Getting Around Manhattan: A Visitor's Guide
Manhattan is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of New York City's five boroughs, and it serves as the city's economic and administrative center. Its compact, densely built character shapes how visitors move around: the borough is designed for people rather than for automobiles, and most Manhattanites do not own cars. For a visitor, the practical takeaway is simple — the best ways to get around Manhattan are on foot, by cab, or by taking the subway or bus, and driving is strongly discouraged.
Arriving by Train
Manhattan has three railway stations with access to points outside New York City, two of which are in Midtown. The largest is Pennsylvania Station (Penn Station for short), located between 31st and 33rd Streets on 7th Avenue, and it is served by Amtrak, the Long Island Railroad, and New Jersey Transit. Grand Central Terminal, at Park Avenue and 42nd Street, is an architectural delight and the hub of the Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Railroad to other points in Downstate New York and Connecticut. Metro-North trains also stop at Harlem–125th Street at Park Avenue and 125th Street, a useful stop for travelers headed for Harlem or other points in Upper Manhattan.
In addition, a subway system called PATH connects Manhattan with Hoboken, Jersey City, and Newark across the Hudson River. One line serves the World Trade Center in downtown, while another crosses under the river to Greenwich Village before continuing along 6th Avenue to Midtown, making stops at Christopher, 9th, 14th, 23rd, and 33rd Streets.
Arriving by Road
Manhattan is an island, so access by car, taxi, bus, or on foot generally has to be made by means of either a bridge or a tunnel. A pedestrian can walk into Manhattan over the Brooklyn, Manhattan, or Williamsburg Bridges from Brooklyn; the Queensboro or RFK (formerly Triboro) Bridges from Queens; the numerous small street bridges from the Bronx; and the George Washington Bridge from New Jersey. Probably the most famous of these is the Brooklyn Bridge.
Buses from New Jersey and other long-distance buses most commonly terminate at Port Authority Bus Terminal, on 41st Street between 8th and 9th Avenues, while others terminate in Chinatown.
Arriving by Plane
There is no airport in Manhattan itself. However, helicopter and seaplane services run into the city. At least two companies provide helicopter services between Manhattan and area airports, from helipads on West 34th Street, East 34th Street, and Wall Street. Seaplane services are available to East Hampton from East 23rd Street during the summer months. Neither option is for the faint of pocket — the helicopter service costs $125 or more, while the seaplane service costs $425 per person. Scheduled helicopter services are also available to the airport in Bridgeport, Connecticut, from Manhattan.
There are several heliports serving the borough, including the West 30th Street Heliport, the East 34th Street Heliport (also known as Atlantic Metroport), and the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, which offers charter service from Newark Liberty International Airport, Teterboro Airport, Morristown Municipal Airport, and other New York-area airports.
If you are arriving at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) by cab, consider asking the driver to take the Queensboro or Williamsburg Bridges into Manhattan if you are going to Midtown or Downtown, respectively, and save yourself the RFK Bridge or Queens-Midtown Tunnel toll.
Arriving by Ferry
Passengers from Staten Island usually take the free Staten Island Ferry to get to the Battery at the lower tip of Manhattan. The Battery also houses ferries to Liberty and Ellis Islands and Governors Island. Other ferries transport passengers to and from Brooklyn and parts of New Jersey.
Getting Around by Taxi
When traveling by cab, it is best to ensure that you are using a licensed cab; the easiest way is to ask the concierge at your hotel to flag down one of the ubiquitous yellow cabs, or to do so yourself. All licensed cabs are yellow, and no unlicensed (as a taxicab) livery services may be yellow. Cabs which are available have their lights on and do not have their "Off Duty" sign lit. Off-duty taxi drivers may choose to drive you if they are going your way, but are under no obligation to pick you up, and cabs which are not lit have customers inside and cannot pick up more customers.
- Fare for trips within Manhattan is strictly by meter — ask the cabbie to turn the meter on if they make no move to do so after you have said where you want to go — plus whatever tip you choose to give. It is customary and expected to tip at least 10% to 15% for normal service.
- For trips to the Outer Boroughs, if toll bridges or tunnels are taken, you are responsible for the tolls in addition to the fare on the meter plus the tip.
- Do not try to take cabs during shift changes (such as around 4 PM on weekdays) if you are in a rush, because you will find that they are almost all off duty.
- Limousines (approximately $30 per hour for in-Manhattan use of a sedan) are an attractive alternative to medallion (yellow) cabs if you know you will need to be driven around a lot during a short period of time.
- If you are north of West 110th Street or East 96th Street, you can also use a boro taxi. Unlike yellow cabs, they are light green and have no medallions on the hood. These cabs are barred from picking up passengers in Manhattan south of West 110th Street or East 96th Street and may not enter the airport dispatcher lines. They can, however, pick up passengers in northern Manhattan and the other boroughs, and can drop off passengers anywhere. Fares and rules are otherwise identical to yellow cabs.
Getting Around by Public Transit
Maps of the New York subway system and Manhattan buses, schedules of subway and bus lines, and information about temporary service changes due to construction can be found online. Bus schedules and route maps are also usually posted on poles at bus stops. Bus schedules in Manhattan are only approximate: actual times depend on traffic and other variables.
Getting Around by Bike
Cycling in Manhattan can often be quicker than taking the subway or a taxi, but it isn't for the fainthearted. The borough's tumultuous traffic makes biking difficult. Aggressive cab drivers, jaywalking pedestrians, potholes, and debris on the roads create a cycling experience that might just as well have been taken from Dante's Inferno. If you do venture into the concrete jungle on a bike, make sure you wear a helmet and have sufficient experience in urban cycling.
The city has a bike share program called CitiBike, with many stations throughout Lower and Midtown Manhattan. To access a bike, first visit one of the locations and pay for a pass. A single ride costs $3 for every 30 minutes; 24-hour passes cost $12 and 3-day passes cost $24 (tax not included). You will receive a card and a code; enter the code into a bike, and you can use it. After 30 minutes of use, you will be charged overtime fees. Return your bike to a station — remember to place it securely in a dock, as you will be further fined if the light on the dock does not turn green — within 30 minutes to avoid this. You can take out another bike and continue your journey if necessary. Using CitiBike is not recommended if you plan on using a bike for a prolonged period of time.
Getting Around by Carriage
One alternative way of getting around Manhattan is to ride in a horse-drawn carriage. Horse-drawn carriages around Central Park South offer rides around the park for 15 minutes, half an hour, or one hour. Rates should be posted on the carriage. This can be a romantic or fun way to see the city. Pedicabs have also appeared in New York of late, and the city is in the early stages of licensing and enforcing safety regulations for them.