Columbus Circle

In the middle of this traffic circle is an iconic monument that celebrates the great explorer and marks the transition from the city to the relaxing atmosphere of Central Park.

Columbus Circle is a roundabout at the southwest entry point to Central Park. Within this grand memorial space are places to sit, unwind and watch the passing rhythms of this “city that never sleeps.”

Columbus Circle is one of four individual plazas that act as a gateway between the city and Central Park. The open, circular area was originally a turning place for horse-drawn vehicles. The monument at the center was created by Sicilian artist Gaetano Russo and in 1892, on the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas, it was donated to the City of New York by the Italian-American community.

Stroll around the sculpture and admire the Carrara marble figure of Christopher Columbus. He stands atop a foundation of water fountains that are modeled on the water features in Rome. Notice on the base the allegorical Genius of Discovery as well as the bronze reliefs showing images of Columbus’s travels, a lotus crest and a bald-headed eagle. On the granite column see the bows of ships and anchors.

Take a seat near the monument, people-watch and admire the buildings and the open views. Listen to the sounds of the water fountain, watch street performers and pick up an Italian snack at one of the surrounding cafés. Visit at night to see the monument illuminated by lights.

Explore the buildings surrounding Columbus Circle. Check out the Time Warner Center and the Museum of Arts and Design. Surrounding the monument is a great selection of shops, including men’s and ladies’ fashion, homewares and beauty stores. During the Christmas season, shop at the Columbus Circle Holiday Market. Afterwards, head to Central Park for a relaxing stroll amongst nature.

Columbus Circle is located at the intersection between 59th street, Eighth Avenue and Broadway, and sits atop a subway station by the same name.

Attractions and Neighbourhoods near Columbus Circle

Time Warner Center

Glimpse an ultra-luxurious world in the two towers of the splendid Time Warner Center, home to some of New York City’s finest hotels, stores, bars and restaurants.

Museum of Arts and Design

Be amazed by the beauty of handicrafts at New York City’s premier space dedicated to art created in glass, clay, cloth, metal and wood.

Hearst Tower

Admire the architectural beauty, innovation and environmental sustainability of one of New York City’s best-known modern skyscrapers, which rises 46 floors high.

Carnegie Hall

Whether you’re performing here or more likely watching a performance, enjoy the rich surroundings of one of the world’s most renowned music performance halls.

Lincoln Center

See some of the world’s greatest performing arts events in one of the most culturally rich cities on the planet in this large architecturally impressive complex.

Hotels near Columbus Circle

Roosevelt Hotel

45 E 45Th St

Rated 3.7 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is within a 5-minute walk of 5th Avenue and Grand Central Terminal. Chrysler Building and St. Patrick's Cathedral are also within 10 minutes. 5 Av Station (W. 42nd St.) is 5 minutes by foot and 47 - 50 Sts - Rockefeller Center Station is 8 minutes.

Hotel Edison Times Square

228 W 47th St

Rated 3.7 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is within a 5-minute walk of Times Square and Broadway. 5th Avenue and Rockefeller Center are also within 15 minutes. 49th St. Station is only a 2-minute walk and 47 - 50 Sts - Rockefeller Center Station is 6 minutes.

Hotel Pennsylvania

401 7th Ave

Rated 2.7 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is within a 10-minute walk of Madison Square Garden, Macy's, and Empire State Building. Times Square and Broadway are also within 15 minutes. 34 St. - Penn Station (Fashion Av.) is only a 2-minute walk and 28 St. Station (7th Av.) is 4 minutes.

Row NYC

700 8th Avenue

Rated 3.6 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is steps from St. James Theatre, Shubert Theatre, and Richard Rodgers Theatre. Times Square and Broadway are also within 5 minutes. 49th St. Station is 6 minutes by foot and Times Sq. - 42 St. Station is 7 minutes.

New York Hilton Midtown

1335 Avenue Of The Americas

Rated 4.1 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this eco-friendly hotel is within a 10-minute walk of 5th Avenue, Rockefeller Center, and Central Park. St. Patrick's Cathedral and Times Square are also within 10 minutes. 5 Av.-53 St. Station and 7 Av. Station (E 53rd St.) are within a 5-minute walk.

The New Yorker A Wyndham Hotel

481 Eighth Ave.

Rated 3.9 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is within a 10-minute walk of Times Square and Empire State Building. Broadway and Grand Central Terminal are also within 1 mi (2 km). 34 St. - Penn Station is only a 2-minute walk and 34 St. - Penn Station (Fashion Av.) is 3 minutes.

Millennium Hotel Broadway Times Square

145 W 44th St

Rated 4.0 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is steps from Times Square, Broadway, and Town Hall. Minskoff Theater and Shubert Theatre are also within 5 minutes. 5 Av Station (W. 42nd St.) and 49th St. Station are within a 5-minute walk.

The Belvedere Hotel

319 W 48th St

Rated 4.2 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is within a 5-minute walk of Times Square, Gershwin Theater, and Richard Rodgers Theatre. Broadway and Lunt-Fontanne Theatre are also within 10 minutes. 49th St. Station is 6 minutes by foot and 50 St. Station (Broadway) is 7 minutes.

