Getting around · New York City · United States
Getting around New York City
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Christopher Down, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
Manhattan's grid makes navigation easy: avenues run north–south and numbered streets east–west, with about 20 blocks to the mile. The 24-hour subway links Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx, Staten Island is reached by a free ferry, and you pay by tapping a contactless card or phone at OMNY readers. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Metro
- Airports
- JFK, EWR, LGA
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- OMNY fare capping
Ways to get around
Metro
The subway runs 24 hours a day. Express trains skip stops while local trains stop everywhere, and some stations have separate entrances for uptown and downtown trains.
Tap the same card or phone every time: OMNY caps fares so that after 12 paid rides in a seven-day period, further rides in that period are free.
Walking
Walking is often the best way to see Manhattan; Midtown to the Village takes about 40 minutes on foot.
Bus
Buses run along the avenues and across town, useful for east–west trips the subway covers poorly; Select Bus Service routes are faster, with all-door boarding.
Cycling
Citi Bike has docked pedal and electric bikes across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx, and the Hudson River Greenway is a protected riverside route.
Ferry
NYC Ferry boats link Manhattan with Brooklyn, Queens, the Rockaways and the Bronx at low fares, and the Staten Island Ferry is free.
Taxi
Yellow cabs can be hailed when the roof light is on, and ride-hailing apps work citywide; a congestion surcharge applies to trips in Manhattan south of 60th Street.
From JFK, yellow cabs charge a flat fare to Manhattan plus tolls and tip.
Train
Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North commuter trains from Penn Station and Grand Central reach the beaches, the Hudson Valley and the suburbs.
Tickets and passes
OMNY fare capping
Tapping the same contactless card or phone caps your spending after 12 paid subway or local bus rides in any seven-day period.
Attraction passes
CityPASS and Go City passes bundle paid attractions such as observation decks and museums; they pay off only if you visit several within a few days.
From the airport
From JFK, AirTrain links to the subway at Jamaica and Howard Beach, and to Long Island Rail Road trains at Jamaica, about 20 minutes on to Penn Station or Grand Central; yellow cabs charge a flat fare to Manhattan. From LaGuardia, the free Q70 bus connects to the subway at Jackson Heights. From Newark, AirTrain links to NJ Transit and Amtrak trains reaching Penn Station in about 30 minutes.
Do you need a car?
No. Traffic is slow, parking is very expensive and a congestion toll applies in Manhattan below 60th Street. Rent a car only for trips upstate or to the Hamptons, ideally picking it up outside Manhattan.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Beacon and Dia Beacon | About 1 hour 30 minutes by train | Metro-North Hudson line from Grand Central to Beacon |
| Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown | About 45 minutes by train | Metro-North Hudson line from Grand Central |
| Philadelphia | About 1 hour 15 minutes by train | Amtrak from Penn Station, or NJ Transit and SEPTA |
| Washington, D.C. | About 3 hours by train | Amtrak Northeast Regional or Acela from Penn Station |
| The Hamptons | About 2 hours 30 minutes by train or coach | Long Island Rail Road or Hampton Jitney coach |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in New York City?
No. Traffic is slow, parking is very expensive and a congestion toll applies in Manhattan below 60th Street. Rent a car only for trips upstate or to the Hamptons, ideally picking it up outside Manhattan.
+How do you get from the airport to New York City?
From JFK, AirTrain links to the subway at Jamaica and Howard Beach, and to Long Island Rail Road trains at Jamaica, about 20 minutes on to Penn Station or Grand Central; yellow cabs charge a flat fare to Manhattan. From LaGuardia, the free Q70 bus connects to the subway at Jackson Heights. From Newark, AirTrain links to NJ Transit and Amtrak trains reaching Penn Station in about 30 minutes.
+What is the best way to get around New York City?
Metro: The subway runs 24 hours a day. Express trains skip stops while local trains stop everywhere, and some stations have separate entrances for uptown and downtown trains.