New York (known as "The Big Apple", "NYC," and often called "New York City") is a global center for media, entertainment, art, fashion, research, finance, and trade. The bustling, cosmopolitan heart of the 4th largest metropolis in the world and by far the most populous city in the United States, New York has long been a key entry point and a defining city for the nation.
From the Statue of Liberty in the harbor to the Empire State Building towering over the Manhattan skyline, from the tunnels of the subway to the riches of Wall Street, from the bright signs of Times Square to the naturalistic beauty of Central Park, and from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx to Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York's landmarks are quintessential American landmarks. The city's neighborhoods and streets are so iconic they he become ingrained into the American consciousness. Here the power, wealth and culture of the United States is on full display in one of the largest and most iconic skylines in the world, in the food and music to be found around every corner, and in the diverse population of immigrants who come from every corner of the globe to take part in what this city has to offer.
Lying at the mouth of the Hudson River in the southernmost part of the state of the same name and at the center of the Mid-Atlantic region, New York City is home to approximately 8.3 million people. The New York Metropolitan Area, which spans lower New York state, northern New Jersey, and southwestern Connecticut, has a population of 18.9 million, making it the largest metropolitan area in the U.S.
See also: New York City with children, LGBT New York City Boroughs[edit]New York City consists of five boroughs, which are five separate counties. Each borough has a unique culture and could be a large city in its own right. Within each borough individual neighborhoods, some only a few blocks in size, he personalities lauded in music and film. Where you live, work, and play in New York says something to New Yorkers about who you are.
The five New York boroughs are:
40.639722-73.7788891 John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK IATA). New York's main airport and a major hub for American, Delta, and JetBlue, as well as other domestic and international airlines. If you are arriving into New York by plane from overseas, it is likely that JFK will be your point of entry. (updated Sep 2018)If you arrive at this airport from overseas, be prepared to wait in line at Customs & Border Protection, often over an hour if you are not a permanent resident of the United States. As cellphones are not allowed in waiting lines, you may want to bring a book or other non-digital entertainment. If you are departing from this airport, beware that it's a huge and congested airport with six terminals. Make sure you know what terminal you're leing from before you get to the airport, and it's recommended that you arrive 2 hours before domestic flights and 3 hours before international ones, to check in and pass through security without a huge increase in blood pressure and/or a last minute dash worthy of the Olympics, but without any of the medals.
If you're going to Manhattan, you can get there by taxi for a flat fare of $70, bus plus subway for $2.90, or the AirTrain — a 24-hr people mover system that takes passengers to the nearby Jamaica subway and LIRR stations for $8 (AirTrain + subway card). From Jamaica you can take NYC subway lines E, J or Z further into Brooklyn, Queens and onward to the island of Manhattan, with trel time being between 50 and 60 minutes to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan. A faster option for those in the know is the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR); these commuter trains can whisk you from Jamaica to Penn Station in roughly 20-25 minutes. Jamaica is a major hub for LIRR train services — only use this option if you are sure of what you're doing. You don't want to get on the wrong train and end up far from your destination. To add insult to injury, unforgiving conductors on the LIRR will charge you on the spot for incorrect tickets. Best to use this option once you he fully done your research or consulted with a local. LIRR trains are extremely crowded both toward and away from New York City during rush hours.
Traffic can be horrendous at all hours, in all directions. If you are driving or taking a taxi to or from JFK, lee yourself plenty of time to get to or from the airport.
The advantage of arriving at Newark is the direct access to a railway station served by fast trains not only to New York City but also to the whole Northeast corridor of the United States. Newark Liberty International Airport[edit] Main article: Newark Liberty International Airport40.6925-74.16862 Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR IATA). In the state of New Jersey, west of Manhattan, serves as New York's second major international airport, New Jersey's primary airport, and a major hub for United Airlines. (updated Jun 2025)
You can get into New York City by taxi for $50-70. Other taxi companies that run cabs to different destinations are also ailable from the airport. For a cheaper option, take the train: the NJ Transit commuter rail to New York Penn Station takes about 30 minutes and costs $16.80 each way.
