A miniature New York with model trains running right through it: the Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden has been a holiday tradition in the Bronx for decades.
What to expect
Inside the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, model trains cross bridges and weave between miniature New York landmarks. The little trains give the show a nostalgic feel, but take a closer look at the buildings, too: they’re made from plant materials such as pinecones, palm fronds, and cinnamon sticks, rather than just wood.
One Vanderbilt, the skyscraper home to the SUMMIT observation deck, is the newest addition to the miniature skyline. Here, you can take in the building’s shape at a glance instead of craning your neck from the sidewalk.
There’s more outside the greenhouse, where additional trains run through an illuminated mountain landscape. On select dates, extended evening hours also let you see the models after dark.
Good to know
- The All-Garden Pass includes the show. The cheaper Grounds Access Pass does not include the Conservatory or special exhibitions.
- The Conservatory is warm, but part of the display is outdoors, so bring warm layers as well.
- For a quieter visit, aim for a weekday if you can. The period around Christmas and New Year is particularly busy.
- The member preview is November 13. Extended evening hours run until 8 PM, with last entry at 7 PM, on November 27–29; December 5, 11, 12, 18–20, and 26–30; and January 2.
