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Penn Station

Penn Station

Penn Station
3.5
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Top ways to experience Penn Station and nearby attractions

The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Midtown
This is the iconic New York that so many visitors imagine before they visit—spectacular skyscrapers like the Chrysler Building and Empire State Building, iconic public buildings like Grand Central Terminal and the New York Public Library, and the non-stop hustle and bustle of the city streets. Fifth Avenue is a shopper's heaven where you can find every kind of store imaginable, with fashion brands ranging from the affordable to the ultra-fancy. Visit the Rockefeller Center to experience towering Art Deco grandeur, and foodies will love the busy restaurants that stay open late in Koreatown. After dark, Midtown calms down a bit, but at any time of day or night it still feels 100% New York.
How to get there
  • 34th St – Penn Station • 3 min walk
  • 34th St – Penn Station • 4 min walk
Reach out directly
See what travellers are saying
  • therichastill
    Stevenage, United Kingdom3,474 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Another Grand station
    Penn Station is located beneath Madison Square Garden and also has an additional concourse in Moynihan Hall which is just across the road. It is served by trains on the Long Island Rail Road as well as Amtrak services which go further afield. I arrived at Penn Station travelling on an Amtrak service. The platform I arrived on had a lift as well as stairs. This was handy for me as I had a suitcase as well as my hand luggage so taking the lift was a blessing. From here you can get onto the concourse and take your onward journey into NYC. There are shops to buy smacks and drinks for you to take on your journey and a couple of places to buy books and gifts as well. There is a decent food court in Moynihan Hall as well.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 21 October 2023
  • traveltheworld012
    Rochester, Minnesota17,080 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    January 1, 2024 traveling to Trenton, then on to Philadelphia.
    My wife and I spent 10 days in NYC, and were leaving via NJ Transit train. We arrived here the same way in December. Now on New Year's day at 8 AM it was not very busy at all. We were a bit more familiar with this station than we were when arriving. Signage is very poor, and the schedule for the train is not posted until 10 minutes before it leaves, then rushing to the platform it is usually late. NOTE: I read some to the reviews here, especially the negative ones... people complain about the homeless quite often. I wonder if they understand the term, "homeless" - it means they have no home, nowhere to sleep. Just where do you expect them to go? They need to stay warm at night and the train station is a public place that is open 24 hours/day. Not one person, homeless or otherwise bothered us. Besides, some travelers sleep on the floor or benches waiting for their next train. Negative people tend to exaggerate.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 31 January 2024
  • Pete
    Fredericksburg, Virginia1,200 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nice upgrades
    This review supersedes my previous review of 2019. The train was undergoing construction and it was difficult to find favorable feedback. However, it now looks very nice and the upgrades were likely worth the probably huge investment. Penn Station has the unfortunate predicament of having to compete with Grand Central Station.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 9 April 2024
  • Sarsprdoc
    Saratoga Springs, New York1,269 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Finally seems like construction getting completed inside
    The Amtrak are was pretty clean and shops open. Bathroom redone and given the volume of traffic not in bad shape. Plentiful monitors to see train status and WiFi connection good.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 28 April 2024
  • Michael S
    Washington DC, District of Columbia64 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    The center of everything
    If you have to spend time waiting for a train, might as well be here. Plenty to do, see, eat. I've been asked for money by panhandlers every time i've been through but the amount of them is much less and they're less aggressive than in Newark. Love that you can easily switch between Amtrak, Jersey, Long Island, subway, and bus lines.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 24 June 2024
  • cjyap
    Griswold, Connecticut915 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nice, clean
    Arrived and left from here on Amtrak taking the Northeast Regional. If you are an Amtrak ticket holder, there is a nice lounge to sit. There are plenty of food options in the station and in the neighborhood around it. This station has access to the subways which makes arriving in NY and getting to where you're going easy. My biggest gripe is with Amtrak. Boarding a train in NY is always crowded. Amtrak doesn't announce the track the train arrives on until it is almost there or there. If you are one of the last people on the train, finding a seat can be a challenge, especially if you want to sit next to who you're traveling with. My suggestion, when it's almost time for your train to arrive, be ready and high tail it to your gate quickly, this way you'll be closer to the front of line of all those getting on, and have a great chance of sitting together.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 16 August 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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3.5
3.5 of 5 bubbles1,659 reviews
Excellent
339
Very good
544
Average
440
Poor
204
Terrible
133

JP Explorer
Vienna, Austria456 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
The monster that NYC does not deserve. On the one hand you got the Grand Central Station on the other you have this shameful maze. Regularly take the Amtrak to and from the Penn Station so have seen my fair share of it. Only good thing is the Amtrak waiting area which provides you some calm (but is currently being under reconstruction as well). In general the station is just chaotic and totally over capacity. Directions for the unknowing traveller are not clear and highly dependent from where you enter. Metro, Amtrak, local trains and NJ transit all come together. You have to wait pretty much last minute to know on which platform your train will be located (have patience and listen, boards may not show it if all trains are delayed). Ideally you should know 15min in advance. If you are a tourist or there the first time, reserve some time to navigate and orientate yourself. In the station, you find obviously a number of food places. Toilets are there but not the cleanest.
Written 8 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

chiara2312
Heanor, UK170 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022 • Couples
I appreciate there is a lot of redevelopment going on here but it’s a disgrace of the current situation for people who just simply want to get on their way.

We used penn station in order to get the train to the air train for JFK on 29th Dec 2022 - this place nearly resulted in us missing our flight due to the lack of signs and lifts for people with luggage.

