The United Nations in New York

The United Nations (UN) in New York is an important location for the world. The UN headquarters is in New York on First Avenue, by the East River and is open to the public for visits. This is where the famous 193 flags in New York are located. You can explore parts of the UN building and even take UN tours.

Visiting the United Nations in New York

Wondering if you can visit the UN headquarters in New York? The answer is yes, you definitely can! You can take a tour or just look around the visitor centre. All visitors to the New York UN building need to register online in advance. So if you want to visit the United Nations without taking a tour, you also need to register on the United Nations Security website and bring valid identification.

Visitors Center

You’ll find the United Nations Visitors Center is located in the Dag Hammarskjöld Library Building (42nd Street & 1st Avenue). The visitors’ gate is located on 46th Street at First Avenue. Before you enter, you need to report to the Check-In Office across the street, at 801 First Avenue, by 45th Street.

Upon entering the Visitors Center, you’ll notice all the artworks around you. All have been donated by the different member states. In the visitor’s lobby, you can see a number of free exhibitions. There is a variety to choose from, for example, photos and multimedia presentations about human rights, children in war zones, climate change etc.

In the lobby, you can also find a gift shop, a book shop and a coffee shop. Go to the Visitors Center to book any tours.

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Hey there, I'm Eric!

I'm a true New York fan with over 20 years of experience visiting and living in NYC. Here on my website, I share all my tips and valuable information to help you make the most of your trip. I personally test and regularly re-test everything on my site to ensure that what I write is useful, honest, and always up-to-date.

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Eric’s Tip: “The UN makes its own stamps, which can be purchased in the Visitor’s Center. It is even possible to create a stamp with your own photograph! These stamps can only be sent from within the UN zone and are very unique – a lot of visitors send letters to their loved ones with these special stamps created specially at the UN office.”

United Nations Tours

Guided tours are available during weekdays; they last around an hour. For security reasons, children under the age of 5 are not permitted to participate in the tour. All participants above 16 years need to bring a valid ID. All tours are wheelchair accessible. There is no coat room to store coats or bags.

UN Tour options

Multiple tour options cater to different interests and groups. The standard guided tour is offered in various languages, while specialised tours focus on specific aspects like the UN’s art collection or gardens. A children’s tour is also available, along with several other specialised options.

Keep in mind that public access to parts of the UN head office in New York may be temporarily restricted when meetings, conferences or important delegation visits are scheduled.

Security and procedures

Security measures at UN buildings are comprehensive, so you should allow extra time for mandatory checks and screenings before your tour begins. All participants must undergo airport-style security screening, which can take up to an hour to complete. Make sure you arrive on time so as not to miss your scheduled tour time.

About the UN Headquarters in New York

The United Nations (UN) was founded in 1945 by 51 countries to promote better collaborations concerning human rights, safety and world economics. Since 2011, 193 member states are part of the UN. The UN headquarters is located in a special inviolable international zone belonging to all 193 member states. Within this zone, the UN has its own security, fire unit, post office and administration.

The UN headquarters consists of four buildings: the General Assembly, the Conference Center, an office complex of the Secretariat and also the Dag Hammarskjöld Library. These buildings are all designed by American architect Wallace K. Harrison.

UN flags in New York

If you’re wondering where to find the 193 flags in New York, they’re here! There are 193 flags around the entire complex – as many flags as there are member states. The flagpoles, arranged in a circle equidistant from each other to symbolise the equality between the member states of the UN. The flags are also in alphabetical order, starting with Afghanistan and ending with Zimbabwe.

Practical Information

• Duration: tours take around an hour
• Location: 46th Street at First Avenue
• Opening hours:
  • Monday – Friday: 9:00 – 17:00
  • closed on weekends and holidays
• Accessibility: The United Nations Headquarters is accessible to people with disabilities or mobility impairments.
• Note: for security screening, arrive 60 minutes before your tour, and bring a valid ID

Read more about UN Visitor Center and buy tickets for a tour here