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5 Things to See on your Campus Tour of Columbia

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It is a known fact that college tours on their own can be intimidating, and it is likely that touring schools in New York City might feel even more daunting. When it comes to touring schools in New York, you might find yourself confused as to what you should even be looking for. Luckily, CollegeVine is here to help!

Columbia University is an Ivy League school in New York City. It is located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in Morningside Heights. This post will focus mostly on worthwhile spots to visit on Columbia’s campus, but if you are interested in learning more about this school, be sure to check out The Ultimate Guide to Applying to Columbia , A Day in the Life of a Columbia Student , and How to Write the Columbia University Essays 2016-17 . For a guide to the top 5 spots to visit on your campus tour of Columbia, read on!

Want to learn what Columbia University will actually cost you based on your income? And how long your application to the school should take?  Here’s what every student considering Columbia University needs to know.

Butler Library

It is safe to say that Butler Library is one of the top study spots on Columbia’s campus. In fact, one could probably argue that “ugh, I have to go to Butler” is one of the most commonly spoken phrases on campus.

Butler offers tons of different environments in which to study: If you prefer to study around lots of other people, Butler 301 is probably the room for you, while if you want a more secluded space, you might consider getting a desk in one of the reading rooms. If you want to study together with a group of your friends, consider sitting in the Butler Café or securing a study alcove! Be sure to take a look at Butler Blue Java as well — this mini-café has coffee and snacks for students to purchase in the midst of their late-night study sessions.

Hungarian Pastry Shop

Located on 111th Street & Amsterdam Avenue, Hungarian Pastry Shop is another must-see on Columbia’s Campus. This café offers coffee, tea, pastries, cakes, and even savory snacks like spanikopita. It is a popular place for students to study, meet up with friends, or even go on dates! The shop gains some of its charm from the fact that it was the old haunt of the poets like Jack Kerouac and other members of the Beat Generation, a group of famous writers that attended Columbia in the 1940s.

The Hungarian Pastry Shop doesn’t have any WiFi, which can be helpful or frustrating depending on what type of work you’re trying to get done — the lack of Internet connection makes it a lot more difficult to procrastinate online, but it can also be irritating to try and do homework that requires internet access. In addition, given that this is such a well-beloved local spot, it is almost always crowded, so be prepared to struggle to find a seat! If you do find yourself visiting this historic Columbia eatery, you should also keep in mind that it is cash-only.

Riverside Park

If you’re someone from a more rural or suburban area and worried about missing out on nature by going to school in the city, then Riverside Park is definitely the place for you! It’s a beautiful spot that will help you feel like you’re away from the city, if only for a few minutes.

Located along Riverside Drive from West 125th Street to West 72nd Street, this park has a calm, quiet atmosphere that Columbia students love. The park is often filled with families and people walking their dogs; it can also be a great place to do exercise. Whether this means jogging or doing yoga, Riverside Park is a great place for Columbia students to unwind and relax. It’s also a great place to view sunsets!

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One of the Residence Halls

It is no secret that Columbia housing is well-beloved by its students — in fact, 94% of undergrads opt to remain in on-campus housing for all four years! On Columbia’s campus, there are 19 undergrad residence halls and 18 brownstones. For more information on the ins and outs of CU housing, take a look at their website .

As for which dorms, you should take a look during your campus tour and consider, first, what type of Residence Hall experience you might be looking for at college. Columbia freshmen are allowed to live in four different halls: Carman , John Jay , Hartley , and Furnald . Each building has its own idiosyncrasies, and one of the best ways to get to know each is to talk to actual Columbia students.

If you’re looking for a more quiet freshman-year experience, be sure to check out Hartley or Furnald — most of the rooms in these halls are singles, and you’ll also get the chance to live amongst upperclassmen. If you’d prefer a more social experience or only want to live with first-years while you transition into college life, then check out Carman Hall.

Some of the upperclassman dorms on Columbia’s campus also have some unique features! You can try out apartment-style living in Watt or Woodbridge , or, if you choose to live in Wien Hall , you could even enjoy your very own sink in your bedroom!

Columbia Dining is well known for being exemplary (it was even ranked 2nd for “Best Colleges for Food in America” by The Daily Meal). Columbia Dining is a Level 1 Certified Green Restaurant , and it is also well known for providing lots of vegetarian, vegan, halal, and kosher options for students. For more information about Dining at Columbia, be sure to check out their website .

Among Columbia’s 3 dining halls, JJ’s Place is the late-night hot spot for snacks, burgers, dessert, and more! Up until recently, JJ’s Place has stayed open until 1am, but starting in the 2017-2018 academic year, it will be open even later — all night, up until 10am!

