NYC Underground Subway Walking Tour

Overview

Explore the world’s largest subway system, the beating heart of the city that never sleeps. On this guided NYC subway tour you will discover the fascinating beginnings of the NYC subway, and explore spaces even the most seasoned commuter might not know about.

- Explore City Hall Park as the birthplace of the NYC subway system
- Learn about the comically short route of the mythical “Subway before the Subway,” Alfred Ely Beach’s Pneumatic Transit System
- See the architectural ghosts of the now nearly forgotten, and partially abandoned, Chambers Street station then nicknamed the “Grand Central of Downtown”
- Use the 6 train as your own time machine as you ride through abandoned subway stations
- Discover the remnants of Union Station as you learn about a hidden art installation thousands of riders walk by everyday

Guests will need one MetroCard swipe or OMNY tap to enter the subway.

All the stops on this tour are in stations which are publicly accessible.

City: New York City

Mon 18 Nov

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $35.00

Make a reservation

Mon 18 Nov

Starting at $35.00

Make a reservation

New York City Tours

Unique Activities (21) Transfers & Transportation (103) Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises (113) Entry Tickets (47) Sporting Events (1) Good for Small Groups (6) Seasonal & Holiday Tours (41) Walking Tours (697) Outdoor Activities (20) Limitied Availability Tours (6) LGBT Friendly Tours (4) Family-friendly Activities (7) Solo Travelers' Tours (147) Food & Drinks (27) Travelers recommend (73) Good for Groups (8) Top Activities (18) Guided Audio Tours (3) Art, Culture & History (135) Attractions to explore (38)

What's Included

Ear pieces provided to each guests ensuring everyone hears the guide perfectly

Guided walking tour with a native New Yorker!

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Gear/equipment sanitised between use
Guides required to regularly wash hands
Regular temperature checks for staff
Temperature checks for travellers upon arrival
Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons
COVID-19 vaccination required for guides
We provide ear pieces to each participants so guests can hear the guides perfectly, even from a distance while maintaining social distancing.

What To Expect

City Hall Park

You will learn about the creation of the very first NYC subway station while looking at visible remnants from City Hall park!

Brooklyn Bridge

We will see the Brooklyn at the beginning of the tour

The Municipal Building

Learn about the importance of this building in the creation of the NYC subway system!

Union Square

Explore the Union Square subway station and its surprising Art installation

Show 1 more stops

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (158)

lrs918

Dec 2022

Ben was an amazing guide and kept our attention with fascinating facts even on a VERY cold and windy day. Highly recommend this tour to locals and out of towners alike!

Response from Host

Dec 2022

Thanks so much for reviewing our Underground Subway Tour. We are so thrilled to work with Ben and glad you enjoyed your experience with him. Take good care!

brismith64

Dec 2022

Our guide was super friendly and knowledgeable.Very informative!Would highly recommend to anyone that’s looking for an interesting tour.

Response from Host

Dec 2022

Thank you so much for the review and for giving it a high recommendation. We sincerely appreciate it!

Venture19859625823

Dec 2022

Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and polite. It was so much information that it was hard to keep up at times. No fault to him because he does this all the time and maybe my brain just wasn’t keeping up, but he used a lot of acronyms, and I guess I missed what they stood for. I loved the information about the various artwork that makes each station different. I wish we’d gotten to see more of that and the stories behind those more than the history of the subway. It wasn’t quite what I was expecting but it was still a good use of time.

Response from Host

Dec 2022

Hey thank you for taking the time to review. The NYC subway is a large topic to handle in one tour and AJ is an expert. We will definitely try to slow it down a bit if you felt the information was moving too fast. We do have another tour devoted to the Art in the Subway if you're interested please contact [email protected]. Thanks again for joining us and we're glad that in the end you enjoyed your experience. Take care!