{"id":24560,"date":"2024-01-30T16:50:33","date_gmt":"2024-01-30T16:50:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newyorkinfo.nl\/preparing-for-a-trip-to-new-york\/traveling-by-subway-in-new-york\/"},"modified":"2025-12-29T14:02:23","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T14:02:23","slug":"traveling-by-subway-in-new-york","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newyorkinfo.nl\/en\/preparing-for-a-trip-to-new-york\/traveling-by-subway-in-new-york\/","title":{"rendered":"Traveling by Subway in New York: Tips and Information"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The New York<\/a> City subway is the most popular mode of transportation in the city. Millions of people use it every day, and even during a city break<\/a>, it’s practically unavoidable. The trains run day and night and quickly transport you from neighborhood to neighborhood.<\/p>\n

In this blog post, I explain how subway travel works, how to pay for it, and what you should keep in mind as a tourist.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Why the New York Subway is so Convenient<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The metro operates 24\/7,<\/strong> so you’re not dependent on taxis<\/a> or heavy traffic. It also avoids long walking distances, especially in bad weather. Furthermore, the fare is low compared to other modes of transport. This makes the metro a logical choice for tourists to quickly visit multiple neighborhoods.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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How do you travel by subway in New York?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"OMNY,\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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If you want to travel by subway, go to the nearest station. The entrance always clearly indicates which direction the trains run, such as Uptown<\/strong>, Downtown<\/strong>, Brooklyn<\/a>, or Queens.<\/a> Check this carefully before entering, as not every station has a passageway between the two directions.<\/p>\n

Then go through the ticket gates. These open once you pay via OMNY<\/strong>, the current ticketing system for New York City’s public transportation system. You don’t need to check out afterward. Please note that the gates are narrow. This can be inconvenient if you’re traveling with large suitcases.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Paying for the New York subway with OMNY<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Traveling\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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The MetroCard<\/strong> was used for years to pay for the New York City subway. The system has changed since then. You now pay with OMNY, the city’s contactless payment system. You no longer need to buy a ticket.<\/p>\n

There are three ways to pay with OMNY.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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1. Pay with a credit card<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Most tourists pay by credit card. It’s quick and easy. Simply hold your card briefly against the OMNY reader at the gate. Then you can continue your journey immediately.
Each ride costs $2.90.<\/strong> You can also use a single credit card to travel with up to four people simultaneously.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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2. Pay with your phone or smartwatch<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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You can also pay with your phone or smartwatch. To do this, link your credit card to Apple Pay<\/strong> or Google Pay<\/strong>. Then, hold your device near the gate. This works just like paying with a physical card.<\/p>\n

During your trip, it’s important to have a stable internet connection so everything runs smoothly.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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3. Traveling with an OMNY card<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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You can also opt for a separate OMNY card<\/strong>. This card is rechargeable and completely contactless. Simply hold the card near the gate screen and you can travel immediately.
The OMNY card is especially useful if you prefer not to use a credit card or prefer to pay with cash.<\/p>\n

The card is available for purchase at various locations in New York, including:<\/p>\n

1. larger subway stations<\/strong> via vending machines<\/p>\n

2. drugstores<\/strong> such as CVS and Walgreens<\/p>\n

3. supermarkets<\/strong> and other authorized retail outlets<\/p>\n

You can top up the OMNY card with cash or a credit card, depending on the location.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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How much does it cost to travel on the subway in New York?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Single fare<\/strong><\/p>\n

A single fare costs $2.90<\/strong>. This rate is the same for all payment methods.<\/p>\n

Automatic discount after 12 rides<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you use the same payment method every time within 7 days, you’ll pay for a maximum of 12 rides. After that, you’ll travel for free on the metro for that week. This is done automatically through OMNY. Please note that all rides must be made with the exact same payment method.<\/p>\n

