The subway is the best way to get around New York. It's the best way to reach virtually every tourist attraction, and the dense network extends as far as Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx.

Ideally, choose accommodation that's within walking distance of the subway - then you've got yourself a great deal and getting around New York will be a breeze.

Choose a hotel near a subway station

With a total network length of over 380km, New York's subway system ranks 12th in the world. The first trains started their routes in 1904, making the New York City subway the 8th oldest underground railway in the world.

Although taking the subway in New York City may seem complicated at first, you'll soon get used to the system and after a few rides you'll be riding like a native New Yorker. Stations are clearly signposted, as are any transfers.

Here are our tips for hassle-free subway travel in New York.

New York Subway Map

A subway map is essential for easy travel in New York.

While maps are available in all cars and stations, it's a good idea to have a map downloaded on your phone to help you plan your journey.

The metro map can be found and downloaded at web.mta.info/maps.

How to navigate the metro maps?

In some metro maps, stations are marked with a different coloured wheel:

• black - only local trains stop at a given station (on some routes only local trains run, so all stations are marked in red)
• white - both express and local trains stop at the station

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Metro Card / OMNY ticket prices

From 2026, you can only pay on the New York City subway with contactless cards:

1. OMNY contactless payments with your debit/credit card (mobile, watch, etc.)
2. Classic paper Metro Cards (discontinued in December 2025)

Fare 2,90 usd

Every subway or city bus trip in New York City is a flat fare regardless of time or distance traveled 2,90 usd.

It is calculated from the first time you enter the subway to the time you exit the subway, and you can transfer if you do not go through a turnstile within that transfer point (not always possible).

7-day ticket for 34 usd

There is no 24-hour or 3-day ticket in New York City, the lowest time period is only 7 days. It costs $34 and is valid for unlimited rides anywhere on the subway, buses, and cable cars to Roosevelt Island.

The way the system works is that $2.90 is deducted after each single ride, up to a maximum of 12 times in total, giving a final total of $34.

From the 13th ride onwards, although you still have to attach your card/mobile/watch to the readers, no amount is deducted.

Where to buy tickets?

Fares can only be paid contactlessly with your own credit card.

How do I use the tickets?

You will pass through turnstiles when entering and exiting the station. Attach your card/mobile/watch to the reader marked OMNY and you will pass through the turnstile.

When you exit the station, you go through the turnstile again, but do not attach the card to the reader. You open the turnstile manually by hand.

You do not go through the turnstiles when changing trains.

Local vs. express connections

Perhaps the most common confusion among tourists arises with this tricky aspect of the New York City subway system.

You look at a map, see that the blue subway lines run through the nearest station, you're good to go! However, you wait in vain for your particular connection, trains of the other line you don't need to take are constantly stopping here, and every now and then the subway you want to take whizzes past the platform on the third track.

Always double check exactly where the metro is going so you don't miss your stop and wait too long for the next connection. On the metro map, stations are shown in black or white and the letter of the line that stops at that station.

• White stations - all trains stop here
• black stations - only local services stop here

If an express train is running, it will not stop at the black stations and will just pass through them.

For example, the A, C, B, D lines seemingly run on the west side of Central Park, but all stations have black wheels, which means only local trains stop at them. In this case, it's always just the B and C lines.

Timetables, connection search

You can easily find the fastest connection between two stops on the official website of the transport company mta.info.

Within the city centre, metro trains run on average every 2-3 minutes on weekdays, and about every 4-7 minutes on weekends. The further away from the centre you are, the longer the intervals will logically be, but they rarely exceed 10 minutes at major stations.

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Only in the very outskirts of the metropolis, where you probably won't even visit, and at night, the interval can be between 15-20 minutes.

Some lines run 24 hours a day, while others just take a break at night.

• Lines that run all night - 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, A, D, E, F, G, J, L, M, N, Q, R, Staten Island Railway
• Approx. 6:00-22:15 on lines B, C, W
• Approx. 5:10-23:30 Eating lines - 5

It is also a good idea to keep an eye on the information at the stops due to the relatively frequent closures, when some stations are inaccessible or part of the route is replaced by alternative buses. However, the information tends to be very clear and easy to understand.

Transfer stations and stop names

Some transfer stations are not transfer stations. You have to leave the metro and go through the turnstile again. If you use the 7-day limit 34 usd, you don't need to worry about this, but for single tickets you would need two tickets.

Basically, though, most stations where multiple lines converge and overlap on the map by a single circle or are connected by a black line on the map are transferable.

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There is no need to go through turnstiles, just follow the signs and directions to the transfers consistently. Feel free to stop for a moment, figure out where you're going and what line you need, and then move on.

Also pay attention to the names of the stations. For example, "Canal Street" appears 3 times on 3 different lines, yet the stations are 2 km apart and are not transfer stations at all.

Uptown or Downtown?

Most stations have separate entrances for each direction. Each entrance is always marked with a letter or line number and the terminus. To make it easier to navigate Manhattan, they also add a label indicating whether the station is in the "Uptown" or "Downtown" direction so you don't have to look up where the terminus is. But what does that mean?

• Uptown - northbound trains
• Downtown - southbound trains

Colours or numbers/letters?

Subway lines in New York City are identified by both a color and a letter/number. While locals usually orient themselves by color, we recommend that you follow the letter or number that identifies the line in particular.

The color is useful in central Manhattan, where several lines often converge into one very busy one. On the outskirts of the city, however, they often diverge in different directions, or some lines terminate at an earlier station.

Station facilities and signage

All entrances to metro stations are marked with a green and white or red and white lantern.

• Green lantern - this entrance is accessible 24/7
• Red lantern - this entrance is closed during night hours (usually between 6pm and 6am) or all day at weekends

The stations themselves are usually not equipped in any way.

There are no public toilets in the metro, there are no vending machines for drinks or food, and there are rarely any shops in the station lobbies.

In the New York subway, you can catch wifi at every subway station where you can use the free internet connection.

Security on the New York subway

Forget everything you know from TV shows and movies for a moment. Yes, the New York subway is full of vagrants, dancing and rapping black people, artists and homeless people, but it's just as full of regular people.

It's only by taking the time to observe what's going on around you that you'll notice even the smallest details and see just how colorful the people of this metropolis are.

There are cameras and security personnel at every stop and even in the carriages themselves.

It may take you a while to get used to the diversity of passengers, but you certainly don't have to worry about your safety.

We have visited New York several times and never once felt particularly unsafe on the local subway. Compared to other cities, the New York subway is pretty standard.

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