Queens is New York’s largest borough, and probably its most interesting. Over 160 languages are spoken here. You can eat your way through the world without leaving the 7 train line. And no, you don’t need a car to do any of it.

If you’re visiting, just moved here, or trying to figure out how to get around the neighborhood without a car, this guide breaks down your options.

How the Subway System Works in Queens

The subway is how most people move through Queens. Several lines run through the borough, and knowing which ones go where saves a lot of confusion.

Train Line	Key Neighborhoods	Good For
7	Long Island City, Jackson Heights, Flushing	Getting to Flushing from Manhattan, food tours
E, F, M, R	Jackson Heights, Forest Hills, Kew Gardens	Central Queens along Queens Boulevard
N, W	Astoria	Northwest Queens, restaurants, nightlife
G	Long Island City, Greenpoint connection	Brooklyn-Queens travel without Manhattan transfer

Buses Fill the Gaps the Subway Misses

Public transportation in Queens, New York goes beyond the subway. Many neighborhoods in eastern and southern boroughs have limited train access, and buses become the main way to get around.

The Q bus routes run throughout the borough. Lines like the Q58 and Q44 reach Bayside, Little Neck, and College Point. These areas don’t have subway stations, so buses are how residents travel daily.

Buses require more attention than the subway. You need to know your stop and watch for it. The MTA app and Google Maps both give real-time bus tracking and will tell you exactly where to get off.

Getting to Each Queens Neighborhood

Here’s how to reach the most popular areas if you’re exploring the borough.

Astoria

Trains: N, W (30th Avenue, Broadway, Steinway Street)

Astoria sits just one stop over the East River. Get off at 30th Avenue for the main restaurant and bar scene. Broadway station puts you near Greek bakeries and Mediterranean markets.

Long Island City

Trains: 7, E, M, G (Court Square, Queensboro Plaza)

Long Island City has become an arts and food destination. Court Square station is steps from MoMA PS1. The waterfront parks have some of the best Manhattan skyline views in the city.

Flushing

Trains: 7 (Flushing-Main Street, final stop)

Getting to Flushing from Manhattan takes about 40 minutes on the 7 train. When you step off at Main Street, you’re surrounded by some of the best Chinese, Korean, and Southeast Asian food in the country. The New World Mall food court is worth the trip alone.

Jackson Heights

Trains: 7, E, F, M, R (74th Street-Roosevelt Avenue)

Multiple lines converge at Jackson Heights, making it one of the best-connected neighborhoods in Queens. Exit the station and you’re in the middle of Little India and Little Colombia.

When Private Transportation Makes More Sense

Subways and buses work well for solo travel or small groups on established routes. But some situations call for a different approach.

Group outings

Group outings are where public transit gets complicated. Eight friends heading to a Mets game? Coordinating arrivals from different starting points is a hassle. Queens private van service picks everyone up and drops the whole group at Citi Field together.

Airport trips

Airport trips with luggage are another situation. Queens is home to both JFK and LaGuardia. Dragging bags through subway turnstiles and up stairs isn’t fun. The AirTrain at JFK helps, but you still need to connect to the subway or LIRR. For groups or anyone with heavy luggage, private airport transfers remove that headache.

Tight schedules

Tight schedules benefit from private rides too. Wedding guests shuttling between ceremony and reception. Corporate groups with back-to-back meetings. Family reunions with elderly relatives. When timing matters, having a dedicated vehicle keeps things on track.

Local Tips for Getting Around Queens, New York

A few things to know before you head out:

• Plan your route in advance. Queens doesn’t have Manhattan’s grid. Streets curve, and avenues don’t always run parallel. Know where you’re going before you leave.
• Add buffer time. Subway delays happen. Buses get stuck in traffic. If you have somewhere to be, leave earlier than you think.
• Weather changes everything. Walking between transit stops in Queens can mean covering several blocks. On hot summer days or freezing winter mornings, that matters.
• Late night service thins out. Some subway lines run express-only after midnight. Getting home from the eastern side late at night takes longer than you’d expect.

Finding the Best Way to Travel in Queens

The best way to travel in Queens depends on what you’re doing that day. Solo food tour along the 7 train? The subway handles it. Tracking down a specific spot in College Point? That’s a bus trip. Moving a group to a wedding venue or shuttling family to the airport? A private van keeps everyone together.

Queens rewards people who explore it. Every neighborhood has something different going on. You just need to figure out how you want to get there.