NYC – How To Get Around The City

Nowadays, there are dozens of ways of getting from here to there, especially in NYC.  Gone are the days of hailing a cab on a busy street corner, and hoping their keen eyes would spot you out of the crowd. — Especially with the invention of services like UBER and LYFT, getting around has never been easier!

Within this article we’ll show you our top picks for getting around NYC, the Manhattan area and the best way (in our opinion) to get from the airport to the city without going totally insane.  So, let’s get started!

If you’re traveling to NYC you’re likely arriving via plane.  There are three airports in the area: JFK, Newark and LaGuardia.  No matter which one you choose, they’re all relatively easy to get to the city from, some take longer than others, but depending on when you’re flying in, drive-time could be roughly the same.

Below is a breakdown of the distance from Times Square for each.  Our preference on transportation from the airport is always Uber.  They’re quick, air conditioned, and you don’t have to worry about where to put your luggage.

JFK:

• • • Nearly 16 miles from Times Square
    • About an hour drive time (give or take depending on traffic)
    • Approximately $60 for an UberX. — You can also take the AirTrain from your terminal to Jamaica Station in Queens to switch to the A, E, or J subway lines or to the Long Island Rail Road to Penn Station in Manhattan.

Newark:

• • • About 15 miles from Times Square.
    • Depending on traffic through the tunnel it could take you less time (or more time) than from JFK.
    • Approximately $60 for an UberX. — There are also regular trains from Newark to Penn Station.

LaGuardia:

• • • About 11 miles from Times Square.
    • Depending on traffic you should make it there in about 30 minutes.
    • Approximately $30 for an UberX. — A few city buses pick up from the airport, including the M60 that goes through Queens and into Manhattan

How you choose to depart the airport is entirely up to you.  Keep in mind however, that if you have a lot of luggage (as stated above) it’s probably best to spend a little bit more money and grab an Uber or Lyft rather than lug your belongings through the subway/bus system.

I once traveled to NYC with a group of 20+ people.  Someone in the group had the grand idea of taking the subway to our hotel in Midtown.  Not only was it incredibly frustrating to drag our luggage through the subway system, but for those older travelers who had over-packed and had extremely large suitcases, it was up to the rest of us to carry their belongings up the 4+ flights of dirty stairs into the city. – Oh, and don’t get me started talking about the looks you get on the subway if you haul tons of luggage.

Take it from us.  Catch an Uber from the airport to your destination and you will start your travels with significantly less stress and heartache.

So, now you’re in town and hopefully at your hotel.  How do you get around the city?

If you’ve read our last blog post we mention this really old transportation method that’s very popular in NYC.  It was actually first invented by our ancestors.  It’s called, walking!

NYC By Foot

Walking is actually one of the best ways to see the city.  NYC is essentially a cluster of unique neighborhoods and burrows, exploring them by foot allows you to experience them as a local and take in as much scenery as possible.

We’ll often try to stay at hotels near most of the sites we want to see, then take to the streets with our iPhone map in hand.  This is also great if you get hungry or want to stop for a coffee somewhere. These are always easy to find and easier to get to while you’re walking.

A good rule of thumb for us is, if the map says it’s going to take 20-30 min. to get there by foot, that’s a significant distance in the city.  If it takes much longer than that, we’ll opt for faster transportation methods.  Which bring us to our second favorite transportation option…

If you’re traveling from upper Manhattan to lower Manhattan we would highly recommend the Subway.  An Uber or Lyft would work in a pinch as well, but the subway is typically your best bet as it is cheap, easy to navigate, and provides you with a more local-experience to NYC travel.

NYC Underground

To travel the Subway we’d recommend getting two things.

Download one of the following two Apps, Citymapper“>Citymapper.

Both of these Apps are FREE and they provide step-by-step instructions on how to get from point A to point B.  My personal preference is CityMapper, but what I’ve found from our last trip was that having both of these options actually provides a couple of different perspectives on how to get around.  That way you can choose what’s right for you at any given time.

Purchase a MetroCard

There are a ton of different MetroCard options out there.  Our suggestion would be to go to the MTA website and choose the one that’s right for you.  Keep in mind however that some cards can be shared between people and some can’t.  The Pay-Per-Card for instance can be shared between 4 people, but the Unlimited Ride cards are good for one person only.

Note from our experience:  The last time we went to NYC we chose two Pay-Per-Ride MetroCards.  We’re a family of 4, so we topped off each card with about $40 since we were only there for 4 days. Because each card can be shared between up to 4 people, we were able to share the cards between us and made it through the entire trip without any additional costs.

There is a $1 fee for any new Metro Card, but once you have it you can top it off again at any time, no more $1 fee.

