Visit to princeton university (Orange, Princeton Junction: train, station, campus)

[saurabhusa]

Hi,
I am recently shifted to NJ(Metropark) and working in NYC. I heard a lot about Princeton University. I want to visit it, can I make a random visit there? Is there any prior permission needed?

[Retriever]

Princeton University's beautiful and historic campus is an open one, so anyone can enter the grounds, take pictures, and soak-in the atmosphere.

When you go, try to make time to tour the university's art museum, which is a gem, and is free. And, if Nassau Hall (the original building) is open, that is also worth a look. Nassau Hall was actually the location of the new US government for a brief time during the American Revolution, so it is steeped in history.

The Firestone Library is another building that you should see, and the university's chapel--adjacent to the library--is a cool and beautiful refuge on a hot day. If you are lucky, the choir might be rehearsing while you are there.

Street parking can be a bit...tight...so I advise using the municipal parking garage, which located one block west of Nassau Street, and which is relatively inexpensive. The campus is only a very short walk up Witherspoon Street from the parking garage, and on the way to the campus you can avail yourself of a cup of coffee at Small World, an independent coffee roasting company that brews extremely good coffee.

Enjoy!

[saurabhusa]

Thanks for information. What is best hour to visit? I have to drive here.

[Retriever]

Originally Posted by saurabhusa

Thanks for information. What is best hour to visit? I have to drive here.

The campus is always open during daytime, so I think that the exact time of your arrival is more or less irrelevant, except--of course--when it comes to traffic congestion on Route 1. I would suggest that you avoid the AM & PM rush hours.

The art museum does have somewhat limited hours. Take a look at their website:
Visit | Princeton University Art Museum

[saurabhusa]

Originally Posted by Retriever

The campus is always open during daytime, so I think that the exact time of your arrival is more or less irrelevant, except--of course--when it comes to traffic congestion on Route 1. I would suggest that you avoid the AM & PM rush hours.

The art museum does have somewhat limited hours. Take a look at their website:
Visit | Princeton University Art Museum

Thank you so much. Let me plan it today. Hope will get some good snap there?

[daliowa]

If taking NJ Transit it's NorthEast corridor line to Princeton Junction.

At Princeton Junction get on the Dinky train which goes back & forth between PJ & Princeton.

Dinky station in Princeton is short walk to campus.

If driving than you can park for free on nights & weekends only on William St. (Lot 10 on map.)
https://m.princeton.edu/map/

Check out PU's Orange Key tours.
https://www.princeton.edu/main/visiting/tours/

And, as another poster said, don't miss the free Princeton Art Museum on the campus.
Paintings are upstairs, antiquities downstairs.

[Mayvenne]

I was going to add about the tours of the campus - but daliowa added above. I took one about 20 years ago and it was excellent. I plan to do it again soon. (and free)