Guided Tours
Mon–Fri: 10:30am & 2pm
Sat–Sunday: 1:30pm
The Visitor Center is closed Thanksgiving Day and from December 24 through January 1. It reopens on January 2. There will be no tour on Harvard-Yale Game Day, Saturday, November 21. We are open and offer tours every other day of the year!
Yale College students provide a glimpse into the history and architecture of the University. The tours start at the Yale Visitor Center at 149 Elm Street. Hear about Yale's rich 300-year history and aspects of student life at several of Yale's twelve residential colleges. The tour also includes the Gothic Sterling Memorial Library, Yale's largest, and the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. Constructed with more than one hundred panels of translucent marble, the Beinecke is home to one of the world's preeminent collections of rare materials, including the Gutenberg Bible.
Tours depart from the Visitor Center (149 Elm Street), cover the central campus area, and last about 1 hour 15 minutes. No fee or appointment is needed for these regular tours. A video about campus life is offered 15 minutes before each of these scheduled tours. Please note that the Visitor Center does not offer information sessions. Information sessions are held at the Undergraduate Admissions Office.
Self-Guided Tour
Visitors who would rather tour the campus on their own may purchase a copy
of the Blue Trail map, which includes a suggested self-guided tour route,
and a brief history of the University.
NEW! MP3 Tour
Using their portable MP3 players, visitors may listen to pre-recorded
audio tracks on a self-guided MP3 tour
throughout campus.
Special Groups by Appointment
Groups of 10 or more visiting the campus are requested to schedule a private tour which may be arranged according to their time schedule. For each group of up to 25 people,
there will be a $40 fee. Private tours may also be arranged for individuals or smaller groups. Tour requests may be made through our online tour request form, or by contacting us at (203) 432-2300. Please contact the Visitor Center at least two weeks prior
to the desired tour date.
Foreign Language Tours
International groups can arrange to have a tour given in a foreign language by contacting the Visitor Center at least two weeks prior to the tour at (203) 432-2302 or by completing our online tour request form. There is a $40 fee per guide. One guide is appropriate for up to 25 people.
NEW! Public Art Tour
The Yale Visitor Center is proud to announce a brand new self-guided tour highlighting public art at Yale.
Visitors may pick up a free map of these pieces of art from the Visitors Center. You may also visit an
online tour of public art at Yale.
Kids' Architectural Treasure Hunt
Parents taking the campus tour with children ages 6-11 can request a brochure that encourages the children to hunt for architectural details and designs. Group tours for the treasure hunt can be arranged by calling (203) 432-2302.
