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Should tourists take the subway in NYC?

The Subway is generally the best way to get around New York City if you're traveling more than a mile (otherwise, just walk, you'll live longer!). This is especially true if you're going from one part of the city to another.



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The subway carried 1,793,073,000 riders in 2022. On October 29, 2015, more than 6.2 million people rode the subway system, establishing the highest single-day ridership since ridership was regularly monitored in 1985.

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Is the Subway the best way to get around NYC? Generally, yes. The subway is the cheapest and most efficient way to get around New York City IF you know what you are doing. It usually gets you from one part of the city to another faster than taking a taxi or uber.

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You can use cash, credit, or debit cards to make your purchase. New York City subway fares are $2.75 per trip. For visitors staying more than a couple of days you can buy a one week unlimited MetroCard for $33 or an unlimited monthly MetroCard for $127.00.

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Six homicides this year means we'll probably end 2023 better than we did 2022, which had 11 homicides, a level not seen in nearly three decades. That follows seven homicides each in 2020 and 2021. From 1997 to 2019, the subways saw just one or two homicides each year. So we're nowhere near back to normal.

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Subway. One of the most popular ways to get around New York is the New York Subway. This is a great way to get around the city as you avoid any traffic. With 472 subway stations, the New York City subway is the largest subway system in the world as measured by total number of stations.

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Credit cards are accepted everywhere. In New York (and in the rest of the US) people that use credit cards are more common than those that use cash. In many ways, it is comparable to using a debit card. Debit cards will work at ATMs and you can pay more and more with them in restaurants and stores in New York as well.

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Tap to pay your fare with your contactless credit/debit card, smartphone, or OMNY card, or pay with a MetroCard.

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Maneuver Manhattan's train system like a local Here, Archer Hotel New York's consummate host offers timely tips on navigating the New York City subway (aka train) system like a boss. LOCAL TIP: New Yorkers typically call the subway “trains” (not underground or metro) or by their alpha name (the C or the Q).

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Tap and go: Pick your payment method
  1. Tap your contactless card. Check if your contactless credit, debit, or reloadable prepaid card has the contactless symbol on the front or back. ...
  2. Tap your phone or smart device. Add a payment card to your digital wallet, then tap your device at an OMNY reader and GO. ...
  3. Tap an OMNY card.


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Yes, the JFK air train, connecting subways and the LIRR are very safe. The Long Island Railroad now has service to both Grand Central and Penn Station. Subways leaving Jamaica always have lots of people on them who come off the JFK air train. The E train is express all day long and is very safe.

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Times Square is a lively and fairly busy area both day and night. It is also a magnet for pickpockets and other petty thieves who blend into the crowded streets. Always be aware of your surroundings and keep your valuables tucked away and out of reach.

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What is a good budget for New York City? Approximately $1,000 per person weekly is enough for a comfortable budget trip in New York City (not including flights). This should be enough for a private room or hostel, food, activities, and souvenirs.

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The best way to get around NYC as a tourist is by taking the subway or the bus since it's cheap, efficient, and goes to most parts of the city.

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We're talking a very marginal difference, of course, because both are extremely safe and there's very little crime in either location, but yes, the subway is safer.

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Cost: $34 (7-day) or $132 (30-day). You have unlimited swipes on the subway and local buses for either 7 or 30 days. Your MetroCard can only hold one Unlimited Ride refill at a time. You can't pause an unlimited ride card once you've started using it.

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