Long layovers are the perfect opportunity to take advantage of your time and see a new city! In fact, they’ve even become a marketing tool with airlines by allowing customers to book an extended layover for anywhere from a few hours to a week. Leaving the airport can be stressful, but planning ahead can help alleviate worries and maximize your time! No matter how much time you have, here’s how to spend an extended layover in NYC.
First, consider your personal circumstances
When considering whether or not to leave the airport on a layover, there is no “one size fits all” answer. You need to make a personal risk assessment as to whether (1) you have enough time to make your connection, and (2) whether it’s worth it. Be sure to consider the following when deciding whether or not to leave the airport on your extended layover in NYC:
1. Will you need to go through customs after deplaning or before boarding your connecting flight? That can add on a significant amount of time and should be planned for.
2. Do you have TSA PreCheck or Clear to help you get through security quicker?
3. Are you familiar with how to use public transportation, or are you comfortable taking cabs or a ride share?
4. Do you have a back-up plan in case you miss your flight? (Is there a later flight you can get on? Did you check luggage you cannot be without? Can you get a hotel room if needed?)
Getting into the city
From NYC’s three major airports (JFK, LGA, and EWR), you’ll want to budget plenty of time to and from the airport. While all three airports are located in different directions from the city, I’d recommend planning at least 1.5 hours to get to/from each one into Manhattan. This will of course depend on other factors, such as the the means by which you’ll be getting around and the time of day. When you have a flight to catch, don’t push your luck. While Google Maps can be a great tool for planning travel times in the moment, always take it with a grain of salt. This is NYC and things change FAST. Traffic jams happen and trains break down so leave plenty of time for those incidents in case they happen.
Generally speaking, rush hours are the best times to take public transportation. Trains and subways will be frequent and may even run express into the city. If you’re traveling in an off-peak time (early in the morning or late at night), trains are fewer and far between so your best bet would be to get a cab. Taxis and ride shares are readily available at each airport and typically less than a 10-15 minute wait.
Public Transportation
From JFK: Ride the AirTrain to either the Jamaica or Howard Beach stations. From there, you can connect to the subway into Manhattan. If you are looking to explore downtown, take the green AirTrain to Howard Beach and connect to the A train. If you want to get to midtown, take the red AirTrain to Jamaica. From there, connect to either the E train or the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) to Penn Station.
From LGA: LaGuardia is forever a work in progress. Currently there is no train that goes directly to the airport. If you’re confident in your ability to navigate public transportation, you should have no problem. However, with those unfamiliar, getting to/from LGA may be overwhelming and you may want to consider a taxi. To get into Manhattan, follow signs for the Q70 LaGuardia Link SBS bus. Take the bus to the Jackson Heights stop where you can connect to the E, F, M, R, and 7 trains into Manhattan. This is where a majority of people get on and off, so just follow the herd.
From EWR: Another one that is a little complicated and requires a few connections. Take the AirTrain to the Liberty Airport Station to connect to either the Amtrak or NJ Transit into Manhattan. All the trains will make a stop at Newark Penn Station (not to be confused for New York’s Penn Station). From there, transfer to the PATH Train (if you want to go downtown Manhattan), or continue on the Amtrak or NJ Transit trains into Manhattan. It can get a little complicated, so click here for a detailed map.
3-5 hours
Leaving the airport with a layover less than 5 hours is risky in NYC. And in my opinion, not worth it. The airports are just too far and there are many elements that could delay you and make you miss your connection. Instead, grab a table at an airport restaurant to enjoy a meal and drinks, or spend some time catching up on TV shows.
However, if you are at JFK, I’d recommend visiting the TWA Hotel, located just outside Terminal 5. You will need to leave security and go back through, but you are staying right on airport grounds. It is quick, easy, and free to get from terminal to terminal with the AirTrain. The hotel will transport you right back into the 1960’s and the golden age of aviation. The hotel lobby is an Instagram photo waiting to happen, and there are even places to tour for free such as a museum or Connie.
Above everything however, I’d recommend purchasing a day pass to the hotel’s rooftop pool. The infinity pool sits on top of the hotel and adjacent to the runway. Sip on a cocktail while you watch jumbo jets take off and land just a few hundred yards away. Spend an hour or two enjoying the sites and dipping in the pool before heading back to your terminal. It’s truly spectacular!
6-8 hours
Having a 6-8 hour layover is still limiting, but there are certainly options for leaving the airport! During these tight layovers, I’d recommend staying close and limiting yourself to a small number of activities.
From JFK, you could spend a few hours on Rockaway Beach! It’s located adjacent to JFK and is about ~20 minutes away by cab or easy to get to by public transportation. Even during the cooler months when it’s not beach weather, you can still stroll along the coast and grab a bite in town.
