Getting To and Around Town

Traveling to and from airport

There are three international airports in the New York City area. From each one you can travel by car service, taxi cab, or public transportation.

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Queens, NY
  • Distance from Chelsea neighborhood: 18 miles
  • By taxi cab: A flat rate of $52 to Manhattan (plus tolls and tip) is charged. The meter will not be turned on and the surcharge will not be added.
  • By AirTrain: There are two routes from JFK into Manhattan via AirTrain and the MTA
    • To Jamaica, Queens connecting to the LIRR into Penn Station (Manhattan). From Penn Station you can take the MTA subway, down to Chelsea or a taxi cab to your final destination
    • To Howard Beach connecting to the MTA subway, A train into Manhattan.
LaGuardia International Airport (LGA), Queens, NY
  • Distance from Chelsea neighborhood: 9 miles
  • By taxi cab: $24 to $28, metered, plus tolls and tip.
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Newark, NJ
  • Distance from Chelsea neighborhood: 14.5 miles
  • By taxi cab: The dispatcher for New Jersey taxis gives you a slip of paper with a flat rate ranging from $30 to $38 (toll and tip extra), depending on where you're going in Manhattan, so be precise about your destination. New York yellow cabs aren't permitted to pick up passengers at Newark. The yellow-cab fare from Manhattan to Newark is the meter amount plus $15 and tolls (about $69-$75, perhaps a few dollars more with tip). Jersey taxis aren't permitted to take passengers from Manhattan to Newark. 
  • By AirTrain: From any Newark Terminal take the AirTrain to NJ Transit Newark Airport station. The last stop on the NJ Transit traveling east is New York Penn Station (not to be confused with Newark Penn Station). From Penn Station you can take the MTA subway, down to Chelsea or a taxi cab to your final destination
Alternatively, you can reserve a car service to pick you up outside baggage claim and take you directly to your final destination. Though it may cost slightly more than a taxicab, you won't need to wait in line for a taxi cab should it be a busy time of day for flights to arrive and/or depart.

Traveling around the city

The best and most common ways around the city are walking and riding the MTA subway. If you know where you want to go, use Google map directions using "By public transit" and it will give you the best routes to your destination. Otherwise, take a look at the subway map to see all the subway lines and where they stop. The fare is $2.25 per ride anywhere on the grid.

Of course nothing beats door to door service like a taxi cab, but it'll cost you a bit more depending on how far you're traveling. Just remember to have the cross streets of your destination handy. Cabbies won't know direct addresses.