Quick Facts
- Opened
- 27 October 1904
- Operator
- MTA New York City Transit
- Stations
- 472
- Services
- 28
- Daily riders
- ~3.5 million
- Network
- 394 km (245 miles)
- Hours
- 24 hours / 7 days
- Fare
- $3.00 flat; OMNY cap $35 per 7 days
The New York City Subway is one of the largest rapid transit systems in the world. It opened on 27 October 1904 and today serves 472 stations on 245 route miles (394 km) of track. It runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, which makes it one of very few big subway systems that never closes.
The subway is run by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and serves four of the five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. Staten Island has its own railway, reached by the free Staten Island Ferry. Services are named with letters and numbers, and services that share the same trunk line share a colour on the map.
The fare is a flat $3.00 per ride, whatever the distance, with no zones and no peak pricing. It rose from $2.90 in January 2026. The way to pay is OMNY: tap a contactless bank card, a phone or watch, or a reusable OMNY card at the turnstile. OMNY caps what you pay at $35 in any seven-day period, so after about a dozen paid rides in seven days, the rest of your rides in that period are free.
The MetroCard, used since the 1990s, was retired at the end of 2025. It can no longer be bought or refilled, and the old 7-day and 30-day unlimited MetroCards were replaced by the OMNY seven-day cap.
Many lines run both express and local trains on the same corridor. Express trains skip local stations and are much faster over longer distances; on the Lexington Avenue line, for example, the 4 and 5 run express while the 6 stops everywhere. Check the sign on the front or side of the train before you board.
To reach JFK Airport, take the A train to Howard Beach or the E, J or Z to Sutphin Blvd–Archer Av–JFK Airport (Jamaica), then change to the AirTrain. The journey from Midtown takes about an hour and costs $11.75 in total ($3.00 subway plus $8.75 AirTrain).
How to Pay
Payment methods: OMNY: tap a contactless bank card, phone or watch · OMNY card (reusable, sold at stores and station machines) · Reduced-fare OMNY (seniors and riders with disabilities).
💡 Tap the same card or phone for every ride. Once you have paid $35 within seven days of your first tap, the rest of your subway and local bus rides in that seven-day period are free.
Peak hours: No peak pricing. The same $3.00 fare applies 24 hours a day.
New York City Subway Lines
Key Stations on the New York City Subway
Ticket Prices
Payment methods: OMNY: tap a contactless bank card, phone or watch, OMNY card (reusable, sold at stores and station machines), Reduced-fare OMNY (seniors and riders with disabilities).
💡 Tap the same card or phone for every ride. Once you have paid $35 within seven days of your first tap, the rest of your subway and local bus rides in that seven-day period are free.
| Journey | Off-Peak (USD) | Peak (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Subway or local bus ride | $3.00 | $3.00 |
| OMNY seven-day fare cap | $35.00 | $35.00 |
| Reduced fare ride | $1.50 | $1.50 |
| Express bus ride | $7.25 | $7.25 |
| AirTrain JFK (paid at Jamaica or Howard Beach) | $8.75 | $8.75 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I pay for the NYC Subway?
Tap a contactless bank card, phone or watch, or an OMNY card, on the reader at the turnstile. Each ride costs $3.00. The MetroCard has been retired, so OMNY is now the way to pay.
Does the New York Subway run 24 hours?
Yes. The subway runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Late at night trains come less often (roughly every 20 minutes) and some services change route, so check the service notices on the platform.
How much is the subway fare in New York?
A ride costs $3.00, whatever the distance or time of day. With OMNY you never pay more than $35 in any seven-day period: once you reach that, further rides in the same seven days are free.
How do I get from JFK Airport to Manhattan?
Take the AirTrain from your terminal to Jamaica station and change to the E, J or Z, or ride the AirTrain to Howard Beach for the A train. The total cost is $11.75 ($8.75 AirTrain plus $3.00 subway) and the trip to Midtown takes about an hour.
What is the difference between local and express trains?
Express trains skip local stations and run much faster over longer distances. On the Lexington Avenue line, for example, the 4 and 5 are express and the 6 is local. The sign on each train shows whether it is running express or local.
Is the NYC Subway safe for tourists?
Millions of people use the subway safely every day. Late at night, ride in a carriage with other passengers, keep valuables out of sight, and wait near the middle of the platform, where the conductor usually stops.
Can I use my credit card on the NYC Subway?
Yes. Any contactless Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover card works at OMNY readers, as do Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay. Use the same card or device every time so your rides count towards the seven-day cap.
Can I still use a MetroCard?
No. The MetroCard was retired at the end of 2025 and can no longer be bought or refilled. Use OMNY with a contactless card, a phone, or a reusable OMNY card instead.
Source: Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Wikipedia. Always verify fares with the official operator.