Taxis in NYC

Getting around New York: how to use the transportation in New York City

Navigate the city that never sleeps like a pro, from taking the subway to hailing an iconic yellow cab.

Spend more time exploring New York and less time planning with our guide to traveling around this beloved concrete jungle. Plus, to make your trip a breeze, we've included tips on getting into and away from the city.

Heading to the Big Apple? We put together a quick guide with information for getting around New York, including getting to and from the airport. With a long list of public transportation and bright yellow taxis wherever you turn, navigating around the City That Never Sleeps is easier than you think.

Whether you're staying within mainland Manhattan or traveling to the burrows and beyond, there are tons of subways, buses, taxis, trains, and ride-sharing services that can get you where you need to go. 

💰 >>  See how you can save up to 50% on New York attractions 

🗓️ >>  Check out our example New York itineraries 

 

Times Square metro station

See the best of New York with Go City® 

However you choose to get around this great city, you can discover our full line-up of New York attractions including The Empire State Building, Top of the Rock Observatory, the Statue of Liberty, and more.  

🤩 >> If you want to see and do as much as you can, our All-Inclusive Pass is for you.    

😎 >> If you want to pick just a few attractions and visit at your own pace, our Explorer Pass is the perfect option. 

New York public transport

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is New York City’s public transportation system which consists of subways, buses, and ferries with most lines operating 24 hours a day.

Ⓜ️ The subway system has 24 lines, identified by either letters (A, B, C, etc.) or numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.). These routes serve Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens. They connect the upper and lower halves of Manhattan, with stops covering almost anywhere you need to go.

🚌The MTA bus system has 253 local routes and 71 express bus routes in NYC’s five boroughs. Bus stops are located at street corners and have a tall, round sign with a bus emblem and route number. Most stops also include a “Guide-A-Ride”, a sign displaying the route map and bus schedule.

🚆If you are looking to get even further than the boroughs, the MTA also offers daily trains that run between NYC and Long Island, Westchester, the Hudson Valley, and even Connecticut. The MTA website has more information about the NYC transit system and schedules.

Head to any public transit station, look for an MTA Ticket Booth or machine, and select the pass that works best for you. You can purchase MTA cards for single rides, unlimited rides, or you can figure out how much you think you'll be using the MTA and load on an exact amount of cash to your card.

💡 Tip: Make sure to keep your MTA card for the duration of your trip, as you'll be able to re-load them if needed free of charge!

Hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tours

A Big Bus 1-Day Downtown & Uptown Hop-on Hop-off Tour is one of the best ways to start your trip! Get to know the city’s layout and top attractions so you can plan your itinerary and make the most of your time.

You’ll have the flexibility to hop-on or off at any of the stops along the route so you can explore an area by foot or visit popular attractions. The best part? It combines the need to get around with a fun and informative guided tour past New York's most famous landmarks.

🎟️ Getting on: Admission is available on the Go City® All-Inclusive Pass. 

Walking and biking

Walking and biking are great ways to get around, see the sights, and learn about New York and American history. You’ll find that many attractions are near one another.

Consider renting a bike for a day as a fun and memorable way to get around the city. Explore Brooklyn and its famous bridge, bike around to all the sights in Central Park, or check out the many miles of New York’s waterfront paths. You'll find that Manhattan is a very pedestrian-friendly city, and there's a wide range of tours available with your Go City®  All Inclusive or Explorer pass.

Taxis 🚕

New York City’s famous yellow taxis are widely available throughout the city, and relatively easy to hail.

Avoid rush hour as traffic can be bad and make your ride pricey. In addition to yellow taxis, many popular ridesharing services are also available in New York and are easy to use; simply download an app on your phone.

❗ Some taxis only accept cash —  be sure to account for any tolls that you may pass through when estimating your fare.

Getting to New York City

✈️ By plane

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), located in Queens, is about 15 miles from midtown Manhattan - about a 1-hour taxi ride.

You can use public transportation to avoid the hefty cab prices. Take the JFK's AirTrain, their public transit line to connect with New York City’s subways, buses, and rails.

Public transportation is the most affordable way to get to downtown, and may be the fastest with traffic.

Newark-Liberty International Airport (EWR), located in New Jersey, Newark might be your best option if Manhattan is your destination. It's 16 miles from midtown, but the cab ride is shorter than the ride from JFK.

There are toll fares to get to Manhattan, so the price of a taxi is comparable to one from JFK.

