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When you come to New York City, you must try riding the subway. Not only is it a rite of passage for your first experience in the Big Apple. But it is also the most efficient and cost-effective way to travel throughout the boroughs. As with anything, however, there are some things to consider when navigating the New York City subway system. I promise it’s not as scary as you think!
A brief history of the New York City subway
The start of New York City’s subway system, as we know it today, was first opened on October 27, 1904, by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT). The line ran in Manhattan for just over nine miles, stretching from City Hall all the way up to 145th Street. Soon after, there was a great New York subway expansion.
Initially, three companies operated different lines. IRT, and the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT) was privately owned, while the Independent Rapid Transit Railroad (IND) was city-run. For a long time, they operated independently from one another, which spurred competition to build additional train lines.
Finally, on June 15, 1953, New York State decided to consolidate all the different transits under one body. It formed the public New York City Transit Authority, now known as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).
Today, the MTA encompasses the subway and bus routes. The former IRT tracks are now the numbered subway lines (1/2/3, 4/5/6, 7) and the shuttle from Times Square to Grand Central Terminal. While the old BMT and IND tracks create today’s lettered lines (A/C/E, D/B/F/M, N/Q/R/W, J/Z, G, L) as well as the Rockaway Park and Franklin Avenue shuttles.
If you’re interested in learning more about the subway’s history, head to the New York City Transit Museum. Located in an old, now unused subway station, the museum showcases the system’s history from its beginning. You can also relive yesteryear by exploring vintage train cars.
Read More: Your Guide To New York City Museums Free Admission and Pay-As-You-Wish
Navigating the New York City subway map
Throughout most of Manhattan, there is more than one train running on each line. It’s only when you start moving into the outskirts of Manhattan and into the boroughs of Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens, where they start to split.
For example, the Blue line has three trains – the A, the C, and the E. Each has its own two terminal stations, meaning the ends of its lines. Although all three trains start in Manhattan (at different stops,) the A and C end in Brooklyn, while the E stops in Queens.
When in doubt, look at the map. It will tell you everything you need to know about navigating the New York City subway. What train stops where, if it’s express or local, and if there are any different subway lines that you can transfer to at a station.
What’s the difference between local and express trains?
When you look at the subway map, look at the dots that delineate the stops on a line. If you look closely, you’ll notice black spots and white dots that mark each station.
If the circle is white, that means it’s an express stop. Every train on the line will always stop at that station.
Alternatively, if the circle is black, it’s a local stop. Only specific trains will stop at that station, as well as stop at express spots. Since local trains have more stops to make, the ride is longer than taking an express.
For example, if you’re trying to take the subway to One World Trade Center from Times Square, you can choose any of the downtown red line trains. The local 1 or either the 2 or 3 express trains from Times Square-42nd St to Cortlandt St-World Trade Center.
Although this might sound confusing, every New York City subway map is marked with exact information. Look at the station you’re heading to, and it will tell you exactly which train lines stop there. Even New Yorkers have to break out a map sometimes to confirm if they need the local or the express!
What’s the difference between uptown and downtown trains?
This might sound like common sense, but for the most part, uptown trains run north in Manhattan, and downtown trains run south. However, this is almost exclusively for Manhattan. While there are some places in the Bronx and Brooklyn where subways run north to south, Queens and most other areas of Brooklyn are running in almost every direction. Instead, you’ll figure out your direction based on whether the train is Manhattan-bound, or (insert name of terminal subway station here)-bound.
Please make sure you know where you’re going and that you’ve read the signs before swiping into the subway. Unfortunately, there are many stations where you can only access one side of the platform once you’ve swiped in with your MetroCard. This means there’s no underground connector from one platform to the other. You’d have to pay again to get to the other side.
If you accidentally access the wrong platform, you have a few options to remedy the problem. The first, unfortunately, is to waste your original $2.75 and pay again to get to the other side. If you’re on a timetable, this might be your best bet. However, if you’re up for a little adventure, your other option is to take the next subway to its closest express stop and transfer underground there. While you lose a little bit of time, you save the swipe!
How do I know which subway line to take?
While there are many different apps to help you in navigating the New York City subway, the app Citymapper is my favorite subway trip planner. It’s free in the App Store, and it doesn’t have any hidden fees once you download the app to use it.
I personally use it at least six times a day, to check when my trains are arriving, if there are any delays, or to decide which exit of the subway station I should leave through. Yes, this app even tells you which is the best entrance and exit for the stations you’re using to get to your destination.
