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

Wed 20 Nov

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $35.00

Make a reservation

Wed 20 Nov

Starting at $35.00

Make a reservation

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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)

32prafullas

Feb 2020

I guess there was a mismatch per our expectations vs what we got through the tour. The tour guide was very good and knowledgeable but the tour per se was more informative rather than visual and we are Manhattan locals ...for us riding the NYC subway and going to places we see everyday was not fun. We expected them to take us to the abandoned stations and that was NOT done. Instead they just popped us in the train and asked us to look outside the train! Not recommended for a local.

Response from Host

Feb 2020

I thank you for your honesty and I deeply apologize that your expectations were not met with this tour. We are under no circumstances allowed to bring our tours inside abandoned stations due to MTA security and city law. We try to make that as clear as possible in our tour description and in our follow-up communications with our guests to manage expectations for all who choose to explore the subway with us. Our goal with this tour is to show both visitors and locals alike some of the hidden spaces that very few people know about in original 1904 subway system. Again my apologies this was not the case for you. Please be well and my thanks again for taking the time to leave the review.

laurinan

Feb 2020

So happy we took the tour there is so much to learn about NYC even if you were born and raised here. Jeremey was superb

BennMcNally

Feb 2020

We had a terrific guide, so knowledgeable and kept our attention the whole time. Some guides make the tour all about themselves, they put on a show and dance which detracts from the subject of the Tour - Not this tour! Jeremy was personable and informative but never ever overbearing or over the top. We learned about the history of a few of the older stations as well as the history of the various subway lines. This tour would be great for every kind of tourist, it would also be great for locals keen to learn a little more about the story of their subway. Im so happy we took this tour as part of our New York experience, it would have been better to have seen all of the 'out of the view of the public' stuff that used to be part of the tour, obviously security has tightened and tours aren't allowed in these places anymore, it's totally understandable but none the less unfortunate.

Response from Host

Feb 2020

Benn, I thank you for taking the time to leave such a thorough review! We are very honored to work with Jeremy and are thrilled that you enjoyed your experience with him on the Underground Subway tour. And thank you for letting us know what you'd like to see more of. We try to make this tour a balance of hidden-in-plain-sight, with a mix of the completely hidden within the allowances of the MTA. Please be well and hope you'll join us again!