New York City

Neighbourhoods, parks and a harbour skyline

Last reviewed: 14 September 2026

Recommended stay: 3–4 days
Best time to visit: April to June and September to early November
Airports: JFK · LGA · EWR

New York City at a glance

New York City is a subway capital of neighbourhoods, parks and harbour views. Times Square and Broadway, Central Park, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO, Greenwich Village and the High Line and Chelsea sit on walking clusters and subway hops, with day trips to Coney Island, the Hudson Valley, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. John F. Kennedy (JFK), LaGuardia (LGA) and Newark Liberty (EWR) are the catalogue airports. OMNY or a current contactless tap, walking distances and one neighbourhood at a time matter more than stacking every deck.

Quick information

Recommended stay3–4 days

Best time to visitApril to June and September to early November

AirportsJFK · LGA · EWR

Budget travelAccommodation and any observation deck, Broadway, ferry or rail day drive costs most strongly. Check current prices close to travel instead of relying on a fixed estimate.

Spring and autumn suit Central Park, the High Line and harbour decks without peak summer heat or deep winter wind. Summer is hot and crowded; keep museum hours for the Met. Winter is cold for long outdoor queues; confirm current ferry and park conditions.

Plan your visit

Airport to centre

AirTrain and subway

AirTrain toward Jamaica or Howard Beach, then subway into Manhattan or Brooklyn

Check the current AirTrain and OMNY or MetroCard fareTransport

Must-see sights

Times Square and Broadway

Central Park

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

Sights

One-day itinerary

Morning: Times Square and Central Park.
Afternoon: One observation deck — Empire State Building or Top of the Rock.
Evening: A Broadway street wander without stacking the ferry.

Itineraries

Best areas to stay

Midtown
Walkable to Times Square and the park edge. Downtown and Brooklyn need a subway hop.
Best for
First visits, Broadway and Central Park
Downtown / Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan
Useful for the 9/11 Memorial and Brooklyn Bridge. Central Park is a subway ride.
Best for
The memorial, harbour ferries and the bridge
Greenwich Village / Chelsea
Greenwich Village
Walkable streets. Midtown decks still need a hop.
Best for
A neighbourhood stay and the High Line
DUMBO / Brooklyn waterfront
DUMBO
The harbour edge. Manhattan sights need a subway or walk across the bridge.
Best for
Bridge views and a calmer evening stay

Approximate budget

Budget
Varies
per day, per person
Simple rooms, slices or delis and subway hops; excludes travel to New York City.
Mid-range
Varies
per day, per person
Comfortable room, mixed dining, transit and selected decks or museums.
Comfort
Varies
per day, per person
Central stays, frequent dining, private transfers and a reserved ferry or rail day.

Airports

Last reviewed: 14 September 2026

JFK
John F. Kennedy International Airport
24 km from city centre
LGA
LaGuardia Airport
13 km from city centre
EWR
Newark Liberty International Airport
25 km from city centre

Airport to city transport

Last reviewed: 14 September 2026

OptionTimePrice

JFK

AirTrain and subwayJFKUsually the most practical public option from JFK. Confirm the current AirTrain branch, subway line and last services on official airport or MTA information.
AirTrain toward Jamaica or Howard Beach, then subway into Manhattan or Brooklyn
Check the current AirTrain and OMNY or MetroCard fare
Details
Usually the most practical public option from JFK. Confirm the current AirTrain branch, subway line and last services on official airport or MTA information.
Airport bus or coachJFKUseful for luggage when a current stop matches your stay better than an AirTrain change. Traffic can stretch the ride.
Dedicated coaches toward selected Manhattan or Brooklyn stops when currently operating
Check the current operator fare
Details
Useful for luggage when a current stop matches your stay better than an AirTrain change. Traffic can stretch the ride.
Taxi or rideshareJFKUseful for families, late JFK arrivals and Midtown stays. Use an official yellow-cab rank or a clearly licensed car.
Door-to-door journey; time varies with airport-highway and city traffic
Confirm the current official or in-app fare
Details
Useful for families, late JFK arrivals and Midtown stays. Use an official yellow-cab rank or a clearly licensed car.
Private transferJFKUseful for groups, child seats and Hudson Valley departures. Confirm meeting point, terminal and delay terms.
Pre-booked door-to-door journey
Confirm the complete quoted price
Details
Useful for groups, child seats and Hudson Valley departures. Confirm meeting point, terminal and delay terms.

