Getting to NYC

In order of most recommended to least, these are your options for getting to NYC:

By train

There are a handful of ways to reach NYC by train. This is my preferred method of transportation because it has the perks of flying (spend time doing what you want instead of focusing on driving) without the hassle (security, waiting, etc.).

In order of most recommended to least, these are your options for getting to NYC by train:

  1. Metro North - This covers a lot of territory in New York and southern Connecticut. You can use it to get to Grand Central Terminal. For those coming from New England, parking at the garage next to Union Station in New Haven and taking this to NYC is a pretty easy and relatively inexpensive way of getting to NYC. Tickets are good for any train too which is nice.
  2. Amtrak - This is definitely the most expensive option, but it covers a ton of territory and you'll have perks like WiFi, a snack car, and so on. You can use it to get to Penn Station. This might be a good option for people in, around, and north of Boston - you can ride from Boston's South Station to NYC. Tickets unfortunately must be bought for a specific train, which makes this a little less flexible than Metro North.
  3. NJ Transit - This covers a lot of territory in New Jersey. You can use it to get to Penn Station.
  4. LIRR - If you live on Long Island, you already know about the Long Island Rail Road (and how to get to NYC), but I list it here for completeness.

By air

NYC has 3 major airports within/nearby. In alphabetical order, these are your options for getting to NYC by air:

I generally recommend picking whichever flight works best to/from any of those 3 (many flight search tools will automatically do this if you select "NYC" as your destination). Some of them have easier transportation options into the city, but it more or less comes out to be the same in the end.

By car

I don't personally recommend this because driving in NYC is a hassle and you will pay a lot for parking, but it's certainly doable if this is what works best for you.

Getting around NYC

In order of most recommended to least, these are your options for getting around within NYC:

By foot

NYC is a pedestrian-friendly city. If you're able to and are not traveling far (within a couple miles), I recommend traveling a lot on foot. You'll see and discover a lot, plus you'll get some free exercise! Most of the city is a simple grid layout with numbered streets and avenues, so it's hard to get lost once you know the basics.

Note: Just be aware of your surroundings, don't carry your wallet in your back pocket, etc. As a general rule, if you're approached on the street by someone, more often than not they are trying to work some angle on you, so it's best to not engage too much with strangers - doubly-so if you're clearly a tourist. Definitely do not accept anything physical like a CD or a trinket from a "monk" - this is the lead-in to trouble for you. That being said, you will occasionally run into someone who genuinely really is just looking for directions or needs help getting their suitcase up/down a flight of stairs, so don't be too closed-off. :)

By subway

The subway is one of the best perks of being in NYC. It runs 24/7 and you can reach pretty much anywhere with it. It takes some time to figure out how the system works, but once you have it down, it's extremely convenient and is far and above my preferred method of travel (besides walking). Outside most subway entrances, you can purchase a pay-per-ride MetroCard (as of June 2017, 1 ride is $2.75) with a certain dollar value on it or unlimited by time (as of June 2017, 7-day is $32).

By car (for hire)

There are 2 main options here. In order of most recommended to least, these are your options for getting around NYC with a for-hire car:

  1. Yellow cab - These are everywhere and generally quick to hail. You will occasionally get an aggressive driver and/or a smelly car, but the majority of rides are fine.
  2. Apps - The main apps are Uber and Lyft, but there are probably others. I've only used Uber personally. It can be good when it's hard to find a yellow cab, but it's usually a last-ditch effort when I resort to a non-yellow cab just because it usually means waiting 5-10 minutes upfront.

Note: Do not get into a non-yellow cab that you've not summoned with an app. These cars that offer you rides are often illegal vehicles which may not have a licensed driver, may overcharge you, and so on. This is especially a problem at NYC airports - it is not uncommon to be approached at/around baggage carousels by people offering rides; all of these people are illegally soliciting rides (and there's often airport signage saying such).

By bus

MTA buses can be good in replacement of or addition to the subway, but these routes are harder to learn than the subway. Your MetroCard will work on both the subway and buses (often with a free transfer, but these rules can be a little complicated).

By car (your own)

If you've read everything up to this point, you already know how I feel about this. Go for it if you want though. :)