Fifth Avenue-59th Street

Fifth Avenue-59th Street drops you at one of the most photographed corners in New York, where the southeast entrance to Central Park meets the Plaza Hotel and the glass cube entrance to the Apple Store on Fifth Avenue. The N, Q, R and W trains stop here, and for many visitors this is the single most useful station in the city for combining a walk through the park with an afternoon of shopping.

Step out of the station and you are facing Grand Army Plaza, with the Pulitzer Fountain, the gilded statue of General Sherman, and horse-drawn carriages lined up along Central Park South. Fifth Avenue's stretch of flagship stores runs south from here, while the park itself opens up immediately to the north, making this exit one of the most scenic in the entire subway system.

Station Overview

Fifth Avenue-59th Street opened in 1919 and is served by the N, Q, R and W trains. The station sits in Zone 1 at the southeast corner of Central Park and is accessible, with toilets and an information booth among its facilities.

Lines and Connectivity

The N, Q, R and W trains run south through Midtown to Times Square and Herald Square, continuing on to Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn depending on the line, and north or east toward Queens or the Upper West Side. This makes the station a convenient link between Central Park and both the Theater District and the borough's outer connections.

Station Layout and Structure

The station is underground, with platforms beneath 60th Street just off Fifth Avenue. Street stairs lead directly up to Grand Army Plaza and the edge of Central Park, with additional exits toward the Plaza Hotel and the Apple Store cube. The walk from platform to street level is relatively short for a Midtown station.

Accessibility

Fifth Avenue-59th Street is an accessible station with step-free routes between the platforms and street level. Check the MTA's live elevator status before you travel, particularly if you plan to visit during a busy tourist period when equipment is in heavy use.

Travel Tips

• This is the fastest subway entrance to Central Park's southeast corner if you want to see the Pond, the Central Park Zoo, or start a walk up the park's east side.
• The Apple Store's glass cube is open 24 hours, a genuine New York curiosity worth a quick look even if you are not shopping.
• Horse-drawn carriages line up outside the station on Central Park South, a classic (if pricey) way to see the park.
• Weekend afternoons around the plaza get extremely crowded with tourists, so expect a slower walk to street level.

Nearby Attractions

Central Park (Grand Army Plaza entrance) - immediately above the station. The park's southeast gateway, with the Pulitzer Fountain and the start of the Central Park Zoo path.

The Plaza Hotel - 2 minutes on foot. The 1907 landmark hotel overlooking the park, famous for its lobby, Palm Court tea service and film history.

Apple Store Fifth Avenue - 3 minutes on foot. The all-glass cube entrance leads down to a store that never closes, a well-known only-in-New-York sight.

Fifth Avenue shopping corridor - directly outside. Flagship stores stretch south along Fifth Avenue from 59th Street toward Rockefeller Center.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

The N, Q, R and W trains run 24 hours a day at Fifth Avenue-59th Street, with reduced overnight frequency. Weekend afternoons are the busiest time above ground because of tourists visiting the park and the plaza, while weekday mornings offer a calmer combination of subway and sightseeing.