Traveling with multiple people<\/strong><\/p>\n

You can have up to four people travel with a single credit card or device. However, please note that the discount after 12 rides only applies to the first account. To ensure everyone benefits, each passenger needs their own payment method.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The New York subway lines explained<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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The metro lines are clearly categorized with letters and numbers, such as A, C, 1, or 6. The lines also have standard colors, making it easy to see which route you need. However, it’s important to always check the train’s final destination, as some trains don’t stop at all stops.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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What is the best subway app in New York?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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To use the New York City subway easily, a good navigation app is very helpful. I usually use Google Maps because the app clearly shows which station you need to walk to, which subway to take, how many stops you’ll travel, and where to get off. This makes it easy to choose the right route with minimal transfers.<\/p>\n

Other popular apps are CityMapper<\/a> and the MTA Trip Planner<\/a>. Both provide real-time information on departure times, delays, and any schedule changes.<\/p>\n

Prefer to have something physical at hand? At many stations, you can get a free subway map or ask the staff at the ticket counter for help.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Using the New York Subway Map<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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A clear subway map of New York is displayed in every station. You can also save a map online on your phone. This is handy if you don’t have internet access while traveling.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tView the New York Metro Map here<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Is the New York subway safe for tourists?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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The New York subway is generally safe for tourists, especially during the day and peak hours. As in any major city, it’s wise to keep an eye on your belongings and pay extra attention to crowded stations late at night. Sometimes there may be homeless or confused people on the trains. They usually don’t cause a nuisance, but it can be a bit uncomfortable.<\/p>\n

Keep your bag close, use a credit card or OMNY card for contactless payment, and stick to well-lit platforms. With these simple precautions, you can travel safely and relaxed through the city.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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My experience with the New York subway<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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I’ve been to New York regularly in recent years and almost always use the subway during my stays, especially to get around Manhattan. Even from JFK Airport<\/a>, I often take the subway to the city center; it’s reliable, inexpensive, and usually faster than a taxi.<\/p>\n

When the OMNY system was introduced, I usually paid with a credit card. These days, I use an OMNY card that I purchase at one of the larger subway stations. This way, I’m not dependent on a single payment method, and my journey always runs smoothly, without any hassle at the gates.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Practical tips for traveling by subway in New York<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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1. Always use the same payment method<\/strong><\/p>\n

By using a single payment method, such as your credit card, phone, or OMNY card, you automatically receive free rides after 12 paid trips within 7 days.<\/p>\n

2. Travel outside rush hours<\/strong><\/p>\n

The subway is often crowded during morning and evening rush hours. Traveling outside these hours offers more space, seats, and a quieter experience.<\/p>\n

3. Always check the direction<\/strong><\/p>\n

Not every train stops at all stops or runs in both directions. Check beforehand whether you need to take Uptown\/Queens or Downtown\/Brooklyn.<\/p>\n

4. Use a subway app<\/strong><\/p>\n

Apps like Google Maps or dedicated subway apps provide real-time information about routes, delays, and arrival times, so you always know where to go.<\/p>\n

5. Be aware of late-night changes<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some lines do not operate at all stops at night or have modified routes. Check this in advance, especially if you’re traveling late.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNew York Info\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Hi, I'm Edward and I'm crazy about New York. I've visited the city several times over the past few years, and on New York Info I share my personal experiences, practical tips, and recommendations to help you plan your trip to New York.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMore about me\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Offers for a city trip to New York<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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If you’re planning a city trip to New York and would like to visit some of the sights<\/a>, take advantage of the offers below and save money on your entrance tickets.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Powered by GetYourGuide<\/a><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Disclaimer:<\/strong> Some links in this blog are affiliate links. If you book through these links, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The New York City subway is the most popular mode of transportation in the city. Millions of people use it every day, and even during a city break, it’s practically unavoidable. The trains run day and night and quickly transport you from neighborhood to neighborhood. In this blog post, I explain how subway travel works, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":48401,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[59],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24560","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-preparing-for-a-trip-to-new-york"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newyorkinfo.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24560","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newyorkinfo.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newyorkinfo.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newyorkinfo.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newyorkinfo.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24560"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newyorkinfo.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24560\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newyorkinfo.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48401"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newyorkinfo.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24560"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newyorkinfo.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24560"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newyorkinfo.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24560"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}