New York City

Guided Private Underground New York Subway Tour

New York City, USA

New York Underground Subway Tour with Private Guide

2 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Learn the secrets of New York’s subway on a 2.5-hour underground tour with a private guide. Hear stories about the engineering, technology and people behind the subway’s construction. Discover legends and secrets about abandoned levels, hidden stations and fake houses that disguise escape routes around the city. See official and unofficial art as you follow the 1904 line from Bowling Green to Grand Central Terminal, and get a surprising look at places that every New Yorker sees—but few notice.

2.5-hour private tour of the New York City subway
Discover NYC history and culture
Explore the subways secrets with a local guide
Perfect for visitors—or life long residents
Tour is wheelchair accessible

What's Included

Professional local guide for a group up to five MAXIMUM.

Entrance fees (the cost of one subway ride).
Food and drinks
Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

1 Centre St, New York, NY 10007, USA

End point

Grand Central Terminal
89 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017, USA

What To Expect

Brooklyn Bridge

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

New York City Subway

40 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Times Square

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Astor Place

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Grand Central Terminal

25 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Price shown is per group
A small amount of walking is involved and there are some stairs
We DO NOT enter the tunnels. We view the City Hall Station from the safety of the train. We do not do anything illegal. We visit areas that are open to the public but, in some cases, overlooked.

Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.0

49 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 49 reviews

Very interesting

Gina_B, Sep 2023

Gary my guide was very knowledgeable and funny .. we are New Yorkers and learned a lot of things I never knew and it was very interesting.. I would definitely suggest it to tourist and people from New York if you wanna know the history .. I did think we were supposed to see areas that the public doesn’t go too but he explained that from the beginning that those are completely different tickets

Guide Gary was very...

Cyndi_C, Aug 2023

Guide Gary was very knowledgeable and did a great job!!!! We enjoyed it very much. Kids with me….ages 12, 16, 17. We all learned a good bit about the subway.

Gary did a great job -extremely knowledgeable

Sean_M, Jul 2023

Great pictures Gary did a great job -I really enjoyed the tour and learned a lot -it was a lot of fun -I’ll definitely do it again

Tour was disappointing.

Karen_S, Jan 2023

I was very disappointed in this tour. We all were really looking forward to seeing parts of the subway system most people don’t usually see or pay attention to and towards the end we did finally see some unusual artwork. The problem is that for half of the 2.5 hr time we were with the tour guide all we did was listen to him talk ( standing ) about the evolution of the subway cars. He had a prepared speech and no matter how load the noise was around us he proceeded weather we could hear or not. Gary is a very personable man obviously knows almost everything there is to know about the history of the NYC subway system but it would be so much more enjoyable if he would ask “ is there something in particular you would like to know about on this tour “. To me the evolution of the subway car should have been a small part not the main part of the presentation.

Response from Host, Jan 2023

I am sorry that you did not enjoy the tour. This tour has received at least 72, Viator / Trip Advisor 5 Star reviews. Out of the over 75 reviews, I have only received 3 reviews that complained. Most of the complaints come from people that do not read the tour listing. Two of the reviews were for the large group version of the tour that is listed elsewhere – not on Viator (even though that tour is not sold through Viator, Viator left the reviews up anyway). One of those reviews basically complained that I did not take into account the schedule of the Long Island Rail Road for the start time of the tour. The one actual Viator purchased tour that complained was from someone who literally said he wanted to commit a serious criminal offense as well as put his life in incredible danger and was upset over the fact that we did not go down into the tracks. As I point out in the tour listing: We DO NOT enter the tunnels. We view the City Hall Station from the safety of the train. We do not do anything illegal. We visit areas that are open to the public but, in some cases, overlooked. I believe, and so did over 70 others, that I do point out the overlooked “areas”. And: This private tour will completely demystify New York's famous subway system. and give you the secret history and inside story of the creation of the original 1904 subway line and how it grew into one of the most extensive transportation systems in the world. All the art, all the history, all the technical breakthroughs, all the "whys" and all the shenanigans that went into this spectacular achievement. I have had people complain that we did not walk the tunnels, but no one has ever said that I only talked about the evolution of the IRT subway cars. I believe that I do demystify the history of the system and explain why it took New York City as long as it did to get a system. I talk about why the system is as safe as it is. I always ask my guests if they can hear me. I am aware that the system is noisy. The scenario of “no matter how load the noise was around us he proceeded weather we could hear or not” just does not happen. If an express train goes by, I stop talking until it has passed. As I say, “the tour is for you – not me”. When we are at Astor Place, the station with the ceramic beavers, we are at the midpoint of the tour. Starting with the ceramic double B’s near the beginning of the tour along with what I show you on my image pad, there is art, before the end of the tour. I am not sure if it is “unusual” or not but it is art. My “prepared speech” is the history of how the system happened. It gives everything context. The evolution of the IRT subway car is a small but important part of the tour and it is part of the history. I use it to show the development of what we have today based on lessons from the past – placement of doors for example. I also talk about the signal system and the use of Automatic Train Stops. What would you have said if I did ask “is there something in particular you would like to know about on this tour”? Would you have known what to ask? I always encourage questions; I always ask my guests, several times throughout the tour, if they have any questions. Is that not essentially the same thing?

Best tour ever!

Pam_S, Sep 2022

This tour is one of the best tours we've ever taken! Gary was extremely knowledgable about everything New York subway. He provided pictures to accent the stories he told. I'd be willing to bet we have seen and know more about the subway than most New Yorkers. I could have listened to his stories all day. I highly recommend this tour. You won't be sorry.

Response from Host, Sep 2022

Thank you so much for your kind words. I had a great time with you 2.