From LaGuardia, take the ~10 minute cab ride over to Flushing Meadows Corona Park. You could actually spend all day exploring this park- there’s so much to do! Grab an iconic photo of the Unisphere, tour the Billie Jean King tennis center, visit the Queens Zoo, or walk around Meadow Lake.
From Newark, take a ~20 minute cab ride over to Jersey City. Jersey City sits right on the Hudson River directly across from Manhattan. Walk along the waterfront for sweeping and breathtaking views of the city. Adjacent to Jersey City is Liberty State Park. Here, you can stroll and get more killer views of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty!
8-10 hours
With an 8-10 hour layover, you have the flexibility to get into Manhattan with a much more relaxed schedule. While it may not be enough time to bop around the city and see the sights everywhere, you can certainly pick one area or neighborhood and take it all in! If it’s your first time in NYC, I’d recommend taking public transportation from any of the 3 major airports into Midtown and start scratching off that NYC bucket list!
Times Square is a major transportation hub, and you can get to it from any of the airports easily. Start your day here! Walk up 7th Avenue through the busy streets admiring the lights. Take a rest on the iconic red steps above the TKTS booth and snap some pictures. I know it’ll be tempting to walk into the kitschy shops and chain restaurants – but resist! It’s not worth your time or money. Instead, grab some “street meat” at a cart and keep moving. No time to waste!
From Times Square, walk just a couple avenues over to Rockefeller Center. Check out the iconic Radio City Music Hall, skating rink, and tree (if you are visiting during the holiday season). If you want the best city view, plan ahead and reserve a ticket for the Top of the Rock. The views from the top are way better than the top of the Empire State- because you can actually see the Empire State Building from here!
Before catching a ride back to the airport, walk just a few blocks down Sixth Avenue to Bryant Park. It’ll be the perfect place to rest your feet and take in your urban surroundings. If you’re lucky enough to be visiting during the holidays, hundreds of vendors will be set up all over the park. On the East side of the park (along Fifth Avenue), you’ll find the New York Public Library. It’s free to enter, and well worth your time.
11-15 hours
Having a 11-15 hour layover gives you a lot of flexibility! Rather than checking off a few of the NYC highlights, you’ll get an opportunity to dive deeper into the city and see more.
One of my all-time favorite activities is renting bikes and riding through Central Park. It’s a great way to see the city, is super efficient, and fun! Start at the SW corner of the park at Columbus Circle. There, you’ll find a small shack with rows of bikes outside- you can’t miss it! I’d recommend renting for 2 hours. If you’re really moving, you can ride the entire park in about an hour, but you’re going to want to make periodic stops! The bike path goes around the entire park and takes you by iconic places such as Sheep’s Meadow, Bethesda Terrace, the Jackie O Reservoir, The North Woods, and Strawberry Fields (to name a few).
With this amount of time, you also have opportunities to see more of the city than just Manhattan. Consider venturing across the East River over to Brooklyn! Brooklyn has so much to offer and is where my first apartment was when I moved to NYC, so it will always have a special place in my heart. Venture over to the neighborhood of DUMBO (which stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) and snag your Insta-worthy photo of the bridge (exact pin here)! Afterwards, stroll along Main Street Park and Brooklyn Bridge Park for views of the bridges and Manhattan skyline. From there, it’s easy to duck into Brooklyn Heights to obsess over the iconic brownstone townhouses. Grab a slice of “za” at the iconic Grimaldi’s, and dessert at Ample Hills Creamery.
16+ hours
With 16 or more hours, you definitely have plenty of options! Before you arrive, take some time to check out a calendar of events happening in the city and see if anything sounds interesting to you. With this amount of time, you’d even have enough to take in a Broadway show if you’d like!
With this time, you can get to know some of New York’s neighborhoods a little better. The appeal of NYC is that it has something for everyone. Think about what is important to you and what experience you’d like to have, and take a deep dive into the neighborhood that does it best. Grab authentic eats in Little Italy or Chinatown. Enjoy the art scene and nightlife of the East Village. Shop until you drop along Madison Avenue on the Upper East Side.
You can also use this time to partake in some “longer” activities such as getting lost in The Met, Natural History Museum, or the Guggenheim. The neighborhood of Hudson Yards is shiny and new, and is home to the picturesque Vessel. The Intrepid Air & Space Museum is just a few blocks away and is well worthy of your time, whether you’re an AV Geek or not!
Bottom Line
At the end of the day, you need to evaluate your personal circumstances and decide if leaving the comfort of an airport is worth it, since it can be risky. You subject yourself to elements out of your control such as traffic, public transportation breaking down, or a long line at security. However, as long as you budget plenty of time (and then a little more for incidentals), leaving the airport during an extended layover in NYC is a creative way to maximize your time and explore a new city!
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