Frequently asked questions
What is PaveTrail?
PaveTrail is an app for iPhone and Android with self-guided walking tours through New York City. Every walk is a route through one neighborhood with the stories behind its landmarks, the best places to eat along the way and an offline map that shows you where to go next. Find out why the stars on Grand Central’s ceiling are backwards, where the Oreo was invented and which firehouse the Ghostbusters called home.
Do I need an internet connection?
No. Everything you need is stored on your phone: the map, the photos, the stories and the subway lines. Once the app is installed you can walk without data roaming or Wi-Fi. Only ticket links and buying walks need a connection. Whenever you are online, the app quietly picks up our latest updates to the walks.
How much does it cost?
Four walks are completely free: Central Park, DUMBO, the Financial District and Williamsburg. You can also read the first three stops of every other walk for free.
Other walks are $2.99 each. The All-Access Pass unlocks every New York walk for $29.99, and it gets $3 cheaper for every walk you already own. Own ten walks and you get the rest for free.
How long are the walks?
Most walks take between one and four hours, depending on your pace and how long you stay at each stop. Every walk shows its distance and walking time before you start, so you can pick one that fits your day.
Is it a guided tour?
It's self-guided, so you walk at your own pace and stop wherever you like. With Locate me switched on, the app points you to the next stop, tells you how far it is and buzzes when you arrive. Tap Listen and a narrator reads the story aloud while you look around.
Is there an Android version?
Yes. PaveTrail is on Google Play, with the same walks and the same prices as on iPhone.
I bought walks on another phone. How do I get them back?
Open the Settings tab in the app and tap Restore purchases. Every walk you bought with the same Apple ID (iPhone) or Google account (Android) is unlocked again, free of charge. Purchases can't move between iPhone and Android, because Apple and Google each keep their own.
How do I get between the walks?
The subway is the easiest way. Tap your contactless card or phone at the OMNY reader at any station, and after twelve paid rides in seven days the rest of the week is free. Every walk in the app shows the nearest subway station to its first stop, and the ferry landing when that is closer.
The NYC Ferry is a scenic alternative along the water and the easiest way to Red Hook. Governors Island has its own ferry from the Battery Maritime Building. Both are on the app's map. Yellow cabs and Uber are everywhere.
What if we get hungry?
Every walk passes some of the city's best food: New York-style pizza, bagels, bakeries, burgers and food halls. The app's explore map also has a pizza layer, so you're never far from a good slice.
A place on a walk has closed or moved. What now?
New York changes fast, so we check the walks regularly. Corrections reach the app by themselves, without an app update. If you spot something that's out of date, please let us know through the contact form. It really helps.
Another question? Send us a message.