Holiday Train Show NYC: Model Trains in the Conservatory

Nearly 200 miniature NYC landmarks built from pinecones, seeds and palm fronds, all under glass

The Holiday Train Show is a self-paced tour of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory at the New York Botanical Garden, where model trains travel through an enchanting display of famous city landmarks re-created from natural materials. You explore the warm indoor conservatory to see the trains and miniature replicas up close, then venture outside to the garden's 250 acres and 50 collections at your own pace or aboard a narrated tram tour. The pass includes access to both the train show and the full garden, plus dining and shopping options on the grounds.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Holiday Train Show and Gardens

• Explore Holiday Train Show indoors
• See model trains and landmarks
• Walk through 250-acre gardens
• Take narrated tram tour (optional)
• Eat at Pine Tree Café or Hudson Garden Grill
• Shop at NYBG Shop

The experience

The Holiday Train Show fills the conservatory with model trains zipping through an intricate landscape of nearly 200 New York landmarks (the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Rockefeller Center, and others) each one painstakingly built from pine cones, acorns, seeds, cinnamon sticks and palm fronds. You walk through the glass-enclosed space at your own pace, stopping as long as you want to study the craftsmanship and watch the trains move through the display.

After the conservatory, the all-garden pass opens up the New York Botanical Garden's 250 acres and 50 gardens and collections. Explore them on foot or board a narrated tram tour that moves through the grounds. The garden stays open for browsing. There is no fixed schedule or group pace once you leave the train show.

The visit includes access to the Pine Tree Café for a quick bite or the Hudson Garden Grill for a sit-down meal, and the NYBG Shop carries plants, nature-inspired toys, exhibition items and home and garden goods. The conservatory is heated and welcoming in winter, and the grounds are wheelchair accessible with accessible transportation options nearby.

What’s included

• Access to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory and the Holiday Train Show.
• access to the garden's 250 acres and 50 gardens and collections.
• a narrated tram tour option.
• dining at the Pine Tree Café or Hudson Garden Grill.
• shopping at the NYBG Shop.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to Friday5 departure times: the first at 14:00, the last at 16:00Last departure this season: 8 Jan 2027

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (13 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by The New York Botanical Garden

Is this one for you?This is a self-paced experience, so you set the rhythm: linger over the miniature landmarks as long as you want in the conservatory, then move through the garden grounds on your own schedule or hop on the tram. It suits anyone who prefers to explore without a guide's narration or a fixed group pace, and families appreciate the flexibility to move between the indoor train show and the outdoor gardens without rushing.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

How long should I plan to spend at the Holiday Train Show?

Most visitors spend two to three hours total: roughly an hour inside the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory with the trains and miniatures, and another hour or two exploring the garden grounds, whether on foot or by tram.

Can I see the train display and the gardens in one visit?

Yes. The all-garden pass includes both the Holiday Train Show inside the conservatory and full access to the garden's 250 acres, 50 collections and outdoor displays, so you experience both in a single ticket.

What are the miniature landmarks actually made from?

Each of the nearly 200 replicas is crafted from natural materials including pine cones, acorns, seeds, cinnamon sticks, palm fronds and other plant parts, so every landmark has a botanical construction.

Is there a guided tour, or do I explore on my own?

The conservatory and train show are self-paced. You move through at your own speed. In the garden, you can walk the grounds freely or choose to board a narrated tram tour that moves through the collections.

Can I eat or shop while I'm there?

Yes. The Pine Tree Café offers quick refreshments, and the Hudson Garden Grill serves sit-down meals. The NYBG Shop sells plants, toys, exhibition-related items and home and garden goods.