The New York Subway

Using the Subway to get around New York City during your Vacation

New York City has an excellent and comprehensive subway system that will easily get you to where you want to go. It has the world's most extensive system of tracks within a major urban centre and, unlike most systems, it also operates 24/7.

The different subway trains are designated with a simple system of colors, numbers and letters. You will find lines designated with the number 1 through 7 or letter A - Z. The following list shows the breakdown of the routes

The Streets in New York run East/West and the Avenues run North/South. Spend a little time studying the larger .pdf version of the New York City subway map below and you will soon get a good overview of the system and how it is organized. Large maps are also posted at all stations and you can obtain a free map from the conductor window at any station.

• 1 7 Avenue Local
• 2 7 Avenue Express
• 3 7 Avenue Express
• 4 Lexington Avenue Express
• 5 7 Avenue Express
• 6 7 Avenue Local
• 7 42 Street-Flushing Local
• A 8 Avenue Express
• C 8 Avenue Local
• E 8 Avenue Local
• B 6 Avenue Express
• D 6 Avenue Express
• F 6 Avenue Local
• M 6 Avenue Local
• G Crosstown Local
• J Nassau Street Local
• Z Nassau Street Express
• L 14 Street-Canarsie Local Local
• N Broadway Local
• O Broadway Express
• R Broadway Local
• S Shuttle

For the most part the Subway and a short walk are all that you will need to get to New York's popular attractions, with the exception of those near the outer fringes of New York, or, for some of the day trips we suggest in our Things to Do section. The majority of attractions featured on TourbyTransit.com are within easy walking distance of a Subway Station. The entrances to most New York Subway stations are just an unobtrusive stairwell from the sidewalk marked by colored globes on a pole. If the globe is green the station is generally open 24 hours. If the globe is red the station in closed at night or the entrance is for exiting only. Most entrances are for trains travelling in one direction only so be sure you are on the appropriate platform for you desired direction of travel prior to going through the turnstile. All of the Subway routes are color coded (See the New York Subway Map below). You may have to transfer to complete some trips. Transfer points are indicated on the following map by thinner grey lines joining the subway lines between small white circles. If you are catching an express train be sure that it stops at your desired destination. There are also uniformed attendants at the stations who can assist you. The videos above will give you an excellent instructions for riding the New York Subways and the significance of the number and letter train designations.

The New York Subway is mostly underground, especially in Manhattan, however, outside of Manhattan much of the system operates above ground. Stations and trains do show there age as this system has been around for a lot of years and has extensive local ridership. For the most relaxing trips try to ride during off peak hours.

See our Transit Tips page for more information on riding the subway.

New York Subway Map - Click Map for a larger version or click here for PDF version
cc licensed Wikimedia Commons Image shared by CountZ

Riding the New York Subway cc licensed flickr photo shared by obvio171