golfmom

I'm planning to take the Airtrain from JFK to Jamaica Station where I will transfer to the E train. How do I then get to the Guggenheim? Do I transfer at the 51st and Lexington stop to Line 4, 5, or 6 going north? Thanks!

doug_stallings

Yes, transfer to the 6 (this is not an express stop, so only the 6 stops here) and go north, getting off at 86th Street. You have to walk to Fifth Ave and then up to 89th. This can be a pretty long trip, so allow an hour at least.

golfmom

Thank you!

rogfam

Great website should help you get around. Just enter NYC

http://www.hopstop.com/

nytraveler

51st lexington is a local stop so the only train you can get there is the 6. This is fine since 77th St is also a local stop - again only the 6 train stops there. (4 and 5 are expresses and don;t stop at either station.)

nytraveler

When riding the NY subway you can't just follow lines by color - since the express and local trains on one line are just lumped together. You need to know if the stops you are using are express of local stops and which number or letter train is which - so you get too the correct station. If you go to any major tourist sight it will tell you the letter or number of the trains that stop at the nearest stations.

golfmom

Thanks for the info. My NYC Metro map has such small writing that I have to use a magnifying glass to read it. Because of that, I was just focusing on the colors. For my trip I'll make sure to watch out for E and 6 when boarding.

Gekko

Just to clarify, the 86th Street station IS an express stop and the 4, 5 and 6 trains all stop there.

But only the 6 stops at 51st Street, so from the E one must transfer to the 6 to go uptown to the Guggenheim.

nytraveler

Yes - but for Guggenhiem one would use 77th - not 86th St.

sf7307

Why would you get off at 77th when the museum is at 89th?

doug_stallings

nytraveler just made a mistake. That's the Whitney ... not the one the OP is asking about.

golfmom

After the museum, I'm heading to Brooklyn. From the 86th street stop, it seems I could take the 4 or 5 Express? Or is another subway line a better choice? Does the 4 or 5 Express also stop at 77th? Thanks!

doug_stallings

Only the 4/5 go to Brooklyn (the 6 stops at Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan), but it depends on where in Brooklyn you are going. Which Brooklyn stop do you want to reach? Many subway lines go there, and you may not even want the 4 or 5.

Just to be clear 77th Street is a regular (non-express) stop on the 6 line, but you do NOT want to get off there to visit the Guggenheim. You want to get off at 86th.

golfmom

Regarding the 77th stop, I was asking just in case I decided to head to the Metropolitan Museum after visiting the Guggenheim. I thought walking down Fifth Ave toward the 77th stop might be just as good as backtracking to the 86th stop. But maybe not.

I need to find out which Brooklyn stop I want. I'll be back!

Gekko

A great resource used by New Yorkers:

http://www.hopstop.com/?city=newyork

golfmom

Thank you rogfam and Gekko and others for the helpful info. This website is perfect.

doug_stallings

Actually, you want 86th Street for the Metropolitan Museum, not that you could miss it if you walk down 5th Ave from the Guggenheim 4 or 5 blocks.

ellenem

Also note, when you transfer from the E train to the 6 train at 51st St, you want n UPTOWN 6 train. "Uptown" IS north, and the OP mentioned north, but signage in the subway will never show "North" as a choice.