23rd Street

This 23rd Street station sits under Sixth Avenue right on the edge of the Flatiron District, a few steps from where Broadway cuts diagonally across the grid. The F and M trains stop here, and most people climbing these stairs are headed for the office towers, publishing houses and design showrooms that fill the blocks between Union Square and Herald Square.

It is not a station built for sightseeing, but the location works in its favour. Madison Square Park and the Flatiron Building are close by to the east, and the Sixth Avenue corridor itself is lined with big-box retail, gyms and lunch spots that serve the surrounding office population. Locals treat it as a fast, no-fuss link between Midtown and Lower Manhattan.

Station Overview

The 23rd Street station on Sixth Avenue opened in 1940 as part of the IND Sixth Avenue Line and is served by the F and M trains. It sits in nominal Zone 1, though fares are flat across the system, so one OMNY tap or MetroCard swipe is all you need. Trains run around the clock, with reduced frequency overnight.

Lines and Connectivity

The F train runs express through parts of Manhattan and local elsewhere, linking this stop to the West Village, Lower Manhattan and out into Brooklyn via Park Slope and Coney Island. The M train follows a similar path through Manhattan before crossing into Middle Village, Queens. Both head north towards Rockefeller Center and 34th Street-Herald Square, making this a useful, if less crowded, alternative to the nearby N/Q/R/W stop on Broadway.

Station Layout and Structure

This is an underground station with island platforms shared by the F and M. Entrances sit at the corner of Sixth Avenue and 23rd Street, with stairways leading down to a fare control level before the platforms. Overhead signage marks uptown and downtown directions clearly, and OMNY readers and MetroCard machines are positioned at each entrance.

Accessibility

This station has step-free access. Elevators connect street level to the platforms, allowing wheelchair users and travellers with luggage or strollers to avoid the stairways entirely. As with any elevator-dependent station, it is worth checking the MYmta app for live elevator status before setting out.

Travel Tips

• Tap in with OMNY on your phone or a contactless card, or use a MetroCard - the fare is flat no matter how far you travel.
• Confirm whether the approaching train is the F or the M, and whether it is running express or local, before boarding.
• Madison Square Park and the Flatiron Building are an easy walk east along 23rd Street.
• Overnight trains still run but at longer intervals, so build in extra waiting time after midnight.

Nearby Attractions

Flatiron Building - about 6 minutes east. The narrow, triangular 1902 skyscraper is one of New York's most photographed buildings, standing where Fifth Avenue meets Broadway.

Madison Square Park - roughly 7 minutes east. A leafy public square with the original Shake Shack kiosk, a dog run and rotating public art installations.

Eataly Flatiron - close to Madison Square Park. The large Italian marketplace and restaurant complex is popular for a quick coffee or a full meal.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

The F and M trains run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, though service thins out overnight. Weekday rush hours, roughly 8 to 9:30am and 5 to 7pm, bring the heaviest office-commuter traffic. Midmorning and early afternoon on weekdays are the quietest times to pass through this stretch of Sixth Avenue.