New York City Transportation! Getting around in New York can be challenging and confusing. Here you can find some information about how to get around in the Big Apple. Whenever available, we included addresses and phone numbers of transportation services:
Subway, Buses and Metro Card:
New York's subway trains and most buses run 24 hours a day. The flat $1.50 subway fare is payable with tokens or with the convenient Metro Card, which is a pre-paid discounted fare card ranging from $43 to $80. The card offers free transfers between buses and subways and can be purchased at any subway station booth and at many other locations. Seven day and 30 day Unlimited Ride Metro Cards can also be bought for $17-$63. For more information, call 212-638-7632.
Electronic signs on the sides of the subway car indicate the line, route, point of origin and destination. Free bus and subway maps are available at hotels, tourist information centers and subway stations. Please note, that the bus fare is payable with exact change only! No bills are accepted. You may also use a token or your Metro Card. Guide-A-Ride signs, showing bus stops and transfer points along a particular route, are posted at most bus stops. There are 3 different major bus routes: the uptown bus route, the downtown bus route, and the cross-town bus route. To transfer from an uptown to a cross-town bus, ask for a free transfer upon boarding. Fur bus and subway travel directions, call 718-330-1234. Information on bus and subway routes in 140 languages is available if you call 718-330-4847.
Major Airports for New York: John F. Kennedy International Airport, Jamaica, Queens, NY; Tel: 718-244-4444;
La Guardia Airport, Queens, NY; Tel: 718-533-3400;
Newark International Airport in New Jersey; Tel: 201-961-6000;
Tips for Airline Travelers: Most travelers choose a flight based on price. A good idea may be to check the safety record if you choose a low-cost airline. The least expensive airfares to New York are priced for round-trip travel. Airlines generally allow you to change your return date for a fee of 425 - $50. To save money on flights from the United Kingdom. look into an aPEX or Super-Pex Ticket. Look for nonstop flights and remember that "direct" flights stop at least once. Try to avoid connecting flights, which require you to change planes. Avoid getting bumped from your flight by checking in as early as you can. Airlines routinely overbook their flights and passengers who check in late are most likely to be denied if the airplane is overbooked. Also, always bring a photo ID to the airport. You may be requested to show it before you check in. To avoid jet lag, maintain as normal a routine as possible when flying. It helps to eat light meals and to drink a lot of water.
Move about in the airplane cabin whenever you can.
Major Airlines: Area Mexico: Tel: 800-237-6639;
Air France: Tel: 718-553-6900;
Alitalia: Tel: 800-223-5730;
American: Tel: 800-433-7300;
Delta: Tel: 800-221-1212;
EL Al: Tel: 212-768-9200;
United: Tel: 800-241-6522;
US Airways: Tel: 800-428-4322;
Getting to JFK Airport: Public transportation is the least expensive way to JFK Airport. For $1.50 (approximately), The A-Train takes travelers from subway stations along 8th Avenue and 34th, 42nd, , 50th and 59th Streets to the Howard Beach Station, where a free
shuttle bus to JFK terminals is provided. Call 718-330-1234 for bus and subway information and 800-247-7433 for Howard Beach Station bus departure times.
New York Airport Service also operates a minibus shuttle service from JFK airport to and from several locations in Manhattan. Call 718-706-9658 for information and fares. Of course you can also take a taxi and even a town car (comfortable, private looking car, which comes by appointment to your hotel) to JFK. Get ready for approximately $50 plus tips.
From La Guardia Airport to Manhattan: Taxis cost approximately $17-$29 plus tolls, which may be about $4. Group taxi rides may be available at taxi dispatch lines outside the baggage claim area. Group fares are about $10.
For more economic travelers, there are several express shuttle services that go into Manhattan:
- Carey Airport Express, which departs ever half hour from early morning to midnight. It is a 40 minute ride to 42nd Street and Park Avenue directly opposite Grand Central Station and costs about $10. You can catch a bus or the subway from there to almost any point in Manhattan. Also, the shuttle continues to several hotels. Please ask the driver how close he/she can bring you to your hotel. Of course, you may also take a taxi. Which will take you anywhere.
