Taxi, Uber & on Foot
Yellow Cabs
The yellow taxis are as iconic as the skyline. Hail one in Manhattan (raise your arm when the roof sign is lit = available). Base fare: $3.50, then about $2.50/km. A typical ride in Manhattan: $10–20. Tip: 15–20%!
- Advantages: Available everywhere in Manhattan, no app needed, fixed rate to the airport (JFK: $52 flat).
- Disadvantages: Stuck in traffic during rush hour (subway is faster!), hard to find outside Manhattan.
Uber / Lyft
Ride-hailing apps work in New York like everywhere: open the app, confirm pickup, get in. Often cheaper than taxis, especially for rides to Brooklyn/Queens. Shared rides (UberPool/Lyft Shared) are even cheaper. Surge pricing during rain, rush hour, and events—then better take the subway.
On Foot
New York is a walk-city—and Manhattan is surprisingly compact. The blocks are short (north-south: about 80 meters, east-west: about 250 meters), and the numbered street grid makes orientation easy: Streets run east-west, avenues run north-south, numbers increase northward. 20 blocks = about 1.6 km = about 20 minutes on foot.
Tip: In New York, pedestrians cross at red lights—it's culture here, not a traffic offense (the police don't enforce it). But: still look left and right!
Citi Bike
Citi Bike is New York's bike-sharing system: over 25,000 bikes at 1,700 stations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. Day pass: $15 (unlimited 30-minute rides). Perfect for short distances and the way through Central Park. Note: Cycling in New York is not for beginners—traffic is aggressive and bike lanes are blocked by taxis and delivery vehicles. It's safe and beautiful in Central Park and along the Hudson River Greenway.
