Getting Around East New York
East New York sits in the eastern part of Brooklyn, and its layout is shaped by a few main roads—Linden Boulevard, Pennsylvania Avenue, and Atlantic Avenue—plus the rail and subway corridors along its western edge. For a visitor, the practical question is less about which single mode to use and more about how to combine them, because coverage here is uneven: some parts of the neighborhood are well served by subway, while others leave you relying on buses or a car.
Subway Service
The subway is the backbone of getting around New York City and runs around the clock, though trains are less frequent late at night. In Manhattan, think of "uptown" as north (higher street numbers) and "downtown" as south. Express trains skip stops, so check whether a station is marked as an express or local stop before you commit to a platform.
East New York itself is something of a mixed bag for subway access. The western edge of the neighborhood follows the BMT Canarsie Line, and the area around Broadway Junction is a genuine transit hub where several lines meet. The 3 train terminates at New Lots Avenue, and the A/C and J/Z lines have numerous stops through East New York. The L line is harder to reach from elsewhere in Brooklyn, but the G, M, J/Z, and A/C all connect to it. If you are coming directly from JFK Airport, you will likely pass through this area—the trains themselves are safe.
Coverage thins out as you move east and south. The Flatlands area has no subway of its own; the closest station is Flatbush Avenue–Brooklyn College on the 2 (and 5 at rush hours), which is a long walk away, though buses along Flatbush Avenue and Avenue H can get you there faster. Canarsie is somewhat better served, with the L terminating at Canarsie–Rockaway Parkway, still a fair walk from Jamaica Bay, though the B42 bus runs from the station to the Canarsie Piers.
A few practical subway notes: most stations do not have public toilets, and only a minority have elevators, so plan accordingly if you have luggage or mobility needs. Many older stations have separate street-level entrances for uptown and downtown trains—if you enter the wrong side, you may have to pay again to switch. Most stations have free Wi-Fi, but it does not reach into the tunnels. At night, wait in the designated off-hours waiting area near the ticket booth, and avoid empty cars on otherwise crowded trains.
Paying for Transit
New York's fare system is now built around OMNY, a contactless payment system that works at all subway stations, on local buses, and on the Roosevelt Island Tram. You tap your phone, smartwatch, or a contactless credit or debit card at the turnstile. There is also a reloadable physical OMNY card, sold at convenience stores such as CVS and 7-Eleven. Note that MetroCard sales have ended and the machines are being replaced by OMNY kiosks; existing MetroCards may still be accepted for a time but cannot be refilled.
Fares are a flat rate for the subway and local buses, with free transfers between subway and bus within a two-hour window. Express buses cost more and do not include a free subway transfer. OMNY also caps your spending: after a set number of rides in a week using the same card or device, further rides are free, which effectively gives you a weekly ceiling. If you are in the city for several days, this makes tapping the same card or phone worthwhile.
Buses accept the same OMNY fare and do not take cash. On Select Bus Service routes, you pay before boarding or tap a reader inside the bus at any door. To get off, press the yellow tape strip or the red "Stop" button to request your stop, and exit through the rear doors. All NYC buses are fully accessible, with a kneeling feature and a ramp, and the front seats are reserved for seniors and riders with disabilities.
Buses and Express Buses
Buses fill in the gaps where the subway does not reach, and in East New York that matters. Local buses connect the residential blocks to the subway stations and to the waterfront. Express buses are a different animal: the BM1, BM2, BM4, and BM5 express routes run between this part of Brooklyn and Manhattan, offering a one-seat ride if you are heading into the city rather than across the borough. Remember that express buses cost more and do not come with a free subway transfer.
Commuter Rail
The Long Island Rail Road's Atlantic Branch has a single stop in the district, at East New York. Trains stopping there are heading to or originating from Atlantic Terminal. This is useful if you want a faster, more comfortable ride into downtown Brooklyn or as part of a connection from the airport. Commuter rail fares are distance-based, and there is a discounted CityTicket for travel within New York City limits; buying onboard costs extra, so purchase in advance through the MTA's TrainTime app if you can.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis and ride-hailing services are a straightforward option here, and given the spotty subway coverage and the neighborhood's reputation for crime in some areas, a car may genuinely be the best way to reach parts of East Brooklyn. The Belt Parkway and Shore Parkway circle Brooklyn and run close to the Jamaica Bay attractions, which makes driving or riding practical for those destinations.
Walking
Walkability varies sharply by where you are. Around the Broadway Junction transit hub and along the main commercial streets, walking between stops and shops is reasonable. But in the Flatlands and toward Jamaica Bay, distances between the subway and your destination can be long—the closest station to the Flatlands is roughly an hour away on foot, and the L terminus in Canarsie is a considerable walk from the bay. In those cases, pair your walk with a bus or a car rather than relying on your feet alone.
Getting In from the Airport
JFK is the airport most relevant to this part of Brooklyn, and you will likely pass through East New York on your way in. The cheapest route is the AirTrain plus the subway: take the AirTrain to Jamaica and transfer to the E train. The fastest option is the AirTrain plus the LIRR, which gets you to Penn Station in Manhattan. A taxi from JFK is a flat fare and costs more than the rail options but is simpler with luggage.
If you are arriving at LaGuardia, the Q70 "LaGuardia Link" bus connects to Jackson Heights, where you can pick up the E/F/M/R trains. LaGuardia is the closest airport to Manhattan, and a taxi or ride-hail will run you a moderate fare. From Newark, NJ Transit trains include the AirTrain and run to Penn Station, while the Newark Express bus goes to Port Authority and Grand Central.
Apps and Practical Tips
For navigation, the MYmta app covers the subway, and Citymapper is well regarded for NYC transit—it can even tell you which subway car to board for the best exit. Google Maps is a fine alternative. Tourist passes such as the New York Pass, CityPASS, and Go City Explorer cover attractions rather than subway fares, though some include a hop-on hop-off bus ticket; they will not get you through the turnstile. A little etiquette goes a long way: stand to the right and walk to the left on escalators, step off to let passengers exit, and remove your backpack on crowded trains.