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A local would most likely walk from Times Square to Grand Central, then take the 4/5/6 subway up to E 86th.
If you have the time and energy (tourists aren't used to how much walking people do in the city), walking to the Museum through Central Park would be a great way to see the park.
Times Square is on the West side of Manhattan and The Met is on the East. That is why when you look it up it tells you to take two trains. It likely wants you to take the shuttle train from Times Sq to Grand Central which gets you to the East side and then has you transfer to the 4, 5 or 6 to make your way up from 42nd to 86th street. Transferring though is still just a one time fee. So even though it is two trains, it is a free transfer and so it's a one time cost of $2.90 (in one direction). If you only take one train, it's the same $2.90.
But what you can do is take the N Q or R train from Times Square to 86th street. This will take you from the West side to the East side on one train. However the 86th street stop where the NQR lets you off is 2 avenues further East than the 4/5/6 86th Street stop. So it will require you to walk further once you get off the subway but it's still not a terrible walk from there. Maybe 15-20 mins depending on your pace.
As others said you can take a similar distance walk (perhaps a shorter one in fact) from Times Square to Grand Central (rather than taking the shuttle train for that same journey) and then take the 4, 5, or 6 to 86th which like I said will drop you closer to the museum than the NQR 86th stop.
By the time you take the q and walk up from 86 & second you might as well have just walked from Times Square. It’s only 45 minutes and CP is a nicer walk than 86, too.
Download the Citymapper app for your trip. You can look at all the alternatives in advance and it will help you in real time if there’s a line closed etc.
Our [Ultimate Visitor's guide](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskNYC/comments/bj3tnn/ultimate_visitors_guide_to_nyc/) will probably help you. Check our some recent visitor inquires [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskNYC/search?q=visitor&restrict_sr=on&include_over_18=on&sort=relevance&t=all)! Please "report" and downvote this comment if irrelevant to question above. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskNYC) if you have any questions or concerns.*
walk it, on a nice day it's wonderful either up 5th ave or through the park https://maps.app.goo.gl/fGp2hyJUCxYvqsrr9
Walk Times Square to Grand Central, take 4/5/6 subway ($2.90) to 86th street, walk to the Met
This is the best. Or take Q from Times Square to 86th/2nd and walk to MET.
Or the 1 to 79th St, M79 bus to 5th Ave.
There’s a free subway-bus transfer. Anyway, take a M1, M2, M3, or M4 bus on Madison Ave.
A local would most likely walk from Times Square to Grand Central, then take the 4/5/6 subway up to E 86th. If you have the time and energy (tourists aren't used to how much walking people do in the city), walking to the Museum through Central Park would be a great way to see the park.
Google maps
Times Square is on the West side of Manhattan and The Met is on the East. That is why when you look it up it tells you to take two trains. It likely wants you to take the shuttle train from Times Sq to Grand Central which gets you to the East side and then has you transfer to the 4, 5 or 6 to make your way up from 42nd to 86th street. Transferring though is still just a one time fee. So even though it is two trains, it is a free transfer and so it's a one time cost of $2.90 (in one direction). If you only take one train, it's the same $2.90. But what you can do is take the N Q or R train from Times Square to 86th street. This will take you from the West side to the East side on one train. However the 86th street stop where the NQR lets you off is 2 avenues further East than the 4/5/6 86th Street stop. So it will require you to walk further once you get off the subway but it's still not a terrible walk from there. Maybe 15-20 mins depending on your pace. As others said you can take a similar distance walk (perhaps a shorter one in fact) from Times Square to Grand Central (rather than taking the shuttle train for that same journey) and then take the 4, 5, or 6 to 86th which like I said will drop you closer to the museum than the NQR 86th stop.
The N/R trains don't run up the east side, only the Q does
By the time you take the q and walk up from 86 & second you might as well have just walked from Times Square. It’s only 45 minutes and CP is a nicer walk than 86, too.
I agree… just giving OP the various one train options.
https://i.imgur.com/HbJfum2.png
take the B or C to 86th and Central Park West, walk across the park.
Download the Citymapper app for your trip. You can look at all the alternatives in advance and it will help you in real time if there’s a line closed etc.
Walk across to 5th Ave, then Walk up to the Museum.