New York is America’s pride and joy. If you find yourself in the fortunate position of having a layover in New York, you will want to enjoy this rare opportunity to the fullest extent possible.
It requires careful planning to ensure you don’t run overtime and miss your flight, which is why we’ve compiled a list of places you must see before your layover is complete.
In this comprehensive NYC layover guide, this article will explain what to do during a layover in NYC, and how to best spend your time.
Advice Before Embarking on Your Layover Journey
New York is bustling to the brim with activity and people. Due to this extra activity, everything can become delayed. Taxis can get stuck in traffic, buses can show up late, and trains and ferries can have unforeseen delays. This is why, whenever you’re planning your layover adventure, plan it so you arrive back at the airport two hours before your flight. Give yourself at least an hour to return, maybe more, depending on the circumstances. That way, you can enjoy your layover to the fullest without the risk of missing your flight.
Best Layover Activities NYC
The Ferry at Rockway
From JFK, you’ll want to take a taxi or SUV rental from a company like RealCar.nyc to Rockway. It is a beautiful peninsula where you can board the ferry. The ferry will take you from Rockway to Lower Manhattan, where you’ll pass right by the Statue of Liberty and take in sights like the Brooklyn Bridge.
This takes a total of one and a half hours, depending on traffic. If you do decide to take a car rental to Rockbay, ensure you have time to return to Rockbay to pick it up before your flight.
Tour Wall Street and Chinatown
Both Wall Street and Chinatown are renowned landmarks and are worth the visit. It takes about an hour to drive to Wall Street from the JFK Airport, so you can either book a taxi, Uber, or take a car rental JFK Airport for the most convenience.
When you arrive at Wall Street, you can walk down the block and admire sights like the New York Stock Exchange building or the Trump Building. It’s about a 25-minute walk from Wall Street to Chinatown. In Chinatown, you’ll be greeted by colorful signs, all kinds of restaurants, and authentic Asian culture. This is a great place to shop for souvenirs and grab a bite of heat.
In total, touring Wall Street and Chinatown should take you about two hours.
Explore Lower Manhattan
There are a number of must-see places in Lower Manhattan that must be on your list to experience New York during your layover. These include the Bowery, SoHo, Little Italy, Washington Square Park, and West Village.
The Bowery is an authentic part of New York, filled with theaters, vaudeville houses, and bars. It promised its residents all manner of excitement, intrigue, and pulsing nightlife.
SoHo, or ‘South of Houston Street,’ is a collection of designer boutiques, fashionable museums like the Museum of Ice Cream, and upscale art galleries. It is a hot topic for travelers to take in and explore, and should absolutely be on your list of places to see in New York during your layover.
Little Italy is named after its former Italian population. Some buildings are painted in the colors of the Italian flag, and there’s the promise of great Italian food and good wine.
Washington Park Square is a great place to visit for any history buff, as its archway commemorates Geroge Washington, and its fountain is a popular meeting spot. It’s a total of 9.75 acres and promises a scenic escape from the urban landscape of the city.
West Village is filled with designer boutiques and upscale restaurants. Some of its streets are still covered in cobblestone. Its most notable venue is the Village Vanguard jazz club.
Depending on where you go and how much you window-shop, taking in these sights can take two to three hours.
Explore Around Times Square
One can’t say they’ve been to New York without taking a photo in the renowned Times Square. There are quite a few landmarks to see around Times Square, such as the Empire State Building, Central Park, and Grand Central Station.
Times Square and the Empire State Building have been the subject of many famous paintings. They are a major tourist destination, attracting people from all over the world.
Central Park is the heart of New York, a beautiful green escape that extends up the Upper West Side and Upper East Side neighborhoods. Many photos from the air showcase New York with a green heart in the center of it — Central Park.
Grand Central Station is known as an iconic place to see, with 750,000 people taking the trains every day. It is a globally recognized hub of transportation while also preserving and showcasing New Yorker spirit.
To see all these authentic views, it should take about three to four hours, depending on your route.
JFK Layover Ideas
For shorter layovers and visitors who don’t want to risk straying far away from the airport, there are plenty of things to do at JFK Airport. You can visit the TWA hotel at Terminal 5, the only hotel located in the airport. It’s an excellent place to get some rest and enjoy some drinks and food. One of this hotel’s most remarkable features is its infinity pool on its rooftop that allows unobstructed views of the airport runway.
