How to Get from JFK to Manhattan

John Fitzgerald Kennedy Airport (JFK) is the largest and best known airport in New York City. It is located in the borough of Jamaica, Queens, about 20 miles from Manhattan.

It usually takes about an hour to get there unless it's rush hour and traffic prevents it. I will explain in detail the different possibilities, taking into account duration, comfort and, of course, price.

If you are looking for comfort at a reasonable price, the most practical option is to book a transfer between New York and the airport, either exclusively or with other travellers. You'll travel in comfort in a modern, fully-equipped minivan.

This type of minivan seats approximately 11 passengers. It will pick you up when you land at the airport and take you to the door of your hotel.

Regarding luggage, each passenger can take one suitcase and one handbag. If you bring more luggage, you will have to pay an additional supplement.

How this service works

To book this shared transport service, all you have to do is make a reservation online. To do this, you will be asked for detailed information about your flight (company, flight number, timetable), so that the company can monitor it and have more details about any delays.

You will also have to tell them the address of your hotel so that the driver knows where to go.

Once the booking has been made, you will receive a confirmation email. And... you're all set! When you get off the plane, all you have to do is go to the Ground Transportation Desk, located in the terminal where you land, and present your printed ticket. There you will be given all the information on where to go to catch the minivan.

Timetables

The shuttle service is open around the clock. It operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. So whatever time you arrive, you'll have a driver waiting for you - peace of mind!

How long does it take to get to the hotel?

Between 60 and 90 minutes. However, New York is a city that can get very busy at rush hour, so this journey can take up to 90 minutes during rush hour.

Fares

Ridesharing is a good value for money service. It starts at €89. However, if you bring more luggage than recommended (one suitcase plus a handbag), you will have to pay an additional fee. In addition, tips are not included in this service.

Taking the underground from JKF airport to Manhattan is, without a doubt, the most economical option. The New York underground doesn't actually go to JFK airport, but a monorail system known as AirTrain connects the various passenger terminals with the New York underground.

How this service works

The two nearby underground stations are Jamaica and Howard Beach.

The Jamaica underground station is served by the E, J and Z underground lines and the Howard Beach station is served by the A line. They all go to Manhattan, so you just need to see which line will take you closest to your accommodation.

Check the New York underground map, so you won't have any doubts about which underground line is best to take and which stop is closest to your accommodation:

Timetables

The A and E lines offer a 24-hour service, so you won't have any inconvenience no matter what time you arrive.

Fares

The AirTrain service is free to move from airport terminal to airport terminal, but not to the nearest metro stations. In this case, it will cost from:

• €6 ($7.75) per person, plus approximately €0.80 ($1.00) for the physical card.
• Card surcharge from €2.5 ($3) to get to your accommodation.
• The total price is about €9.

How long it takes to get there

AirTrain will connect you to the Jamaica and Howard Beach underground stations in about 10 minutes. The journey time from Jamaica and Howard Beach to Manhattan will take approximately 30-40 minutes.

The train is another option for getting from JFK to Manhattan. It is similar to the underground, although you will get to your destination faster.

How this service works

To get by train from JFK to Manhattan you have to take the monorail system known as AirTrain which connects the different passenger terminals with two nearby underground stations, Jamaica and Howard Beach. From one of these stations you can take the train to Manhattan.

How long does it take to get there?

AirTrain will connect you to the Jamaica and Howard Beach underground stations in about 10 minutes. From there, it will only take you 20 minutes to get from Jamaica to Penn Station in Manhattan.

Price

Although users compare it to the underground, the price is considerably higher:

• AirTrain costs €6 ($7.75).
• Plus the train fare can be as much as €12 depending on the time of day.

To get to Manhattan, JFK also offers a shared minibus service.

Price

A ticket for this minibus is priced from 17€, approximately $20. This price may vary depending on the destination.

Opening hours

The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you choose this option you will need to go to the Ground Transportation Desk and present your reservation.

• You will arrive within.... 60-90 minutes.
• It will cost... from €17.

Another option to get from JFK to Manhattan is to take a taxi or Uber. I do not recommend it, as they are the most expensive of the options mentioned above and there are more comfortable means of transport.

Duration

The duration of the journey will be the same in Uber as in taxi, between 60-90 minutes depending on the time and traffic.

Price

Although it may be the most expensive means of transport to get to Manhattan from JFK, in principle you should not be surprised by the price, since the taxi ride, as in other Spanish and European cities, has a fixed price starting at 50€. To this fare must be added the toll, which costs from €3.5 ($4.5) in the middle of the day and an additional fee of approximately €1 for the journey to New York.

Uber, meanwhile, costs around €60.