Using the subway to get around New York is the best idea to get from one place to another quickly. A few tips will help you do this while saving money.
How the New York subway works
The New York subway was one of the first systems in the world to offer an underground connection. Since 1904, the system has grown significantly and today has 469 stations, which make up 24 different lines.
The New York City subway system operates 24/7/365, with adaptations for different times of the day and year. During rush hour, a subway runs about every 2 minutes. During off-peak hours, a station sees a passage every 15 minutes. At night, the subway runs on average every 20 minutes.
New York City Subway Fares and Metrocard
Regardless of the route taken and the time of day, the rider pays $3. If you have a MetroCard with money loaded on it, the fare is only $2.75.
It should also be noted that if you load more than $5.50, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which operates the system, offers a 10% bonus. So, if you charge $10, you get a credit of $11.
The New York City Subway Map
To get around the city easily, you must first understand the map of the routes that the subway takes.
Generally, routes with numbers are considered to run from north to south and vice versa; routes coded with letters run from west to east. Throughout this circuit, there are stations that allow you to change lines (without leaving the subway and therefore without paying another ticket). There are also two types of trains or subways, the omnibuses that stop at each station and the expresses that stop only at the main stations.
The ticket booths have been replaced by automatic terminals and it is much more complicated than before to find a free New York subway map. We, therefore, recommend you download the subway map opposite by clicking on this link: New York subway map in Pdf format. You will just have to print it before your departure. Last advice concerning the New York subway map, it is preferable to print it in color because you will have difficulty distinguishing the red, orange, and yellow tracks.
The PATH and the subway
As in Paris, where the subway runs alongside the RER, there is a short indoor network and a longer outdoor network in New York. The best known is the PATH, for Port Authority Trans-Hudson. This line connects New York City through its Manhattan station to Newark-Liberty International Airport with stops in Jersey City, Hoboken, and Harrison.
However, unlike in Paris, the New York subway and PATH are run by different agencies. There is no ticket that can be used on both lines at the same time, but if you choose the reloadable MetroCard, you can use both the subway and the path to get from Manhattan to Jersey.
Note: If you are staying outside of Manhattan, we do not recommend taking an unlimited MetroCard as it does not allow you to take the PATH as the reloadable MetroCard does.
