The ultimate guide to the New York Subway

For most tourists, the New York subway is a chaotic labyrinth. It is, however, the fastest and cheapest way to get around the city. With its 472 stations (!), you can reach any part of the city, so long as you understand its system.

Getting around is simple once you understand the system. As of January 2026, MetroCards have been discontinued; you now pay by tapping any contactless credit/debit card, smartphone (Apple Pay/Google Pay), or a dedicated OMNY card at the turnstile. The fare is $3.00 per ride. After 12 rides within 7 days, all additional rides are free, capped at $35/week. No card to buy, no registration needed.

In the article below, you will find all the relevant information that will help you to comprehend the New York subway system and how you can save money.

Becoming familiar with Maps

Understanding the maps is the first step that will help you navigate the subway more easily. After you have decided which part of the city you want to visit, the maps will enable you to choose the right lines.

In the western part of New York are the lines 1, 2, and 3, and E, C, B, and D. On the east side are the lines 4, 5, and 6. All lines are separate and end in different places. You must follow the lines on the map to get to your destination.

It will be much easier to use the subway if you have a map or download it on your mobile. A recommended app, which also works offline, is the New York Subway Official MTA map of NYC. There is also a map at every station, and if you can’t find it, the station staff is very helpful.

Use numbers and letters, not colours.

Looking at the map, you will see that the lines are in different colours. They also have letters and numbers. The locals don’t use the lines based on their colours but on their letters or numbers. The colours show that certain lines pass through the same tracks at certain points.

You must always choose the line based on its number or letter, not on its colour. Even if lines have the same colour at some points, they end up in totally different locations. The lines A, C, and E are all blue, but they all separate at Canal Street.

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Local or express trains/black or white dots?

You will also notice that some stations on the maps are dotted in black and others in white. Local trains stop at all stations, whether they have black or white dots. On the contrary, express trains only stop at the white dotted stations and never at the black ones.

In the image above, you can see subway station 86 St (blue circle) with the indication of the line no 1 beneath and a black dot. This means that the train of line 1 is local and is the only train that stops at this station. On the other hand, at station 96St (black circle), the dot is white and indicates lines 1, 2, and 3. This means that the trains of lines 2 and 3 are express and stop only at this station.

This is one of the most common mistakes that tourists make on the NY subway. Unknowingly, they enter an express train and end up at a station much further than the desired location. Let us say that you want to go to the Natural History Museum on 81st Street. As you can see in the image below,  lines B and C take you to the 81st Street station. As this station has a black dot, it means it’s a local station, and lines B and C are local.

Notice that on the station 125 St (red circle), which is served by lines B and C, but also lines A and D, the station’s dot is white, which means lines A and D are express. So they do not stop at 81 St or at any other station with a black dot.

If you are at the station Columbus Circle/59 St and are headed north towards 81 St, you must take trains B and C. If you take trains A and D, the next stop will be 125 St, a mistake that will cost you a lot of time.

Uptown or Downtown?

It is also very important to understand whether you are going Uptown or Downtown. In other words, north or south, to choose the right platform.

Many stations, usually the local ones, have a different entrance for Uptown (left image) and Downtown (right image). That means you might have to walk to the opposite sidewalk and go down to the platform, which will take you in the right direction.

At some stations, instead of Uptown, you might see the sign BronxBound or QueensBound, and instead of Downtown, the sign might say Brooklyn or Lower Manhattan. This indicates the train’s last stop and direction.

Choosing the right station

The station’s name will usually help you locate where you are on the map and choose where you want to go. However, many stations have different entrances, for example, Canal St, which has 5 exits.

Use the underground docks to transport to the stations

Another mistake first-timers make in New York is that they exit one station in order to enter another station to take a different line, and end up paying for a second ticket. Some stations have pedestrian tunnels that unite different stations. And even have shops and restaurants, and many buskers who fill the tunnels with music.

Thus, if you find yourself at Port Authority Terminal and want to take line 7, you don’t need to exit the station and walk east towards the station Times Square. Instead, you can walk through the tunnel, following the signs to your line, without needing to exit the station or buy a new ticket.

Red and Green spheres

You might notice red or green spheres upon entering a station, like the ones in the image.

These spheres are there to indicate to the passengers which stations are open 24 hours and which ones are closed at night. The green spheres also indicate that these stations only have stairs. Recently, the red spheres have been diminishing to the degree that you might not see them at all in the future.

How to Pay with OMNY

Since January 2026, all subway fares in New York have been paid via OMNY, the contactless payment system that replaced MetroCards. Here’s what you need to know:

• Simply tap your contactless credit or debit card at any turnstile, and you’re charged $3.00 automatically
• Works with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and any NFC-enabled device
• If you prefer a dedicated card, pick up an OMNY card at any station vending machine for $1
• Free transfers: use the same card for subway to bus transfers within 2 hours at no extra charge
• Weekly fare cap: after 12 rides in 7 days, all additional rides are free (max $35/week)
• Always use the same card or device every time to benefit from free transfers and the fare cap

For a complete guide to OMNY fares and tips, read our OMNY guide here.

Ask for Help

If you are not sure you are taking the right train or standing on the right platform, do not hesitate to ask.

Local New Yorkers are famous for being antisocial and snobs, but you will be surprised at how helpful they are with directions. If they see you looking lost, they might even approach you themselves without you asking. 

The staff at every station is also very helpful, and so are the police who guard every station.

Empty wagons

If, during rush hour, you see an empty wagon with all the passengers squeezed onto one side, there is a reason for this. If you don’t have a good sense of smell or don’t want to catch a virus, you had better change wagons. A tragic reality of New York is its homeless, its poor, and its mentally ill, who, especially during the cold months, find refuge in the subway wagons.

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Beware of your things

Our last advice for the New York subway is stating the obvious. Watch out for your personal belongings, your wallet, your mobile, passports and IDs, and the rest of your possessions.

The NY subway station is safe, with police guarding every station. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t malicious pickpockets around.

Planning your New York trip? Read our complete New York travel guide for neighbourhoods, attractions, and insider tips.

Frequently Asked Questions