New York

Getting in

• John F. Kennedy International Airport: For most Manhattan destinations, take the AirTrain to Jamaica, then the LIRR to Grand Central Madison or Penn Station if your hotel is convenient to either; it is usually the best balance of speed and sanity, roughly 40–55 minutes to Midtown and about $15–20 total. The cheaper option is AirTrain to Jamaica plus the E, J or Z subway; allow roughly 60–75 minutes and about $12 total, including the airport AirTrain charge. Do not default to a taxi unless you are sharing, carrying a lot, or landing at an awkward hour: traffic makes its supposedly simple fixed fare a gamble once tolls and tip are added.
• Newark Liberty International Airport: Take AirTrain Newark to Newark Airport Rail Station, then NJ Transit to New York Penn Station; it is the practical Midtown transfer, around 35–50 minutes once moving and roughly $18–20. Check the train’s destination and use a train stopping at New York Penn, not only Newark Penn. A car can be easier for Lower Manhattan or Brooklyn with several people, but road time and tolls are volatile.
• LaGuardia Airport: The useful cheap transfer is the free Q70 LaGuardia Link bus to Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Avenue, then the E, F, M, R or 7 subway; expect 45–70 minutes to Midtown and pay only the subway fare, about $3. For Upper Manhattan or the Upper East Side, the M60-SBS to the 125th Street subway corridor can be better. There is no rail station at LaGuardia; skip expensive shuttle sales pitches.
• Moynihan Train Hall / New York Penn Station: This is the principal intercity arrival point for Amtrak and also serves NJ Transit and the LIRR. It sits at Eighth Avenue and 31st–33rd Streets in Midtown; walk if staying in Chelsea, Koreatown or Hudson Yards, otherwise use the A/C/E, 1/2/3, or nearby B/D/F/M and N/Q/R/W subway lines. Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor is often preferable to flying from Boston, Philadelphia or Washington once airport time is counted.
• Grand Central Terminal / Grand Central Madison: Metro-North trains from the Hudson Valley and Connecticut arrive at Grand Central Terminal; the LIRR uses the connected Grand Central Madison terminal. It is in East Midtown, with direct access to the 4/5/6/7 and S shuttle, and is an excellent arrival point for Midtown East, the Upper East Side and parts of Queens.