About
Nearly 200 New York landmark replicas built from palm fronds, pinecones and cinnamon sticks, with model trains looping the Haupt Conservatory.
Nearly 200 New York landmarks — brownstones, bridges, towers — are rebuilt at doll scale from palm fronds, pinecones and cinnamon sticks, then wired together by model trains running under the glass of a Victorian conservatory. It is the Bronx's biggest winter draw and the rare holiday outing that works equally for a four-year-old and an architecture obsessive. If you only make one botanical-garden trip all winter, make it this one.
What to expect
You enter the warm, humid Haupt Conservatory and follow a looping path past miniature New York landmarks assembled from bark, seeds and twigs, with trains running overhead and underfoot. Outdoors, a mountain-scape carries more track. Expect a slow shuffle at the busiest viewing points and plan on roughly an hour inside the glasshouse.
Good to know
- Metro-North Harlem Line to Botanical Garden station drops you at the Mosholu Gate; the B/D/4 to Bedford Park Blvd is a short walk or bus ride.
- Weekday mornings are the calmest; weekends and school-holiday afternoons sell out first.
- The conservatory is kept warm and humid — wear layers you can peel off, and expect camera lenses to fog on entry.
- The route through the glasshouse is level and stroller- and wheelchair-accessible, but it is narrow at the busiest displays.
- Buy timed entry in advance; walk-up availability is unreliable once the season is underway.
- NYBG members get in free, which pays for itself if you are visiting more than once.
Going? Keep it.
Common questions
When does the Holiday Train Show run?
The public run is Saturday, November 14, 2026, through Sunday, January 10, 2027, following a members-only preview on Friday, November 13.
What is new for the 2026–27 season?
A botanical replica of One Vanderbilt joins the display, recreating the tower’s tapered form and SUMMIT elements with natural materials.
Is the Holiday Train Show indoors?
Nearly 200 landmark replicas and their model trains appear under glass in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. An outdoor mountain-scape carries additional trains.
Are evening visits available?
The Conservatory stays open until 8pm on November 27–29; December 5, 11, 12, 18–20, and 26–30; and January 2. Evening programming runs from 5–8pm.
Is there a sensory-friendly viewing time?
Sensory Friendly Mornings run Saturday, November 21, and Saturday, January 9, from 9–11am. Videos and music are turned off, while trains and waterfalls remain operating, and a quiet space and alternate exit are available.
Do NYBG members need a separate admission ticket?
Members receive complimentary Holiday Train Show admission according to membership level. Advance reservations are recommended but optional on non-peak weekdays.