Destinations
New York: JFK, Newark and LaGuardia Explained
Airport: JFK / EWR / LGA
Getting from JFK, Newark or LaGuardia into Manhattan, what each transfer really costs, and how to move around the city on day one.
Three airports serve New York and each one has a different personality on arrival. Plan the transfer before you book the flight, because a cheap fare into the wrong airport at the wrong hour is not a saving.
From each airport
- JFK — AirTrain to Jamaica or Howard Beach, then the LIRR or the subway. The LIRR is faster and reaches Penn Station in about 35 minutes from Jamaica. A yellow cab to Manhattan is a flat fare plus tolls and tip.
- Newark (EWR) — AirTrain to Newark Liberty station, then NJ Transit to Penn Station, around 30 minutes. Often the smoothest of the three outside rush hour.
- LaGuardia (LGA) — no rail link. Buses connect to the subway, and a taxi or ride-hail is metered, so traffic decides the price.
Paying to move around
Tap a contactless card or phone at subway turnstiles and buses using OMNY. Fares cap weekly, so there is rarely a reason to buy a pass.
Getting oriented
Manhattan avenues run north to south, streets run east to west, and addresses tell you which side of Fifth Avenue you are on. Below 14th Street the grid breaks down and you will need the map.
Practical notes
- Tipping is expected: roughly 18 to 20 percent in restaurants, and for taxi drivers.
- Sales tax is added at the till, not shown on the label.
- Subway service changes on weekends and the platform signs are the reliable source.
- Walking is genuinely fast; twenty blocks is about a mile.
