Visitor's Information to New York, USA

The great metropolis of the USA, New York casts a long shadow over the cities of the world. Besides being a global financial capital, the urban island of Manhattan is an unrivalled dynamo for the arts, making it one of the world’s great cultural centres.

The restless city moves at a frenetic pace, ever on the edge of invention. Its creativity has secured the reputation of its venerated restaurants, chic nightspots and cutting-edge theatre. Architectural masterpieces abound, with Manhattan a veritable drawing board for the great architects of the 20th century.

New York has always been a city of the world with multinational, multicultural inhabitants. Residents from some 170-odd foreign countries, speaking over 130 languages, call Gotham home. Like millions of immigrants who came before them, they help make the city what it is today, working among the 20,000 restaurants, 10,000 stores and 150 museums scattered about the metropolis.

The epicentre of New York life always has been the island of Manhattan, which is surrounded by four other distinct city boroughs (the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island) all of which have their own character and attractions.

The first European settlement on Manhattan was by the Dutch, during the 1620s. They named the city New Amsterdam. In 1664, the British took over and renamed it New York. The settlement rapidly flourished, expanding from south to north along the island. Over the next few centuries, Manhattan rapidly developed into the USA’s economic and cultural capital, housing an entire world within its 58 sq km (23 sq miles).

Today, New York still grapples with the events of 11 September 2001, when the USA suffered its worst ever terrorist attack. Although New Yorkers will never forget that day, the city has regained its vitality, and marches forward to confront a new set of issues (among them, making the city ‘greener’ in the face of global warming). After years of wrangling, construction finally began in 2006 on the 541m (1,775ft) Freedom Tower (a name that strikes many New Yorkers as rather Orwellian), which will rise above the former site of the World Trade Center.

New York is an excellent place to visit at any time of year, although it is particularly pleasant during the spring and autumn, when temperatures hover around 21ºC (70ºF). New York winters tend to be unpredictable, although cold temperatures bring less snow here than to other nearby cities, while summers are hot and muggy, often lasting until September.

How to get there

The three airports serving New York City (John F Kennedy International, La Guardia and Newark Liberty International Airport) are operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Passengers should arrive for international flights at least two-and-a-half hours before departure. Ground transportation information for these airports is available from the port authority daily 0800-1800.
John F Kennedy Airport (JFK) .

JFK is situated in Queens, 24km (15 miles) southeast of central Manhattan, and is New York’s busiest airport, with flights to destinations worldwide.

Airport facilities: Facilities include bureaux de change, ATMs, Wi-Fi access, bars, restaurants, post offices, shops, duty-free boutiques and major car hire companies, including Avis, Budget and Hertz. Hotel reservations are available in Terminals 1, 4 and 7 by Accommodations Plus, Inc. (tel: 1 800 733 7666; ) and in Terminal 3 by Megan Services (tel: 1 800 441 1115). The Air Train runs frequently between terminals and connects JFK with the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) and New York City Transit (NYCT) local subways and buses.

Transport to the city: Air Ride provides information on ground transportation to and from JFK and car park information. The Air Train (see above) also connects with Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) to Jamaica station and with New York City Transit subways (NYCT) to Howard Beach subway station. From Jamaica station, the LIRR takes approximately 20 minutes to Manhattan’s Penn Station. The MTA ‘A’ train takes approximately 90 minutes to central Manhattan, with many stops along the way. The New York Airport Service express bus runs non-stop to the Port Authority Bus Terminal or Grand Central Station. Buses depart JFK every 15 to 30 minutes, daily 0615-2310 (journey time - 45 to 90 minutes, depending on traffic). The Super Shuttle Manhattan, available 24 hours a day, is a shared door-to-door minibus service that travels anywhere in Manhattan. Taxis to Manhattan are a flat rate US$45, plus tolls and tips.
La Guardia Airport (LGA)

La Guardia is located in Queens, 13km (8 miles) east of central Manhattan. The airport handles mostly domestic flights.

Airport facilities: Facilities include ATMs, Wi-Fi access, money exchange, child care, bars, restaurants, shops, duty-free boutiques and car hire from Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz and National. A free shuttle service transports visitors between terminals.

Transport to the city: Air Ride provides information on ground transportation and parking. Public transport is available on the MTA (tel: (718) 330 1234) bus M60, which intersects with many subway lines as it crosses to the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The bus operates daily 0450-0100 (journey time - approximately 1 hour). An express bus of the New York Airport Service travels every 30 minutes to the Port Authority Bus Terminal or Grand Central Station (journey time - 40 to 50 minutes). Super Shuttle Manhattan available on demand 24 hours a day, is a shared door-to-door minibus service that travels anywhere in Manhattan. Metered taxis to Manhattan cost around US$25-35, plus tolls and tips.
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)

Newark Liberty is located in New Jersey, 27km (16 miles) southwest of central Manhattan.

Airport facilities: Facilities include ATMs, currency exchange facilities, Wi-Fi access, duty-free and other shops, restaurants, bars, a nursery and car hire from Avis, Budget and Hertz. Accommodations Plus, Inc. (tel: 1 800 733 7666; website: www.hotelexpress.com) has red phones within the facility for hotel reservations.

Transport to the city: Air Ride  is an information provider for ground transportation and parking. The NJ Transit Airtrain service connects Newark Airport to Penn Station in Manhattan via New Jersey Transit. Trains run weekdays from 0500-0200 and weekends from 0600-0200 (journey time - 26 to 38 minutes). Coach USA offers bus services to Penn Station, Port Authority Bus Terminal, Grand Central Station and several Midtown hotels. Buses run every 15-30 minutes daily 0400-0100 (journey time - 30-60 minutes). Taxis to Manhattan cost approximately US$45-US$75, plus tolls and tip.

Approximate flight times to New York: From London is 7 hours and 45 minutes; from Los Angeles is 6 hours; from Toronto is 1 hour and 40 minutes; and from Sydney is 22 hours.