How To Use OMNY To Get Around New York

Traveling to New York City? Besides using a taxi cab or a ride share service, you’ll probably consider taking the subway to get around town. If so, you’ll need to know about a major change to this massive transit network.

For 32 years, the MetroCard has been the main method of payment for New York City’s subway system. Recently, the MTA (the agency that manages the city’s public transit) has announced that as of December 31, 2025, the MetroCard will no longer be sold or reloaded.

In its place, OMNY now has become the payment system for all subway stations and other forms of NYC public transit.     

Before you travel to NYC, make sure you know everything there is to know about using OMNY, as there are a few different ways to do so. Don’t be intimidated, though, it’s quite simple. 

Here’s a handy guide to understanding how OMNY works.

What is OMNY?

An acronym for One Metro New York, this contactless payment system is your gateway to public transportation in New York City. It’s your ticket to get on the subway, buses, local rail, and more. 

OMNY will also get you to the major tourist spots you’ll want to see while you’re visiting the city. 

For example, all of the below are easily reachable by public transportation and thus OMNY:

• The Wall Street Charging Bull
• The 9/11 Memorial
• Central Park
• Madison Square Garden
• The Empire State Building
• Rockefeller Center

Honestly, with a little bit of walking, you can get anywhere in Manhattan with OMNY! It’ll also get you to a lot of places in the other boroughs as well (and beyond).

How to use OMNY

OMNY works as a contactless tap and go system, but you have more than one way to pay for entry. 

• You can use your debit or credit cards as long as it’s equipped with a contactless chip. (Nearly all newer cards are.)
• You can use a digital wallet, like Apple Pay or Google Pay, via your cellphone or smart watch. 
• You can also purchase an OMNY card if you don’t want to use either of the contactless payment methods above.

You pay directly at the turnstile or Autogate entrance by tapping on the screen of the nearby OMNY reader. If it says “GO” and turns green, you’re good to go. If it turns red, then your payment didn’t go through, and the screen will say why. It may tell you to tap again, in which case, do that. If it says “Card Not Accepted,” your payment method may be blocked or suspended. 

More about the OMNY card

The OMNY card is a physical card that can be purchased from OMNY vending machines in subway stations. You can buy a new black-and-white OMNY card from vending machines for $1. The card’s standard color is black and white.

Like the MetroCard, OMNY cards are reusable and can be reloaded with various monetary amounts. You can also pay for single ride OMNY tickets ($3.25) or put larger amounts (starting from $10) or put in a custom amount of your choosing on the OMNY card.

Credit and debit cards and cash are all accepted as payment if you want to buy an OMNY card. You can also check the balance on your OMNY card at an OMNY vending machine within the subway station.

OMNY cards are also sold at various retailers, like Walgreens, but we recommend going straight to the source at a station’s OMNY vending machine. There are MTA staffers on-site who can assist you at some stops if you need help.

Keep in mind that right now these OMNY card machines are in the process of being installed at more subway stations. If a machine is not available at your station, you may have to pay with a bank or credit card. 

Tip: Most travelers (and locals) use their credit or bank card or smart device so they don’t have to pay the initial fee to buy the OMNY card and keep it preloaded. 

After January 2026, the subway fare will increase to $3 for most riders on subways and local, limited, rush, and Select Bus Service buses. Check MTA.info for updates on any changes.

Reasons to use OMNY

There are plenty of reasons to use OMNY, but the primary reason is that it is going to get you to the major tourist spots you’ll want to see while you’re visiting the city. 

For example, all of the below are easily reachable by public transportation and, thus, via OMNY:

• The Wall Street Charging Bull
• The 9/11 Memorial
• Central Park
• Madison Square Garden
• The Empire State Building
• Rockefeller Center

Honestly, with a little bit of walking, you can get anywhere in Manhattan via OMNY! It’ll also get you to a lot of places in the other boroughs as well (and beyond).

Benefits of OMNY 

The easiest way to get around New York is by public transportation. While it’s fun to be driven around in a taxi, the price will add up quickly, and the time sitting in traffic will start to wear on you — especially if you don’t have a lot of time to spare. 

The same goes with ride share services. It’s easy to call an Uber, but it can get costly, especially during surge pricing times. The subway is a great budget saver.

NYC’s subways are usually efficient and go almost everywhere you need to go. These trains can even connect you to major airports, including JFK and Newark (for LaGuardia, you’ll have to connect to a bus, but that’s easy!). They also can bring you to Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station for hopping on Metro North Railroad, Amtrak, and LIRR.

With OMNY, you have access to all of this transportation, and you also get some benefits. For example, you can make what’s called a free transfer between a subway and an MTA bus, or from one bus to another, just as the MetroCard did.

OMNY offers tap and go every time you take a ride. If you’re visiting New York for a while, OMNY’s weekly fare cap feature makes additional rides free after you’ve taken 12 paid trips within a seven-day period. 

You have to use the same payment method every time to get these perks. You can also register for an online OMNY account to track your rides and payment history.  

Plus, traveling by subway is part of the New York experience. It’s how we New Yorkers get around — and that’s one of the reasons it’s part of our NYC in a Day Tour. 

That’s right. You’ll need to use OMNY if you join us on this six-hour tour of the city so you can hop on the subway at beautiful Grand Central Terminal. Of course, if you’re not sure how to use OMNY yet, your guide will show you on the tour — and then you’ll be set for the rest of your trip!

See you in New York soon!

Getting around New York may sound tricky, but it’s really not! If you ever feel a bit lost, don’t be afraid to ask a New Yorker for help — I promise we’re nice people who are happy to help. 

We hope to see you in New York soon, and we would love to welcome you on one of our tours when you arrive. Once you’ve mastered the New York City subway system, you can sail on down to Lower Manhattan where our Statue of Liberty tours depart from or zip up to the Upper East Side for our Met Tour. 

Wherever you want to travel, OMNY will help get you there!