LGA

Airport bus or Q70 SBSLGAUsually the most practical public option from LGA. This guide does not assume an airport rail line. Confirm the current bus, subway connection and last services on official airport or MTA information.
Select Bus Service or airport coaches toward Jackson Heights, subway connections and selected Manhattan stops
Check the current MTA or operator fare
Details
Usually the most practical public option from LGA. This guide does not assume an airport rail line. Confirm the current bus, subway connection and last services on official airport or MTA information.
Local city busLGAUseful if a current route suits light bags. Confirm the number and stop. Not the simplest choice with children or late arrivals.
Local buses toward connecting subway stations when a current stop serves LGA
Check the current OMNY or MetroCard fare
Details
Useful if a current route suits light bags. Confirm the number and stop. Not the simplest choice with children or late arrivals.
Taxi or rideshareLGAUseful for families, late LGA arrivals and Midtown stays. Use an official rank. Agree the destination before you leave the terminal.
Door-to-door journey; time varies with Queens and Manhattan traffic
Confirm the current official or in-app fare
Details
Useful for families, late LGA arrivals and Midtown stays. Use an official rank. Agree the destination before you leave the terminal.
Private transferLGAUseful for groups and child seats. Confirm meeting point, terminal and delay terms.
Pre-booked door-to-door journey
Confirm the complete quoted price
Details
Useful for groups and child seats. Confirm meeting point, terminal and delay terms.

EWR

AirTrain and NJ TransitEWRUsually the most practical public option from EWR. Confirm the current rail service, destination station and last trains on official airport or NJ Transit information.
AirTrain toward the rail station, then NJ Transit toward New York Penn Station or Newark
Check the current AirTrain and NJ Transit fare
Details
Usually the most practical public option from EWR. Confirm the current rail service, destination station and last trains on official airport or NJ Transit information.
Airport bus or coachEWRUseful for luggage when a current Manhattan stop beats a rail change. Traffic and Hudson River crossings can stretch the ride.
Dedicated coaches toward selected Manhattan stops when currently operating
Check the current operator fare
Details
Useful for luggage when a current Manhattan stop beats a rail change. Traffic and Hudson River crossings can stretch the ride.
Taxi or rideshareEWRUseful for families and late EWR arrivals. Use an official rank. Journeys into Manhattan cross into New York.
Door-to-door journey; time varies with New Jersey Turnpike and tunnel or bridge traffic
Confirm the current official or in-app fare
Details
Useful for families and late EWR arrivals. Use an official rank. Journeys into Manhattan cross into New York.
Private transferEWRUseful for groups, child seats and Philadelphia rail connections. Confirm meeting point and delay terms.
Pre-booked door-to-door journey
Confirm the complete quoted price
Details
Useful for groups, child seats and Philadelphia rail connections. Confirm meeting point and delay terms.

Getting around

Last reviewed: 14 September 2026

OptionTimePrice

Subway, OMNY and walkingWalk one cluster, then subway to the next. Times Square to Central Park is a long walk with a child. Recheck last trains. Hold a hand on platforms.
Best for Midtown, Downtown, the High Line, Greenwich Village and Brooklyn Bridge hops
Check current OMNY or MetroCard rules
Details
Walk one cluster, then subway to the next. Times Square to Central Park is a long walk with a child. Recheck last trains. Hold a hand on platforms.
Bus, ferry and taxiCity ferries and the Staten Island Ferry are part of movement, not only sightseeing. A car is usually unnecessary in Manhattan.
Useful for harbour hops, late returns and when a bus matches a crosstown street
Check current OMNY, ferry or taxi fare rules
Details
City ferries and the Staten Island Ferry are part of movement, not only sightseeing. A car is usually unnecessary in Manhattan.

New York City at a glance

Quick information

Plan your visit

Airport to centre

Must-see sights

One-day itinerary

Best areas to stay

Midtown

Downtown / Lower Manhattan

Greenwich Village / Chelsea

DUMBO / Brooklyn waterfront

Approximate budget