In a nutshell
- New York has a total of three airports: John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK), Newark Airport (EWR), and LaGuardia Airport (LGA).
- Most international flights land at either JFK Airport or Newark. LaGuardia is used mainly for domestic flights.
- From all three airports, you can reach downtown by public transportation, taxi, or shuttle — we walk you through every option so you can pick the right one.
- Our top picks: AirTrain + Subway from JFK, the shuttle bus from Newark, and the Q70 + train from LaGuardia.
Which airports are there in New York?
There are three major airports in and around New York:
- John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK)
- Newark Airport (EWR)
- LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
JFK is by far the largest airport, with no fewer than six terminals. It’s located in the Queens borough, about 24 km from Manhattan.
Newark Airport isn’t officially in New York at all — it’s in the neighboring state of New Jersey. From Newark, it’s about 27 km to Manhattan.
LaGuardia, like JFK, is located in Queens and is only 13 km from Manhattan. That makes it the most centrally located of the three, but it mainly handles domestic flights, so most international travelers won’t land here.
New York's airports on the map
To give you a better sense of where each airport sits in relation to the city, we’ve marked all three on the map below.
Transfer from JFK Airport to the city
Here’s a quick overview of all your options for getting from JFK Airport to Manhattan:
| Price | Duration | Purchase Option | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AirTrain + Subway Top Pick | approx. $12 | approx. 60–75 min. | on-site |
| AirTrain + LIRR | approx. $14–18 | approx. 35–45 min. | on-site |
| Taxi | approx. $80–90 | approx. 45–70 min. | on-site |
| Shuttle Bus | approx. $25–40 | approx. 60–90 min. | Book now |
| Private Transfer | approx. $80–150 | approx. 45–70 min. | Book now |
AirTrain + Subway from JFK to Manhattan
- Lines: AirTrain JFK (green line to Howard Beach & red line to Jamaica) + Subway line A (from Howard Beach) & E/J/Z (from Jamaica)
- Travel time: approx. 60–75 minutes depending on your destination and time of day
- Operating hours: 24/7, 365 days a year
- Frequency: AirTrain every 7–15 minutes, Subway every 4–12 minutes depending on the line
We recommend taking the AirTrain and the NYC Subway from JFK — it’s the cheapest way to get to Manhattan, coming in at just $11.40 for the whole trip.
You pay for the AirTrain when you exit at the transfer station. For the Subway, just tap your credit card, smartphone, or OMNY card directly at the turnstile.
The AirTrain runs around the clock and connects all terminals to either Howard Beach Station (great for Brooklyn and Downtown Manhattan) or Jamaica Station (better for Midtown and Queens), where you hop on the Subway.
Everything you need to know about the New York Subway — all in one place!
This way you not only save money but also skip the city traffic entirely — and still get to your hotel in New York as fast as possible.
All other JFK transfer options and info can be found here:
Transfer from Newark Airport to the city
Here’s a general overview of all airport transfer options from Newark Airport to Manhattan:
| Price | Duration | Purchase Option | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shuttle Bus Top Pick | approx. €22–37 | approx. 40–60 minutes | Book here |
| AirTrain + NJ Transit | approx. $15.50 (+ $2.90) | approx. 40–60 minutes | on-site |
| Taxi | approx. $85–110 | approx. 30–60 minutes | on-site |
| Private Transfer | approx. $80–130 | approx. 30–60 minutes | Book here |
Shuttle bus from Newark Airport to Manhattan
- Lines: Direct connection to Grand Central Station and Penn Station, among others
- Travel time: approx. 40–60 minutes (depending on traffic)
- Operating hours: 24/7, 365 days a year
- Frequency: every 20–30 minutes
Our top pick from Newark is the shuttle bus — specifically the Newark Airport Express.
It takes you directly to Manhattan with no transfers, stopping at Grand Central Station and Penn Station right in the heart of Midtown. It runs around the clock, including on holidays, which makes it a seriously convenient option for families or anyone traveling with a lot of luggage.
A one-way ticket costs 22 euros, and a round-trip is available for around 37 euros — excellent value for a stress-free, direct connection.
You can book your ticket online via GetYourGuide and have it ready on your phone or as a printout.
Book Newark Airport Express ticket online
All other Newark transfer options and info can be found here:
Transfer from LaGuardia Airport to the city
Here’s an overview of all transfer options from LGA Airport to Manhattan:
| Price | Duration | Purchase option | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q70 Bus + Train Top Pick | approx. $2.90–$8.25 | approx. 30–45 min. | on-site |
| Taxi | approx. $40–$65 | approx. 30–60 min. | on-site |
| Private Transfer | approx. $60–$100 | approx. 30–60 min. | Book now |
Q70 bus + train from LaGuardia to Manhattan
- Lines: Q70-SBS + Subway lines E, F, M, R, 7 (from Roosevelt Av/74 St) or 7 + LIRR (from Woodside)
- Travel time: approx. 30–45 minutes
- Operating hours: 24/7, around the clock, 365 days a year
- Frequency: Q70 bus every 8–10 minutes, Subway every 4–12 minutes depending on the line, LIRR every 15–30 minutes
From LaGuardia, we recommend the Q70 bus combined with the train — it’s one of the cheapest and fastest ways to get from LGA to Manhattan.
The Q70-SBS (also known as the LaGuardia Link) is completely free from all terminals. It connects you to either the Subway station at Roosevelt Av/74 St or the LIRR station at Woodside in Queens.
From there, it’s a short ride into Manhattan. Take the Subway for $2.90 or the LIRR for $5.25 to $8.25 — depending on the time of day.
For the Subway, just pay with a credit card, smartphone, or OMNY card at the turnstile. LIRR tickets are available at ticket machines or through the MTA TrainTime app.
Everything about the OMNY system and New York’s public transit — right here!
All other LaGuardia transfer options and info can be found here:
Frequently asked questions about New York's airports
Which New York airport is the best to fly into?
Honestly, it depends on your flight options and budget. Most international travelers arrive at either John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) or Newark Airport — LaGuardia handles mainly domestic routes, so it probably won’t be relevant to you.
JFK is by far the largest, with six terminals. Newark is more manageable with three. Both are well connected to Manhattan and work great as a starting point for your New York trip.
JFK or Newark — which airport should you fly into?
Both airports are well connected to downtown Manhattan, so the simplest approach is to just go with whichever flight is cheaper.
The difference in getting to the city is pretty minimal. We’ve flown in and out of both airports multiple times and honestly don’t have a strong preference for either one.
Which New York airport has the cheapest flights?
Good deals pop up for both JFK and Newark. Flights to Newark are often a bit cheaper, but that’s not always the case — it really depends on the day and airline.
That’s why we always recommend searching both airports at once to find the best fare available. Our go-to tool is Skyscanner. Just select “New York (all)” in the search form and it’ll automatically check all airports — including Newark in New Jersey.