It also didn’t help that when we did find a gate to be able to walk through with our cases to be met by a huge man telling us to pay him money to pass. This is disgusting and intimidating and the lack of staff and safety is only going to result in something terrible happening one day.

Stop focusing on what is coming when construction is done and concentrate on safety for all those paying customers. Especially those who need disabled access as you don’t seem to offer any which I’m sure is against a discrimination law.
Written 26 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

084766554
Moscow, Russia244 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021 • Family
Your gateway to NYC. Things have changed unfortunately. After 9/11 there was NYPD everywhere and you could feel moderately safe. Well currently between the city government and state government things have gone back to the 1980s. The addicts and homeless are everywhere, they block the entrances, beg and harassing every patron. My child and my wife were threatened on the way in and the area around the entrances are filthy. I actually witnessed a couple shooting up on the street elsewhere in the city. I said something to one of the shop owners and he said it is every day and NYPD will or can do nothing. So be prepared, use the old safety precautions (ie. Wallet in front pocket, do not make eye contact or engage etc...
Written 12 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Maggi713
Baltimore, MD12,458 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
Penn Station is one of the nation’s busiest railroad terminals, and we could tell. There were people coming and going everywhere. They say that over half a million passengers travel through it each day. There are a variety of food options in the station, most of which are fast food. We were happy that we were able to find a place to sit while we waited for our train.
Written 19 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Louisa K
1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Solo
I gotta say my experience at penn station was awful I don’t travel very often especially in the city but the staff were so disrespectful and not helpful at all. I almost missed my train due to lack of help. I had one question “where do I go” nobody gave me a direct answer. Second of all I asked why the train didn’t say it was going to Baltimore the workers response was “it’s not a plane it makes stops”. It gets worse I kindly said “excuse me” to another worker and she responded with “WHAT”. She was at the costumer service desk, that is not how you are supposed to talk to people. Finally I had to go outside to ask a cop where Moynihan hall was. If someone had been respectful and given me a direct answer I would’ve been able to arrive at my train sooner, not 5 minutes before it left. Some people need to learn some manners because this was not ok.
Written 2 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

sarah t
8 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2024 • Family
My review is to express my dissatisfaction with the service and ticketing process we encountered during our recent journey to the AirTrain at JFK Airport. The experience left us frustrated and concerned, particularly in relation to the staff’s unprofessional conduct and inefficiency.

When purchasing tickets, my daughter’s travel card initially had insufficient funds, so she used her bank card instead. The transaction was approved on both the payment device and her phone’s banking app. Despite this, the kiosk operator insisted she make another payment, disregarding her clear evidence of the successful transaction.

The staff member then proceeded to take an inordinate amount of time, slowly and visibly tapping at the screen without urgency. This lack of professionalism was especially concerning given that he was fully aware of our need to connect to a train for an airport-bound journey. After some time, he called over another staff member, who took nearly as long and ultimately demanded an additional $14 payment as a condition to allow us to travel.

When we inquired about the possibility of being charged twice, the staff member gave my daughter a form but offered no assurance of a refund if a double charge had indeed occurred. The entire experience was marked by a lack of efficiency, empathy, or even an apology for the inconvenience caused. Additionally, I am concerned that my daughter may not be reimbursed if she was, in fact, charged twice.

As a 59-year-old traveler with a painful arthritic knee, the extended delay and lack of clear communication added considerable stress to our journey. While we had allowed extra time for our trip, this situation could have severely impacted our travel plans.

I urge you to investigate this matter, ensure appropriate follow-up, and consider implementing improvements in both training and customer service protocols. Such inefficiencies and disregard for passengers’ time can significantly impact travelers, particularly those unfamiliar with the system.
Written 2 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Thomas V
Oakland, CA18,540 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2021
We traveled on Amtrak twice during our stay in NY and used the new station which replaced the old Penn Station. The old Penn Station is still used for the Long Island RR and NJ Transit. It's tired and seems to be totally under construction, but full of people.
Written 31 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Casl
2 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2022
Daily visitor for many years.
Penn Station is the reason employees do not want to come back to work in NYC.

Discussions of renovation are just to explain why all walls are covered in plywood and wires exposed
.
Nothing ever improves.

Traffic flow is almost deliberately evil.
Yes there are stores and people, but the experience is vile.

It is often the reason why people wish to leave NY.

Overall Awful and keeps getting worse each year.
Written 17 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

vagabondginger
Alicante, Spain1,247 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
I came in on the NJ Transit Train from Newark to the Old Penn Station but immediately went to see the new Moynihan Train Hall next door. Stunning architecture with a lofty light filled glass vaulted ceiling. Go to the 31st St Exit and LOOK UP!!! There is a reverse skyline artwork called The Hive. It's all illuminated city buildings hanging from the ceiling like stalactites. This is worth seeing and it just opened in 2021 so go see it and leave the old Penn Station behind.
Written 30 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

cjyap
Griswold, CT915 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Couples
Arrived and left from here on Amtrak taking the Northeast Regional. If you are an Amtrak ticket holder, there is a nice lounge to sit. There are plenty of food options in the station and in the neighborhood around it. This station has access to the subways which makes arriving in NY and getting to where you're going easy.
My biggest gripe is with Amtrak. Boarding a train in NY is always crowded. Amtrak doesn't announce the track the train arrives on until it is almost there or there. If you are one of the last people on the train, finding a seat can be a challenge, especially if you want to sit next to who you're traveling with. My suggestion, when it's almost time for your train to arrive, be ready and high tail it to your gate quickly, this way you'll be closer to the front of line of all those getting on, and have a great chance of sitting together.
Written 16 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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PENN STATION (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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