How to Buy Subway Tickets in NYC: MetroCard, OMNY & More

New York City Subway Map

The standard subway map is available at every New York City subway station. It shows all subway lines and stops across the five boroughs. Bus routes aren’t included — there’s a separate bus network map for that.

You can download the subway map as a PDF here. That way you always have it on your phone and can easily find your way around on the go.

Getting Around on the New York Subway

To navigate the subway and find all the lines, entrances, and exits, we simply recommend using Google Maps.

It gives you clear route suggestions including subway, bus, and walking connections — usually with real-time data and easy navigation.

You can also save your hotel in New York directly and always find your way back with ease.

Like most cities with a subway system, there is also a dedicated subway app for New York City — but honestly, we find it pretty complicated and not very intuitive.

Check out more great apps for New York here:

New York Metro Ticket Options

When it comes to how to buy subway tickets in NYC, there’s really just one central system for both the subway and buses: OMNY (One Metro New York).

The classic MetroCard is being completely phased out by the end of 2025. It’s already worth switching to OMNY — it’s simpler, faster, and more flexible.

These three options let you pay for your rides:

1. Contactless payment with a smartphone or smartwatch (e.g., via Apple Pay)
2. Credit or debit card with NFC (e.g., a travel credit card)
3. Rechargeable OMNY Card (available from vending machines)

We’ll walk you through OMNY in detail now.

How OMNY Works

OMNY is the result of digitizing the city’s transit system — and it makes riding the New York City subway faster, easier, and completely contactless.

At every subway station and on every New York City bus, OMNY terminals are being rolled out step by step — small devices with a display that reads “OMNY Tap Here.”

You can pay with:

• Credit card (e.g., a travel credit card)
• Smartphone
• Smartwatch
• or with the OMNY rechargeable card (more on that in a moment)

Just hold your payment method up to the display. The $3 fare is charged, the display turns green and shows “GO,” and you’re on your way.

No paper ticket, no waiting in line at the machines. Super convenient.

Buying & Using the OMNY Rechargeable Card

If all this feels too digital and you’d rather have a physical card in your hand, you can pick up an OMNY rechargeable card.

You can get the small plastic card at OMNY vending machines in select subway stations (including after taking the AirTrain from JFK Airport), at Walgreens, and at 7-Eleven.

It costs a one-time fee of $5 and can then be loaded with a balance of your choice — either by a store employee or by yourself at the machine.

We recommend loading the card with $34. That’s exactly the right amount for the Weekly Fare Cap — the seven-day ticket we’ll explain next.

Once loaded, you use it just like a credit card or smartphone: hold it up to the OMNY reader at the subway station or on the bus, and you’re good to go.

Is OMNY Valid for All Public Transit in New York?

OMNY is valid for:

• Subway in New York
• Buses in New York
• AirTrain JFK to JFK Airport (a single ride costs $8.50 here — load your card with extra funds accordingly)

OMNY is not valid for:

• AirTrain Newark to Newark Airport
• PATH train to New Jersey

For the train to Newark Airport, you’ll need a separate NJ Transit or Amtrak ticket. For the PATH train to New Jersey, you’ll need either a SmartLink card or a Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard.

We’ll cover these alternative transportation options in more detail further below.

For more in-depth information about OMNY, check out the official OMNY website.

Weekly Fare Cap Instead of the 7-Day MetroCard New York

In the past, there was the 7-day MetroCard. Now the OMNY Weekly Fare Cap replaces that system — and it’s a much better deal for visitors figuring out subway passes for New York City.

You no longer need to buy a weekly pass in advance. Just pay for each ride using the same card or payment method.

Once you’ve taken 12 rides within seven days (on any combination of transit), all additional rides during that period are automatically free. So you pay a maximum of around $34.

The seven-day window starts with your first ride on any given day — it doesn’t have to be a Monday.

No app downloads or setup required. Just make sure you always use the same payment method.

The Weekly Fare Cap kicks in automatically — including with the OMNY rechargeable card. So the easiest move is to load $34 onto it right from the start.

New York Metro Ticket for Families

If you’re visiting New York with kids, there’s one important thing to keep in mind: with OMNY, every traveler needs their own card or payment method.

For families, we recommend getting a separate OMNY rechargeable card for each family member. That way, everyone benefits from the Weekly Fare Cap and the new york city subway cost stays manageable.

And: Children up to 44 inches (112 cm) tall ride for free.

Riding the Subway in New York: What You Still Need to Know

Riding the subway in New York is genuinely an experience — but it’s also a bit more hectic than in many other cities.

The New York City subway was built between 1904 and 1940. Many stations are old and look run-down, and in the summer it’s often stuffy and hot.

