We will be exploring the busiest rapid transit system in the Western world! Highlights: • Uncover abandoned stations hidden in plain sight, including the famous 1904 City Hall Station. • Explore a deep station where you would have needed scuba equipment only 10 years ago during catastrophic subway flooding. • Remember the 9/11 terror attacks and stand on subway platforms which had totally collapsed under the WTC 20 years ago. • Discover how to get to an old wine cellar under the Brooklyn Bridge from inside a subway station. • Learn about subway technology and how the subway operates 24/7. • Explore the past, present, and future of mass transit in the region! Your licensed tour guide is from NYC and is an AICP certified urban planner and Guides Association of NYC member. Notes: • Full Subway fare provided! • Individual ear pieces provided so everyone can hear perfectly. • Tour only visits public areas. • Experience involves walking up and down steps.
In demand: 20 of the next 46 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 19.
On this private walking tour, discover the hidden world beneath the streets of Manhattan and explore the fascinating history of the New York City subway system. Instead of simply riding trains from place to place, we’ll slow down and uncover the secrets hiding in plain sight throughout the network.
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For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Discover Hidden Subway Secrets Below Manhattan - Private lasts about 2 hours. The itinerary has 1 stop.
Prices start at $225 per person for this New York City experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 11:00 AM, 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM, and 6:00 PM.
It can: 20 of the next 46 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is Please meet outside the Starbucks located at One Battery Park Plaza on State Street. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 15 travellers can book together.
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 35 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Region NYC.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Rayn's tour was very interesting. He is an urban planner for the city, but worked several years for the MTA. He taught us about the histories of the different subway lines. We saw some abandoned stations and tracks. He pointed out things - both modern and historical - that most people walk right by every day. He has deep knowledge of all things New York Subway and loves to share it.
Rayn was an amazing guide – incredibly knowledgeable, engaging, and passionate about New York. He brought every stop to life with fascinating stories and local insights, making the whole tour both entertaining and informative. We absolutely loved this tour. It was well-paced, covered so much without ever feeling rushed, and gave us a real appreciation for the area. Rayn’s enthusiasm was infectious, and he was more than happy to answer questions along the way. We would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting New York. It’s an excellent way to see the city and learn so much from a fantastic guide. Thank you for a brilliant experience!
Rayn was an excellent tour guide. You could tell he really liked the subway and knew a ton of interesting facts about it. He had really good communication. This was a great way to start off our vacation.
As part of our Summer Intern Program, we once again booked Rayn as our guide for a close look into the historic and architectural wonders of New York City’s subway system, with a focus on lower Manhattan. Rayn’s passion and expertise brought the system to life, giving our interns a behind-the-scenes look at one of the world’s most iconic transit networks. From the beautiful old City Hall station to the mechanics of subway operations, Rayn’s insights made the tour both educational and engaging. Practical tips, like sitting in the middle of the car for a cooler ride, added a fun touch and made the interns feel like there were a little bit closer to being “in-the-know” New Yorkers. Other highlights included learning how the subway has shaped NYC’s social and economic growth, and very importantly, discovering the all-important role of drip pans! More than just a tour, it was an exploration of the people, history, and engineering that keep the city moving. A big thank you to Rayn for making it a standout experience and a true highlight of the summer internship program.
Rayn is incredibly knowledgeable about the NYC transit system with an experience base the transcends commonly available knowledge
Our guide was truly an expert at the NYC subway system and its fascinating history. He took us to many interesting stops and never missed an opportunity to point out a fascinating detail that would otherwise have been missed by both tourist and commuter alike. At one point, he took us outside of a subway car with a flashlight in order to better show us the interior of an abandoned station. Skip the by-the-books tour and take one that truly looks at the history of NYC from a unique perspective.
We've never ridden the subway in NYC and we were very nervous about trying it on our own. We had the best time on this tour! We learned so many fun facts and feel like we could confidently explore on our own now! Great tour for families!
Rayn is a true drooler 🤤 , lol 🤣 (take tour to get explanation) lol 😂 seen more than I expected 🐀, chicken nuggets,red box messages... 🤣 ... we felt safe we laughed, we now have more respect for the subway system❤️
This was a fascinating tour through part of the NY subway. We live in NYC and loved learning the history and current uses behind things we see every time we ride. Rayn was very knowledgeable and funny.
My brother and I took this wonderful private tour with our mother for her 75th birthday! We wanted to something different than just another Broadway show. I have lived in the city for 24 years and am a subway / train enthusiast who held my son’s 5th bday at the NY Transit Museum! He’s obsessed with the subway and together we have been on all 26 subway lines! So I thought I knew a lot, and that this subway tour sounded intriguing. Our tour guide Rayn was excellent and had so many interesting facts and private sights to share with us! (Watch out for the drip pans!) We were able to see the abandoned City Hall and South Ferry stations, which was super cool! I wish we could have seen the bathrooms but we didn’t have Key 9B! ;) And the hidden wine cellar would have required an MTA jacket- next time! lol. All around a super fun evening and a “NY Moment” for sure! Thanks Rayn for a really special experience for my Mom’s birthday, and for taking care in the amount of steps she could do! Looking forward to another tour!
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discover Hidden Subway Secrets Below Manhattan - Private | 2 hours | 5.0 (35) | $225 | |
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 Guided Private Underground New York Subway Tour | 2h 30min | 4.8 (54) | $220 | View |
 Private New York City Walking Tour: Central Park History and Hidden Secrets | 2 hours | 4.9 (8) | $175 | View |
 Hidden SoHo & Tribeca: Art, Architecture & NYC Secrets | 2 hours | — | $69 | View |
 Full Day Private Tour of Manhattan by Foot, Subway and Ferry | 7–9 hours | — | $395 | View |
 Discover Hidden Subway Secrets Below Brooklyn - Private | 2 hours | 5.0 (30) | $225 | View |