Best ways to get around New York City

Coolest Subway Stations in NYC

One of the best ways to get around New York City is through its sprawling and complex subway system. Although many of the stations in the subway are simple, there are some very beautiful and unique stations worth stopping at, even if you do not need to do so.

The Old City Hall Station

Although the Old City Hall Station is no longer in use, you can still see its majesty, which includes vaulted ceilings, painted glass in its skylights, and Rafael Gustavino tiles. The charm of this station is renowned, and it is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. However, its structure prevents longer cars and platforms, causing it to be decommissioned in 1945. If you stay on the 6 train after the Brooklyn Bridge City Hall stop, then you can ride the train through this station as it makes its loop. You can also catch a closer look during one of the occasional tours offered by the New York Transit Museum to its members.

Station House at Avenue H

If you want to experience the countryside while in the middle of the city, then you should take the subway to the Station House at Avenue H, which is in Midwood. The transit station house was converted from a shingled wooden cottage. To add to the country charm, Ed Kopel installed his artistic installation, “Brooklyn Bucolic,” which includes bronze rocking chairs inspired by the Shaker community.

81^st Street/Museum of Natural History

When you head to the Museum of Natural History, the experience starts as soon as you leave the train. As you walk up the stairs from the platform, you walk along elaborate tile mosaics that feature animals, birds, and mammals.

Washington Heights

This subway entrance is the only one in New York that seems more like you are entering a magical forest than a metro line. The subway station is in one of the highest points of the city, so it is 140 feet below the surface, making it one of the deepest in the city. The true magic is in the entrance, which is carved into rock and surrounded by so much greenery it seems almost like a forest.

West 181^st Street

If you want to go back in time when you take the subway, then take a trip to the West 181^st Street station. The outside of the stations is a classic Art Deco building that has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 2005. The old world charm comes from more than just its appearance; you also have to take elevators with operators to your train.

These are just a small sampling of the treasures you can find when you explore the massive subway system that takes you through Manhattan and the other boroughs that make up New York City.