New Jersey Transit Bus #62 and other NJT Buses — The most inexpensive option, New Jersey Transit #62 bus runs from in front of all 3 airport terminals to Newark Penn Station (one-way fare $1.80; exact change only; 25 min). From there, you may take a PATH subway train ($3) either to World Trade Center station in lower Manhattan (25 min), or, to Journal Square, where you can transfer to the Journal Square-33rd St train across the platform, which runs to the following stops along 6th Ave: Christopher St in Greenwich Village, 9th St, 14th St, 23rd St, and 33rd St. Plan on 90 minutes including waiting times. The #62 Bus operates 24/7 between Elizabeth and Newark Penn Station, including holidays. Service generally runs every 10-15 minutes weekdays, 15-20 minutes Saturdays, and 20-30 minutes Sundays, with overnight service every 30 minutes.
The AirTrain Newark is easily accessed from the airport terminals via elevator/escalators and runs 24 hours to Newark Airport Rail Station, 10 min away, however, there's an $8.50 fee when exiting/entering to the Newark Airport Station (the $8.50 fee is included in the $16.80 NJ Transit train ticket). From here you can take a NJ Transit train (30-min ride, every 15-30 min) to New York Penn Station (34th St & 8th Ave in Manhattan) or Amtrak train to other destinations along the east coast. Amtrak also runs trains to Manhattan, but they cost $20-30. NJ Transit tickets are not valid on Amtrak trains. NJ Transit trains stop at both Newark Penn Station and New York Penn Station, so if your destination is Manhattan, stay on till you reach New York Penn Station.
Newark Airport's station along the Northeast Corridor gives it a major advantage over JFK and LGA, as long-distance Amtrak trains coming from as far south as Virginia, as far north as Massachusetts, and as far west as Harrisburg also stop at the station.
LaGuardia Airport in Queens was built as a seaplane harbor, and the Marine Air Terminal still stands, serving Delta (land-bound) flights LaGuardia Airport[edit] Main article: LaGuardia Airport
LaGuardia does not he a direct rail or subway connection to the rest of the city. Your best bet for reaching Manhattan is to take a taxi or use a rideshare app. Most taxi or rideshare fares to Midtown Manhattan from LaGuardia will erage $40-45 before tip. Trips via the Queens-Midtown Tunnel or RFK Bridge will incur a toll in addition to the fare. Traffic between Manhattan and LaGuardia can be awful during rush hours but generally is not a big issue outside of peak commuting times. If you feel comfortable using public transportation, two MTA Select Bus Service routes serve the airport. These buses can be very crowded at times but they do include luggage racks and operate 24 hours a day with a fair degree of frequency. The M60-SBS can take you to the area of Upper Manhattan around Columbia University via the Astoria neighborhood of Queens and 125th Street in Harlem. The Q70-SBS LaGuardia Link provides a connection to busy public transit hubs in the Woodside and Jackson Heights neighborhoods of Queens, where you can then connect onward to multiple subway, LIRR and bus lines. As of late 2022, riding the Q70 is free of charge. The M60 costs the standard bus fare of $2.90 per passenger.
