Here’s How to Get Around NYC Like a Local – It’s More Fun & Budget-Friendly!

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Figuring out how to get around NYC can feel overwhelming at first, especially with so many transportation options across New York City. But once you understand the basics, getting from neighborhood to neighborhood is easier than it looks.

From the NYC subway and buses to ferries, taxis, and airport transfers, there are plenty of ways to move around Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and beyond. The key is knowing which option makes the most sense for your trip.

In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about getting around New York City so you can explore confidently, efficiently, and without wasting time or money.

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How to Get Around NYC: The Basics

Before deciding how to get around NYC, it’s important to understand the transportation landscape in New York City. The city has one of the most extensive public transportation systems in the world, along with taxis, ferries, and airport connections.

Most visitors rely on a mix of subway, buses, walking, and occasional rideshares. The best choice depends on where you’re staying, how long you’re visiting, and what fits your budget.

🧳 Is It Easy to Get Around NYC Without a Car?

Many visitors to New York make the assumption that cars are the way to go – particularly using ride shares or taxis. But if you want to get around NYC faster and cheaper, then it’s actually much better to get around in other ways! Getting around without a car is actually MUCH easier than driving, and there are plenty of options for moving around the city.

💰 What’s the Cheapest Way to Get Around New York City?

For most travelers, the cheapest way to get around NYC is by using public transportation. The subway and buses cost significantly less than taxis or rideshares, and even ferries can be a great option.

We personally recommend tackling the city neighborhood by neighborhood – this way you don’t have to spend half your time and budget trying to move back and forth across the city.

🚦 What’s the Best Way to Get Around NYC?

If you’re wondering what the best way to get around NYC is, the honest answer is that it depends. There isn’t one perfect option for everyone.

The subway is usually the fastest and most affordable way to move around New York City. But depending on where you’re staying, how much luggage you have, and your budget, another option might make more sense.

That’s why we’re going to compare each and every options. Understanding all your transportation choices is key before deciding how you’ll get around NYC during your trip.

How to Get Around NYC: Comparing Transport Options

Now that you’ve gotten a taste about what transportation in NYC looks like, it’s time to dive into all of the different options for getting around the city!

🚶‍♀️ Getting Around NYC on Foot

New York City is incredibly walkable, especially in Manhattan. Many major attractions are closer together than they appear on a map, and by walking around you can save time, money, and stumble across hidden gems.

Walking between neighborhoods is often the best way to experience the city’s energy and discover places you wouldn’t find otherwise.

Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and stay hydrated, because it’s easy to put in 20-30,000 steps in just a day!

🚇 Getting Around NYC by Subway

The subway is the fastest and most affordable way to get around NYC, especially if you’re staying in Manhattan or visiting multiple boroughs. It runs 24 hours a day and connects nearly every major neighborhood.

If you want a full breakdown of routes, directions, fares, and tips, make sure to read our complete guide on how to use the NYC subway.

🚌 Getting Around NYC by Bus

While NYC buses can be crowded and questionable on certain routes, they are useful for shorter distances and areas not directly served by subway lines. They’re also great if you prefer staying above ground and seeing the city as you travel.

Buses use the same OMNY and MetroCard system as the subway, making transfers easy and affordable. You can actually transfer once for free, so oftentimes locals will use buses when it’s combined with the Subway.

⛴ Getting Around NYC by Ferry

Honestly, this is our favorite option for moving around NYC. Ferries in New York City connect Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and even Staten Island. They’re often less crowded than the subway and offer stunning skyline views along the way, for a price only slightly more expensive than subways and buses.

If you’re curious about routes, pricing, and which ferry sees the Statue of Liberty, check out our full guide to ferries in New York City.

🚲 Getting Around NYC by Bike

Biking is one of the most underrated ways to get around NYC, especially if you’re staying in Manhattan or near the waterfront. With dedicated bike lanes and scenic paths along the Hudson River and in Central Park, it’s often easier than visitors expect.

Citi Bike is New York City’s main bike-share program, with docking stations across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and parts of the Bronx. You can rent bikes through the app for a single ride or a day pass, making it convenient for short distances between neighborhoods. Alternatively, there are some great daily bike rental programs, and some fun bike tours you can sign up for.

Electric bikes are available but cost more per minute than standard bikes. If you’re comfortable riding in city traffic, biking can sometimes be faster than taking a taxi during busy hours. We’d honestly recommend it for areas that are less crowded and more open like upper Manhattan.

🛴 Getting Around NYC by Scooter

Scooters can be a fun way to get around NYC, especially for short distances on a nice day. If you stumble across one while exploring, it can feel like an easy and flexible way to move between neighborhoods.

Companies like Lime and Bird have operated electric scooters in parts of New York City, primarily in certain boroughs outside of Manhattan. Availability varies by area and season, so you won’t find them as consistently as Citi Bike stations.

To use a scooter, you’ll need to download the company’s app, create an account, and unlock the scooter directly from your phone. Pricing is usually based on a base unlock fee plus a per-minute rate.

