Traveling by subway in New York: How does the subway work?

January 30, 2024 New York Info Comments Off

The New York subway is the most popular means of transportation among New Yorkers. And an average of 5.4 million people ride the subway in New York every day. Traveling by metro is also the best solution during your stay in New York to travel quickly and cheaply through the city to the various attractions and sights. But how does the subway work in New York and how do you pay for the subway? In this blog we will explain everything about it to you.

Traveling by subway

The New York subway runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and it is one of the cheapest ways to get around the city. In addition, traveling by metro is very easy and cheap.

How should you travel by subway in New York?

Traveling by subway in New York is very easy, and to travel by subway you go to the nearest subway station (subway). At the entrance to the metro it is clearly indicated which direction the metro goes; either north (Uptown and Queens), or south (Downtown and Brooklyn). But before you can board the metro, you first have to go through the entrance gates. These gates open when you swipe your credit card or the OMNY rechargeable card on the appropriate screen. note that the gates are fairly narrow, so keep that in mind if you plan to travel with luggage.

How do you pay for the subway in New York?

In the past, you could pay with the yellow MetroCard when you traveled on the subway in New York, but this will be replaced by the OMNY system in 2022. With OMNY you can pay contactless for your metro trip in various ways.

How to pay for the subway in New York

Paying to travel on the subway in New York has become even easier since the introduction of the OMNY system. At the entrance gates of the metro you will see a digital screen of OMNY, as in the photo above. This allows you to pay contactless using your credit card, telephone, watch or the OMNY rechargeable card.

1. Pay for the New York subway with your credit card

If you are going on a city trip to New York, a credit card is really necessary. Paying with your European debit card is almost impossible, even if it is set up to allow you to pay with it all over the world. And you can also pay to travel on the subway in New York with a credit card. Every time you place your credit card on the digital screen of the gate you pay $2.90. Please note: you do not have to check out at the metro stations. You can pay with a maximum of four people on one credit card.

2. Pay for the subway in New York with your phone or watch

Nowadays everyone has a mobile phone and contactless payment via mobile phone is also becoming increasingly popular, and through the OMNY system you can now also pay contactless with your mobile phone for traveling on the subway in New York. The only requirement is that your credit card must be linked to your Apple Pay or Google Pay account. And of course you must have good internet connections and for a cheap and good internet connection in New York it is best to use an American eSIM with data bundle.

3. Pay for the New York subway with a rechargeable OMNY card

The OMNY rechargeable card is a simple and easy solution for traveling on the Metro in New York. In principle it works the same as the old MetroCard, the only difference is that you can top up the OMNY card again and again and you can pay contactless with it.

How much does an OMNY rechargeable card cost?

An OMNY rechargeable card currently costs $1 for a limited time, but in 2025 the card will cost $5.

Where can you buy a rechargeable OMNY card in New York?

The OMNY card can be purchased in various drugstores and supermarkets in New York and most major subway stations have OMNY machines. You decide how much money you put on the OMNY card and you can pay with credit card or cash.

How much does a one-way subway ride cost in New York?

Traveling by subway in New York is not only very easy, but also very cheap. A single ride on the New York subway only costs $2.90.

Discounts for traveling with OMNY

If you are going to travel a lot by subway in New York and make more than 12 trips within 7 days, then after the 12th trip you no longer have to pay for the remaining days of the week, and you can therefore travel for free on the subway in New York. York. So if you have already made 12 trips on the metro on Monday, you can travel for free until the following Monday. To get this discount you must pay continuously with the same payment method. So pay all your rides only with the OMNY card or only with your credit card or only with your mobile phone.

How many people can travel on the New York subway with one payment method?

In the New York subway you can travel with a maximum of 4 people using one payment method. Do you want everyone to be able to travel for free after 12 trips? Then make sure that each person has their own payment method or link one credit card to different devices, for example a telephone and a watch. Then you already have three different payment methods.

The Subway Lines in New York

Subway lines in New York are color-coded and each line can be divided into letters (A, B, C, etc.) and numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.) depending on the direction. Be sure to pay attention to whether you are going in the right direction when you walk into the subway station. You often cannot walk indoors from one track to another.

Tips for using the subway in New York

When traveling by subway in New York, it is wise to observe the basic rules below.

1. When walking up or down the stairs, always use the left side. Otherwise, stand to the right to make it easier for other passengers to pass through.

2. Don’t stare at people on the subway or on platforms.

3. In the metro, always let people get off before entering.

New York subway map

Subway maps (New York subway map) are available at all stations or you can ask at the ticket office for a free map showing all lines. Or click the link below to view and save the New York subway map to your phone or computer.

Special offers for a city trip to New York

Are you going on a city trip to New York and would you like to visit a number of sights and attractions in , then take advantage of the offers below!

Traveling by subway in New York: How does the subway work?

Traveling by subway in New York: How does the subway work?

Traveling by subway

How should you travel by subway in New York?