Long Island MacArthur Airport[edit] Long Island MacArthur Airport (Islip Airport) (ISP IATA) is 45 miles east of midtown Manhattan in Ronkonkoma in the Town of Islip on Long Island. The airport is served by Southwest Airlines, a major discount carrier. To trel between ISP and the city: A shuttle bus (10 minutes, $5) operates between ISP and the Ronkonkoma Long Island Railroad station. From there, you can take a train to Penn Station in Manhattan. (1.5 hours, $12.75 off-peak hours or $17.50 peak hours). The Long Island Railroad offers a discount package for MacArthur Airport trelers[dead link]. Hampton Jitney operates bus services from Ronkonkoma to Manhattan costing $40-47; the bus stop is a short cab ride away from ISP. SCT 6 bus operates from the airport to Central Islip Station for $2.25. However, it isn't coordinated with the train schedule like the shuttle. Westchester County Airport[edit] Westchester County Airport (HPN IATA) is 25 miles northeast of midtown Manhattan near the town of White Plains and is served by American, Cape Air, Delta, JetBlue, and United, mostly for flights on the East Coast. To trel between the city and HPN: Bee-Line Bus #12 (fare $2.75; ☏ +1-914-813-7777 for details) operates service to the White Plains Metro-North station. From there, you can take a Metro-North train ($9.75 off-peak and $12.75 peak) to any of various points in the Bronx, or 125th St/Park Ave and Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. Trains run roughly every half hour for most of the day and take approximately 40 minutes to an hour. Stewart International Airport[edit] Stewart International Airport (SWF IATA) is 75 miles north of midtown Manhattan, near Newburgh. It mainly serves flights from Florida. To trel between the city and SWF: A shuttle bus ($1, 40 minutes, M-F only) connects SWF with the Beacon Metro-North Railroad Station. From there, you can take a train into Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan ($17.50 off-peak, $23 peak, approximately 90 minutes). Shortline operates bus service ($20, 90 minutes) between the airport and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan. Buses are timed based on arrivals and departures of Norwegian Airlines flights. Trenton-Mercer Airport[edit] Trenton-Mercer Airport[dead link] (TTN IATA) is 63 miles southwest of Midtown Manhattan and offers limited commercial service on Frontier Airlines. Passengers flying into Trenton can reach Manhattan by taking a taxi to the Trenton train station and then taking the New Jersey Transit Northeast Corridor Line or Amtrak to Penn Station. Teterboro Airport (TEB IATA) is the most popular choice for general iation and business jet trelers out of New York City. Air taxi and air charter companies such as Private Jets Teterboro. The Early Air Way, Monarch Air Group, Mercury Jets and Jetset Charter[dead link] fly a variety of private charter aircraft and jets, from charter luxury Gulfstream's down to economical piston twins for small groups and individuals. By train[edit] See also: Rail trel in the United States Amtrak[edit] The interior of the Moynihan Train Hall next door to Penn StationAmtrak, ☏ +1 215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Operates trains throughout the United States. (updated Dec 2020) Amtrak trains stop at 40.7515-73.99594 Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station (Amtrak code NYP), 351 West 31st Street (directly under Madison Square Garden, between 31st and 33rd St, and between 8th and 9th Ave). (updated Oct 2023) Popular trains leing during rush hours can fill up quickly; it is a good idea to make reservations online, or via phone, and pick up your ticket using a credit card or your confirmation number at one of the electronic kiosks throughout the station. On some of the non-business routes, for example New York to Montreal, Amtrak takes more time and costs more money than taking the bus or renting a car. Check and compare schedules and prices before booking.
