NYC subway as sightseeing vehicle
Jun 12th, 2001 | 09:24 PM
#1
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NYC subway as sightseeing vehicle
Hi,
I'm a first time vistor to New York. I'll be staying at the Crowne Plaza Manhattan which has 2 subway stops nearby: N/R @ 49th Street and 1/9 at 50th Street.
I'm traveling by myself and want to see the usual sights: Statue of Liberty, Empire State, The Met Museum, The Guggenheim, etc. Is it reasonable for me to think I could see these sights using the subway instead of a "hop on hop off" tour bus?
How hard/easy is the subway system to navigate. I visted DC last year and got great advice here re: the Metro. In DC I got to all the sights using the Metro. Can I expect the same in NYC?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thank You.
Callie
I'm a first time vistor to New York. I'll be staying at the Crowne Plaza Manhattan which has 2 subway stops nearby: N/R @ 49th Street and 1/9 at 50th Street.
I'm traveling by myself and want to see the usual sights: Statue of Liberty, Empire State, The Met Museum, The Guggenheim, etc. Is it reasonable for me to think I could see these sights using the subway instead of a "hop on hop off" tour bus?
How hard/easy is the subway system to navigate. I visted DC last year and got great advice here re: the Metro. In DC I got to all the sights using the Metro. Can I expect the same in NYC?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thank You.
Callie
Jun 13th, 2001 | 02:06 AM
#2
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The subway/bus system is the best way to get around and least expensive means of transportation. Purchase a $4 Metro Card Fun Pass that provides unlimited subway/bus use from the time you purchase it until 3am the following morning. An option is a $17 Metro card that provides unlimited use for seven days.
For Statue of Liberty use the #1 or #9 at 50th St. and get off at last stop, South Ferry.
Empire State - N or R to 34th Street or walk (3/4s of a mile)
Met - #104 bus going uptown on 8th Ave and transfer to crosstown bus at 79th St.
Guggenheim - #104 bus to 86th St and transfer to crosstown bus at 86th St.
For Statue of Liberty use the #1 or #9 at 50th St. and get off at last stop, South Ferry.
Empire State - N or R to 34th Street or walk (3/4s of a mile)
Met - #104 bus going uptown on 8th Ave and transfer to crosstown bus at 79th St.
Guggenheim - #104 bus to 86th St and transfer to crosstown bus at 86th St.
Jun 13th, 2001 | 05:20 AM
#3
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The subway is definitely the vehicle of choice!
The only advantage of the "hop on hop off" bus is that you get a chance to see more of the city than by riding the subway. However, you've been spending a lot more time traveling to your destinations! But, you are sacrificing time that could be spent seeing what you want to see!
The only advantage of the "hop on hop off" bus is that you get a chance to see more of the city than by riding the subway. However, you've been spending a lot more time traveling to your destinations! But, you are sacrificing time that could be spent seeing what you want to see!
Jun 13th, 2001 | 06:29 AM
#4
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I would also use the subway-- it's cheap and very easy to navigate! I believe most of the token booths offer maps of the subway routes so be sure to ask for that when you get there. That said, whenever we visit NYC, we also make it a point to take some cabs as well. It's a wonderful way to see the city sights.
Jun 13th, 2001 | 08:03 AM
#5
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The subway is a wonderful way to get around. My son and brother live in Manhattan and when I visit, I usually use it because they are at work during the day and I am on my own. Just a word of caution. For your own safety, there are certain areas that people who live there will tell you not to go by yourself. I have been told above 98th St or so. Also, if you are out late at night or after dark, Callie, I would take a cab. If you have a spirit of adventure, you can even get into the city by subway. I do it all the time from Laguardia.
Jun 13th, 2001 | 01:35 PM
#6
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YES ... with some cautions:
1. Read the service notices. More than once, we waited for a train or Metro bus that never came because it was a "weekday only" route or offline for service.
2. Double-check to see if it's a local or an express. We were fooled once.
3. Ride one of the first five cars on the train to Battery Park (Statue of Liberty), or you can't exit at that stop. We learned the hard way.
I rode the subway alone until early evening and with a friend as late as 10:30 p.m. with no problems.
However, everyone in our group (all first-timers) preferred to ride Metro buses when possible. There were several reasons.
From the Metro bus, we could see the sites as we passed them -- that was a biggie. We could tell instantly (not after traveling six or more blocks to the next station) if we were going the wrong way. We felt safer, since we could always see the driver and could exit at (almost) any time.
We also thought the Metro bus routes were much easier to follow than the train routes. Generally, the buses follow the same north/south or east/west street throughout their routes. If you know where you are and where you want to go, you can plan your route with one or two straight lines. Since the train routes curve and the maps don't show exactly where the station entrances are, getting from point A to point B took more thought and planning and consulting of maps.
Callie, you'll be amazed at how friendly and helpful many New Yorkers are. I don't think we ever pulled out a map without a passerby stopping to ask where we wanted to go and offering directions.
1. Read the service notices. More than once, we waited for a train or Metro bus that never came because it was a "weekday only" route or offline for service.
2. Double-check to see if it's a local or an express. We were fooled once.
3. Ride one of the first five cars on the train to Battery Park (Statue of Liberty), or you can't exit at that stop. We learned the hard way.
I rode the subway alone until early evening and with a friend as late as 10:30 p.m. with no problems.
However, everyone in our group (all first-timers) preferred to ride Metro buses when possible. There were several reasons.
From the Metro bus, we could see the sites as we passed them -- that was a biggie. We could tell instantly (not after traveling six or more blocks to the next station) if we were going the wrong way. We felt safer, since we could always see the driver and could exit at (almost) any time.
We also thought the Metro bus routes were much easier to follow than the train routes. Generally, the buses follow the same north/south or east/west street throughout their routes. If you know where you are and where you want to go, you can plan your route with one or two straight lines. Since the train routes curve and the maps don't show exactly where the station entrances are, getting from point A to point B took more thought and planning and consulting of maps.
Callie, you'll be amazed at how friendly and helpful many New Yorkers are. I don't think we ever pulled out a map without a passerby stopping to ask where we wanted to go and offering directions.