The trains themselves aren’t the newest either, but they are well air-conditioned — sometimes even on the cold side. Even in summer, it’s worth bringing a light jacket.

Here’s what else you need to know:

Large Luggage on the New York Subway

If you’re traveling with a lot of luggage, the subway isn’t always your best bet. Most stations have neither elevators nor escalators.

Getting through the narrow turnstiles with large suitcases can also be pretty tricky.

If you really can’t manage, you can use the service or emergency entrance. This goes for strollers too. You’ll usually need to speak to a subway employee on-site to get access.

But don’t worry — regular-sized suitcases will fit through just fine.

Pay Attention to the Direction

This one really matters: at subway stations in Manhattan, the entrance always indicates whether the train is heading Uptown (north) or Downtown (south). Always make sure you’re using the right entrance.

It happens faster than you’d think to end up on the wrong platform — and that’s especially frustrating when you only realize it after going through the turnstiles. You’ll genuinely lose valuable time.

Good planning goes a long way. To map out your route to all the top spots, check out our list of top New York attractions and our 1-week New York itinerary for first-timers.

OMNY has introduced a lockout period.

If you tap in again at the same station within 15 to 20 minutes using the same card or device, you’ll be charged for an additional ride. This is designed to prevent people from gaming the Weekly Fare Cap by repeatedly tapping in and out.

Keep Track of Your Station

Some of the newer cars have a station display, but many trains don’t. So you’ll always need to pay attention to where you are.

There are announcements, but they’re not always easy to understand. That said, the station name is always clearly visible at each stop.

Express and Local Trains

On some routes, both express and local trains run — you can tell them apart by the signs on the train (e.g., “6 Local”).

Make sure you always take a local train unless you specifically want an express.

Express trains only stop at a handful of stations and get you from A to B much faster — but if you accidentally board one, it may skip your stop entirely.

Finding a Seat

New York City subway trains are almost never truly empty. Your best shot at finding a seat is at the very front or back of the train — the middle cars tend to be the most packed.

Whenever possible, try to avoid rush hours between 7 AM and 9 AM and between 4 PM and 6 PM.

Alternatives to the New York Subway

Even though the New York subway is far from modern, it’s still really convenient. That said, there are a few alternatives that are sometimes just as good — or even better.

PATH New York

PATH (Port Authority Trans-Hudson) is a rapid transit system that connects Manhattan with New Jersey — for example to Hoboken, Jersey City, or Newark. It’s not really a subway alternative so much as a system serving a different part of the New York area.

You’ll need a separate ticket for this — OMNY doesn’t work here. Instead, pick up a SmartLink card at PATH stations in New Jersey or Manhattan. A single ride costs $3.

AirTrain

Some routes are actually faster by bus than by subway. We always recommend checking the quickest route via Google Maps first.

Local buses in New York are now also equipped with OMNY terminals. Express buses are generally not relevant for tourists — you can safely skip those.

Ferries in New York

The ferries in New York are a fantastic way to travel quickly and comfortably between Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn, and New Jersey — and they’re often the fastest option, which is especially handy if you’re staying at a hotel in New Jersey.

The most well-known is the Staten Island Ferry. It’s even considered one of the coolest free activities in New York and offers a seriously great view of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline.

For other ferries — such as those to Brooklyn or New Jersey — you’ll need a separate ticket. OMNY doesn’t work here, but you can easily buy tickets at the ferry terminals. Prices generally range from $4 to $9, depending on the route.

New York Taxis and Uber

New York’s yellow cabs are world-famous and an iconic part of the city — and taking one is also surprisingly affordable.

The base fare is $3, and you pay $2.75 per mile (about 1.6 km). For short trips or with multiple people, a cab can be a really solid alternative.

Just like almost everywhere in the world, Uber is also hugely popular in New York. Prices are quite reasonable here too — a UberX starts at $8, with a per-mile rate of around $2.50 and a per-minute charge of $0.35.

Hop-on/Hop-off Bus New York

New York also has the classic double-decker buses covering various routes and stopping at all the major highlights of New York. Audio commentary is available in multiple languages.

The hop-on/hop-off bus is a great way to get an overview of the city. We recommend doing the tour on your very first day.

Read our hop-on/hop-off recommendation for New York here

Citi Bike New York

Citi Bike is New York City’s bike-share system. You can rent a bike from one of the many stations across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens and return it to any other station.

A single ride costs $4.25 to $4.75 and must not exceed 30 minutes (otherwise extra charges apply); a day pass costs $19.

You can rent Citi Bikes easily through the app or directly at the kiosk, and choose between a regular bike or an e-bike.

Read about our Citi Bike experience here

Frequently Asked Questions About the New York Subway

Finally, here are answers to the most common questions about riding the subway in New York.