Amtrak's routes stopping at Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station include:
Acela trels multiple times daily between Boston and Washington, D.C. with stops in Westwood, Providence, New Hen, Stamford, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore. The train provides up to 150 mph (240 km/h) intercity service between major points along the east coast. Trel time to New York City from Boston is 3.75 hours, from Providence is 3.25 hours, from Philadelphia is 1.25 hours, from Baltimore is 2.25 hours, and from Washington D.C. is 3 hours. Adirondack operating daily between Montreal and New York City including stops along the way in Saint-Lambert, Rouses Point, Plattsburgh, Westport, Ticonderoga, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, Albany (Rensselaer), Hudson, Rhinecliff, Poughkeepsie, Croton-on-Hudson, and Yonkers. Trel time to New York City from Montreal is 11 hours. Cardinal operating three trips weekly between Chicago and New York City with stops in Dyer, Rensselaer, Lafayette, Crawfordsville, Indianapolis, Connersville, Cincinnati, Ashland, Huntington, Charleston, Hinton, White Sulphur Springs, Staunton, Charlottesville, Culpeper, Manassas, Alexandria, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Trenton, and Newark. Carolinian between Charlotte and New York City via Raleigh, Richmond, and Washington, D.C. Crescent between New Orleans and New York City via Birmingham, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Washington, D.C. Ethan Allen Express operating daily between Burlington and New York City including in Middlebury, Rutland, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, Albany (Rensselaer), Hudson, Rhinecliff, Poughkeepsie, Croton-on-Hudson, and Yonkers. Empire Service operating twice daily between Niagara Falls (New York) and New York City including stops in Buffalo, Buffalo (Depew), Rochester, Syracuse, Rome, Utica, Schenectady, Albany (Rensselaer), Hudson, Rhinecliff, Poughkeepsie, Croton-on-Hudson, and Yonkers. Additional daily trips operate between Albany (Rensselaer) and New York City. Trel time to New York City from Niagara Falls is 9 hours, from Buffalo is 8.5 hours, from Rochester is 7.25 hours, and from Albany (Rensselaer) is 2.75 hours. Keystone multiple trips per day between Harrisburg and New York City with stops in Elizabethtown, Lancaster, Coatesville, Downingtown, Exton, Paoli, Ardmore, Philadelphia, Trenton, and Newark. Lake Shore Limited, operating daily between Chicago and Boston or New York City. It makes stops at most stations along the route, though it does not stop at some of the smallest stations. Trains consist of train cars from both branches between Chicago and Albany (Rensselaer). The trains split into separate branches between Albany (Rensselaer) and both Boston and New York City. Stops between Chicago and Albany (Rensselaer) include South Bend, Elkhart, Waterloo, Bryan, Toledo, Sandusky, Elyria, Cleveland, Erie, Buffalo (Depew), Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, and Schenectady. Stops between Albany (Rensselaer) and New York City include Rhinecliff, Poughkeepsie, and Croton-on-Hudson. Trel time to New York City from Chicago is 21.25 hours. Maple Leaf train operating daily between Toronto and New York City, in partnership with VIA Rail Canada. Stops between Toronto and Niagara Falls (New York) include in Oakville, Burlington, Grimsby, St. Catharines, and Niagara Falls (Ontario). Stops between Niagara Falls (New York) and New York City are the same as those made by the Empire Service. Border crossing processing takes place in Niagara Falls, where passengers must detrain with their baggage. Train crew members are staffed by VIA Rail within Canada, and by Amtrak within the United States. Trel time to New York City from Toronto is 13 hours. Northeast Regional is Amtrak's busiest regional service, connecting Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and the many towns and cities in-between. Toward the east end of the route, some trips terminate at Springfield instead of Boston. Some services also continue south into Virginia towards Newport News, Roanoke and Norfolk on three separate branch routes from Alexandria. This is also Amtrak's most frequent service, with multiple daily departures. It provides a similar service to the Acela with somewhat inferior passenger car interiors, while being only marginally slower for much lower prices and hing more stops. Palmetto between Sannah and New York City. Silver Meteor and Silver Star between Miami and New York City via Sannah. Vermonter operates daily between St. Albans and Washington, D.C. including stops in Essex Junction, Waterbury, Montpelier, White River Junction, Claremont, Bellows Falls, Brattleboro, Greenfield, Northampton, Holyoke, Springfield, Windsor Locks, Hartford, Meriden, New Hen, Bridgeport, Stamford, New York City, Newark, Trenton, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, and New Carrollton.Service from California, Oregon or Washington states takes about 4 days and requires a change of train in Chicago.
Amtrak's ClubAcela Lounge, near the big security desk in Penn Station, offers complimentary drinks, wi-fi access, newspapers and magazines, and clean bathrooms. Access to the club is granted to trelers with sleeper tickets, First Class Acela tickets, or Amtrak GuestRewards SelectPlus membership.
