How to Get Around New York

How transport works in New York

New York's subway runs 24 hours a day on 26 lines, which is unusual among major world cities and changes how you plan evenings — there is no last-train cutoff to build a schedule around, though overnight service is less frequent and some lines run local-only late at night. Trains run every 2–10 minutes depending on the line and time of day, and the grid layout above 14th Street makes walking directions unusually easy to follow even for first-time visitors.

The subway runs 24/7 — buy an OMNY tap or MetroCard. Yellow cabs and rideshare are plentiful. JFK, LGA and EWR each connect to Manhattan by train, express bus or taxi.

Subway

The fastest way to cover more than 1.5 km. OMNY now lets you tap a contactless card or phone directly at the turnstile — no need to buy a card in advance — and automatically caps you at the weekly unlimited price after 12 rides in a seven-day period.

• Typical cost

  $2.90 a ride with OMNY tap-to-pay or a MetroCard, including free transfers between subway and bus within two hours

Bus

Slower than the subway but useful for cross-town routes the grid subway lines don't cover well, and fully step-free, which matters with a pushchair or heavy luggage.

• Typical cost

  Same $2.90 fare as the subway, with free transfer to the subway within two hours

Staten Island Ferry

A genuine transit line, not just a tourist boat — it runs between Lower Manhattan and Staten Island and passes close by the Statue of Liberty, making it the best free skyline view in the city.

• Typical cost

  Free

NY Waterway and NYC Ferry

Useful for reaching waterfront neighbourhoods in Brooklyn and Queens, or crossing to New Jersey, with better views than the subway and no crowding at rush hour.

• Typical cost

  NYC Ferry is $4 a ride; NY Waterway routes vary by line

Taxi and ride-hailing

Yellow cabs can be hailed on the street in Manhattan; ride-hailing apps work everywhere but surge-price heavily during rain, rush hour and major events.

• Typical cost

  Typically $12–25 for a short Manhattan crossing before tip

Walking

Manhattan's numbered grid above 14th Street makes navigation straightforward — 20 numbered blocks north-south is roughly 1.6 km, though east-west avenue blocks are notably longer.

• Typical cost

  Free

Passes and tickets: what's actually worth buying

For a short stay, tapping a contactless card or phone through OMNY is simplest and now cheaper than buying a physical MetroCard for most visitors, since OMNY automatically applies the 7-day unlimited cap once you've taken 12 rides in a week without you needing to buy anything in advance. A physical 7-Day Unlimited MetroCard still makes sense if you're travelling with someone whose phone or card can't be used for tap payment, or if you want to guarantee the weekly cap from your very first ride.

Local transport tips for New York

• Check whether a train is local or express before boarding — express trains skip stations and can strand you several stops past where you meant to get off.

• Tipping is expected, not optional: 18–20% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 per drink at bars, and rounding up for a short taxi ride.

• Yellow cabs must take you anywhere in the five boroughs; a driver refusing a fare is against regulations and can be reported.

• Weekend subway service changes are common for maintenance — check the MTA app before a Saturday or Sunday journey rather than assuming your usual line runs normally.

• Stand clear of the closing doors and let passengers exit before boarding — small etiquette lapses draw more attention on the New York subway than almost anywhere else.

Arriving from the airport

• John F. Kennedy (JFK)

  AirTrain + LIRR/Subway to Manhattan in ~50 min; taxi flat fare to Manhattan.

• LaGuardia (LGA)

  Closest to Midtown; LaGuardia Link bus to subway or taxi in 20–40 min.

• Newark Liberty (EWR)

  AirTrain + NJ Transit to Penn Station in ~40 min.

Do you need a rental car?

Inside New York a car is usually a liability — parking and traffic cost more than transit. A rental earns its keep for day trips and regional drives, so compare rates only for the days you actually leave the city.