2025-26 Winter Break Information

Staying in Philadelphia over the University’s winter break? Find information information about available services & resources below.

Grad Center Hours

Campus-Area Services and Operations

Emergencies & Special Assistance

Things To Do In Philly Over the Break

Grad Center Winter Break Operations

Graduate Student Center staff will be working remotely and our building at 3615 Locust Walk will remain closed on weekdays from Friday, December 19 - Tuesday, December 23. The Grad Center will be closed and staff will be unavailable from Wednesday, December 24 - Friday, January 2. You can review all Grad Center building and space hours here.

Prior to 5pm on December 23, please reach out to the contacts below for assistance:

Campus Services and Special Hours

Please note that most University offices, including the Graduate Student Center, will be closed or have significantly modified operations Monday, December 22 – Friday, January 2.

Please this detailed information about winter operations & services from the U@Penn portal and visit the links below to see additional winter break service information:

  • Campus and Community Safety

    • Please note that Penn's Department of Public Safety remains fully-staffed and available throughout the break period.

      Special Property Checks: DPS offers Special Property Checks for residents in our patrol zone during the winter break. Under the special checks program, DPS officers check the exterior of registered properties for signs of safety or security breaches. This free program is available to all residents in the Penn patrol zone, the area from 30th Street to 43rd Street and from Baltimore Avenue to Market Street.

      Walking Escort Program: Walking escorts are an excellent resource for Penn and the local community. Uniformed Allied Universal public safety officers provide free walking escorts, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Escort services also extend west to 50th Street and north/south from Spring Garden Street to Woodland Avenue between 10 am and 3 am via the University’s partnership with the University City District Ambassador Program.

      More information about these resources, guidance, and more is available on the DPS website here.

       

  • Transit and Parking 

    • The Parking Office closes Wednesday, December 24 at 5PM and reopens Monday, January 5 at 8AM. Permit holders will always have access to their garages during Winter Break. Contact the Operations Office at 215-898-6933  should you require operational assistance to access your parking garage during this period.

    • LUCY (SEPTA Loop Through University City): Closed weekends (S/S) and on December 25 and January 1.

    • Penn Transit Services: Closes Wednesday, December 24 at 6PM with limited transportation service is available December 25 to January 2, 6PM – 7AM, excluding December 31. Regular hours resume on Saturday, January 3 at 6PM.

       

  • Penn Global

    • International Student & Scholar Services
      Please note that the ISSS office will close at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 24, and will reopen at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, January 5. We encourage you to plan ahead and reach out to us in advance if you anticipate needing assistance during this time.

      If you experience an immigration-related travel emergency while our office is closed, please call +1 215-573-3333 for 24-hour assistance.

       

  • Wellness at Penn

    • Wellness at Penn will remain available throughout the break, with modified in-person hours and 24/7 on-call support available. Offices will be closed on December 21, December 25-26, December 28, and January 1-4, 2026. Normal hours of operation resume on Jan. 5, 2026. More information at wellness.upenn.edu/winter-break-hours.

       

  • Division of Recreation and Intercollegiate Athletics (DRIA)

     

  • Penn Libraries

    • Van Pelt-Dietrich Library will be open until 6:00 PM on weekdays during the break and will be closed on weekends, December 25, and January 1-2, 2026. Normal hours will resume on January 14. More information at Van Pelt-Dietrich library calendar.  Fisher Fine Arts Library and Biotech Commons will both be closed December 25 – January 4, 2026. Penn Libraries Reduced Hours

       

  • Penn Bookstore: Modified hours December 24- January 1

    • December 24, December 26– December 31: 10AM – 5PM.

    • December 25 and January 1: Closed.

       

  • Penn Dining / Bon Appetit:

    • All cafés will be closed Friday, December 19 — Sunday, January 4. Cafés will begin to reopen with limited hours/locations on Monday, January 5, 2025. All-you-care-to-eat cafés will begin to reopen with limited hours/locations on Monday, January 6. All hours are posted here.

More information about winter break operations can be found here and posted on the U@Penn website. We encourage all graduate and professional students to visit our Graduate Resource Guide for resources, information, and activities: www.gsc.upenn.edu/resources.

Emergencies & Special Assistance

If you have an emergency, please call 215-573-3333 or 911.

Penn's Department of Public Safety will remain fully-staffed and available throughout the break period. If you should have any concerns or see someone exhibiting suspicious behavior, call the PennComm Emergency Communications Center at (215) 573-3333.

215.898.HELP (4357):The HELP Line is a 24-hour-a-day phone number for members of the Penn community who are seeking time sensitive help in navigating Penn’s resources for health and wellness.

Things To Do

Staying in the Philadelphia area over the winter break? We're highlighted a few seasonal attractions and other Philly-area favorites that you might not have had a chance to explore during the busy fall semester. Be sure to check out the Living in Philadelphia section of our resource guide for even more things to do and explore in our great city!

 Events & Activities