Centre 360: Free Cupola Tours Atop the Dinkins Municipal Building

The cupola atop the David N. Dinkins Municipal Building at 1 Centre Street, in Lower Manhattan's Civic Center, is open to the public for the first time since 1914. The free program, called Centre 360 and run by the city's Department of Citywide Administrative Services, began on June 11, 2026.

Each visit takes eight people and lasts about 15 minutes, ascent included. Groups meet at the CityStore entrance on Centre Street, show photo ID to building security, and ride an elevator to the 24th floor before transferring to the tower elevator. The cupola's balcony sits roughly 580 feet above the street, directly beneath Civic Fame, the 25-foot gilded statue sculpted by Adolph Weinman. Walk the full circle: Midtown and the Empire State Building to the north, the East River and the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges to the east, the harbor to the south, and the courthouses, City Hall and the Hudson to the west. A phone-based Landmark Hunt helps you pick out what you're seeing.

Reservations are free through the official site, with parties limited to five. Visits depart hourly, on the hour, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the cupola is closed on weekends. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult and be at least 42 inches tall. Wear closed-toe shoes; tripods and drones are not allowed, and access depends on the weather.

The building is next to City Hall Park and is served by the 4, 5, 6, J, Z at Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall and the R and W at City Hall. It makes an easy add-on to a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.