New York City can be overwhelming with its buzzing streets, towering skyscrapers, and endless crowds — but don’t worry! The Big Apple’s transport system is one of the most efficient and well-signposted in the world. Here’s a straightforward guide on how to navigate NYC like a local.
Getting to and from JFK Airport
Taxi — The Classic, Stress-Free Option
Landing at JFK and wondering how to reach your hotel hassle-free? Hail one of New York’s iconic yellow cabs at the official taxi ranks right outside the terminal. No need to negotiate — there’s a flat fare of $52.50 to Manhattan, plus tolls. The meter won’t run on this fixed-rate trip, so relax and enjoy the ride.
Note: If you’re arriving at LaGuardia, fares aren’t fixed but tend to be cheaper — around $30, though traffic can impact this.
I personally took a cab from JFK and opted for the subway on my return trip — both were simple, though the subway often beats a taxi when traffic is insane (which it often is in NYC!).
Subway + AirTrain — Budget-Friendly and Surprisingly Easy
Though there’s no direct subway line from JFK to Manhattan, you can easily connect with just one transfer.
- For Lower Manhattan or anywhere along the A/C/E lines:
Take the Green AirTrain to Howard Beach Station, then transfer to the A subway line toward Inwood – 207th Street. - Heading elsewhere in Manhattan?
Catch the Red AirTrain to Jamaica Station, where you can transfer to subway lines or the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR).
AirTrain fare: $5 (or included with a Pay-per-Ride MetroCard — more on that below).
Getting Around NYC Like a Pro
Subway — Your New Best Friend in the City
NYC’s subway system is fast, affordable, and reaches almost every corner of the city. We stayed in Upper Manhattan and found the A/C (blue) lines perfect for heading downtown or to Brooklyn.
Get a MetroCard — You’ll Thank Yourself Later!
You’ll need a MetroCard for both the subway and buses. Here are your options:
- Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard — Ideal for short visits
- Costs $2.75 per ride
- Shareable between up to 4 people (just swipe and pass it back)
- Usable on buses and the AirTrain
- Unlimited Ride MetroCard — Perfect for heavy travelers
- 7-day Unlimited: $34
- 30-day Unlimited: $127
- Great value if you’ll be using transit more than 12 times during your stay
- Non-shareable and not valid on the AirTrain
- Doesn’t activate until your first swipe — so you won’t waste days
You can buy your MetroCard at machines or booths in most stations. If asked for a ZIP code during payment, international visitors can enter 00000.
Bus — Useful, But Often Slower
Buses are included in your MetroCard fare, but with NYC’s notorious traffic, the subway or walking is usually faster. You might consider buses if you’re staying farther out or in neighboring states like New Jersey.
Walking — The Ultimate NYC Experience
Be prepared to walk a lot. We clocked in 10-15 miles a day, and though it was exhausting, walking gave us the best glimpses of local life.
Pro Tip: Download Google Maps offline before heading out — it works perfectly in NYC and saved us more than once when navigating back to the subway from hidden gems.
Final Thoughts for First-Timers
Getting around New York might seem daunting at first, but once you figure out the subway and embrace walking, the city truly opens up. Whether you’re zipping through the streets underground or strolling past iconic landmarks, you’ll quickly fall in love with the rhythm of NYC.
Ready to plan your adventure? Don’t miss my 6-Day NYC Itinerary for First-Time Visitors — packed with must-see sights and local tips!
Want some help travelling like me? These are my favourite resources I use for planning my trips:
- Flights: I use Expedia to find great flights and the best deals all over the world, they have regular sales and offers so I always check their website. I also check CheapOair to find cheap deals on round trip flights.
- Car Rental: I love the customer service I’ve always gotten and the variety of options with Rental Cars. But for short notice rentals, I’ve been using Expedia for the last year, they always seem to have great one-day rates or last-minute rates from the main rental companies.
- Accommodation: I prefer the flexibility of booking accommodation with Booking.com so I can cancel or change my reservation without a fee or only pay on arrival for most properties. For longer or more unique stays I prefer AirBnB because you can get the long stay discount, you can also find more unique properties and book experiences with talented locals and businesses. For my budget trips, I always stay in hostels and book through Hostelworld because they have great guarantees if anything does go wrong. If you arrive and your booking is not at the property, they refund the full deposit AND give you $50 extra credit.
- Tours and organised trips Although I don’t use tours that often, I do like to book local experiences or day trips once I reach my destination. For that I use GetYourGuide because it has the biggest selection and variety of tour and experience options.
- Travel Insurance: I currently use SafetyWing Nomad Insurance. Which allows me to pay a rolling monthly fee to cover my long term travels.