I take the subway around the city literally all the time. I've learned a lot, and I'm learning more each time I'm in the city. Therefore, here's what I know, and I definitely know you shouldn't drive in New York!
1. Subways in Manhattan. Keep in mind, all of the stats on this stuff is relative. Manhattan has either 121 stations or 151 stations. What makes the difference? Yes, we can count. Some people count major centers as one station and not individual stations, so it depends on how you look at it. This is New York County, and it is very densely populated.
Manhattan was the beginning of it all and it's now become a whole subterranean world. Many stations have passageways so you can walk to your transfer without going out into the weather and traffic. Manhattan people spend a lot of their time underground, simply because they have the deepest subway lines in the city. There are only a couple of lines that peek out from under the ground in Manhattan. Some of them are so deep your cell phone has no chance of working. At Columbus Circle you can even stop at Turnstyle to eat and shop if you like. It's a whole world underground with more shopping and eating options opening all the time.
Taking all that into consideration; this is a great way to sightsee. The subways stop almost everywhere you might want to go in Manhattan. It even goes to Roosevelt Island which apparently is technically still part of that borough. There are underground worlds at Columbus Circle, Times Square and vicinity, Herald Square and Penn Station (they are connected), Fulton Center, Grand Central, and World Trade.
I highly recommend taking the subway while in Manhattan in particular. There are very few places it won't take you. If you'd like to take a Circle Line Cruise, go to the Intrepid or visit the international territory that the United Nations Headquarters sits on, you might want to take the M42 bus. You can also take a New York City Ferry for those.
https://www.newyork.co.uk/penn-station-in-new-york/
https://www.arup.com/en-us/projects/fulton-center/
https://www.panynj.gov/path/en/stations/world-trade-center-station.html
https://www.tracykaler.com/best-subway-stations-in-manhattan/
https://we-love-new-york.com/en/turnstyle-underground-market-columbus-circle/
2. Subways in Brooklyn. Once again, there are some hubs, so the number of stations in Brooklyn falls somewhere between 157 and 170. While Manhattan has the least amount of land area, and Queens is the largest in that capacity; Brooklyn is where most people live. They have the second largest piece of the land pie but the largest population. This is Kings County. Many celebrities live in Brooklyn and there's a lot of great stuff for the tourist there.
DUMBO and that end of the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges is the most popular spot to visit. It sits on the East River and has amazing views of Manhattan as well as great food, parks, and stuff to do. The Brooklyn Bridge Park is a great place to spend time with Jane's Carousel and the Time Out Kitchen. However, there's a lot to Brooklyn.
Dyker Heights, home of some of the city's favorite Christmas Displays is in Brooklyn. Williamsburg and its bridge are also in Brooklyn. Brooklyn Navy Yard, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn Army Terminal. The list goes on. The New York Aquarium, Coney Island, Brighton Beach. This is all in Brooklyn. Obviously Brooklyn Heights is in Brooklyn. Barclay's Center and the Nets are in Brooklyn. The subway will take you to all these places. The only one that's a little out of the way is Dyker Heights. You may also have to include a B1 bus.
One of the great things about the subway in Brooklyn is that less than half the stations are underground. It becomes an elevated train out there and that means you have a view. In Brooklyn, you even get a view on the Franklin Avenue Shuttle. I like it when I can look around. That's why I tend to prefer trams to subways.
https://brooklynunpluggedtours.com/how-to-take-subway-to-brooklyn/
https://www.lodenbklyn.com/blog/crown-heights-subway-stops-a-commuter-guide
https://www.untappedcities.com/brooklyn-subway-secrets/
https://www.iloveny.com/blog/post/48-hours-in-brooklyn/
https://www.coneyislandfunguide.com/
3. Subways in Queens. Basically, if you are north or east of the L, you're in Queens. It's by far the largest borough in New York, but it doesn't have as many stations as Manhattan or Brooklyn with only 78 or 81 depending on how you count hubs. Most of the trains are above ground in Queens, beginning from just across the river. The views from the trains are fabulous.
Queens, in my opinion is underrated. Not only do you reach both of New York City's largest airports in Queens, but some of the best foods are found in Jackson Heights, and the best beaches in town are in Rockaway. This borough sprawls all over the place and regularly connects to the LIRR and the JFK Air Train. There are several intersections with LIRR and both entrances to the JFK Air Train are in Queens.
But, where can you go? If you like riding a train directly over the water, you can go to Rockaway beaches and have a great time. It's a long ride from the city, but it's beautiful in Rockaway and Far Rockaway. The views from the A train on that trip are worth it alone. You have the Resorts World Casino if you like to game. That's on the way to one entrance to the Air Train and Rockaway. On the other end you have all kinds of parks which include Flushing Meadows. This is where the US Open is played. It's also where you'd go to get to Willet's Stadium and watch the Mets play. It's one of the biggest park areas in the city and you could spend all day there, especially on a Saturday in the summer when they have the night market.
