Getting Around East Harlem
East Harlem — also known as Spanish Harlem or El Barrio — occupies Upper Manhattan, north of the Upper East Side, bounded by 96th Street to the south, Fifth Avenue to the west, and the East and Harlem Rivers to the east and north. It is a well-connected neighborhood, and most visitors find that public transportation is the easiest and most practical way to reach it and move around within it.
Public Transportation
East Harlem is highly accessible by public transportation. Subway lines run uptown into the neighborhood and connect it to the rest of Manhattan, and travel between Midtown Manhattan/Times Square and Harlem's main corridors — including 125th Street, Frederick Douglass Boulevard, and Lenox Avenue — takes roughly 10 to 15 minutes on the uptown subway lines serving the area. From East Harlem, the subway is the most straightforward way to reach Midtown and the rest of the city.
Buses are another strong option. Many Manhattan bus routes run from downtown into Harlem, and buses are often a fast choice for crosstown travel on long streets such as 125th Street. Several bus routes also traverse or cross East 116th Street, connecting riders to the B, C, 2, 3, and 6 subway lines. If you are staying in or near East Harlem, the bus can be a convenient link between the neighborhood and the subway network.
- Fares and passes: The subway/train fare is $2.75 per ride. Unlimited MetroCards are available at $31 for one week and $114 for one month. More fare information is available on the MTA website.
- Weekend travel: Saturday and Sunday trips may take longer because of track work that disrupts schedules. Check the NYC Mass Transit website or a travel planner before you set out.
- Bus lanes: Red-painted bus lanes have been planned for East 116th Street in both directions, from Fifth Avenue to Pleasant Avenue, to speed up buses on a corridor where buses have historically moved slowly. Automated camera enforcement is used on M116 buses to ticket double-parking and blocking of bus stops, and cameras will also enforce bus lane blocking once the lanes are installed.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
If you prefer not to use public transit, yellow cabs and green taxis are available and accept cash and major credit cards. Ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft also operate in the area. These can be useful for trips that are awkward by subway or bus, or for late-night travel.
Walkability
East Harlem is a compact, densely built neighborhood, and walking is a practical way to cover short distances between destinations. Note that the area includes some steep grades — Duffy's Hill at 103rd Street is one of the steepest in Manhattan — so some blocks are more strenuous on foot than others. Recent street-safety planning has added or proposed pedestrian improvements, including sidewalk and curb extensions, speed humps, pedestrian islands, and hardened daylighting, along with parking-protected bike lanes on Pleasant Avenue between 116th and 120th Streets.
Getting There from the Airport
Visitors arriving by air generally reach East Harlem by continuing into the city on public transportation or by taxi or ride-hailing service. Once in Manhattan, the subway and bus network connects to East Harlem, and the neighborhood's position on the Upper East Side of Manhattan makes it reachable from Midtown in a short subway ride. Because schedules can change, especially on weekends, it is worth checking a travel planner before you set out.
Practical Tips
- Load a MetroCard or use the MTA's fare options before you travel; a weekly or monthly unlimited pass can be worthwhile if you plan to ride frequently.
- Allow extra time on weekends, when track work can slow subway trips.
- For crosstown trips on long streets like 125th Street, consider the bus.
- Keep cash or a credit card handy if you plan to use yellow or green taxis.
- Check the NYC Mass Transit website or a travel planner for current service information before heading out.