How to Get to New York City
New York has three major airports, and each one reaches Manhattan differently. Check which one your ticket says before you work out your transfer, because "New York" fares often land in New Jersey.
From JFK
JFK is in Queens, about 25 km from Midtown. The AirTrain links all the terminals (free between them) with two stations outside the airport, where you pay by tapping a contactless card or phone. From Jamaica, take the E subway to Midtown or, faster, a Long Island Rail Road train to Penn Station or Grand Central Madison, about 20 minutes. From Howard Beach, the A train runs to Lower Manhattan and the West Side. JFK is in the middle of a huge terminal rebuild, so roads around it are slow. The airport itself tells travellers to allow much more time and take public transport.
From Newark
Newark Liberty is in New Jersey, about 25 km west of Midtown. The normal route is the AirTrain to Newark Airport rail station, then an NJ Transit or Amtrak train to Penn Station New York, about half an hour. The old AirTrain is being replaced by a new line due in 2030, and during the works a shuttle bus replaces the train between the P4 station and the rail station on most weekdays from early morning to mid-afternoon. At the time of writing that runs to mid-November 2026. Check the Port Authority and NJ Transit sites before you fly, and add time.
From LaGuardia
LaGuardia is the closest airport to Manhattan and the only one with no rail link. The Q70 LaGuardia Link bus is free and runs to Jackson Heights and Woodside, where you change to the 7, E, F, M or R subway or the LIRR. The M60 bus runs across 125th Street in Harlem, handy for the Upper West Side. A taxi is the easiest choice with heavy luggage.
By train or bus
Amtrak trains from Boston, Philadelphia and Washington arrive at Penn Station under Madison Square Garden, and the new Moynihan Train Hall across Eighth Avenue is the calmer entrance. Long-distance buses use the Port Authority Bus Terminal near Times Square.
Getting around the city
Subway and buses use OMNY: tap a contactless card or phone at the turnstile or on the bus. MetroCards are no longer sold. Taxis and ride-hail trips that start, end or pass through Manhattan at or below 60th Street carry a small congestion charge, added to the fare since January 2025. A federal judge ruled in March 2026 that the toll can stay. Driving is a bad idea anyway. Walk, and use the subway for anything over 20 blocks. Our travel guide explains express and local trains, and the where to stay guide covers which areas have the best connections.