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

Tue 19 Nov

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $35.00

Make a reservation

Tue 19 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)

megand76136

Aug 2019

Gary was an energetic, knowledgeable, funny guide. Four adults and one kid who all came in knowing a good deal about the subway and have lived in NYC for many years. We all learned a lot about the history of the system and the city and got to see things at stations we had walked by for years without noticing. Highly recommend for someone who likes history and subways.

Response from Host

Aug 2019

Thank you very much for taking the time to leave a review! Really glad you enjoyed the experience.. thank you again

Eddie F

Aug 2019

The tour was amazing. So worth the money. Guide was well prepared, had visual pictures to go along with his lecture. Our guide was so knowledgeable and really engaged with our group. Draw back was we did not get to explore City Hall station on foot. But that isn’t the tours fault it’s a post 9-11 world. For two and half hours we really got a feel for the entire transit system. Along the way our guide pointed things out that even me as a season New Yorker riding the transit system never noticed or new anything about. We learned a ton. BUT WATCH WHERE YOU SIT. I repeat watch where you sit on the trains. My mother In-Law was visiting out of town and on the tour with. No fault of the tour guide but we were lead into a train that a homeless person had proceeded to throw up in including the seats. My mother in-law sat down and was stopped before she fully sat in the vomit. But the damage was done. She ended up wearing the bums stomach contents on the back of her shorts. She had to briefly leave the tour to buy a replacement pair of pants (which was not cheap). This was no fault of the tour guide, but please check your seat before you sit, you clothes and wallet will thank you. I would recommend this tour for anyone. For picture taking a cell phone is the best option and safest option. Things you’ll see along the way Art paintings(in the subway) How each subway station is identified using art, and mosaics The city Hall station from the train Knickerbocker door. And more Enjoy, WATCH WHERE YOU SIT

Response from Host

Aug 2019

Thank you for your 5 stars review! Really glad you enjoyed the tour and sorry this happened to your mother in law...

yumm2011

Jul 2019

We spent the first 50min standing outside listening to the guide’s lecture on history of NYC subway. He was knowledgeable but we were disappointed that we didn’t get to see much. The worst part was that we could not see the city hall station due to construction. The guide said he misunderstood the weekend construction signs and thought we could see it. REALLY? Shouldn’t he (or the company running the tour) have made sure that paying customers can experience the highlight of the tour? So basically we rode trains, stopped at 3 stops to hear more lecture, which was hard to hear because we had a large group (def more than the 12 ppl maximin that is in the description), trains are loud (duh), and people were performing at stations (also, duh). We learned so much more and had way more fun when we visited the transit museum in the past. Definitely not worth the money.

Response from Host

Jul 2019

Good morning, My name is Justin and I am Chief Experience Office with Untapped Cities and I sincerely apologize for your experience with our Underground Subway Tour. We will take your suggestions to heart and would love for you to contact us at [email protected] so we can better know who your guide was and rectify the situation. There are certain things that you are describing that none of our train guides should/would do. We also never exceed the 12 people limit unless there is voice amplification devices (Whisper earpieces) given to each guest so you can better hear the guide. Again if you contact me at [email protected] that would be greatly appreciated. Be well and thanks again for your review.