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)

204IreneS

Dec 2018

Our tour guide was exceptionally knowledgeable and skillful in presenting the information. It was interesting to learn about the origins of the subway and its history while riding the subway or standing in a station. It was a well-spent Saturday afternoon. We look forward to joining other tours in the future.

Response from Host

Dec 2018

Thank you very much!

YingMei

Oct 2018

So worthwhile a tour- plenty of rich history of old NY, its politics, culture and infrastructure. Mandy is an entertaining, knowledgeable educator and historian. Learned many facts and anecdotes. Enjoyed learning a new way of observing our underground tunnels and platforms, and now inspired to read more about NY from the mid-1800's to the mid-1900s. Thanks, Mandy!

Response from Host

Oct 2018

Thank you so much!

Safari197743

Oct 2018

WOW! Mandy is a fantastic tour guide! From the beginning, you could see she is very warm an welcoming. She texted everyone in the group to make sure we were going to find her. We started out with some history of the subway and you will learn a lot. It's evident that Mandy has a passion for the history of NYC. She is thorough and seemed willing to answer any questions that our small group had. There is some walking and you'll go up and down several steps, but it was well worth it. I think the greatest part of our tour was at the end when we reached the last stop on the 6 train and we stayed on to see the Old City Hall station. A gentleman and his wife were on the train and he asked if we knew this was the last stop. We talked and discovered they were staying on to see the station, too. Our surprise came when we learned that this is the VOICE of the subway. This is the guy who says... "Stand clear of the closing doors, please!" He took pictures and recorded videos with us. The greatest tour ever!

Response from Host

Oct 2018

How amazing you got to meet the voice of the NYC subway! Thank you so much for your review!