Port Authority Bus Terminal to Chinatown by subway
Quick answer: Take a downtown A or E train from 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal to Canal St. The trip takes about 30 minutes door to door on a weekday. The A or E train comes every few minutes during the day. It runs all night.
Port Authority Bus Terminal to Chinatown
- A / E
- A / E A or E trainFrom 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal, downtown6 stops, about 10 min
- Get off at Canal St
- ChinatownWalk about 16 min
Weekdays, fall 2026 MTA schedule · First and last trips
Step by step
- Take a downtown A or E train from 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal to Canal St. It's 6 stops, about 10 minutes.
- From Canal St, walk about 16 minutes to Chinatown.
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 | A or E train in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Runs all night | 30 min | Every few minutes | |
| Saturday | Runs all night | 29 min | About every 5 minutes | |
| Sunday | Runs all night | 30 min | About every 6 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 30 minutes, and the A or E train comes about every 11 minutes.
Tips for this trip
- Take the first train that comes. The A and E trains all stop at both 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal and Canal St.
- Know your stop. Get ready after Spring St. The next stop is Canal St. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
- Mulberry Street runs through Little Italy and Chinatown. (source, checked 2026-11-04)
Step-free access
For the subway part of this trip: Times Sq-42 St/Port Authority Bus Terminal (E platform) is on the MTA's list of accessible stations; Canal St (E platform) is not 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.
Port Authority Bus Terminal to Chinatown: common questions
How do I get from Port Authority Bus Terminal to Chinatown by public transit?
Take a downtown A or E train from 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal to Canal St.
How long does it take?
About 30 minutes door to door on a weekday. On weekends it's about 29 minutes.
Do I have to change?
No. The A or E train goes all the way.
Does it run all night?
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 30 minutes, and the A or E train comes about every 11 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
- Port Authority Bus Terminal to Empire State Building
- Port Authority Bus Terminal to 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- Port Authority Bus Terminal to Statue of Liberty ferry at Battery Park
- JFK Airport to Chinatown
- LaGuardia Airport to Chinatown
- Penn Station to Chinatown
- 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)
- Chinatown: visitor information
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.