NYC Subway Map: Tourist Guide 2026

The map of the NYC subway system 472 stations and 24 lines, serves 5.5M daily riders in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx in 2026, with OMNY tap-free costing 2.90/ride, 34/week limit. Pictograms are linked together with the help of color-coded lines (A orange express, 6 green local): Times Sq (N/Q/R), Central Park (B/C), MoMA (E/M). Hacks to survive as a tourist: downloading MTA live delays, Citymapper routes, not to travel during rush hours 8-9 AM/5-6 PM, Second Ave Q extended 96-105St, Interborough express test run. Free maps, booths/clipper cards; OMNY glitches are trending upgrades fixed in Jan.

Reading Color Lines

Lines numbered/lettered bold=24/7, regular=weekday: 1/2/3 red Bronx-Battery, A/C/E blue Queens-Uptown.

Black dots local stops, white express skippers; transfer circles key swaps Grand Central.

Follow platform signs track direction—Uptown north, Downtown south, Manhattan-centric.

Night/weekend maps differ—G train Brooklyn only, L skips some express.

Tourist Fast Routes

Manhattan Loop: 4/5/6 Lexington Uptown-Downtown, transfer B/D/F/M Midtown.

Brooklyn Day Trip: A/C to Barclays Jay St, 2/3 to Atlantic express.

JFK Airport: AirTrain+E/J/Z Jamaica free MTA link $11 total.

Navigation Apps Tips

MTA official offline maps, countdown clocks; Google/Apple Maps live reroutes delays.

OMNY contactless phone/watch—unlimited 7-day $34 auto after 12 rides.

Official Social Update

https://www.instagram.com/popular/new-york-city-subway-map-2026/​

FAQs

Free maps where get?
Station booths free paper; MTA website PDF downloads, apps NYC Subway/Mapway offline 2026 updates.

OMNY vs MetroCard 2026?
OMNY tap phone $2.90/ride weekly $34 cap free; MetroCards phasing out booths. Both work vending reloads.

Rush hour avoid times?
8-9:30AM, 4:30-7PM weekdays packed; weekends random G.O. delays check MTA app service status.

Tourist top routes must-know?
Uptown 1/2/3/A/B/C/D to Harlem/Heights; Downtown 4/5/6/R/W Financial; F to Brooklyn museums.

Accessibility elevators?
160+ stations ADA; MTA map green elevators, app E/E alerts. Step-free Times Sq, Penn Station majors.