Commuter rail[edit]New York City is served by three commuter railroads:
The spectacular Grand Central Terminal at night. This station is the terminating point for all Metro-North service Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) operates primarily between Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station or 40.752813-73.9772155 Grand Central Madison in Midtown Manhattan, or 40.6846-73.9776 Atlantic Terminal in Downtown Brooklyn and a constellation of suburbs on Long Island. Stops within New York City include smaller stations as well as larger commuter hubs like Jamaica, Nostrand Avenue and Woodside. As a tourist, you will most likely not use the LIRR but for seasoned visitors, it can be a useful and relatively quick method for treling between Penn Station and JFK Airport. LIRR tickets can be purchased online or inside stations prior to boarding the train. Tickets are also ailable for purchase on the train but are significantly more expensive. The cost of the ticket varies based on the distance of the ride. The LIRR system is complex and not particularly tourist-friendly: trains can be extremely crowded at peak commuting hours and on weekend evenings headed into NYC (when they're packed with younger people heading to bars and clubs—in various states of inebriation). LIRR trains operate 24 hours a day, but service can be infrequent or suspended overnight or during holidays on some lines. Metro-North Railroad (Metro-North) operates between 40.752813-73.9772157 Grand Central Terminal and points north and northeast of the city all the way to Connecticut. Trains also stop at the Harlem station on 125th Street and Park Avenue in Manhattan. The New Hen line serves cities along the coast with branch lines to Danbury and Waterbury. The Hudson Line serves points along the Hudson River like Tarrytown, Croton-Harmon, Peekskill, and Cold Spring, and terminating at Poughkeepsie. The Harlem Line serves Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess Counties to White Plains, Brewster, and Southeast, the station that provides shuttle service to Wassaic. At New Hen, passengers may transfer to Amtrak or to the Shore Line East providing local service between New Hen and New London, Connecticut. Metro North tickets can be purchased online or inside stations prior to boarding the train. Tickets are also ailable for purchase on the train but are significantly more expensive. The cost of the ticket varies based on the distance of the ride. The Metro-North is decidedly more calm and user-friendly compared to the LIRR, but trains can still be very crowded at peak hours going into or out of the city. Metro-North trains do not operate 24 hours a day. New Jersey Transit operates between Moynihan Train Hall at NY Penn Station or 40.7349-74.02918 Hoboken Terminal in Hoboken, New Jersey, and points in New Jersey. It is the only commuter railroad in New York City that isn't owned by the MTA. The Northeast Corridor line goes to Princeton and Trenton. Services are also ailable for points along the Jersey Coast via the North Jersey Coast Line, and to north-central suburbs like Summit, Peapack-Gladstone, or Morristown via the Morris & Essex Line, which is divided into the Morristown Line and Gladstone Branch. It also services the town of Montclair via the Montclair-Boonton line. With a transfer in 40.7616-74.0759 Secaucus Junction. or a PATH or ferry connection in Hoboken, to points north of the city (in New Jersey and New York State west of the Hudson), via the Pascack Valley and Bergen/Main/Port Jervis lines. The Raritan Valley Line serves some western suburbs, and is accessed via a PATH connection in 40.7347-74.16455210 Newark Penn Station. , which is in Newark, New Jersey. Connecting service is ailable from Trenton to Philadelphia via SEPTA or to Camden (New Jersey) via RiverLINE. Connecting service to Newark Liberty International Airport is ailable from some Northeast corridor trains. NJ Transit tickets can be purchased online or inside stations prior to boarding the train. Tickets are also ailable for purchase on the train but are significantly more expensive. The cost of the ticket varies based on the distance of the ride. PATH[edit]PATH (Port Authority Trans-Hudson) is a subway system connecting New York City to Hoboken, Newark, and various points on the New Jersey shore of the Hudson River. Two lines pass under the Hudson and enter the city, one terminating near the World Trade Center site downtown, the other at 33rd Street in midtown (see map[dead link]). The PATH station at 33rd Street is not connected to, nor part of Penn Station.
