59th St - Columbus Circle

59th Street - Columbus Circle is the southwestern gateway to Central Park, sitting at the rounded intersection where Broadway crosses Central Park South. Five subway lines converge here, and the station puts you at the edge of one of the world's great urban parks - 843 acres of grassland, woodland, lakes and pathways designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, and completed in 1876. From this corner of the park, you can walk in almost any direction and find something worth seeing within minutes.

Above the station, the Deutsche Bank Center (formerly Time Warner Center) rises in twin towers, housing Jazz at Lincoln Center - one of the world's premier jazz performance venues - along with high-end restaurants, a Whole Foods and hotel space. Columbus Circle itself is a grand roundabout with a statue of Christopher Columbus at its centre, flanked by the entrance to Central Park on the northeast corner.

Station Overview

59th Street - Columbus Circle sits in Zone 1 and first opened in 1904, though the station complex has been significantly rebuilt and expanded since then. Five lines serve the station: the 1, A, B, C and D. It is fully accessible, with lifts connecting to the street level and between platforms. Facilities include toilets, ATMs, free Wi-Fi, shops and an information booth.

Lines and Connectivity

The 1 train runs north-south on the West Side, connecting Columbus Circle to the Upper West Side, Columbia University and the Bronx heading north, and to Midtown and Lower Manhattan going south. The A, B, C and D trains run on the Eighth Avenue and Sixth Avenue lines respectively. The A and C stop at Columbus Circle as part of their longer runs between Upper Manhattan and Brooklyn. The B and D trains provide additional coverage to Midtown and the Bronx. Together, these five lines give very strong connectivity for Upper West Side and Central Park destinations.

Station Layout and Facilities

The station is underground with exits at the Columbus Circle roundabout and inside the Deutsche Bank Center building. The 1 train platforms and the A/B/C/D platforms are in separate sections connected by a mezzanine. The underground passage into the Deutsche Bank Center leads to the mall, Whole Foods and the Jazz at Lincoln Center box office without needing to go outside. Free Wi-Fi, ATMs and clean toilets are available.

Travel Tips

• Central Park is most enjoyable on weekend mornings, when traffic is restricted on the inner loop roads and cyclists, runners and families take over. Enter from the 59th Street corner and head northeast toward Bethesda Fountain (about 20 minutes on foot).
• Jazz at Lincoln Center hosts performances most evenings in Rose Hall and smaller venues in the complex. Tickets range from affordable to premium - check the calendar online. The bar area sometimes offers free views of performances.
• Wollman Rink in Central Park (about 10 minutes into the park from this entrance) is open for skating from October through April. More atmospheric than the Rockefeller rink and generally less expensive.
• The Museum of Arts and Design on Columbus Circle is free on Thursday evenings from 6 to 9pm.

Nearby Attractions

Central Park - directly adjacent. Enter from the corner of Central Park South and Central Park West for the park's southwestern section. Wollman Rink, Heckscher Playground and the Literary Walk are all within a 15-minute walk into the park.

Jazz at Lincoln Center - in the Deutsche Bank Center above the station. Three performance spaces host jazz concerts, education events and special collaborations throughout the year.

Museum of Arts and Design - on Columbus Circle. The museum's collection focuses on contemporary craft, art and design. Free Thursday evenings.

Wollman Rink - 10 minutes into Central Park. The outdoor skating rink against the Midtown skyline backdrop is one of the most atmospheric winter experiences in New York.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

The 1 and A trains run 24 hours. The B, C and D trains run during standard service hours without overnight service. The area around Columbus Circle is particularly lively on weekend afternoons during the summer, and during the winter holiday season when the park and surrounding streets are busy with visitors. For a calmer park experience, weekday mornings before 10am are ideal.