is the best spot in the neighborhood for travel guides and university-branded gifts. The bookstore is located just a short walk from the main campus area.
Local tip
The campus is closed to non-affiliates without a tour or guest pass. Plan ahead by arranging a pass or booking a tour in advance. The Visitors Center is open Monday to Friday from 9AM to 5PM.
Check before you go
- Tom's Restaurant is open Mo-We and Su 06:00-01:30, and Th-Sa 00:00-24:00.
- Columbia University Visitors Center is open Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Manhattan (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).