Navigating NYC: A First Time Guide to Public Transport
Navigating NYC: A First Time Guide to Public Transport
Using public transport in a new city can be daunting, especially in a bustling metropolis like New York. Feeling nervous about navigating it for the first time or just a bit unsure about NYC's public transportation system in general? Here’s our guide to help you confidently use public transport for the first time in New York City.
First of all, it may help to understand the layout of NYC. It’s based on a grid system, which makes it very easy to navigate. In brief terms, there are avenues which run north (or uptown) and south (downtown), and streets which run east to west. Generally, these are numbered in order, e.g. 5th Ave, 6th Ave, 34th Street, 35th Street, with a few exceptions such as Madison Ave, Park Ave, and Lexington Ave.
NYC is also very walkable. If you are able to, put on a comfy pair of shoes and walk where you can!
Subway
The NYC subway is open 24/7 and can connect you to four out of the five boroughs. To be honest, we were hesitant to use the subway at first because of some less than desirable stories you hear. Plus, NYC is so walkable – however, there is only so much walking you can do in a day! We ended up using it a lot, especially to get from north to south.
It was actually quite pleasant to use. You can pay with OMNY, using any contactless debit or credit card. We used Apple Pay with our Wise card, which was very easy. The subway isn’t too far underground, so you don’t need to walk far to get to it (unlike the London Underground for instance). Also, a single fare of $2.90 (increased end of 2023) gets you anywhere. Avoid rush hour times if you can.
NYC Ferry
This is something that we didn’t read about many tourists using before we travelled there. It was a great experience though and something we would recommend! For more information on using this, see our Catching the NYC Ferry as a Tourist.
Travelling out in the open air makes such a nice change compared to the smells and smog within that mid-Manhattan area. It costs $4.00 per trip which you can purchase via their app or at a vending machine. The ticket allows a free transfer within 120 minutes. This costs more than the subway, but not by much, and you get to see so a lot of the iconic city skyline. On a beautiful sunny day, this is the way to travel.
You do need to get to a ferry landing, so if you’re not staying close to one this can add a bit time (although, we didn’t mind walking there). The boats aren’t very frequent, make sure you check the timetables in advance.
Bus
We didn’t end up using a bus in NYC, so can’t review it. You pay the same way as the subway system using OMNY and it costs the same. The buses are slower than the subway, but do offer good options to get around the city, and let you see it rather than being underground.
Bike
If you are feeling like being active, biking around the Big Apple is a great option. You can hire a Citi Bike from $4.79 and there are thousands of bike stations across NYC. We didn’t get to it this time, but biking around Central Park is on our to-do list for our next visit.
Taxi/Rideshare
Is a trip to NYC if you don’t hail an iconic yellow cab? We used cabs or Uber to get to and from the airport as it was far more convenient with heavy luggage.
Walking
Our favourite option was walking, which we would naturally recommend, plus it’s free! The grid makes it easy to navigate and NYC is bustling with people.
Safety
This is something I was probably the most worried about. But we felt completely safe when using public transport in NYC. As within any big city, keep an eye on your belongings and make sure you keep all your valuables close to you.
We always try to use public transport when we travel as it allows you to experience life more like a local. We would definitely recommend using public transport as an affordable way to get around NYC. If you’re a first-time visitor, embrace the journey whether it be underground, on the water, or among the bustling city streets.
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