How to Take The Subway to Brooklyn

How to take the subway to Brooklyn?

New York City’s subway system is large and complex. If you want to travel to Brooklyn by subway, it can be difficult to figure out; because Brooklyn is very large. Also, because most of the city’s subway lines diverge out to different parts Brooklyn (you cannot ride one single subway line to all of Brooklyn’s neighborhoods).

This guide will assist you at traveling from Manhattan to different Brooklyn neighborhoods. It will also be useful if you are traveling from Penn Station. Also, this page provides subway directions to Brooklyn’s Christmas lights at Dyker Heights.

Lower down on this page is beginner info about using the subway in NYC.

Basics

Brooklyn is huge – 71 mile² / 180 km². There are more than 30 neighborhoods, and they are serviced by more than 12 different subway lines. The subway line that you will use is dependent on which neighborhood in Brooklyn is your destination. It is also important to note that getting between different neighborhoods in Brooklyn by subway can be very time-consuming. Because all of the subway lines are designed for travel to Manhattan – they are not well designed for travel within Brooklyn.

Here are top neighborhoods/destinations you may be traveling to, and how to get there by subway. These are most popular areas for tourism and cosmopolitan culture/dining/nightlife. Travel times listed are from the Midtown Manhattan area (unless otherwise noted), including Penn Station.

Williamsburg

Williamsburg is the ‘hipster’ neighborhood in Brooklyn known for cosmopolitan culture and dining. Williamsburg is the first subway stop out of Manhattan.

Here is a map of top attractions and shops in Williamsburg

Pick up the L line anywhere along 14th Street in Manhattan. Get off at Bedford Avenue, or one of the stops after it. (Travel time approx. 20 minutes from Midtown. This line cannot be picked up in Midtown. You must take a train within Manhattan to get to the L line on 14th Street).

Bushwick

Bushwick is a post-industrial Brooklyn neighborhood becoming known for a vibrant art and graffiti scene. Also many new restaurants and bars.

Here is info about the street art in Bushwick, and a self-guided tour

To the western part of neighborhood (where the art scene and dining is concentrated): Pick up the L line anywhere along 14th Street in Manhattan. Get off at Jefferson Street or Morgan Avenue (Travel time approx. 25 minutes from Midtown. This line cannot be picked up in Midtown. You must take a train within Manhattan to get to the L line on 14th Street).

You can also take the J, M or Z lines to other parts of Bushwick.

Park Slope

Park Slope is famed for its family-friendly yuppie community and beautiful brownstone homes. Park Slope is several subway stops out of Manhattan.

For the northern part of the neighborhood: Pick up the B (runs on 6th Avenue in Manhattan) or Q (runs on Broadway in Manhattan). Get off at 7th Avenue. (travel time approx. 25 minutes)

For the southern part of the neighborhood: Take the R line (runs on Broadway in Manhattan) to Union Street or to 4th Avenue – 9th Street (travel time approx. 30 minutes). Or take the F line (runs on 6th Avenue in Manhattan) to 4th Avenue – 9th Street or to 7th Avenue (travel time approx. 30 minutes).

DUMBO

Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass is a trendy post-industrial district of parks and beautiful views. DUMBO is the first subway stop out of Manhattan.

Take the F line (runs on 6th Avenue in Manhattan) to York Street. (travel time approx. 20 minutes)

OR Take the A or C lines (both run on 8th Avenue in Manhattan) to High Street (travel time approx. 20 minutes).

Coney Island

Coney Island, Brooklyn is the quirky historic sea-side boardwalk and beach. Coney Island is far out. It is 15-20 subway stops out of Manhattan. Many subway lines terminate here.

Popular attractions: Coney Island Boardwalk & beach, Luna Park, Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park, Wonder Wheel, MCU Park (baseball)

Take the Q or N (both run on Broadway in Manhattan). Or take the F or D (both run on 6th Avenue in Manhattan). It is the end of the route for all of these lines: Coney Island – Stillwell Avenue station (Travel time approx. 60 minutes).

BONUS: Brooklyn Museum & Brooklyn Botanic Garden

These two 100-year-old+ cultural institutions are located next to each other in the neighborhood of Crown Heights / Prospect Heights.

Take the 2, or 3 line (both run on 7th Avenue in Manhattan) to Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum. You can also take the 4 or 5 line (both run on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan) to Franklin Avenue station (Travel time approx. 25 minutes).

Penn Station to Brooklyn by Subway

It’s very simple to travel from Penn Station to Brooklyn. Depending on your destination in Brooklyn, you can take a subway line directly from Penn station, or you must travel to a different station and board a subway line from there which will take you to Brooklyn.

The A, C, 2 and 3 lines stop directly at Penn Station.

For the N, Q, R, F or D, walk one long block east to 34th Street – Herald Square station at Broadway.

For the L line, take the A, C, 2 or 3 line down to 14th Street and then transfer.

For the 4 or 5 line, take the A, C, 2 or 3 line down to Fulton Street station and then transfer.

Crowds checking out decorated Christmas houses

Brooklyn Christmas Lights (Dyker Heights) – How to Get by Subway

Brooklyn has become famous for Christmas lights and decorations. The neighborhood where this is located is called Dyker Heights. It’s fairly straightforward to visit and view the bright displays. Be sure to take lots of photos!

Here is info, map and self-guided tour of the Christmas Lights at Dyker Heights

Take the R subway line to ’86th Street’ station in Brooklyn.
We suggest taking the 2, 3, 4, 5, N or Q line to ‘Atlantic Avenue – Barclays Center’ station in Brooklyn, and then transferring to the R line towards Bay Ridge.

Once you arrive at the subway station, you must walk approximately 1 km / 0.66 miles to the Christmas lights district. Please use these instructions.

MAP

Here is a subway map of these top cosmopolitan Brooklyn neighborhoods:

map of Brooklyn showing select subway routes

Please note: This map was created for touristic purposes. These specific areas have been selected here because they have proven to be most popular with tourists and visitors. Every single neighborhood in Brooklyn is important; and is worth visiting. Most of Brooklyn has been faded out on this map in order to highlight the selected neighborhoods and make it easier to pinpoint them. Nothing is faded out on this map because it is unimportant.

Beginner Info For How to Take The Subway in NYC

You can now enter the subway by tapping your credit card or phone. The awkward Metrocard that was previously required, is no longer being used.