As a result of their late-night hours, JJ’s is often home to students returning from a late night at the library or from hanging out with friends on the weekends. In addition to burgers of all kinds, JJs offers plenty of fried foods like mozzarella sticks, chicken fingers, and chicken wings. You can also get custom-made omelets, scrambled eggs, quesadillas, and pancakes. There is even a soft serve machine! If you want to get an accurate view of life at Columbia and enjoy some delicious (if a bit unhealthy) food, be sure to stop by JJ’s Place.

While there is no perfect way to get an accurate view of a given school, checking out the places that students prefer to go is always a good place to start. Whether you are considering Columbia for its rigorous academics, its social scene, its numerous dining options, its top-notch residence halls or its prime location in New York City, hopefully this list will be a helpful starting point in your foray into Columbia’s campus culture.

For more information about Columbia and how to apply, take a look at these blog posts:

• The Ultimate Guide to Applying to Columbia
• A Day in the Life of a Columbia Student
• How to Write the Columbia University Essays 2016-17

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Self-Guided Visits

Create a custom University of South Carolina tour that explores your personal interests. Even if you're short on time or have to visit after hours, we can help you make the most of your time on campus.

Explore the University of South Carolina at your own pace using our free self-guided tour app. Our app allows you to customize your experience by selecting from a wide range of academic and special interests. This will help you optimize your time on campus and see the stops you are most interested in.

Prefer using a paper map? Stop by the Visitor Center at 945 Bull Street to pick up a self-guided map from the mailbox located in front of the McKissick Museum.  

Self-guided tours are great for families with a limited amount of time to spend on campus, individuals who are on campus after hours or extended breaks and new students who are navigating campus. 

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Excuse Notes for Self-Guided Tours

If you know you will need an excuse note for school or work, we highly recommend that you sign up for a self-guided tour. We’ll send you information on making the most of your time on campus and on the day of your scheduled self-guided tour, we’ll send you a text message to check-in. Visitors who check-in will receive an excuse note the following day.  

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After your tour, we would appreciate any feedback on how we can improve the self-guided experience. 

Virtual Tour

Can’t make it to campus for a self-guided tour, but still want to see what’s it’s like? Click through our virtual tour to learn more about can’t-miss spots on our downtown campus.

Visitor Center

Phone: 1-800-922-9755 Email: [email protected]  

Monday-Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Select Saturdays: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

The Visitor Center is located in McKissick Museum on the historic Horseshoe. After registering for your visit, you will receive detailed instructions for our complimentary Visitor Center parking. All other visitors are welcome to park in the numerous  metered visitor parking spaces  across campus and on many of the streets that surround campus. Please note that metered parking is not complimentary.

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Let us show you around!  

UBC is a big place — but the knowledgeable student ambassadors at the UBC Welcome Centre can help make it a bit smaller. Register to join one of their free guided walking tours and get to know the Vancouver campus like a local.

Visiting UBC? Sign up for a free guided tour

The UBC Welcome Centre offers free and friendly guided tours for individuals and groups visiting the Vancouver campus. From mid-March to mid-November, visitor tours are offered on Saturdays (10:30 am to 12:00 pm) with a focus north of University Boulevard. 

Register online or call or visit the Welcome Centre to book a spot. 

For groups of 15 people or more, please contact the Welcome Centre to arrange a tour year-round.

Register for a campus tour

Thinking of becoming a student at UBC? There’s a tour just for you

Are you thinking of studying at UBC? Make sure you sign up for the right tour.

UBC offers a unique campus walkabout exclusively intended for prospective undergraduate students and their families, as well as for guidance counsellors. View the tour calendar and then register online.  

Learn more about tours for prospective students

Self-guided tours

Campus highlights self-guided tour.

This self-guided walking tour will orient you to campus and help you get a feel for UBC life. Stop by iconic spots, beloved student hangouts and some of Vancouver’s best attractions.

Download the campus highlights tour PDF

UBC’s Welcome Centre’s knowledgeable staff can answer your trip-related questions, provide maps and directions, offer helpful tips and free guided tours, and let you know what events are happening during your visit to UBC.

Contact the Welcome Centre

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SELF-GUIDED TOURS AT COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO

Are you looking to explore Columbia College Chicago’s campus on your own time? Download our free, self-guided tour app Columbia Visits !  

The app allows you to create customized tours any time you want to explore our campus, either from your home or if you happen to be in the South Loop of Chicago. You can choose from a selection of our pre-made tours or create your own tour by choosing your areas of interest. With your phone’s GPS functionality, the Columbia Visits app will accurately direct you to our campus buildings and provide information about each building’s facilities, academic departments, and majors/programs.  

If you don’t want to download the app, you can take a tour  in your browser   or check out our other virtual tour offerings .

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