Simply input your current location and where you want to go. Citymapper will list out all the different ways to get there and the amount of time each would take. Not only will it list out all of the various subway routes you can choose to get to a location, but it will also tell you bus routes, driving directions, bike routes, and if it’s available, tram or ferry routes in real time.
Also, if you’re underground or don’t have service for whatever reason, the app has offline maps to help you master navigating the New York City subway and the bus system. This means you’ll never be stuck underground, not knowing which way to go.
The Do’s and Don’t of how to navigate the New York subway
I know some of this will sound like common sense, but you wouldn’t believe how much common sense just doesn’t always play into people’s actions and decisions when learning how to navigate New York’s subway.
The golden rule: Be the person you’d want to stand next to in a crowded train car.
Don’t: Get on the train before passengers have a chance to get off.
You will get crushed in the oncoming surge of people, and someone will swear at you. It’s pretty much inevitable.
Do: Let passengers off before you get on.
Subway social convention dictates that passengers are to get off the train before others start boarding. There’s also an overhead announcement that plays every time the doors open.
However, this advice goes unheeded by many subway riders. Don’t be that person. Let everyone else off the train before you try squishing yourself onboard. Most likely, there will be more space for you that way too!
OK, but what happens if it’s rush hour and there’s really no room for you, even after people get off? Don’t sweat the small stuff. At busy times of day, there are more trains running than at off-hours. Chances are, the train you need will arrive at your station again in the next five minutes. Try to be patient, and angle yourself to be the first in line for the next one.
Don’t: Eat messy or smelly foods.
Seriously, no one wants to smell street cart falafel, or whatever pungent food is being consumed, in an already smelly, crowded train. Please wait and save your meal until you’re not on the subway.
Do: If you MUST eat on the train, try protein bars or other small snacks.
Really, anything that’s small and portable without crumbling or smelling is the way to go to combat train hunger. Or pop in a piece of gum, but please…
Don’t: Litter.
If you think smelly foods are bad on the train, stepping in someone’s chewed gum, just thrown haphazardly on the ground, is not fun either. I’ve seen half-consumed soda bottles, piles of chip crumbs, and even a used hairbrush on platforms and floors of train cars.
Do: Throw trash away in the dedicated bins on the train platforms.
The governing branch of the subway system, the MTA is fancy now. They even provide recycling receptacles on some subway platforms. There really is no excuse for littering. Maybe it seems like no big deal to throw trash onto the tracks, but really, don’t do it.
Don’t: Take up too much space holding the pole, or lean on the train car doors while in motion.
Especially during rush hour, people cram into subway cars. It’s much safer to hold onto a pole or overhead bar than to lean on the sliding doors. If the car is almost empty, then fine, hog a pole. Even hug a pole if you really need to, even though GERMS abound. But again, to be clear, not when it’s busy.
And although we’ve all done it before, it’s truly not safe to lean on the doors while the subway is in motion. Sometimes there’s really no other space, but when there’s even a semi-open car, try to avoid the lean.
Do: Grab onto a pole and be respectful of the other people around you.
Holding onto a pole might be the only reason you’re standing upright on a bumpy train ride. Please give others the same opportunity to not fall over.
Don’t: Get into an empty subway car.
It could be litter. It could be a critter. It could be a smell. No matter what it is, there is always a reason it’s empty. Always.
Do: Find a different subway car that is FILLED with other commuters.
Walk to a different car that you can see is occupied by a group of other people. There’s safety in numbers.
Don’t: Blast loud music.
Most New Yorkers think of their time on the subway each day as their “me” time. They read books, listen to music or podcasts, and generally tune the rest of the world out until they reach their destination.
Do: Take this opportunity for self-reflection.
Y’know, as much relaxation as you can possibly muster on a crowded subway. Or, go ahead and blast your music as loud as you want, but please wear headphones while you’re doing it.
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How do you pay for the NYC subway?
When you arrive at a subway station, you can opt for a subway station booth (if your station has one) or use any of the machines to buy a MetroCard. There are three different card MetroCard purchasing types:
The first is a single ride card. Single rides on the subway are $2.75 each, and there’s a $1 fee for a new card. You can put as much money as you’ll need on your MetroCard. So if you plan on taking 5 trips, you can load your card up with $13.75.
A single ride MetroCard can be swiped up to four times back-to-back at the same subway station. This means if you’re traveling with someone else, you can share the same card.
Alternatively, you can purchase unlimited weekly and unlimited monthly cards. This means you pay one flat fee, $33 for a weekly or $127 for a monthly, and you can ride the New York City public transport system as often as you need to during that time. This is best for residents of the city, and tourists with busy itineraries.
