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Campus and Area Information A-Z

Access to University Libraries

Your PUID is required for entrance to every library on campus. To activate your PUID card for library access, please take your new PUID to the main desk at Firestone Library where a barcode will be activated on your card for this purpose. The most comprehensive circulating library on campus is Firestone Library. The Rare Books and Manuscripts Division is also in this building. There are various smaller library annexes on campus; however, not all of them are circulating. Copies of the Library Handbook are available at the information desk at Firestone Library for more detailed information.

Area Attractions

  • Drumthwacket is the official Governor’s Mansion of New Jersey available for touring. Drumthwacket is located on Stockton Street (Route 206), Princeton.
  • Grounds for Sculpture is a 42-acre sculpture park, museum, and arboretum, and it has an exceptional collection of contemporary sculpture, offers outstanding programming for all ages, and provides seasonally rotating exhibitions in six indoor galleries. It is located at 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton Township, about 20 minutes from campus.
  • McCarter Theatre Center is an independent, non-profit regional theater. McCarter is in heart of the new Princeton University Arts District at 91 University Place, Princeton.
  • Morven Museum & Garden is a National Historic Landmark. This former New Jersey Governor’s Mansion showcases the rich cultural heritage of the Garden State through regular exhibitions, educational programs, special events and tours.  It is located at 55 Stockton Street, Princeton.
  • Princeton Public Library is located in town at 65 Witherspoon Street. The library has the Museum Pass Program where you can reserve and obtain free tickets to museums in NJ, NYC and PA, including some of the attractions listed on this page.
  • Princeton University Art Museum is currently closed. Construction of a bold and welcoming new Museum building at the heart of the University campus is slated to begin in 2021. The new Museum is anticipated to open in late 2024. The museum has a history that extends back to the 1750s, and collections of over 100,000 works of art spanning the world of art from antiquity to the present, The art museum is located across Washington Street from Sherrerd Hall, right behind McCormick Hall.
  • Art@Bainbridge is a gallery project of the Princeton University Art Museum showcasing the work of emerging contemporary artists. It is housed in the carefully restored colonial-era Bainbridge House at 158 Nassau Street in downtown Princeton. Art@Bainbridge is temporarily closed to visitors.
  • Princeton Garden Theatre is an historic movie theater owned by Princeton University, and operated by Renew Theaters, a non-profit which manages golden-age movie theaters. It is located on the corner of Washington and Nassau Streets: 160 Nassau Street, Princeton.
  • The Visit Princeton Mercer Convention & Visitors Bureau gives a nice comprehensive list of things to do and other useful information about the area.

Athletic Facilities and Recreational Sports

For exercise and fun, you can participate in many activities on and around campus. Dillon Gymnasium is a base for recreational athletics and includes a pool, dance studio and the Stephens Fitness Center, offering individual and group fitness equipment and programs. The campus also has an indoor climbing wall, a running club and many other opportunities to stay fit. To attend Princeton sporting events, please see the Princeton University Athletics website for tickets.

Campus Dining

Please check each location for specific hours and information, as the information below could change.

  • The Equad Café is located in the Engineering Quad C Wing. This café is across Olden Street from Sherrerd Hall.
  • The Atrium Café, located on level 100 of the Louis A. Simpson International Building.
  • Shultz Café is located on the first floor of Robertson Hall.
  • Prospect House offers dining facilities, with a restaurant (the Garden Room) on the main floor and a more casual cafeteria (the Tap Room) downstairs. (Only PUIDs and credit cards are accepted.) (Prospect House is closed for renovation until September 2024.)
  • The Frist Campus Center provides a wide range of cafeteria-style food.
  • Faculty and staff may eat in the student dining halls and at the Center for Jewish Life. Paw points may be used.
  • For other places to eat on-campus see the Campus Dining website.
  • Your PUID can be used to purchase Paw Points for use in any dining facility on campus.

Child Care Centers and Schools

The Office of Human Resources provides information on child care resources in the Princeton area. The public school system is called Princeton Public Schools, and you must live in Princeton to attend this school district.

Employee Resources

  • Campus Resources for Difficult Times
    – This webpage offers various resources and guidance available to the University community during periods of national or international crises.
  • Employee Resource Groups (ERG)
    – These volunteer, employee-led organizations are comprised of professionals from across the University who come together based on shared interests and/or identities. ERGs work to create a more inclusive environment and sense of belonging within the University while also remaining engaged with external communities.
  • Medical Facilities/Mental Health
    – The closest hospital to Princeton University is Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center, 1 Plainsboro Rd, Plainsboro Township.
    – The closest pharmacy is the CVS at 172 Nassau Street, Princeton.
    – Princeton University Health Services (609-258-3141) provides limited medical services for staff, mostly work related issues or wellness programs. Please see their website for more information.
    – Mental Wellness Resources
    – Urgent Mental Health Concerns (for students)

Princeton Apps

  • Tiger Safe provides notifications and alerts, tools for staying safe on campus, emergency response guides, orientation and maps features, and a variety of health, safety and wellness resources.
  • Princeton Mobile is the official mobile app for Princeton University and includes the campus map, dining locations, menus and hours, live bus transit, people search, course listings, library information and more.
  • Princeton Map is new in summer 2023 and is a great wayfinding map of campus.

Restaurants and Shopping in the Princeton Area

The Princeton area has a wide diversity of restaurants, grocery stores and shopping to choose from. Please let Laura know if you’d like to edit the list as new restaurants open and older ones close.

Transportation

The University offers free shuttle buses that run daily every 5-15 minutes until midnight between University accommodations and campus. If you need a ride between 10 p.m.-3 a.m., call 609-258-RIDE (7433). The University also operates a tracker system for the TigerTransit shuttle buses as a downloadable app.

If you don’t have a car, but would like to rent one for a few hours, please see the Transportation and Parking Office’s webpage for Enterprise Carshare or Zipcar services.

Previous Fellow Recommendations

In September 2018, CITP Fellow Nathan Matias wrote a very informative blog about his time here at Princeton: 8 Tips for Car Free Living in Princeton.