Here are eight things to do on a layover at JFK Airport.
1. Eat
JFK offers some excellent dining options for all budgets. The Shake Shack has a location in Terminal 4 that offers all the favourites, plus breakfast sandwiches and excellent coffee. Meat lovers will appreciate Terminal 4’s Blue Smoke on the Road, which serves ribs, sausages and sandwiches.
Famous New York chef Andrew Carmellini opened the Croque Madame in Terminal 2. Diners have raved about the sandwich shop’s open-faced sandwiches, crepes, and made-to-order salads.
For those looking for a lighter snack, Deep Blue Sushi in Terminal 5 is known for serving “the best sushi you will probably ever eat in an airport.” Customers often come earlier before their flights to try out the restaurant’s fresh selection. Deep Blue Sushi also offers grab-and-go meals.
2. Check out an airport lounge
Turn a long, boring layover into a day of rest and relaxation. While many airport lounges cater only to First and Business Class travellers, many lounges at JFK welcome any traveller willing to pay – which means even us Economy Class travellers can enjoy a quieter, upgraded few hours. Several lounges include food and drink in the entry price and a few even have shower facilities for freshening up. Visit our JFK Airport Guide for more information about the airport’s lounges.
3. Shop
JFK offers a variety of options for shopping passengers. Several shops sell brand-name apparel like Juicy Couture and Coach in Terminal 1, while techies can find the gadgets they need at Best Buy in Terminal 2. Terminal 4 has a Duty Free location and a Guess, MAC, and Victoria’s Secret, and passengers can catch up with their reading in the New York Times Books located in Terminal 5. Regardless of the terminal, travellers can find a variety of flower shops, souvenir shops, and newsstands throughout the airport, along with Xpress Spas for those in need of a bit of pampering.
4. Surf the Web
JFK offers a variety of options for shopping passengers. Several shops sell brand-name apparel like Bvlgari and Coach in Terminal 1, while techies can find the gadgets they need at InMotion in Terminal 5 and 8. Terminal 4 has a Duty Free location and a MAC, and Victoria’s Secret, and passengers can catch up with their reading in the CNBC News located in Terminal 5. Regardless of the terminal, travellers can find a variety of flower shops, souvenir shops, and newsstands throughout the airport, along with Xpress Spas for those in need of a bit of pampering.
5. Pamper yourself between flights
Freshen up with a facial, a mani/pedi, or a massage treatment at XpresSpa. There are two main locations: Terminal 4, Airside, near Gate 23 and 25. BeRelax can also be found in T5, Airside, across from Gates 6 & 7.
6. Pray
No matter your religious affiliation, an interfaith chapel on the landside in Terminal 4 offers peace and solace.
7. Head into NYC
If you’ve got a long layover here, you’re doing yourself a disservice if you don’t get out and see what the Big Apple is all about. We don’t recommend leaving the airport unless you have at least 6 hours, but if you have that time, exploring the city will be worth it!
First up – leaving the airport. The AirTrain connects all terminals with Jamaica Station so that you can hop on the E, J, and Z trains into Manhattan. The Long Island Railroad LIRR provides fast connections to Penn Station and Grand Central Station and Atlantic Terminal in Midtown. For direct service, head to the taxi stands outside the terminals – but don’t be surprised by bad traffic. Passengers at Terminal 4 should take a shuttle to the Remote Ride App & Car Services Lot due to renovation works, while those in Terminal 5 can head to Terminal 7 via the AirTrain to access taxis.
New York City is massive, so your best bet is to pick 1 or 2 sights of interest and add those in. We love visiting Central Park for fresh air – the perfect way to kick jet lag. Or head into one of the best art collections in the world at museums like MoMA, Met, Whitney, Guggenheim, and many more. If you’d rather take in the look and feel of the city, hop-on-hop-off buses and boats that circle all or part of Manhattan are great options. See our New York City JFK Layover Sightseeing Guide for more ideas.
Wherever you’re exploring, leave plenty of time to return to the airport. Taxis can mean navigating lots of traffic, and security lines can get pretty long at JFK. Visit Tripadvisor for more things to do in New York City.
8. Sleep
You won’t be the only person trying to catch up on sleep here, but it won’t be a comfortable experience. The seating is pretty limited for the number of travellers coming and going, and it’s mostly metal benches with armrests. Grab some space on the floor – and maybe bring a sleeping mat, extra layers, and earplugs to fight the chilly and noisy atmosphere. If you’re in Terminal 5, you may access the TWA area where past travellers have spotted places to lie down. Terminal 4 also features Minute Suites. If you’d rather sleep in an actual bed and get some privacy, you’ll have to shell out for a hotel. The only onsite hotel is located at Terminal 5, and there are many more within a few minutes drive of the airport, and most provide free airport shuttle service. See our New York City JFK Airport Guide for details.
These are just a few things to do on a New York City JFK Airport layover. Visit our New York City JFK 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.