New York's iconic 24-hour subway runs across all five boroughs and is the fastest way to move around Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx at any hour of the day. The best way to understand New York is to explore it area by area. This guide combines headline sights with local streets and practical public transport advice, helping you spend less time working out connections and more time seeing the city.
Top 5 neighbourhoods to explore
Lower Manhattan
Why visit: Lower Manhattan is colonial traces, soaring financial towers, harbour views and major civic landmarks. Allow at least half a day to see the main streets and follow a few side roads where everyday neighbourhood life is clearest.
How to get there by public transport: Most subway lines converge below Canal Street; Fulton Street and World Trade Center are major interchanges. CityNav can build a step-by-step route from your current position and keep downloaded New York route details available underground.
A hidden local spot: Walk the elevated gardens at Battery Park City and the narrow historic streets around Stone Street. It makes a useful contrast to Central Park; check opening hours for indoor venues before visiting.
Plan this Lower Manhattan visit in CityNav →Greenwich Village
Why visit: Greenwich Village is brownstones, music history, intimate restaurants and one of Manhattan’s best people-watching parks. Allow at least half a day to see the main streets and follow a few side roads where everyday neighbourhood life is clearest.
How to get there by public transport: A/B/C/D/E/F/M trains serve West 4th Street; 1 and PATH trains stop along the western edge. CityNav can build a step-by-step route from your current position and keep downloaded New York route details available underground.
A hidden local spot: Explore the small lanes around Grove Court and visit the community gardens east of Washington Square. It makes a useful contrast to Times Square; check opening hours for indoor venues before visiting.
Plan this Greenwich Village visit in CityNav →Harlem
Why visit: Harlem is Black cultural history, jazz, landmark architecture and destination restaurants in Upper Manhattan. Allow at least half a day to see the main streets and follow a few side roads where everyday neighbourhood life is clearest.
How to get there by public transport: A/B/C/D and 2/3 express trains provide quick trips from Midtown; Metro-North stops at 125th Street. CityNav can build a step-by-step route from your current position and keep downloaded New York route details available underground.
A hidden local spot: See the Hamilton Grange grounds and walk the landmarked streets of Strivers’ Row. It makes a useful contrast to Statue of Liberty; check opening hours for indoor venues before visiting.
Plan this Harlem visit in CityNav →Williamsburg
Why visit: Williamsburg is waterfront skyline views, live music, vintage stores and a dense dining scene. Allow at least half a day to see the main streets and follow a few side roads where everyday neighbourhood life is clearest.
How to get there by public transport: The L train serves Bedford Avenue; J/M trains and East River ferries offer useful alternatives. CityNav can build a step-by-step route from your current position and keep downloaded New York route details available underground.
A hidden local spot: Walk Domino Park and browse small shops east of the busy Bedford Avenue corridor. It makes a useful contrast to Empire State Building; check opening hours for indoor venues before visiting.
Plan this Williamsburg visit in CityNav →Astoria
Why visit: Astoria is Greek food traditions, film culture, riverfront parks and a relaxed Queens neighbourhood feel. Allow at least half a day to see the main streets and follow a few side roads where everyday neighbourhood life is clearest.
How to get there by public transport: N and W trains run from Midtown to Broadway, 30th Avenue and Astoria-Ditmars Boulevard. CityNav can build a step-by-step route from your current position and keep downloaded New York route details available underground.
A hidden local spot: Visit the sculpture garden at the Noguchi Museum and eat along diverse Steinway Street. It makes a useful contrast to Central Park; check opening hours for indoor venues before visiting.
Plan this Astoria visit in CityNav →Best time to visit New York
The most comfortable time to explore is usually late spring or early autumn, when the weather is generally mild, daylight is generous and peak-summer crowds are smaller. Weekday mornings are ideal for major landmarks such as Central Park and Times Square, while late afternoon works well for neighbourhood streets, parks and viewpoints. Weather, public holidays and special events can change opening hours and transport demand, so confirm time-sensitive details before travelling.
Build each day around nearby areas rather than crossing the whole city repeatedly. Start with the busiest attraction, eat locally, and keep one flexible stop for weather changes. CityNav helps compare walking and public transport routes between each part of the itinerary.
Build a New York route in CityNav →Getting around New York without wasting time
Public transport is usually the fastest way to move between the five areas in this guide, while walking is best within each neighbourhood. Keep your pass or contactless payment ready, note the direction or final destination shown on the platform, and allow extra time at large interchanges. Download the city’s core route information before leaving Wi-Fi; live departures and disruption information require a connection.
For detailed line information, ticket advice and key stations, continue to the New York public transport guide.
Open New York route planning →Take CityNav with you
Plan routes to every neighbourhood in this guide, follow AR walking directions after you leave the station, and keep downloaded transit maps close at hand while exploring New York.
Download CityNav free →