CityNav
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The Best Travel App for New York City

New York's MTA subway is the only 24-hour subway system in the world — 472 stations, 18 lines, running every hour of every day of the year. It's cheap, fast, and reaches every corner of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. The challenge for tourists isn't availability; it's understanding which lines to take, where to transfer, and how to pay.

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Home › 🇺🇸 New York Travel App
18Subway Lines
365Operates 24/7
4Boroughs Covered
80+Key Stations

Why CityNav Is the Best Travel App for New York

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The only 24-hour subway — and CityNav covers it all night

New York never stops. Neither does CityNav. All 18 NYC subway lines are in CityNav's offline database — so whether it's 2pm or 2am, you can plan your route without needing a signal in an underground station.

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All 18 MTA lines offline — no cell signal needed

NYC subway platforms have limited cell coverage. CityNav pre-loads all MTA subway data so you can check routes, transfers and arrival info without fumbling for signal while a train approaches.

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OMNY contactless guidance — no MetroCard needed

New York now accepts contactless bank cards and Apple/Google Pay at every turnstile via OMNY. CityNav explains the OMNY system so tourists know they can tap straight in with their bank card — skipping the MetroCard queue entirely.

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AR walking from any Manhattan exit

NYC subway exits don't always drop you where you expect. CityNav's AR mode shows walking arrows from the exit directly to Central Park's nearest entrance, the Empire State Building entrance, or any other destination — so you walk the right direction from the first step.

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SOS emergency button

Hold for 3 seconds to send your live GPS coordinates via SMS to up to three contacts — useful in a city where your phone battery might be low and you need help fast.

Getting to New York's Top Landmarks by Transit

Every stop below is covered in CityNav's offline database — tap the station in-app for real-time departures and AR walking directions to the entrance.

📍 Central Park

🚇 59th St–Columbus Circle (A/C/B/D/1) or multiple 59th–110th St stations

Multiple subway stops line the edges of Central Park. Columbus Circle drops you at the southwest corner; 86th St (C/B) puts you mid-park.

📍 Times Square

🚇 Times Sq–42nd St (1/2/3/7/N/Q/R/W/S/A/C/E)

One of the busiest subway hubs in the system — nearly every line stops here or within 2 blocks.

📍 Empire State Building

🚇 34th St–Herald Sq (B/D/F/M/N/Q/R/W) or 33rd St (6)

Herald Square is a 5-minute walk east along 34th Street to the Empire State Building entrance.

📍 Statue of Liberty

🚇 Whitehall St–South Ferry (R/W or 1) → Staten Island Ferry

Take the Staten Island Ferry from Whitehall St — it's free and gives you a classic Statue of Liberty view.

Navigate to any landmark →

Tourist Transit Tip for New York

💡 OMNY contactless or 7-day MetroCard: Use an OMNY card or contactless bank card — tap on, tap off at any MTA subway turnstile or bus reader.

CityNav surfaces this pass recommendation automatically when you open the app in New York — so you spend less time researching and more time exploring.

Download CityNav for New York

Free to download. Walking and driving navigation free forever. AR navigation, offline transit maps and SOS emergency included.

Download on the App Store → Use in Browser

Frequently Asked Questions — Travelling in New York

What is the best app for tourists visiting New York?

CityNav covers all 18 NYC MTA subway lines offline — including the city's 24-hour service — so you can navigate at any hour without relying on underground cell signal. AR walking directions and an SOS emergency button add features standard transit apps don't include.

Which New York subway app works offline?

CityNav works fully offline for all 18 NYC MTA subway lines. Given that NYC subway platforms have inconsistent cell coverage, offline navigation is essential — you can check your route and platform before descending and navigate without any signal.

Do I still need a MetroCard in New York City?

Not anymore. New York's OMNY system accepts contactless bank cards and Apple/Google Pay at every subway turnstile and bus stop. There's no need to queue for a MetroCard machine — tourists can tap straight in with the card they already carry. CityNav explains this so you don't waste time on arrival.

Does the New York City subway run at night?

Yes — NYC has the only 24-hour subway system in the world. All lines run through the night, though frequency drops on some lines after midnight. CityNav covers the full schedule offline so you know which trains run at 3am when you're heading back from Brooklyn.

What NYC subway lines does CityNav cover?

CityNav covers all 18 MTA lines: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, A, B, C, D, E, F, L, M, N, Q and R — the complete Manhattan and outer borough network, all available offline.

How do I get from JFK or Newark airport to Manhattan?

From JFK: take the AirTrain to Jamaica station and transfer to the E, J or Z subway lines, or the Long Island Rail Road to Penn Station (faster). From Newark (EWR): take the NJ Transit AirTrain to Newark Penn Station, then a NJ Transit train to New York Penn Station. Both routes cost under $20 and CityNav maps the connections.

Explore More Cities

CityNav covers 28 major cities worldwide with the same offline maps, AR navigation and SOS emergency.

🇬🇧 London🇫🇷 Paris🇯🇵 Tokyo🇮🇹 Rome View all 28 cities →