LaGuardia Airport (LGA), also in Queens but only 8 miles from Manhattan, is the closest airport to Manhattan. The airport is accessible via public transportation and a cab ride to midtown will take about 20-40 minutes.

🚆By train

Amtrak runs frequent service to NYC's Penn Station from most major cities in Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, such as Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. From Penn Station, located on Seventh Avenue between 31st and 33rd streets, you'll easily be able to grab a taxi or hop on public transportation.

🚌 By bus

Taking a bus to and from NYC can often be the most inexpensive way to get to Manhattan. Some popular bus company names are Megabus, FlixBusUSA, and Greyhound and most bus companies will drop passengers off at major landmarks.

Share your adventure with us

Woman taking selfie in Times Square, NYC

📱 Tag @GoCity in your vacation photos and we’ll feature you on our page. Follow the Go City Instagram and Facebook channels for exclusive competitions, special offers, and events to help you make the most of your travels.

Casey Makovich
Go City Travel Expert

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New York City Explorer Pass Review - My Exciting 3-Day New York City Sightseeing Itinerary

This New York City Explorer Pass review was submitted by Ryan C, as part of our Blog Ambassador Program – a fun way to visit top New York City attractions for free, share your experience and be featured on our blog. [clear-line] This year, I was really excited to be able to try out the New York City Explorer Pass for myself. I’ve been reading reviews and product comparisons for a while, and finally decided to go for it. I chose a 5-attraction New York City Explorer Pass because I was going to be in the Big Apple for a three-day weekend. The pass allows you to visit your choice of the 70+ attractions included in their program, which encompasses an amazing selection of top attractions like museums, observation decks, and fun tours. The best part? I saved a ton on admission to the best attractions in New York. It was easy to use, convenient, and even eco-friendly if you choose to go digital (which is something that also matters a lot to me when I travel). Read on to find out why I highly recommend the New York City Explorer Pass. My 3-Day Itinerary DAY 1 Top of the Rock NFL Experience, Times Square As a major football fan (go Pats!), this recently opened attraction in Times Square (just a short walk from Top of the Rock) was at the top of my list of things to do in New York City. I ended up spending about 2.5 hours doing all of the activities, like measuring the speed and accuracy of my long throw up against some of the best players in the NFL and practicing some of the major combine events, in addition to checking out all of the authentic memorabilia (my favorite was the collection of every Super Bowl ring to date). My New York Explorer Pass' NFL Experience ticket included the 4D theater/thrill ride experience, which I felt made it worth a visit to the NFL Experience alone--highly recommend, it was one of the coolest experiences if you've ever wondered what it's like to be a pro NFL athlete. Afterwards, I headed back towards Rockefeller Center to enjoy the sights and take in some people watching. It’s also by plenty of shopping, so there was ample opportunity to indulge in some sartorial fun. DAY 2 Metropolitan Museum of Art Madame Tussauds New York After lunch, I decided to re-visit Times Square and experience the hype of Madame Tussauds New York. I had even more fun than I expected checking out the fun and interactive exhibits on display, particularly the ones themed around Film & TV because I got to pose with my favorite late-night host Jimmy Fallon and other icons, including Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games, Jennifer Anniston from Friends, and more--but my favorite pic was definitely a posing with all the members of the Spice Girls, such a fun throwback. If you're in Times Square, a visit to Madame Tussauds is definitely worth it! DAY 3 9/11 Memorial & Museum My Tips for Planning with Your New York City Explorer Pass I would absolutely recommend downloading the Go City Card app – it makes it a lot easier to enter attractions and you don’t need to keep track of any bits of paper. While none of the attractions I visited require reservations, some of them do (especially cruises), so be sure to check on what you want to do to see if you need them. The guidebook is super helpful, and the New York City Explorer Pass even more so. Check it out before your trip to help you decide which attractions you want to see. I would also recommend checking out the websites of the museums, etc., you want to visit, so you can see what kind of special exhibits or events are going on during your visit. To get the most out of your New York City Explorer Pass in terms of budget, I highly recommend planning in advance. If you choose pricier attractions, for example, you’ll save more overall. I would also be sure to budget a lot of time for attractions like museums – you never know how long it will actually take you to see what interests you, and many NYC museums are top-notch. Although you can find food at most museums, etc., in New York, it’s pretty expensive and often doesn’t have much variety. I recommend eating before or after your attraction visits to be sure you’ll find something tasty. And obviously, you don’t have to choose the attractions that I chose for my vacation! There are many cruises and tours, for example, which are great introductions to the city and are exciting to boot. With nearly 75 attractions to choose from, you’re sure to find plenty to love. With my itinerary, I would have saved over $40 with the 5-Choice New York Explorer Pass when you compare the cost of purchasing tickets at each of the attractions I visited in this itinerary. I hope this New York Pass review is useful to those of you who want to see NYC without busting the bank. I saved money, time, and energy with the New York City Explorer Pass, and I’m sure you will, too.
Katie Sagal
People in front of the Macy's store, New York
Blog

