A long layover doesn’t have to be a boring or frustrating ordeal or simply a pit stop before your next flight. Travel smarter with these eight things to do on a layover at Newark Airport.
1. Grab a meal
No matter your terminal, there are plenty of eating options. You’ll find a range of cafes, to-go markets, kiosks, and sit-down restaurants. In Terminal A, you’ll find some fast-food options such as Shake Shack, Mexican Cuisine at Carlito’s BBQ Taqueria, and American food at Guy Fieri’s Flavortown.. In Terminal B, there are foodies like Sora Sushi and the Belgian Beer Cafe. Terminal C offers the most diversity, including Wabi Sabi, Caps Beer Garden, and Nonna’s Meatball Kitchen. For an authentic New Jersey experience, visit the Garden State Diner.
2. Lounge
Did you know that you no longer need to be flying Business or First Class to gain entrance to an airline lounge? A few lounges are open only to lounge program members and to British Airways, Lufthansa, SAS, American, or United travellers who purchase a one-time lounge pass. Take a look at our Newark Airport Guide for details.
3. Shop
Go window shopping or give your credit card some exercise at the various shops. While the quantity of shops is pretty high, the quality isn’t anything special. You’ll find the usual airport staples, like convenience stores, booksellers, Duty-Free, and shops offering travel goods, technology, and souvenirs—head to terminal C to browse the boutiques. The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s shop is a nice break from typical airport stores.
4. Relax at the spa
Departure Spa has a location in Terminal C, near Gate C93 (Temporarily closed) so you can relax with a chair massage or get your nails done with a manicure or pedicure. Be Relax also offers manicures, massages and other services. Location: Terminal A, Central Plaza South.
5. Sightseeing
Adventurous travellers with long layovers can leave the airport altogether, thanks to the public transit options linking nearby Newark and New York City.
You can head into Newark with a shorter layover, around 6 hours. Taxis can have you downtown in under 20 minutes, and the bus route 62 only takes about 25 minutes. Explore art and science at the Newark Museum of Art, the largest museum in New Jersey, which has a Planetarium and a lovely outdoor sculpture garden. Get some fresh air at Branch Brook Park, or visit Ironbound, the Portuguese neighbourhood known for its excellent restaurants.
Of course, for obvious reasons, New York City is the bigger draw. But, a taxi into nearby Manhattan will take about 40 minutes, depending on traffic, and the Newark Airport Express bus into Midtown Manhattan takes about 1 hour. To head into the Big Apple, you’ll want a layover of at least 8 hours. In the city, pick just one or two things to explore: the art scene at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Met, or the Guggenheim. Stroll through Central Park and imagine who lives in the towering penthouses. Visit the Empire State Building for great views, or stroll along the High Line, a landscaped walkway on a former elevated train line. Depending on your time, head downtown to tour the Freedom Tower and get a bite to eat in Chinatown.
Whatever adventures you seek, leave plenty of time for traffic and airport Security lines before your next flight. Visit Tripadvisor for more things to do in New York City.
6. WiFi
WiFi is now free and unlimited, so you can catch up with your social media accounts, text your friends and stream the latest episodes of your favourite shows.
7. Sleep
Catch up on sleep during your layover.. In general, finding armrest-free seating or other places to lie down can be quite challenging here, so be ready to sleep on the floor. In the past, the airside area used to close for the night, however one of our readers recently mentioned he was able to stay in the Airside area of Terminal A, where he also found armrest-free seating (November, 2024). The airport can be chilly wherever you are, so bring along an extra layer. Note that some travellers have reported instances of homeless people or non-travellers milling about. If you prefer a hotel, a Marriott is located on airport premises, and several others are within a 5-minute drive – and they all run airport shuttles. Locations and details are available in our Newark Airport Guide.
These are just a few things to do on a layover at Newark Airport. Visit our Newark Airport Guide for more information about the services and facilities available, such as food, WiFi, mobile charging, luggage storage, nearby airport hotels, and much more.