Brilliant

Faisal_L, Apr 2022

The tour was fantastic!!! I would certainly go on the tour again when I am next in NYC. Garry is extremely knowledgeable and articulate, also great with kids

Response from Host, May 2022

Your son was great and a tour guide's dream of a guest. Thank you for your kind words.

The original art/tile...

Michael_M, Mar 2022

The original art/tile work in the subway. Plus the restored ceiling in Grand Central vs the unrestored piece.

Fun, interesting, and useful tour!

Kenneth_A, Sep 2021

Gary was fantastic providing us a great review of the history of the subway, and a better understanding of how to use the subway. His has enabled us to make much better use of the NY Subway!!!! This is a highly recommended tour!!!!

Response from Host, Sep 2021

Thank you for your kind words and I am very glad you enjoyed the tour.

A Trip Through the Decades

Laurie_F, Jan 2020

As born and bred New Yorkers, and users of the NYC subway system, we were excited and amazed to learn so much about its history, from the 19th Century to present time. Gary, our guide, made the tour fun and informative. He talked about: how it got started, who were the men behind it all, how the NYC government played a part in it, what countries and states influenced them, and the different types of engines and materials used to make the train cars throughout the decades. Plus, other interesting tidbits and newsworthy facts about the subway stations and tunnels. This tour brought back fond memories of us traveling the different trains and subway lines of our youth. Gary instructed us to look up, down and around the subway stations to see the beautiful craftsmanship, murals, art and tiles that is and has been part of its history. Which is easily missed when you are rushing to get to your train. Whether you are a born New Yorker or new to the city, this amazing tour is one that shouldn't be missed. The time just "speeds" and you don't want it to end. Thank you Gary for an enjoyable experience! by R. Festa

Response from Host, Jan 2020

Thank you so much, you guys were an amazing group and so great to be with. Please send my best to the others.

Subway tour

Chester_B, Jan 2020

Gary deserves more than five stars. He gave us the background and rich history of what has lied below our feet and what we had taken for granted for so long. the tour was great value.

Response from Host, Jan 2020

Thank you for your kind words. I am very glad that you had a good time.

Awesome!

Tricia_S, Dec 2019

Best tour with the best tour guide! Gary was a wealth of knowledge on the NY subway system, it's history and workings.

Response from Host, Dec 2019

Thank you so much. You two were wonderful.

Great history lession on the city and the subway

Robert_H, Dec 2019

This tour was excellent. If you are interested in the history of New York City and/or the history of the elevated/subways of New York, this is the tour to take. Gary is a wealth of knowledge on both and is able to tie them together so you understand the progression of both the city starting at the tip of the island and moving uptown and how the transportation system grew as the city did – along with all of the problems and obstacles that were put on the companies building the elevates and the subway. Gary spent nearly 3 hours with us and I wish that we could have stayed with him for another 3 hours as he knows so much and you want to know it all.

Response from Host, Dec 2019

I am so blushing right now. Thank you so much for your kind words.

Private Underground New York subway tour

Frances_D, Dec 2019

This tour was EXCELLENT!!!! And so reasonably priced. Gary is just a wealth of information on the New York City subway system and he loves to share it . He talked nonstop for three hours and gave us such a history of the subway system . He was personable , pleasant and answered all of our questions and listened to.our comments . I would highly recommend this tour to anyone . There were a group of six of us and the only issue we had is that at the beginning , because he had to give us so much history , we stood in one spot for about 40 minutes , which was very tiring . It might it may have been easier if we were walking around a bit instead of standing in one spot . Once we started touring the subway system itself it was easier.

You can still teach a Native NewYorker a few things

rozh2013, Nov 2019

We were a group of four on a Saturday morning and we grew up, lived, worked and have played in NYC, yet this tour still taught us things we didn’t know about what is right under our noses. Informative, entertaining, and hilariously funny, Gary, our tour guide, made three hours disappear! The tour starts in front of City Hall downtown and ends in Grand Central terminal. You do need a metro card for getting on the subway, which you can buy in any subway station. I highly recommend this tour, even for locals.

Response from Host, Nov 2019

Thank you so much for your very kind words. The tour flew by for me as your were a terrific group.

Down under

Carol C, Oct 2019

Interesting tour. Gary, our tour guide was excellent. Very knowledgeable about the history of the subway system. Loved that we ended up in Grand Central Station.

Gary knows his stuff

622craigf, Sep 2019

enjoyed it. nice small (private) tour. Gary knows his stuff and was feeding information for a full 3 hours. If you want a history of the subway system including the political gossip as to the "how" or "why" this is the tour.

Response from Host, Oct 2019

Thank you, you 2 were a pleasure to take around.

Brilliant!

Frank R, Jul 2019

This tour was one the best things we did in New York. It was entertaining, informative and interesting and our guide Gary was fantastic! I cannot recommend this tour enough!

Response from Host, Jul 2019

WOW!! Thank you for your kind words. I am very happy that you had a good time. Best to you, Gary

So much better than we expected!

Ruth_R, Feb 2019

Our guide Gary was terrific - so knowledgeable and passionate about the history of the NYC underground! It was so interesting. We could have spent another 1/2 day learning more!

Great Time

Laurence_P, Jan 2019

Gary is the MTA's greatest ambassador, he loves the subject and it really comes through in his presentation. He brings you through the history of the formation of the subway and how it all came together to create what we have today. We really enjoyed this tour and highly recommend it!!

Your was AMAZING

Voyager23862306739, Nov 2018

Gary, our tour guide was very knowledgeable and super passionate about the city and the history. Would recommend him every time.