Lines and stations
The subway has 472 stations across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. Lines are named with numbers (1 to 7) and letters (such as A, E, F, L, N, Q).
Local trains stop at every station. Express trains skip smaller stations and usually use the middle tracks. Check the sign on the train and the platform before boarding. Service runs all night, but trains are less frequent after midnight.
Fares and the fare cap
From 4 January 2026 a subway or local bus ride costs $3.00, and reduced fare is $1.50. Express buses cost $7.25.
With OMNY, after 12 paid rides within seven days the rest of your rides that week are free, so you never pay more than $35. Use the same card or phone every time to get the cap.
Fares change from time to time. Check the MTA website for current prices.
How to pay
Tap a contactless bank card, phone wallet or OMNY card on the reader at the turnstile. No registration is needed. Each person needs their own card or device.
MetroCard sales ended on 31 December 2025, and existing cards are being phased out during 2026. A new OMNY card costs $2 and can be topped up with cash at shops and machines.
Tips and airport links
From JFK, take AirTrain JFK ($8.50, pay with OMNY) to Jamaica or Howard Beach, then the subway. From LaGuardia, the Q70 LaGuardia Link bus is free and connects to the subway at 74th St-Broadway. For Newark, take NJ Transit or Amtrak from Penn Station to Newark Airport station and the AirTrain; expect about $16.
Avoid rush hours with big suitcases; many stations have stairs only. Look for elevator symbols on the map if you travel with a stroller or wheelchair.
Keep your phone and wallet secure in crowded trains, and use the official MTA app for service changes, especially on weekends.
Last checked: October 2026. Fares and timetables change, so confirm on the official website before you travel.