- The Gray Line Airport Shuttle Minibus serves major Manhattan Hotels directly to and from La Guardia. The trip lasts about 30 minutes and the ticket costs $15.
- The Delta Water shuttle runs between the airport's Marine Air Terminal and Manhattan's East Side including Pier 11 at Wall Street.
- The
cheapest way to go to Manhattan is to take the M-60 public bus to 116 the Street and Broadway, across from Columbia University. From there you can catch Subway 1 or 9 to midtown or you can take the Bus Q-33 to either the Roosevelt Anvenue-Jackson Heights station to catch subway E, F. Allow at least 1 1/2 hours for traveling to midtown by public transportation. The total cost is about $3. Make sure you have exact change.
From JFK International Airport to Manhattan: Taxis are about $35 plus $4 tolls. Transfer by taxi takes close to 30 minutes or more depending on traffic.
If you would like to travel more economically, there are several shuttle services to choose from:
- The Carey Airport Express departs ever half hour from early morning to midnight from all JFK terminals. It is a 1-hour ride to 42nd Street and Park Avenue directly opposite Grand Central Station and costs about $13. You can catch a bus or the subway from there to almost any point in Manhattan. Also, the shuttle continues to several hotels. Please ask the driver how close he/she can bring you to your hotel. Of course, you may also take a taxi from Grand Central Station to anywhere.
- The Gray Line Airport Shuttle Minibus serves major Manhattan Hotels directly to and from La Guardia. The trip lasts about 30 minutes and the ticket costs $17 per person. You can use the courtesy phone at the airport's ground transportation counter to make arrangements.
- New York Helicopter offers private charter flights into Manhattan's heliports. The helicopters leave from the General Aviation Teminal and the flight takes about 10 minutes. One way the fare is $300 to $350 for up to 5 people.
- For those who have time, the cheapest way to go to Manhattan is to take the Port Authority's free shuttle bus, which stops at all terminals. The bus goes to the Howard Beach subway station, where you can catch the A-Train into Manhattan. An alternative is to take Bus Q-10 to the Union Turnpike-Kew Garden Station, where you can catch Subway E of F. Or you can take Bus B-15 to New Lots station and take Subway 3. The trip will last at least 2 hours, but the total cost is only about $2-$3.
From Newark Airport to Manhattan:
Taxis are about $50 including tolls and take up to 45 minutes depending on traffic. If you would like to share the cost, talk to the airport taxi dispatcher, he/she may be able to get you together with other travelers who are looking for the same.
- New Jersey Transit Airport Express buses depart for the Port Authority Bus Terminal at 8th Avenue and 42nd Street every 15 minutes practically around the clock. The bus ride costs about $8. From Port Authority you can catch a taxi to anywhere in Manhattan.
- The Olympia Airport Express bus departs to Grand Central and Penn Station in Manhattan every 20 minutes and to the every 30 minutes daily from early morning to midnight. It takes about 45 minutes to Grand Central and Penn Station and 20 minutes to the The ride costs $8 per person.
- The Gray Line Airport Shuttle Minibus goes to major Manhattan hotels and to the Port Authority for $14 per person. You can make arrangements at the airport's ground transportation center or you can use the bus service's courtesy phone.
- The New Jersey Transit Airlink Buses leave to Newark Penn Station every 20 minutes from early morning to 2 hours past midnight. The ride takes 20 minutes and costs $4. Be sure to have exact change. From Penn Station in Newark you can take the PATH Train to Manhattan which runs every 10-20 minutes to the and five more stops along 6th Avenue, Christopher Street, 9th Street, 14th Street, 23rd Street and 33rd Street for only $1.
