Subway New York: How to Get Around the City Like a Local

New York is one of the few cities in the world where you can get anywhere on public transportation. Credit goes to its 24/7 subway system combined with modern buses. Add to that the taxis that seem to appear out of nowhere.

Getting around New York on public transportation is without a doubt the best way to see the city, and below we'll help you out with a New York subway guide, plus other transportation options in New York. Keep reading!

Guide to Public Transportation in New York City

To make things easy, we've sorted our tips for riding NY's public transportation system (MTA) into the following categories (if what you're looking for is how to use the New York transit card, read this MetroCard guide):

1. Guide to the New York subway
2. Guide to New York buses
3. Guide to New York taxis
4. New York ferries: NYC Ferry
5. Renting bikes in New York
6. Riding the Roosevelt Island Tram
7. Tips for walking in New York
8. How to get from New York to New Jersey

Airport transfers in New York

If you haven't landed yet, or you're getting ready to head home, it's worth reading our information on airport transfers.

There we also explain how to get from one airport to another, in case you have a layover.

Don't miss our tips for getting from the airport into New York or the other way around, since we share ways to save.

Luxury transportation in New York

If you're in the mood to splurge, you can feel like a celebrity by renting a limo for less than you'd think, or booking a helicopter to see the city from the air or get to the airport in a hurry.

As we always say, New York has something for everyone.

Is renting a car in New York worth it?

The average New Yorker doesn't drive. Between sky-high gas prices, parking rates and traffic 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, it just isn't worth it.

And why own a car when public transportation is this efficient?

Bottom line: in New York you don't need to rent a car to get around (unlike most destinations in the United States).

Renting one to explore the surrounding area is another story (here are 3 drives) along with other nearby destinations like Washington, Philadelphia and Boston.

Walking in New York

Another of the best things about New York is that it invites you to walk.

Thanks to former mayor Rudy Giuliani (1994-2001) and his zero tolerance crime policy, most of the city's neighborhoods, with a few exceptions in the Bronx and Queens, are safe for pedestrians and no longer the grim scenes from movie classics like Taxi Driver or the more recent Joker.

Even if it sounds obvious, take a look at a few tips for walking in New York, which is a whole science, as you'll see.

How to plan trips around NYC

Learn here how to plan routes on NYC public transportation with Google Maps

New York-New Jersey transportation

If you're planning to stay in New Jersey (the hotels are cheaper), you'll find our guide to getting from New Jersey to Manhattan useful.