Paramount Times Square

235 West 46th Street

Rated 3.5 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this romantic hotel is steps from Richard Rodgers Theatre, Times Square, and Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Broadway and Minskoff Theater are also within 5 minutes. 49th St. Station is only a 3-minute walk and Times Sq. - 42 St. Station is 8 minutes.

Wellington Hotel

871 Seventh Ave

Rated 3.7 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is within a 15-minute walk of Times Square, Broadway, and Rockefeller Center. Grand Central Terminal and Empire State Building are also within 2 mi (3 km). 7 Av. Station (E 53rd St.) and 50 St. Station (Broadway) are within a 5-minute walk.

Hyatt Grand Central New York

109 East 42nd Streetat Grand Central Terminal, at Grand Central Terminal

Rated 4.1 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this romantic hotel is steps from Chrysler Building and Grand Central Terminal. 5th Avenue and Bryant Park are also within 10 minutes. 5 Av Station (W. 42nd St.) is 9 minutes by foot and Grand Central - 42 St. Station is 6 minutes.

Pod 51

230 E 51st St

Rated 4.1 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is within a 10-minute walk of 5th Avenue and St. Patrick's Cathedral. United Nations Headquarters and Rockefeller Center are also within 15 minutes. Lexington Av.-53 St. Station is only a 4-minute walk and 51 St. Station is 8 minutes.

Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel

811 7th Ave

Rated 4.0 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is steps from Broadway Theatre and Winter Garden Theatre. Times Square and Carnegie Hall are also within 5 minutes. 7 Av. Station (E 53rd St.) is only a 2-minute walk and 50 St. Station (Broadway) is 3 minutes.

Hudson New York

358 W 58th St

Rated 3.5 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is within a 5-minute walk of Central Park and Columbus Circle. Lincoln Center and Metropolitan Opera House are also within 10 minutes. 59 St. - Columbus Circle Station is only a 5-minute walk and 57 St. - 7 Av Station is 5 minutes.

Pod 39

145 East 39th Street

Rated 4.2 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is within a 5-minute walk of Chrysler Building and 5th Avenue. Grand Central Terminal and New York Public Library are also within 10 minutes. 33 St. Station (Park Av. S) is 9 minutes by foot and Grand Central - 42 St. Station is 6 minutes.

Park Central Hotel New York

870 7th Ave

Rated 3.9 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is within a 5-minute walk of Carnegie Hall, Central Park, and Broadway Theatre. Columbus Circle and 5th Avenue are also within 10 minutes. 7 Av. Station (E 53rd St.) and 50 St. Station (Broadway) are within a 5-minute walk.

Salisbury Hotel

West 57Th Street, 123

Rated 4.1 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is within a 5-minute walk of Carnegie Hall, Central Park, and 5th Avenue. Museum of Modern Art and Radio City Music Hall are also within 10 minutes. 5 Av.-53 St. Station and 57 St. Station are within a 5-minute walk.

Waldorf Astoria New York

301 Park Avenue

Rated 4.2 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this luxury hotel is within a 10-minute walk of 5th Avenue, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and Rockefeller Center. Grand Central Terminal and Museum of Modern Art are also within 10 minutes. 51 St. Station is 5 minutes by foot and Lexington Av.-53 St. Station is 8 minutes.

Element New York Times Square West

311 West 39th Street

Rated 4.3 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is within a 10-minute walk of Times Square, Madison Square Garden, and American Lyric Theater. St. James Theatre and Shubert Theatre are also within 10 minutes. 34 St. - Penn Station is 6 minutes by foot and Times Sq. - 42 St. Station is 6 minutes.

The Manhattan at Times Square Hotel

790 7th Ave

Rated 3.3 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is steps from Winter Garden Theatre and Broadway Theatre. Gershwin Theater and Times Square are also within 5 minutes. 7 Av. Station (E 53rd St.) is only a 2-minute walk and 50 St. Station (Broadway) is 3 minutes.

LaGuardia Plaza Hotel

104-04 Ditmars Blvd

Rated 4.1 / 5 by Guests

Located in Queens, this hotel is 1.5 mi (2.5 km) from Flushing Meadows-Corona Park and 1.7 mi (2.7 km) from Citi Field. Roosevelt Island and Central Park are also within 9 mi (15 km). 103 St - Corona Plaza Station is 28 minutes by foot and 111 St. Station (Roosevelt St.) is 30 minutes.

DoubleTree by Hilton Metropolitan - New York City

569 Lexington Ave

Rated 4.0 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is within a 10-minute walk of 5th Avenue, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and Rockefeller Center. Museum of Modern Art and Madison Avenue are also within 10 minutes. Lexington Av.-53 St. Station and 51 St. Station are within a 5-minute walk.

Stewart Hotel

371 7th Ave

Rated 3.9 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is within a 10-minute walk of Macy's, Herald Square, and Empire State Building. Times Square and Broadway are also within 15 minutes. 28 St. Station (7th Av.) and 34 St. - Penn Station (Fashion Av.) are within a 5-minute walk.

YOTEL New York

570 Tenth Avenue

Rated 4.3 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this boutique hotel is within a 10-minute walk of Times Square and Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Broadway and Empire State Building are also within 1 mi (2 km). 34th Street–Hudson Yards Station is 12 minutes by foot and Times Sq. - 42 St. Station is 12 minutes.