Getting around any new city can be a bit hectic. Walking? Not a problem! Parking? We parked in a 24hr garage! The Subway? ehhhhhhhhhh
The New York Subway can be a very intimidating mode of transportation if you are new to a metro-type system. I had some experience with the metro lines in St. Louis and Washington D. C. so naturally my over-confidence kicked in and I was sure that we would be able to figure it out.
The problem is that each city has its own system- numbers, letters, uptown downtown. It can be a lot. More than once were we on the right number line, but traveling in the complete wrong direction! There was lot’s of train switching and stairs involved, but at the end we had it (mostly) figured out and it really wasn’t as hard as we thought.
If you are visiting New York for the first time, here’s exactly how we got around- and what we’d do again.
Step One: Park Your Car and Forget It
We stayed at the DoubleTree New York Downtown and parked at the nearby Dock Parking Garage.
Once we parked, we didn’t touch the car again until we were ready to leave the city.
Trying to drive between attractions would have taken longer, cost more, and probably raised everyone’s blood pressure.
The subway was faster, cheaper, and honestly part of the New York experience.
Step Two: Let Maps do the Thinking
We relied on Apple Maps to give us a baseline of where to go.
Every time we were ready to leave an attraction, we’d type in our next destination and choose the public transportation option.
Maps told us:
- Which station to walk to
- Which subway line to take
- Whether we were heading Uptown or Downtown
- Where to transfer (if needed)
- Which stop to get off
There were still times where we found ourselves confused so we also snapped a picture of the subway map that we could refer to to clarify or to help us get back on track if (when) we made a mistake.
Step Three: Tap Your Phone and Go
We never bought a MetroCard. Every station we used accepted tap-to-pay.
We simply held our phones over the reader at the turnstile, heard the beep, and walked through. It couldn’t have been easier.
If we were staying longer a MetroCard might have been a better move, but for only 24hr tap-to-pay was a great option.
Here’s Exactly What We Rode
9/11 Memorial → Central Park
We entered the Oculus station and took the 1 Train Uptown to 66th Street–Lincoln Center. From there, it was an easy walk to Central Park.
American Museum of Natural History → Times Square
We boarded the 1 Train at 79th Street and rode it Downtown to Times Square–42nd Street.
Times Square → Charging Bull / Hotel
When everyone’s feet had officially given up, we hopped back on the 1 Train and rode it to Rector Street.
From there, everything in Lower Manhattan was an easy walk.
The Biggest Thing that Confused Us
Uptown vs. Downtown
This sounds obvious now…It wasn’t then. If I saw Line 1 I was hopping on. Devon really kept us going in the right direction, often switching after I had insisted we were on the right train.
A good way to keep it straight: If your destination is farther north on Manhattan, you’re heading Uptown. If you’re going toward the Financial District, Battery Park, or the Statue of Liberty, you’re heading Downtown.
Every station has signs pointing toward the correct platform. Slow down for a minute, read the signs, and make sure they’re pointing toward your destination before walking through the turnstiles.
Taking thirty seconds to double-check is much easier than riding three stops in the wrong direction- trust me, I learned this the hard way.
Apple Maps always told us which direction to take, so we stopped overthinking it.
Express vs. Local
Some trains skip stations.
Thankfully, the 1 Train stopped everywhere we needed it to, so we didn’t have to worry much about accidentally flying past our stop.
If Maps tells you to take a different train, pay attention to whether it’s Express or Local.
Was the Subway Safe?
I would consider myself pretty trusting so I was not overly concerned . Devon on the other had is the Safety Patrol of the group and was a little weary of the Subway. To be cautious we only rode during the day and early evening, stayed aware of our surroundings, and never felt unsafe.
The stations were busy, there were plenty of other tourists, and we saw police officers throughout the city.
As with any large city, use common sense, pay attention to your surroundings, and keep your belongings close.
Our Biggest Tip
Don’t try to learn the entire New York subway system before your trip. You don’t need to.
Just figure out your next ride. Then your next one. Then the one after that.
By the end of the day, you’ll realize you’ve been navigating one of the busiest transit systems in the world—and it wasn’t nearly as scary as you imagined.
If we could figure it out while trying to squeeze New York City into just 24 hours with two kids in tow…You can too.
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