East Harlem to Downtown Brooklyn by subway
Quick answer: Take a downtown 6 train from 116 St to 86 St, then take a downtown 4 or 5 train from 86 St to Borough Hall. The trip takes about 47 minutes door to door on a weekday (45 to 50 depending on the connection). The 6 train comes about every 4 minutes during the day. Every line on this trip runs all night.
East Harlem to Downtown Brooklyn
- 6
- 4 / 5
- Walk 2 minto 116 St
- 6 6 trainFrom 116 St, downtown4 stops, about 6 min
- Change at 86 St
- 4 / 5 4 or 5 trainFrom 86 St, downtown8 stops, about 25 min
- Get off at Borough Hall
- Downtown BrooklynWalk about 7 min
Weekdays, fall 2026 MTA schedule · First and last trips
Step by step
- Walk about 2 minutes from East Harlem to 116 St.
- Take a downtown 6 train from 116 St to 86 St. It's 4 stops, about 6 minutes.
- Take a downtown 4 or 5 train from 86 St to Borough Hall. It's 8 stops, about 25 minutes.
- From Borough Hall, walk about 7 minutes to Downtown Brooklyn.
Other ways to go
- Take a downtown 6 train from 116 St to Bleecker St, then take a downtown F train from Broadway-Lafayette St to Jay St-MetroTech: about 50 minutes.
- Take a downtown 6 train from 116 St to Grand Central-42 St, then take a downtown 4 or 5 train from Grand Central-42 St to Borough Hall: about 49 minutes.
Which one is faster depends on when you leave. Cobblehop compares them with live times.
Times and frequency
From the MTA's fall 2026 schedule. Typical trip is the door to door time in the middle of the day.
| Day | First trip | Last trip | Typical trip | 4 or 5 train in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Runs all night | 47 min | Every few minutes | |
| Saturday | Runs all night | 46 min | About every 8 minutes | |
| Sunday | Runs all night | 44 min | About every 8 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 58 minutes, and the 4 or 5 train comes about every 20 minutes.
Tips for this trip
- Take the first train that comes. The 4 and 5 trains all stop at both 86 St and Borough Hall.
- Know your stop. Get ready after Bowling Green. The next stop is Borough Hall. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
Step-free access
For the subway part of this trip: 116 St (6 platform) is not on the MTA's list of accessible stations; 86 St (6 platform) is only partly accessible (Uptown local only); 86 St (5 platform) is only partly accessible (Uptown local only); Borough Hall/Court St (5 platform) is on the MTA's list of accessible stations. Elevators can be out of service, so check elevator status on mta.info before you go.
What it costs
- Subway and local bus: $3 per ride with OMNY (tap a contactless card or phone) or a MetroCard. One transfer within 2 hours to the subway or a local bus is included.
Fares as of November 2026. Check the official fares page before you ride.
East Harlem to Downtown Brooklyn: common questions
How do I get from East Harlem to Downtown Brooklyn by public transit?
Take a downtown 6 train from 116 St to 86 St, then take a downtown 4 or 5 train from 86 St to Borough Hall.
How long does it take?
About 47 minutes door to door on a weekday, 45 to 50 depending on the connection. On weekends it's about 46 minutes.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, once: at 86 St.
Does it run all night?
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 58 minutes, and the 4 or 5 train comes about every 20 minutes.
How much does it cost?
Subway and local bus: $3 per ride with OMNY (tap a contactless card or phone) or a MetroCard. One transfer within 2 hours to the subway or a local bus is included.
Related routes
- East Harlem to Midtown Manhattan
- East Harlem to Financial District
- East Harlem to Long Island City
- JFK Airport to Downtown Brooklyn
- LaGuardia Airport to Downtown Brooklyn
- Williamsburg to Downtown Brooklyn
- All New York routes
Sources
Cobblehop is independent. It is not affiliated with the MTA or any transit agency. Schedules on this page come from the MTA's public GTFS data; check these pages for the latest service:
- MTA: developer data (the GTFS schedules used on this page)
- MTA: subway and bus fares
- MTA subway stations, with accessibility (data.ny.gov)
Transit data: Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Cobblehop is not affiliated with or endorsed by the MTA.
Published November 7, 2026. Times were computed from the MTA fall 2026 schedules for 2026-11-18 (weekday), 2026-11-21 and 2026-11-22. Planned work and holidays change service, so check Cobblehop for live times before you go.
Leaving now? Cobblehop gives you one clear plan with live times and alerts you before your stop.