A Beginner's Guide to the New York City Subway

No visit to New York City can be considered complete without a trip on its famous (some would say infamous) subway system. In addition to getting you anywhere you need to go on the cheap, the subway is also a great way to experience New York culture up close and personal!

Before you descend the steps for your first subway ride you'll need to know two very important things about the subway and New Yorkers in particular. Firstly, if you're planning on traveling during rush hour (between 6-10am and 4-7pm) you're going to be part of a cattle herd of commuters moving at lightning speed on their way to work. Be prepared to move with the flow down crowded stairs and corridors. The second thing you need to remember is that New Yorkers are always in a hurry and have very little patience. Don't be too put off by people who push their way through lines or who make snide comments if you take too long buying your Metrocard.

Getting around the city by subway is easy once you have a basic understanding of how the city is laid out. Although there are a multitude of distinct sections like SoHo, Chelsea, and Murray Hill, Manhattan is broken down into a few key large areas. Downtown (sometimes referred as the Financial District or Lower Manhattan), Midtown, and Uptown. These sections are further broken down by being on the East or West part of Manhattan (e.g. The Upper West Side, or The Lower East Side).

Once you know the part of Manhattan you would like to travel to, finding the correct subway line is fairly simple. The entire east side of Manhattan (east being all avenues east of 5^th avenue) is served by the Lexington Avenue Line consisting of the 4, 5, and 6 trains. The west side of Manhattan (west being all avenues west of 5^th avenue) is served by the Broadway Line (1,2, and 3 trains) and the Eighth Avenue Line (A,C, and E trains).

If you want to figure out the best route to get anywhere in New York City, check out www.hopstop.com where you can enter your origin and destination information, and receive the best possible subway route to get you where you're going. This site will also assist you in planning routes to Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island.

If you plan on visiting numerous parts of the city in a single day, then $7.50 will get you a Metrocard Funpass that will grant you unlimited rides on subways and buses and are good until 3am the day after they are first used. Metrocards are also redeemable for discounts on shows and sporting events all around the city.

If you happen to pass through larger stations in Midtown like Times Square, you will also find musicians, dancers, and singers performing throughout the day. It is also very common to find performers on the trains as well during the day ranging from guitar players and doo-wop singers, to mariachi bands..

Whether you're staying in Manhattan, or venturing out into one of the boroughs of New York City, the subway will get you anywhere you need to go. With a little bit of practice and a Metrocard, you'll be pushing your way through the crowd like a real New Yorker in no time!