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NYC Subway Tutorial Tour

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NYC Subway Tutorial

Let Jon, a guide with Free Tours by Foot NYC, teach you the ins and outs of the system in just 60 minutes.
Schedule: Wednesdays through Saturdays (+ Tuesdays)
Start Time: 10:00 am (4 pm Tuesdays)
Tour Language: English
Duration: 60 minutes
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NYC Subway Tutorial Highlights

On this tour, you will learn:

    • how to pay for your ride.

    • whether to get a Metrocard or pay with a contactless credit card.

    • how to read the subway system map.

    • the practical differences between local and express trains.

    • to identify the train directions (uptown vs. downtown, etc.)

    • how to use pedestrian walkways between stations.

    • when and how to transfer between trains.

    • to determine which entrances close at night.

    • where to stand on the train to be closest to your desired exit.

    • how to get help in the stations.

    • how to stay safe.

Don't let the NYC subway system intimidate you, take our tutorial tour.

Let Jon, a guide with Tours by Foot NYC, teach you the ins and outs of the system in just 60 minutes.

Maja S.
12 hours ago
Amazing tour by a very kind and professional guide, Michael. We learned so much about all the highlights and Michael could also answer all various additional questions we had. Thank you so much! Highly recommended!
Heidi H.
5 days ago
Michael was very knowledgeable. A great tour guide!
Jill S.
6 days ago
Informative & fun tour of Chinatown & Little Italy! Lots of history learned, combined with very affordable bites of authentic food. Courtney was very happy to answer any questions, & went above & beyond, even generously sharing her knowledge of other sections of NYC that we were planning to visit in the following days. Thanks for a great time!
Lori B.
6 days ago
Michael was very thorough, he knows a lot of great facts!
claudia D.
3 weeks ago
courtney is an excellent guide, she covered the china town/ little italy with in depth history. i loved the pizza and sponge cake ! i would reccomend her for another tour!
Michal Ben M.
3 weeks ago
We had a great tour with Courtney. The foodie stops were delicious and interesting spots plus we learned a lot about the culture and history behind it! We tried a variety of foods and enjoyed every minute! Highly recommended!
Eric H.
3 weeks ago
Very knowledgeable and kind. Great walking tour of NYC.
alexandra B.
3 weeks ago
Lorraine S.
4 weeks ago
Meredith, our tour guide, was a great communicator, even before the tour began. She led us through the streets of Greenwich Village on a thoroughly enjoyable evening ghost tour. We learned many interesting historical facts along with stories of haunted sites. She was friendly, knowledgeable, energetic, and enthusiasticโ€”what more could you ask for?
Luke E.
4 weeks ago
Excellent tour! Great food recommendations and so so knowledgeable! Meredith was the best tour guide!
Steve H.
1 month ago
A great overall tour of Harlem. We go to NYC regularly but we haven't really seen Harlem. Wow, Ronald our guide was great..such a wealth of knowledge and taking us not only to the major highlights but some great unique spots like the urban garden and meeting Paul who told us how it started years ago and expanded to help the community in a variety of ways. It was a warm day but Ronald worked to find shade and indoor locations to help. Thank you and we plan to return to Harlem to explore more.
bi M.
1 month ago
We had the best time joining Courtney on her Lower East Side Food tour! Courtney told us so many fantastic stories and the time went by too fast! We had so much fun trying the delicious food, which was really well chosen to get to know the area! Thank you so much! We will be back for more ๐Ÿค—๐Ÿ˜€
Mattie V.
1 month ago
Lady Altovise was EXCELLENT!! Well worth it ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿฝ
Kaya
1 month ago
Lady was AMAZING
Rachel N.
1 month ago
It was easy to find Michael and the tour group. Michael clearly loves New York and had lots of good info to share.
Anastasia N.
1 month ago
Our walking tour with Courtney was the highlight of our weekend. We're locals, and we got to know cool insights into local history and architecture while being guided us to some of our favorite food spots! The pace was perfect, Courtney was a great guide, and we left with a deeper appreciation for the neighborhood. Highly recommended for locals and visitors alike!
Tyler S.
2 months ago
Michael was an amazing tour guide. So knowledgeable and passionate about NYC
Hillary C.
2 months ago
Easily recommendable! To see the places where real history took place and to learn of real people who came from Harlem and made changes in the world was very interesting and valuable. Lady Altovise knew her stuff! She was fun and engaging while telling true and inspirational stories. Gives me pride for Harlem and our country. A tour to do while youโ€™re in NY!
greenback001
2 months ago
I took a Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO sightseeing tour with Renee from Tours by Foot, and she was absolutely incredible. As a New Yorker, Iโ€™m always curious to learn more about my own city, and I feel like I hit the jackpot with Renee as my guide. She was knowledgeable, engaging, and full of fascinating history and stories. In one fantastic walk over the bridge, I learned far more than I expected to in just a few hours. I highly recommend Renee to anyone looking for a memorable, informative, and enjoyable sightseeing experience.
Brendan C.
2 months ago
Michael was a fantastic tour guide. His enthusiasm and knowledge was so appreciated by all of us. He is definitely a great ambassador for the best of NYC.
Morna A.
2 months ago
Enthusiastic, informative and personable. Great knowledge of subject matter. Enjoyable!
Kim N.
2 months ago
Great tour! All the food was great. Tour guide was sweet and very knowledgeable.
Janna G.
2 months ago
Had the best experience with Lady Altovise on her Saturday afternoon tour of Harlem. My mother discovered her on YouTube and booked her for us to experience while my parents visited. Iโ€™ve lived in Harlem for 10 years and still learned so much. She was amazing!
Theresa G.
3 months ago
Lady Altovise did an outstanding & professional tour of Harlem! The Soul of Harlem Stroll: History & Heritage Tour was so entertaining and informative! You must take it if youโ€™re visiting NYC! ATL Fans!

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See our full schedule of NYC tours here.

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The tour starts at the TKTS booth with a brief history of Times Square and the NYC Subway system.

On this tour, you will learn:

  • how to pay for your ride.
  • whether to get a Metrocard or pay with a contactless credit card.
  • how to read the subway system map.
  • the practical differences between local and express trains.
  • to identify the train directions (uptown vs. downtown, etc.)
  • how to use pedestrian walkways between stations.
  • when and how to transfer between trains.
  • to determine which entrances close at night.
  • where to stand on the train to be closest to your desired exit.
  • how to get help in the stations.
  • how to stay safe.

And what's best is that this tour has no upfront costs. You pay whatever you feel the tour is worth or what you can afford.

name-your-own-price tour is a tour for anyone's budget. 

Click here for our full schedule of NYC tours.


TOUR START: The tour starts in front of the George M Cohen statue which is in front of the big red staircase. 

Click here for detailed directions to the start of the tour from nearby subway stations.

DURATION:: Approximately 45 minutes. Tour distance is approximately 0.5 miles (.9 km)

Purchasing a 7-day pass in advance through us is recommended if you believe you may arrive late.

You might also be interested in our NYC Subway Art Tour.


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