An unlimited MetroCard cannot be swiped back-to-back at the same station. If you’re seeing the sights with others, you will each need your own unlimited card.
The latest addition to the system is OMNY machine readers. If you have a contactless card or a smartwatch attached to your card, you can now tap it against an OMNY reader, without the need for a physical MetroCard. However, the system is still relatively new. It’s not a guarantee that every station turnstile will have a contactless reader.
I always recommend you keep one physical card with enough money on it for one extra ride. That way, you have the option to make an unexpected stop off, or if the station doesn’t have any active OMNY machines.
Before you purchase a MetroCard, it’s essential to analyze how you want to travel throughout New York City during your trip. First, calculate how many times you think you’ll need to ride the trains in the time your visiting. MTA even has a subway cost calculator on its website.
If you’re coming for more than three days, or you plan to do a lot of subway travel, prepare to purchase a weekly unlimited MetroCard. That way, you can take the subway as many times as you’d like within the seven days.
On the other hand, if you’re only taking a day trip, or you’re staying in the heart of Midtown and you don’t plan on going very far, it probably makes the most sense to pay for each ride.
New Yorkers say that as long as you use the MetroCard for more rides than the cost of paying for each individually, it makes sense to have the freedom of the unlimited card.
You can also use your single ride and unlimited MetroCards on New York City buses, for even more transportation options.
Is the NYC subway safe at night?
A fun story ahead. When I first moved to New York City, I did not leave my apartment when it was dark out. For the entire first month. It wasn’t until I got a late-night job that forced me to travel after the sun went down. Looking back, I was far too afraid of the unknown.
Just like anything else, navigating the New York City subway can be safe after dark. But use your best judgment. Safety First. If you don’t feel confident in your subway expertise after dark, I recommend taking a car service back to your accommodation. Taxis, Ubers, or Lyft are great alternatives to utilize at night.
If you do find yourself alone on the subway car at night and uncomfortable for your safety, walk to the train car closest to the operator. This way, you’ll be closer to someone alert and on the job if you’re feeling uneasy.
What are some essentials I should bring on the subway?
- Citymapper
- Phone charger
- Headphones
- Hand sanitizer
- Face mask
- Water bottle
- Protein bar
- Personal safety device
Does the subway operate at the same schedule at night or on the weekends?
As lovely as that would be, the answer is no. Most subway maintenance work happens at night and on the weekends, so be prepared. Check for alerts on the MTA’s website to see if there’s a suspended schedule or delayed subway service to your station, or on any of the other subway lines you might take. Make sure you allow extra time to travel anywhere on the subway, especially if you have a timed entry, like tickets to a Broadway show.
Should I just drive in NYC?
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While the convenience of having your own vehicle is nice, I do not recommend you drive to Manhattan. Parking lots are costly, and many do not accommodate multi-day parking.
Or, if you decide to drive to your points of interest, you might spend an hour just trying to park on the street at each place. If you do decide to drive into New York City for your trip, I recommend you book accommodation that has a combined parking fee; or, stay in one of the other boroughs that are not Manhattan. Hotels will be a bit cheaper, and parking will be a little easier to find. But I promise, navigating the New York City subway isn’t too hard!
It’s a lot to learn. Honestly – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – navigating the New York City subway is challenging. But, once you master the basics and take a few trips, you’ll be confidently swiping through a turnstile on your way to adventure!
Do you have any other additional tips for navigating the New York City subway system?
I vaguely remember taking the subway when I visited NYC when I was 8, so I was just following along and didn’t have to figure it out luckily. I know if I ever went with my husband we would probably need the app and lots of planning ahead (or just have a sense of adventure in case we get it wrong). Great info and tips!
Thank you, what a great memory! The app is worth the free download, and yes, DEFINITELY keep a sense of adventure in the city!
This is a great article! When I first visited my cousin, who lived in New York, she would speak to me using the subway vocabulary like “uptown” and “downtown” and I had no idea what it meant. Anyone confused about the subway system in NYC would learn a lot about reading this article!
I’m so happy this was helpful for you! Once you get the hang of it, the NYC subway is pretty easy to understand!
Wow this is really helpful!! I will definitely download the CityMapper app for my next trip, the subway intimidates me!!
Thank you, I’m so happy you found this useful! Yes, Citymapper is my favorite app for getting around on the subway!
I wish I had this when I visited NYC last year..it was confusing to figure out stations.great guide.keepong it for next time
I’m so happy this has cleared up some of the confusion for you! Thank you, definitely save this for the next time you come!