PATH costs $3 per ride. PATH payment options:
You can use contactless payment options (eg a credit/debit card or a smartphone wallet) to pass through dedicated gates via the Total Access PATH Payment (TAPP) pilot. TAPP-enabled gates are ailable at every PATH station. An RFID-type stored value card called Smartlink affords PATH users discounts: $26 for 10 trips; $52 for 20 trips; $104 for 40 trips. However, the card itself must be purchased ($5, $57 including 20 trips). The PATH system accepts the MTA system's Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard[dead link] (but not Unlimited Ride MetroCard). For the visitor treling from New Jersey daily, it is more convenient and possibly cheaper to purchase the MetroCard to trel on both the PATH and the MTA systems. However, there is no free MetroCard transfer between PATH and MTA subways/buses.TAPP and Smartlink are separate from the New York City OMNY payment system. PATH does not accept OMNY RFID cards, and PATH trips do not contribute to the OMNY weekly fare cap.
By bus[edit] See also: Long-distance bus trel in the United StatesSome buses offer wi-fi, outlets and even business-class style luxury. Buses serve New Jersey, New York suburbs west of the Hudson River, and all cities along the east coast of the U.S.
40.75694-73.99045611 Port Authority Bus Terminal, 625 8th Ave (Along 8th Ave between 40th & 42nd Sts, near Times Square), ☏ +1 212-564-8484. Open 24 hours a day. A lot of bus routes end at this terminal. Intercity public bus companies operating to New York City[edit] Coach USA Shortline, Port Authority Bus Terminal @ 625 8th Ave. Coach USA also operates the Shortline as a commuter bus from Rockland, Orange, and Sullivan Counties, NY; Bergen County, NJ; and Pike County, PA to Midtown, Downtown, the East Side, and Wall Street in Manhattan, and over longer distances from Monticello, Binghamton, Ithaca, Owego, Elmira, Corning, Alfred, etc. Fox Bus Lines, (bus stops) 152 E Broadway and 6th Ave btwn 31st & 32nd St. From Schenectady and Albany, NY and from Philadelphia. Trailways, Port Authority Bus Terminal @ 625 8th Ave, ☏ +1 716-855-7533, toll-free: +1-800-776-7548. Largest intra-state bus operator serving New York State. [www.uptownvans.com Uptown Vans], info@uptownvans.com. Offers routes to Upper Manhattan from Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, Allentown, Reading, Philadelphia, Lancaster, York, Harrisburg, Hartford, Springfield, Worcester, Providence, Boston, Lowell, Lawrence, and Lynn. (updated Mar 2025) Hampton Jitney, ☏ +1 631-283-4600. From various places in eastern Long Island to stops in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Ocean Bus Lines, 3 Allen St; 3 Bowery St (Corner of Bowery & Division); and 194 Canal St (Btwn Mott & Mulberry St), ☏ +1 917-622-7696. Service from Buffalo via Liverpool (near Syracuse) and Rochester. Academy Bus, ☏ +1 201-420-7000, toll-free: +1-800-442-7272. Operates commuter services from Burlington, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean Counties in New Jersey. Casino Express service to/from Atlantic City and Mohegan Sun. Coach USA, Port Authority Bus Terminal @ 625 8th Ave. The parent company of Megabus offers commuter routes, university express, airport shuttles and casino shuttles to the Port Authority Bus Terminal from New Jersey. Lakeland Bus Lines, Port Authority Bus Terminal @ 625 8th Ave, ☏ +1 973-366-0600. Commuter buses to NY Port Authority Bus Terminal from northern New Jersey Martz Bus (Martz Trailways), ☏ +1 570-821-3838. Martz offers commuter & intercity routes from Hackettstown, Panther Valley Mall, Atlantic City, Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Stroudsburg, Poconos.