The Most Fascinating Abandoned Subway Stations in New York

Perhaps the best-known station no longer in use is old City Hall
Perhaps the best-known station no longer in use is old City Hall | © Felix Lipov / Alamy Stock Photo

Since beginning operations in 1904, the New York City Subway has evolved into a behemoth of twisted tunnels. As you’d expect from a network more than a century old, some parts of it have fallen into disuse, with some of those underground tombs of transport still discoverable today. Intrigued? These are the most fascinating abandoned subway stations in the Big Apple.

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CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
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1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

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CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
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2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
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An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
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1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

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SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
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2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
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Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
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The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
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3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

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Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

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SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
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3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
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3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
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Old City Hall, Manhattan

The best-known disused station in town is Old City Hall. The first-ever subway ride in New York City departed from here in 1904. Designed by architects Heins & LaFarge, the terminal featured elegant chandeliers, skylights and vaulted tile ceilings created by artisan Rafael Guastavino. It was closed in 1945, mostly because it was made without the practicalities of larger trains in mind, rendering it one of the least-used stations in Manhattan.

Today, Old City Hall is not totally off-limits – you can explore it by booking a tour with the New York Transit Museum. However, they only run sporadically throughout the year, and you must be a member of the museum to claim a spot.

Court Street, Brooklyn

The former Court Street stop in Brooklyn, which closed in 1946, is the most accessible of all the abandoned stations, as the New York Transit Museum is built around it. Founded in 1976, the museum houses a rotating selection of 20 subway and elevated cars, which date back as far as 1907. The exhibition was initially part of the United States Bicentennial celebrations and was intended to be temporary, but it was later turned made permanent due to popular demand. The decommissioned station has made many cinematic appearances over the years, its most famous being in The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974).

South Fourth Street, Brooklyn

In 2009, an abandoned subway station in New York City was visited by a group of daredevil artists, who covered the cavernous space in paintings and murals. The Underbelly Project, led by street artists PAC and Workhouse, saw 103 international creatives sneak unnoticed into the belly of the subway system and transform it into the most exclusive studio in town. Although the location of this particular station has never been confirmed by either the Underbelly organizers or transit officials, it’s believed to be South Fourth Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Visiting the station is illegal and highly dangerous, so it’s best to admire the artwork online rather than make the trip yourself.

91st Street, Manhattan

This station shut down in 1959, but is still visible from the 1 train between the 86th Street and 96th Street stops. You can only glimpse it for seconds, and it’s tough to see properly what secrets it holds, but in 1999 a New York Times reporter entered the empty platform in the hope of answering that question. What André Aciman found was trash – and lots of it. “This wasn’t just the detritus of a subway station, but the leftovers of mole people,” he wrote.

Dean Street, Brooklyn

When Dean Street station in Brooklyn closed in 1995, it was the first NYC station to shut down in more than 30 years. However, it was no surprise: the Franklin shuttle line was close by, and the under-used stop was in need of a significant facelift. When it closed, Dean Street was a mere decade away from celebrating a century of serving New York’s commuters.

18th Street, Manhattan

Like so many of NYC’s abandoned stations, 18th Street met its fate due to the continued development of the subway system. Larger stations were built to accommodate longer trains, the 23rd Street station proving the nail in this stop’s coffin. Though it may technically be abandoned, it isn’t out of sight or mind: anyone riding the 4, 5 or 6 line can sneak a glimpse of the graffiti-covered station any day of the year.

Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn

Myrtle Avenue was a victim of the messy Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit line. Serving the line running between DeKalb Avenue and Manhattan Bridge, the station had its southbound platform completely removed after the merges and switches there led to transit congestion. Thankfully, the northbound platform still exists, and is a fantastic work of art that Q and B commuters can admire. Artist Bill Brand painted 30 images in the station that blend into an animated cartoon when viewed from a moving train. Dubbed the Masstransiscope, the innovative pieces were restored in 2008 and definitely prove worth a gander.

South Ferry, Manhattan

South Ferry station is still on the Big Apple map, but the old South Ferry is an abandoned and oft-forgotten space. This terminal was first created as an extension of the city’s original subway project, consisting of an inner and outer loop track. One of the two side platforms was closed in 1977. After the millennium, the station was closed, and the current South Ferry was opened.

76th Street, Queens

If you were to ask a commuter traveling between Brooklyn and Queens in 1948 about the existence of the 76th Street station, few would say they’ve seen it with their own eyes. Almost a century later, rumors persist that the abandoned terminal never even existed. Historical accounts (both official documentation and hearsay) contradict each other. All we know is that, even though the station was indeed operational, it closed after only a year. Today, a select few underground explorers claim to have found the near-mythical stop – will you become one of them?

Nick Dauk contributed additional reporting to this article.

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