How to get to know my way around NYC?

I've lived in NYC since 1999, and I still carry a card-sized subway map in my wallet. Even though I never use it, I still feel it's a good security blanket. I wouldn't worry, the more you go out, the easier it becomes.

I use the subways and buses all the time, even late at night although if I feel the trains are running less frequently (or if I'm just too tired/drunk) I'll shell out for a cab. After 11pm or midnight until 5-6am the trains run much less frequently than during the day and some buses don't run at all. I've never really felt unsafe on the subway and I've even fallen asleep several times while riding it. But of course take common sense precautions - secure your wallet, keep a close watch on your bags, and watch where you're going and who's around you. When I first moved to NYC I found it helpful to consult a subway map before I headed out rather than have to flip out a map and look like a tourist on the street. Now there's websites like http://www.hopstop.com/ that can give you door-to-door subway directions so it's a lot more convenient. Just for kicks on a weekend, you might take a subway map and compare it with a street atlas to familiarize yourself with the streets nearby to the subway stations since it can get disorienting when you first get out of the subway. I recommend this one from Hagstrom: http://www.hagstrommap.com/catalog/product_info.ph...

Just remember that in Manhattan north of Houston (that's "house-ton" not "hews-ton") Street, numbered streets go east-west, avenues go north-south.

For cabs, it's $2.50 once you get in, and then generally 40 cents every 1/5 of a mile, plus traffic and other surcharges. The full rate schedule is here:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/passenger/taxicab...

I don't often use cabs, but when I do, it's if I have to move large items, or if I'm in too much of a rush/too tired to wait for the subway, or if I'm starting out from/going to a place that doesn't have direct bus/subway service. There were rides where I spent as little as $5 and as much as $20, but I don't think I've ever spent more than $60 a month on cabs.

Welcome to NYC!

Your parents are just dropping you off in the city? Do you have an apartment or a job?

The city isn't really difficult at all to navigate. For the most part it's a grid system. Avenues go North to South, Streets go West to East. Broadway splits up the West from the East.

Downtown areas become a little more difficult, and really you'll only understand them if you walk around them enough

Most New Yorkers don't use taxis all too often because it's possible to walk nearly EVERYWHERE you need to go, or to hop on the subway which isn't terribly unsafe. If you are a young female, alone, in the middle of the night, common sense would suggest that you find some friends, and hail a cab.

Subway during the day and taxi at night is usually a good idea.

You could pretty much use the subway at anytime of day except for like 1am 2am if your by yourself, i guess it also depends what neighborhoods your going to be. If i were you i wouldnt be thinking about cabs too much. They are really expensive and you can take a cab way easier. Ive been living here all my life and the only time i take a cab is if i have to go somewhere and its snowing like crazy ( cabs are more when the weather is bad or on a holiday). You should get acclimated pretty quikly. I wouldnt suggest carrying a map around honestly, its just going to scream IM NEW HERE I DONT KNOW WHERE IM GOING PLEASE RIP ME OFF! Every train car has a map up on teh wall and every train station has a map up. IF your not sure how to get some where you can reasearch it before you go out and then print out the directions. Hopstop.com is a good site for navagating by foot or train. Its basically like mapquest only it uses the subway and bus system. Good luck!

A simple fact of your life is that you are going to get lost. There's no way around that. NYC is simply too big and too complex not to get lost in. It takes people years to figure this city out -it's that hard to do.

The best way to get to know any city is on foot. The nice thing about NYC is that people walk everywhere ,and at all times of the day. At less than 1/2 mile -7 minutes- walking is the cheapest and fastest way to get somewhere.

Subway's are used by everyone 24/7 .Simply because it's by far the cheapest and fastest way around the city and of course buses tie into subways to get you even closer to your destination

Unlike places like San Antonio where the only people who use public transit are those who can't afford cars ; The NYC public transit system is an on- going example of egalitarian democracy in action.

You're going to get to know this city by first figuring out how to get from home to work and back .Then you're going to start figuring out your own neighborhood. The essential needs of life will found in your own neighborhood.Then you expand outward and start to figure the rest of this city out.

Have fun

As a native New Yorker, I would suggest buying a MetroCard-it is our bus and subway pass. You can buy a 1 day "fun pass". Unforunately, they-New York City transit-doesn't sell fun passes for more than 1 day at a time, but the good news is that if you buy one, you can use it all day without having to spend more to refill it. I would also suggest strongly getting bus, subway and directional maps so that you can get around; although people are willing to be helpful, not everyone knows their way around.

i am born and raised in nyc

umm..i guess you will learn to know your way around naturally

you cant really calculate how long it will take