While scooters aren’t the most reliable transportation option in NYC, they can be a great way to get around if one is nearby and your route makes sense for it.

🚕 Getting Around NYC by Taxi & Rideshare

If you ask me, this is definitely not my top recommendation. However, taxis and rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are readily available throughout New York City, making them a convenient option for certain circumstances like late nights, bad weather, or heavy luggage.

Keep in mind that traffic in Manhattan can make this option actually slower and significantly more expensive than taking the subway or other public transportation in New York.

🚲 Getting Around NYC by Pedicab

Pedicabs are those bicycle taxis you’ll see around Central Park and Midtown. They can look like a fun way to get around NYC, especially if you’re tired from walking.

The important thing to know is that most pedicabs charge per minute, not per ride. That means traffic, red lights, and congestion can quickly increase the final cost far beyond what you expected – and drivers oftentimes won’t tell you this and will just charge you a crazy amount after your ride.

Because of this, we recommend booking a set-price pedicab tour instead of hopping into one randomly off the street. When you purchase a pedicab tour in advance, you know exactly what you’re paying, how long it lasts, and what’s included, so there are no surprises at the end. If you do decide to use a pedicab, always confirm the rate clearly before getting in.

🐴 Why We Don’t Recommend Horse-Drawn Carriages

You’ll likely see horse-drawn carriages lined up at the entrance of Central Park. While they’re often marketed as a classic New York experience, we don’t recommend using them to get around NYC.

Beyond being expensive for short rides, there are ongoing concerns about animal welfare and the working conditions for the horses in busy city traffic. For that reason, we suggest choosing other transportation options instead. We’re honestly appalled that they’re still allowed, but hopefully they’ll be banned soon.

If you’re looking for a scenic way to explore Central Park, walking, biking, or booking a set-price pedicab tour are much better alternatives.

🚗 What to Know About Getting Around NYC with a Car

Getting around by car is quite possibly the worst idea for getting around NYC. In my 35 years, I’ve only done it a handful of times, and have regretted it every single time. (Keep in mind I am an aggressive Jersey driver, and even I get overwhelmed driving here). 😂

While most of the US is most easily explored by car, New York is absolutely the exception to the rule. Parking is extortionately expensive, and every bridge or tunnel that leads into Manhattan will cost you quite a bit. On top of that, Manhattan has congestion pricing, an extra fee for simply driving in the city south of 60th.

Oh, and don’t get me started with traffic! I’ve sometimes spent a full hour at a single traffic light because of the congestion in the city. We seriously only recommend using a car for accessing the outskirts of boroughs like the Bronx, Staten Island, or Brooklyn, and if you’re planning on doing lots of day trips outside of the NYC area.

🤑 Get Around NYC by Limo

Looking for a truly epic way to explore the city? There are multiple limo options you can choose from – whether you want a cool ride to dinner, a specialized sightseeing experience, or simply to really ride in style upon your arrival.

✈️ Getting Around NYC From the Airports

Airport transportation is one of the biggest questions travelers have when planning how to get around NYC. Each airport connects to the city differently, but luckily there are plenty of options for each.

If you’re flying into LaGuardia, read how to get from LGA to Manhattan for subway, bus, and taxi options.

If you’re landing at JFK, check our guide on how to get from JFK to Manhattan, including AirTrain connections and subway routes.

And if you’re arriving through New Jersey, here’s everything you need to know about how to get from Newark to NYC.

💳 Paying for Transportation in NYC

Most public transportation in NYC uses OMNY, which allows you to tap a contactless card or mobile wallet. MetroCards are still accepted but are gradually being phased out (which is a great thing!).

Using one payment method across subway and buses makes getting around NYC simple and seamless, and you don’t have to pay the $1 extra for the Metrocard or worry about losing it. Simply tap to pay, and get around NYC more efficiently.

🧠 Tips for Getting Around NYC Efficiently

How to Get Around NYC FAQ

Now that you know what getting around NYC looks like, we want to make sure you didn’t miss a thing! Here are answers to some frequently answered questions we’ve gathered across the web about how to get around NYC.

How to Get Around NYC: Final Thoughts

Once you understand your options, it’s surprisingly easy to get around NYC. The subway is usually the fastest, ferries offer scenic alternatives, and taxis fill in the gaps.

Choosing the right transportation method depends on where you’re staying, your budget, and how much time you have. With a little planning, navigating New York City becomes part of the adventure.

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👀 What’s Next?

Now that you know how to get around NYC, you probably want to know more about experiencing the city!

Here are other New York travel guides we have:

So are you ready to get around NYC with ease? We hope you’ve learned a lot of useful information for moving around New York, and feel more confident about navigating the city on your own.

Looking for more info about traveling to New York City? Don’t miss out on our other New York travel guides! Also, don’t forget to join to our newsletter – this way you can get updates on our most recent articles every week, as well as exclusive discounts on our shop.

Ready to start planning the most incredible trip to NYC? We can help! As locals, we love designing you customized itineraries and taking away the stress of planning from you. For more info, take a look at our travel planning packages.

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