New York City, NY Airport Information
Combined, the three major airports in the New York metropolitan area—John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty International—see about 130 million passengers annually. New York City's three airports make up the largest air travel system in the United States and the second largest in the world.
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Approximate taxi fare: $57 USD
Located 12 miles from Manhattan
Time to Midtown: 50–60 minutes
Van or coach bus: $16–20
AirTrain to mass transit connections: $5
LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
Approximate taxi fare: $30-50 USD
Closest airport to Midtown Manhattan, located in Queens
Time to Midtown: 30 minutes
Van or coach bus: $12–20
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Approximate taxi fare: $60-75 USD
Located 16 miles southwest of Midtown Manhattan in Newark, NJ
Time to Midtown: 40–60 minutes
AirTrain to New York Penn Station: $12.50
- Travelers can find amenities at all the airports, including fast food, casual dining, retail outlets and currency exchanges.
- Daily, short-term and economy long-term parking is available.
- The AirTrain at JFK and Newark Liberty connects to the City via mass transit.
- Hotels offering shuttle service, meeting rooms and event space can be found around all three airports.
- Car rental counters or service phones are located at the terminals' arrivals level, and company lots can be accessed by shuttle buses at LaGuardia and the AirTrain at JFK and Newark Liberty International.
New York City, NY Train Information
Grand Central Terminal
Located at 42nd Street and Park Avenue, the famed Grand Central Terminal was opened in 1913 at a time when train travel was the most luxurious way to get around. Still a Manhattan landmark, the station is serviced by bus and subway lines and Metro-North Commuter Railroad, which offers travel to suburbs in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey.
The station is also a popular attraction, with 35 eateries and 68 specialty shops for both train travelers and NYC visitors to enjoy. The New York Transit Museum offers exhibitions at its annex at Grand Central, and audio and walking tours are available for guests interested in learning about the history of the terminal and its surrounding neighborhood.
Penn Station
Penn Station was the largest building for train travel when completed in 1910. Though it was replaced in 1962 by today's more modern facility, Penn Station still serves as a key point of connection for hundreds of thousands of passengers each day. The station services many MTA bus and subway lines; New Jersey Transit and PATH (Port Authority Trans-Hudson) commuter lines to New Jersey; the Long Island Railroad to Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island; and Amtrak, with routes to numerous cities along the East Coast, in the Midwest and Canada.
New York City, NY Ground Transportation
New York City Transit
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) oversees New York State's public transportation, including the bus and subway systems servicing New York City. Used 24 hours a day by both locals and visitors, subways and buses are convenient, affordable and often the quickest way to get around town.
MTA buses and subways accept MetroCards, which offer reduced fares for multiple rides. The cost of a single-ride ticket is $2.75 and a seven-day unlimited pass is $31. Travelers who pay with a MetroCard have free transfers from subway to bus, bus to subway or bus to bus within two hours of fare purchase.
Buses
New York City's five boroughs are serviced by more than 5,700 air-conditioned buses, operating on 238 local, 8 Select Bus Service and 62 express routes. Museums, sports stadiums, parks, theaters and the city’s two main airports are among the numerous places along bus routes. Many bus lines run 24 hours, every day.
Subway
Owned by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), the New York City Subway is one of the most extensive public transportation systems in the world. Comprising 660 miles of track and 468 passenger stations, the average weekday ridership of the subway is 5.6 million people. Its 22 routes travel between Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx, ensuring that a stop is made at or nearby just about any location of interest.
Many efforts have been made to beautify the subway system and make the experience more comfortable for riders. The Arts for Transit program has helped to install sculptures, mosaics and murals at stations, and many are decorated with the intricate ceramic tile work that first adorned the stations upon opening in 1904. The Music Under New York program solicits street musicians to compete for a chance to perform at one of the high traffic subway locations.
The New York City subway operates 24 hours a day, every day.
Inter-Borough Ferries
Ferries are a great way to get around the city while experiencing the superb views of the NYC skyline. NY Waterway's Hudson River Ferries and East River Ferry stop at terminals along the rivers. New York Water Taxi runs out of the South Street Seaport and offers tours, cruises and charters. The free Staten Island Ferry is the main mode of transportation between Staten Island and Manhattan. The scenic 25-minute ride, which passes Governors Island and the Statue of Liberty, runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week between the Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan and the St. George Terminal in Staten Island.
Taxis
New York City taxis, regulated by the Taxi and Limousine Commission, can be hailed on the street or at taxi stands at most hotels and transportation hubs. Only the signature yellow medallion cabs and the apple-green Boro Taxis (servicing Northern Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island) are allowed to pick up passengers without prearrangement. Travelers can spot available taxis by a lit white rooftop number.
Taxi fare is $2.50 for the first third of a mile and $0.50 for each additional fifth of a mile. Surcharges of $0.50 per minute when the taxi is not moving, $0.50 between 8 pm and 6 am, and a peak hour weekday surcharge of $1.00 Monday–Friday after 4 pm and before 8 pm are also applicable.