How to see the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade - and other New York attractions to see

The annual world-famous Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York starts at 9am EST and ends at noon EST. It's one of America’s favorite holiday events and a New York City tradition since 1924. Past years have seen around 3.5 million people in attendance to see more than 1,500 dancers, thousands of clowns, and 30-plus floats in the parade, featuring big-name characters from movies and cartoons. Every year brings traditional favorites and fresh new performers to the lineup. Now you’re probably thinking, 'Okay, do I need tickets to see the Macy's parade?' The answer is no  - but you might be able to get tickets! Read our guide to find out more, and discover the best ways for you to watch the Macy's parade. 💰 >>  See how you can save up to 50% on New York attractions  🗓️ >>  Check out our example New York itineraries  Secure a spot on the street It's easy - and free! If you're an early bird, then get down to join the other spectators, who'd typically be lining the streets around 6 am or even earlier. Dress for the weather (and wear comfortable shoes), bring food and drink, charge your phones, use the restroom before you arrive – there are no public facilities on the parade route –and stay put. Macy’s recommends between 61st and 72nd on Central Park West as the best place to watch Tom Turkey leading his way through Manhattan. A lot of the performances happen around 34th Street, so know that location will have the most coveted spots and be the most difficult to get - along with spots at the beginning of the parade, 77th Street and Central Park West and where it ends at Macy's Herald Square in Midtown, on 34th. If you're in or around NYC beforehand and want a chance to see the balloons for the floats being inflated, head to 77th and 81st streets (between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue) from 3-10 pm on Wednesday, before the parade. Get Macy's Parade grandstand tickets This one is for those with friends and family in the know - or even in the parade itself. Technically, Macy’s doesn’t sell grandstand tickets to the general public. But if you know any parade participants, or Macy’s employees and volunteers, you might be able to score a free ticket. Book a hotel room with a view Grandstand seating and street spots may be harder to come by, but if you act quickly, you can get VIP access to the parade through one of the hotels along the route. Hotel rooms with a view and VIP packages both come at a premium - but once you see what’s in these exclusive packages, you just may find it’s worth it. Previously, some package options included the Mandarin Oriental, the New York Hilton Midtown’s Thanksgiving Packages, the JW Marriott’s Buffet Brunch Package or Parade-View Room Package, and the Residence Inn Prime View Package. Check out each hotel's official website for specifics on this year's packages. Top tips for staying safe during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 👉Make sure you know this year's parade route (as it has changed in the past). Check out the official Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade site for the complete lineup, parade route, and much more info. 👉 Follow @Macys on X (Twitter) and check out all social media with the #macysparade hashtag to get the latest Parade updates, photos, and to join the conversation. 👉 Make sure your phones and cameras are fully charged before you arrive – you won't find a place to charge your tech during the parade and you won't want to miss out on photos! 👉 Use the restroom before you arrive – there are no public facilities on the parade route. 👉 Expect massive crowds, and be cautious with your children. Keep the family together at all times! 👉 Be aware that this parade will cause a lot of attraction closures along the parade route. Save exploring with your New York Pass for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 💸 Bonus: If you happen to want to do a little shopping while you're in the city after the parade, be sure to stop by the mezzanine level of Macy's Herald Square for a 10% off Visitor's Savings Pass. Save up to 50% on New York attractions Of course, we know the Macy's Day Parade in NYC is the main event on Thanksgiving, but you have a long weekend to see other top attractions in the city. Discover our full line-up, including The Empire State Building, Top of the Rock Observatory, the Statue of Liberty, and more.  🤩 >> If you want to see and do as much as you can, our All-Inclusive Pass is for you.    😎 >> If you want to pick just a few attractions and visit at your own pace, our Explorer Pass is the perfect option.  Grab whichever New York pass suits you best and save while you sightsee!
Go City Expert

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