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

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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)

Christa A

Feb 2019

Absolutely love this tour. It gave me a whole new appreciation for the subway system, the history of our city, and the power of secrets we walk by every single day. It completely changed my outlook and Justin is a terrific guide!

Response from Host

Mar 2019

Thank you very much! Justin is amazing indeed

craiginnycNewYork_NY

Jan 2019

My friends and I really enjoyed this tour. Mandy was an excellent guide--knowledgeable, interesting, and clearly passionate about history and her subject matter. This was my first Untapped Cities tour, and it certainly won't be the last!

Response from Host

Jan 2019

Thank you so much! We aim to surprise long-time New Yorkers so this is really great to hear... Can't wait to welcome you on another tour soon!

juliasA3397UB

Dec 2018

Look the tour guide was brilliant. He was funny (dad jokes and sarcasm), knowledgeable and engaging. What you need to make sure you understand is that it is mostly a combination of riding the train and listening to him speak. You are not taken anywhere “special” or “secretive”. What is done is you are given context to the train ride by being given a history of the system and its birth through evolution of the system. Then at the stops you make, you walk/look around the station and he points out works that may have not been noticed. Again, he was great, and informative. Lots of amazing information. But a bulk of it is standing and listening to that info with a brief train ride so I felt quite mislead. However this may be just what you are looking for if you feel intimidated taking the train and you are from out of town and this will be your only exposure to the train.

Response from Host

Dec 2018

Hi Julias, Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. I am glad you thought the tour guide was brilliant, knowledgeable, informative and engaging! Reading through your review I thought this was a five stars review because you seemed to have enjoyed the experience but I then I realized that wasn't. I am sorry about that, we try to be as descriptive as possible on all our communications to guests about what the experience is going to be and if there is anything you think we could make more clear please let us know as we want every guests on this tour to have an amazing experience. We explain very clearly that this tour doesn't go inside abandoned stations or in any off-limits places as this would simply be illegal and we are not into promoting any illegal activities. While visitors are welcomed on this experience, we designed it to please even the most seasoned New Yorkers who want to rediscover their city and history. Thank you again for sharing your feedback and please let us know what it is that you would do differently and how you felt misled. Thank you!