How to get around New York City

The subway and buses form the default network for most visits. Subway service runs around the clock, but individual lines and stations change at night and during maintenance. Buses fill important cross-town and borough gaps; ferries can be useful where water makes a rail route indirect.

As checked on 5 October 2026, the subway and local bus base fare is $3 with OMNY. Eligible taps using the same payment method are capped at $35 in a rolling seven-day period. MetroCard sales have ended as the system completes its transition to OMNY. Always use the current MTA fare page before relying on a price.

Walking works within clusters, not across the whole city. Avenue blocks, bridges, parks, multi-level stations and long platform transfers can make a route feel much longer than its map distance. Avoid scheduling consecutive timed entries in different boroughs unless the connection is direct.

Accessibility is improving but uneven. Buses are generally the more predictable step-free option; many subway stations still lack elevators, and an accessible station can become unusable for a particular trip when one elevator is out. Check the exact entrance, platform direction and live elevator status in the MTA tools.

For safety, health and emergency planning, see Practical Information for New York City.

Walking and cycling

Walk one district at a time and keep right on busy pavements and stairs. The numbered Manhattan grid helps with orientation north of Houston Street, but Broadway, parks, rivers, expressways and superblocks interrupt it. Protected cycling routes exist, yet design and traffic conditions vary by street; use a current map rather than assuming a continuous lane.

Subway, bus and ferry

Choose the line serving the day's main cluster and let buses solve shorter cross-town gaps. Express and local trains may share a station but skip different stops. Ferries provide useful harbour connections and views. The Staten Island Ferry remains free.

Airports

JFK connects to the subway and Long Island Rail Road through AirTrain. Current airport construction can change roads and AirTrain access, so the Port Authority advises extra time and public transport where practical. LaGuardia relies on buses connecting to subway or rail. Newark Liberty is in New Jersey and its rail, bus and road options must be checked separately.

Driving and taxis

A car is a liability for most city sightseeing. Parking, tolls, traffic rules and the Manhattan Congestion Relief Zone add complexity, while walking and transit serve the dense visitor corridors more directly. Use a licensed taxi or reputable ride service when luggage, mobility or a late-night route makes it the better tool; do not make it the default for every cross-town trip.