Queens isn't the tourism hub that Manhattan or Brooklyn is, but it's only because people don't realize how cool it is. They have history, parks, sports, events, food, and Muppets. That's right, Sesame Street is filmed in Queens, just across from the Museum of the Moving Image. Gantry Plaza State Park is along the East River. So is Socrates Sculpture Park. Both very cool places. They have their own botanical garden (as do most boroughs) and their own museum (as do most boroughs). They are Queens County and have a historic court house at Court Square to visit. It's a truly underrated borough for travel.
https://www.tripsavvy.com/tour-queens-via-the-7-subway-2819477
https://www.melaniemay.com/queens-travel-guide/
https://www.iloveny.com/listing/flushing-meadows-corona-park/127981/
https://www.nyctourism.com/new-york/queens/jackson-heights/
4. Subways in The Bronx. Land wise, The Bronx falls in the middle of the 5 main boroughs of New York City. It is Bronx County, and they have between 68 and 70 stations depending on how you view hubs. There is a mix of above ground and below ground trains in The Bronx, but only a few lines run up there as opposed to the plethora of choices you have in the other three boroughs serviced by the subway. This is the borough where they plan to add more. This is also the borough where you'll run into all three main lines of Metro North Railroad. This gives you options when the subway isn't as close as you'd like it to be to your activity.
The Bronx is one of the most amazing parts of the city. I love it there, and most people only visit a couple spots. This is where a lot of people drive rather than take public transit, because it's the first part of the city proper that you enter when coming from upstate or Connecticut and the rest of New England. I know a lot of people that drive down to the Bronx Zoo and a Yankees Game. But the Bronx is home to some amazing things, and I'm still checking it out. Just found a bridge I didn't know about last week.
One of my favorite places is the New York Botanical Garden. Now, almost every borough has one, but I love theirs. Lots to do and a great conservatory. One of the best places to visit on the subway in the Bronx is Yankee Stadium. The views from the platform alone are amazing. You could also go and see a game. But there's so much more. The parks on their own are worth the time in The Bronx. This is the borough that has hills and cliffs and amazing views. There's High Bridge Park and the surrounding area in Washington Heights. There's shopping and food along Fordham Road. You can walk the George Washington Bridge. The parks are some of the best in the city. Suffice it to say that it's underrated and a great borough to investigate. Not to mention; some of the city's most interesting and beautiful subway stations are in The Bronx.
https://www.scoutingny.com/new-york-citys-prettiest-subway-station-is-in-the-bronx/
https://www.cuny.edu/news/cuny-celebrates-mtas-newly-renamed-149-st-hostos-subway-station/
https://www.nyctourism.com/new-york/the-bronx/fordham/
5. Subways in Staten Island. Trick question! Staten Island has a train, not a subway. It's an island. Think about that. However, you can use your OMNY Card and it costs $3 just like the subway. It is part of MTA, so it counts.
The Staten Island Railway starts or ends at St. George Station; home of the Staten Island Ferry. Remember, the ferry is FREE! Never buy a ticket from those guys standing outside the terminal. The train has 21 stations and traverses the island. Most of Staten Island is highly residential, so there's not much tourism going on over there. That's why most of the entertainment, like the mall and the stadium for the Staten Island Ferry Hawks baseball team is right by the ferry terminal.
There are good restaurants in the area, and there's even a brewery for beer lovers, but there's very little tourism. Does the train take you to the tourist spots? Not really. Fort Wadsworth and the Gateway National Recreation area is on the other end of the island underneath the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. It has beautiful views and a lot of interesting things, but the train doesn't stop there. You'll have to take the S51 or the S81 bus to get out there. This is Richmond County, and it's connected by bridge to Brooklyn and New Jersey, but the Staten Island Ferry is the way to get there from Manhattan. There is also the Midtown Ferry operated by the New York City Ferry, but it costs $5 while the Staten Island Ferry is free.
That being said, Staten Island has great food; lots of it is Italian, so have a great experience. Old Town, which does have a stop on the train seems to be the place to go. I'm still investigating Staten Island. They have eateries, living history and a good waterfront boardwalk and park. Hoping to get over there stoon and check it out. It's my understanding that the historic part of the island is really cool.
https://www.nyctourism.com/new-york/staten-island/
https://www.historicrichmondtown.org/
https://www.untappedcities.com/end-of-the-line-staten-island-railway/
https://www.nycgovparks.org/highlights/parks-you-must-visit-on-staten-island
There you have it. There is so much to do in New York City. It's a shame to leave it to a visit to Manhattan. There's a lot to do there, but you haven't really experienced the real New York if you haven't visited other boroughs. I just wanted to share a few things and a few ways to get around. I will never advocate driving in New York City. Yes, you can even drive to Staten Island if you must, but please don't. Always keep in mind that there's a lot to do in the city, so don't overlook those other boroughs!
If you'd like to see what I'm doing at the moment, check out my YouTube Channel, "Adventures for Anyone with Terri Dixon." That's me!
https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresforanyone2026
Now, go and plan a great trip to New York! The holidays are coming soon, and it will be gorgeous, even though it will be overcrowded. Enjoy!
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