From any Airport to Manhattan by Limousine or Towncar:
There is one more great way to get from any of the 3 airports to New York, and many travelers wish they would have taken this route when arriving tired at a New York aiport. You will notice a lot of people who are obviously waiting for someone, since they are holding signs with the names of passengers written on them. These people are chauffeurs of limousines and town cars waiting for their passengers who booked their ride in advance. The ride does not cost much more than a taxi, but affords you more convenience in that you don't have to hunt for a taxi or shuttle, and there is no waiting time. Once you arrive, your chauffeur is ready to whisk you into Manhattan in a comfortable town car or luxurious limousine. Drivers can meet you at the concourse or in the baggage claim area, they will help you with your luggage and are happy to welcome you warmly. All Drivers are licensed and they pick up passengers only by appointment. Call at least 24 hours in advance for reservations. Of course, you can use the same service the other way, when you need to go to any of the airports. For a list of Limousine services, please see below.
Helicopters:
We were told that taking a Helicopter from the airport is a fast way to get where you are going.
Helicopter tours are also a great way to see New York. Here are some services:
Air Pegasus Heliport, Liberty Helicopter, W 30 St. & 12th Ave., New, NY;
Island Helicopter Tel: 212-683-4575;
Liberty Helicopter Tours, from $48 per flight! Tel: 212-465-8905;
New York Helicopter: Tel: 516-756-2694;
Wall Street Heliport, Pier 6, New York, NY;
Battery Park City Heliport, Hudson River, New York, NY;
Taxi/Limousine/Bus Services:
There are plenty of transportation services in New York, including taxis, shuttles, buses and the subway. If you want to be picked up by appointment here are the transportation companies we found in our research:
Accord Limousine Service: Tel: 212-321-1212;
Affordable Limousine Service, 24 Hours, 212-730-6666. For Pick-up from airport call 212-338-4567;
Airlines Ticket Office, 100 E. 42nd Street and 1 E 59th Street., New York, NY;
All State Car and Limousine Service; Tel: 212-741-7440;
Americana Tickets/Radler Travel: Tel: 212-581-1500;
Carey Limousines, Tel: 212-599-1122 or 800-336-4646;
Carmel Car and Airport Transportation: Tel: 212-666-6666;
Dav-El Services, 212-645-4242 or 800-922-0343;
East Side Limo Service: Tel: 212-7449700;
East Side Airlines Terminal, E 37 Street & First Avenue, New York, NY;
George Washington Bridge Station, W 178th Street & Broadway;
Grand Central Station, Park Avenue and East 432nd Street, New York, NY;
Gray Line Airport Shuttle Minibus: Tel: 212-315-3006 or 80-451-0455;
Greenwich Limousine: 212-868-4733 or 800-385-1033;
Greyhound lines, Inc. 212-971-6404 or 800-231-2222;
Limousine Service: Tel: 212-777-7777;
London Towncars: 212-988-9700 or 800-221-4009;
Manhattan Airport Express, Tel: 212-875-8200;
New Jersey Transit: Tel: 201-762-5100;
New York Airport Services: Tel: 718-706-9658;
New York's Best Limousine Service, New York, NY; Tel: 212-777-1177;
Olympia Airport Express: 212-964-6233 or 718-622-7700;
Passion Limousine: Tel: 877-739-3366;
PATH (Hudson Tubes), at at Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY;
Pennsylvania RR Station, Seventh Avenue, & West 33rd Street, New York, NY;
Port Authority Bus Terminal, Eighth Avenue, @ West 42nd Street, New York, NY;
Passenger Ship Terminal, West 47-52nd Street, New York, NY; Tel: 718-244-4444;
Sherwood Silver Bay Limousine Service 718-472-0183 or 800-752-4540;
Staten Island Ferry, St. George Terminal, Staten Island, NY;
Tel Aviv Car and Staten Island Ferry Terminal, Battery Park, South Ferry, New York, NY;
United Luxury Transportation: Tel: 212-599-4444;