Hotels Near Columbia University NYC: Stay on the 1 Train
Columbia sits in Morningside Heights, at Broadway and West 116th Street. There are very few hotels right by the gates. Here is where to stay instead.
Quick answer
There are very few hotels near Columbia University in NYC itself, so most visitors stay on the Upper West Side along the 1 train, or in Harlem. The 1 train stops at 116 St–Columbia University. A hotel near the 79 St or 72 St stop puts you about 10 to 15 minutes from campus.
Where Columbia is, and how to get there
Columbia’s main Morningside campus runs from about West 114th to West 120th Street, between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue. The main gates are on Broadway at West 116th Street.
The 1 train is the key. It stops at 116 St–Columbia University, right at the gates. Any hotel along the 1 line on the Upper West Side gets you there without a transfer. Columbia’s newer Manhattanville campus is further north, around West 125th to 133rd Street, near the 1 train at 125 St.
Columbia’s medical campus is a different place, way up in Washington Heights near West 168th Street. If your visit is there, see our hotels near Columbia-Presbyterian page instead.
Why there are so few hotels near campus
Morningside Heights is a residential and university neighborhood. Most buildings are apartments, dorms and churches. That is part of its charm. It also means hotel rooms close to campus are scarce and book up fast around big weekends.
Graduation in May, move-in weeks in late August, and family weekends fill what little there is. Book months ahead for those dates. For everything else, a hotel a few stops south on the 1 train is easy.
The Upper West Side and Harlem: the best bases
The Upper West Side is the next neighborhood south. It is calm, safe-feeling and full of places to eat. The 1 train runs right up Broadway.
Arthouse Hotel New York City sits on Broadway at West 77th Street, by the 79 St stop. The Lucerne is a block away at West 79th and Amsterdam. Hotel Belleclaire is on West 77th Street off Broadway. Hotel Beacon at Broadway and West 75th Street has rooms with kitchenettes, handy for families on a longer visit.
From the 79 St station, the ride to 116 St is a few stops on the local. It usually takes about 10 minutes. You can also walk up Riverside Park on a nice day. See our Upper West Side hotels page.
Harlem: closer and often cheaper. Harlem starts just north and east of campus. Aloft Harlem is on Frederick Douglass Boulevard at West 124th Street, near the A, B, C and D trains at 125 St. It is about a 15-minute walk to the Morningside campus, and closer to Manhattanville.
Harlem has great food, the Apollo Theater and some of the best churches for gospel music in the city. See our Harlem hotels and Harlem things to do pages.
Staying in Midtown and riding up
If you have meetings or plans in Midtown too, staying near Columbus Circle or Times Square also works. The 1 train runs straight up from Times Sq–42 St and 59 St–Columbus Circle to 116 St. Plan on about 20 to 25 minutes.
Mandarin Oriental, New York sits right on top of the 59 St–Columbus Circle station. For a cheaper option near Times Square, citizenM New York Times Square is by the 1 train at 50 St.
Things to do near Columbia
If you have free time, the neighborhood is worth a walk. The Cathedral of St. John the Divine on Amsterdam Avenue at West 112th Street is one of the largest cathedrals in the world. Riverside Church and Grant’s Tomb sit by Riverside Park, a short walk west of campus.
Morningside Park runs along the east edge of the neighborhood. Further south on the Upper West Side, the American Museum of Natural History is a big draw for families visiting with younger kids.
For a meal, Broadway between West 110th and West 116th has diners and casual spots. Harlem’s restaurants on Frederick Douglass Boulevard and Malcolm X Boulevard are a short walk east. See our hotels near the Natural History Museum page if you want to combine both.
What to expect on price
Upper West Side hotels are usually a bit cheaper than Midtown on the same night, and rooms tend to be a little larger. Prices jump on Columbia’s big weekends, so the same room can cost far more during Commencement than a week later.
Compare the total with taxes and any daily fee, not just the nightly rate. If your dates are flexible, Sunday to Wednesday nights are often the best value in Manhattan.
Tips for parents and campus visitors
Book graduation early. For Commencement in May, many families book a year ahead. Check the date with the university first.
Ask about the campus tour time. Admissions tours start at set times. Leave room for the subway, especially on weekends when service changes are common.
Eat on Broadway. The blocks between West 110th and West 116th Streets have diners, pizza and cafes students actually use.
Check for university rates. Some nearby hotels offer a Columbia rate for visitors with university business. Ask the department you are visiting.
Common questions
Are there hotels right next to Columbia University?
Very few. Most visitors stay on the Upper West Side along the 1 train or in Harlem, 10 to 15 minutes from campus.
What subway stop is Columbia University?
116 St–Columbia University on the 1 train, at Broadway and West 116th Street.
How far is Columbia from Times Square?
About 20 to 25 minutes on the 1 train from Times Sq–42 St to 116 St–Columbia University.
When should I book a hotel for Columbia graduation?
As early as you can. Many families book many months ahead because rooms near campus are limited.
Is the Upper West Side a good place to stay?
Yes. It is calm and residential, with lots of places to eat, Central Park and Riverside Park close by, and the 1 train running to Columbia.
Keep reading
Upper West Side hotels · Harlem hotels · Hotels near Columbia-Presbyterian · Hotels near the Natural History Museum · NYC subway guide