Visiting USA

Empire State Building in New York City

New York City is one of the most famous cities in the world. People travel from all over the globe to visit New York, and as such, there is no shortage of things to keep visitors busy. With so much to do, it can be hard to narrow the options down to a manageable list. To help you, here is my list of the top 10 things to do in New York City:

1. Go to the top of the Empire State Building. The views from the iconic skyscraper in Manhattan are second to none, and on clear days you can see for miles in all directions. If the lines are long, you can go to the top of Rockefeller Center as an alternative.

2. Go shopping. Many visitors come to New York City just for retail therapy. From the famous luxury goods stores on 5th Avenue to the funky shops and galleries in SoHo, there is no shortage of opportunities for shopping in New York City.

3. Take a walk in Central Park. The park is one of the most famous urban green spaces in the world and has featured in countless films set in New York City. It is beautiful at any time of year, especially in autumn when the leaves change.

4. Visit the museums. New York City has some of the best museums in the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Frick Collection, the Natural History Museum, the Guggenheim Museum, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and more. There are also special exhibitions at places like the New York Public Library that are worth checking out.

5. Eat. Some of the best restaurants in the world are located in Manhattan, which makes eating one of the top 10 things to do in New York City. But you don’t have to break the bank to find good food. There are plenty of hole-in-the-wall restaurants that serve great food at prices that are easy on the wallet.

6. Get tickets to a Broadway show. There is a never-ending stream of world-class musicals and plays on Broadway, and no trip to New York is complete without seeing one. While you’re in the area, don’t miss the chance to experience the energy of Times Square.

7. Don’t forget Brooklyn. Most visitors to New York City never leave Manhattan. But Brooklyn is worth a visit for its great restaurants, funky shopping, and stunning views of the Manhattan skyline. To get there, you can take the subway or walk across the iconic Brooklyn Bridge.

8. Visit the Statue of Liberty. One of New York City’s most famous monuments is the green statue carrying the eternal flame. A symbol of the USA, no trip to the city is complete without a visit to the Statue of Liberty.

9. Go ice skating at Rockefeller Center. If you happen to be visiting New York in the winter, don’t pass up a chance to glide across one of the world’s most famous ice skating rinks.

10. Take a trip to Ground Zero. September 11, 2001 changed the world. Seeing where the World Trade Center used to stand and walking around the memorial certainly deserves a place on anyone’s list of top 10 things to do in New York City.

Air Train

Trains from JFK Airport to Manhattan are a convenient and inexpensive way to get from your flight’s arrival gate to New York City. The process is a simple one that you can complete in two steps.

The first step is to follow signs in JFK Airport to the AirTrain once your flight has landed. When you arrive at the AirTrain platform, board a train to Jamaica station. You do not need to buy a ticket before you get on the train, as ticket machines are located at Jamaica station.

After you alight at Jamaica, you will start with the second step of taking the train from JFK Airport to Manhattan. Pay $5 for the AirTrain when you arrive at the station, and purchase a ticket for the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR). This will be your next mode of transportation to Manhattan.

The cost of a ticket for the the LIRR is $8 for adults at peak times, and $6.75 at off-peak times. Discounts are available for children and seniors. Cash and credit cards are both accepted at the ticket machines.

The Long Island Rail Road train to Manhattan will take you from Jamaica station all the way to Penn Station in midtown Manhattan. From there you can connect to subway lines A, C, and E, as well as buses, taxis, and other modes of transport to get to your final destination in New York City.

The total journey time on trains from JFK Airport to Manhattan is around 50 minutes, with the AirTrain taking 15 minutes and the LIRR taking 35 minutes. The travel time can be longer depending on how long you have to wait for the trains to arrive and at which terminal you board the AirTrain.

JFK Airport

Taxis from JFK Airport to Manhattan leave from the taxi ranks outside of the arrivals halls.

Airport taxis are regulated, so only take yellow taxis from JFK airport.

A taxi from JFK Airport to the city center will cost $45 plus any tolls you encounter en route to Manhattan.

Prices are fixed on a “Flat Fare” program for taxis to and from Manhattan, so you shouldn’t pay more than the set fare plus tolls. There will be information inside the taxi explaining the rates.

Be aware that traffic on the roads and highways from JFK Airport to Manhattan can be very bad in the morning and evening rush hour periods, and even at off-peak times and on weekends.

If your flight arrives between 7 and 9am or between 5pm and 8pm, consider taking the subway or Long Island Rail Road to Manhattan.