MetroCards can also be used for bus fair throughout NYC as well!  Simply swipe it when you get on the bus and the fair will be subtracted from your balance.  Buses are another great way to see the city without needing to walk everywhere.  There are several stations throughout the city and navigation to and from them is very easy.

Navigating the subway is pretty simple. Use your map Apps and follow the signs and you’ll make it through, no trouble at all.  Below is a quick guide on how to get around.

Step 1:  Find & Enter A Subway Station.

You’ll be able to identify subway entrances from the green (or green & white) globe lamps above them.  Often times entrances might be hidden inside buildings.  Just look carefully, use your mobile apps, and seek out the correct colored letters on the signs to make sure you go into the right stations.  Subway exits are designated by a RED Globe.

The subway system in NYC runs north and south (uptown and downtown).  If you’re going “downtown”, you’ll want to enter into a “downtown” terminal.  Often times uptown train entrances are on the east side of the street while downtown train entrances are on the west side of the street.

Step 2:  Enter the Turnstile.

Make sure you’re in the right terminal before entering the turnstile.  Once you enter, you can’t exit (at least not through the turnstile you just walked through), you’ll either need to find the exit which could be a long way away, or ride the train to the next station and exit there.

As you enter the turnstile, swipe your MetroCard with the black strip facing you.  You may need to swipe your card a couple of times (sometimes the machines are nitpicky), but if your card doesn’t work it will ask you to swipe it again. Just keep trying to swipe your card and it will eventually work (assuming you have adequate funds on it). – One side note regarding changing turnstiles.  Once you’ve swiped your card, keep swiping the same turnstile until it works.  Do not change turnstiles as it might render your card useless for 18 minutes because it thinks you’ve already used it.

Step 3:  Find the right Platform.

Above your head will be a series of signs that direct you to the platform that’s right for you.  Simply follow the arrows to the platform you need (it’s very similar to a really dirty airport) and you should make it there without any problem.

Step 4:  Waiting for the train and boarding the train.

Once you’re at your platform the above-head sign should tell you what train is next and the wait time.  Simply wait your turn (don’t stand too close to the edge of the platform) and when the train arrives wait for any people to exit and get in as quickly as you can.  Be sure to enter the train and move away from the door as there will be people entering behind you.

Step 5:  Exiting the Subway.

Once you exit the train, simply follow the arrowed signs above head and make your way out of the subway.  This is another time when your CityMapper will come in handy.  In fact, apps like CityMapper are great as you can follow your entire route while on the subway, it will tell you exactly what stop you’re at throughout your trip and easily show you when you need to get off the train.

NYC By Car

You’ve already heard us talk about services like Lyft“>Lyft.  No matter where you are in NYC this is a good option.  It’s also, by far, the most expensive option (aside from a limo). But, if you’re needing to get somewhere close-by and you don’t want to walk, it’s a solid option.

A few things to keep in mind regarding car services however.  Just because you’re in a car, above ground, does not mean you will get there any faster than other methods.  NYC is a huge city, traffic congestion is a real thing.  We’ve mapped out walking compared to an Uber ride, and walking has often been the faster option (even if it takes 20 minutes to walk).

You’ll need to weigh the options between the time it will take to get there, the money you’ll need to spend and the amount of air conditioning you’d like to experience.

NYC By Bike

If you’re looking for a fun option and something that let’s you see a bit of the city while still being active, CityBike might be right for you.  We wouldn’t recommend this for an everyday transportation option, but if you’re looking for a unique way to experience New York, it’s pretty fun!

How’s it work?  To quote their website, “CitiBike is a bike sharing program with over 12,000 bikes and 750 stations across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Jersey City”.

There are several ways to take advantage of their service: Single Ride ($3/trip), Day Pass ($12/day) or become an Annual Member ($169/year).  Whichever option you choose, you simply pay your fee, check out a bike from one of their stations and return it to another station when you’ve reached your destination.

It’s super easy, and can be very convenient; plus, you get a little exercise in the process.  They even have a station map on their website that shows you all their docking locations, how many docks are available and how many bikes are at each dock.  Plus, the part we love the most, they even have a FREE App that allows you to unlock a bike, see locations and marks where you dock it once your journey is complete!

Check it out if you’re in the city and have a few hours to spare.  Be cautious on the roads in Manhattan however, sometimes rush hour traffic can get a little dicey.

So, there you have it.  Our favorite ways to travel in NYC.

No matter which option you choose, you really can’t go wrong.  New York is a fantastic city with endless ways to experience it.

What’s your favorite way to get around New York?  Let us know in the comments below!

– Casey & Michaele