I don’t like layovers. I was not blessed with the gift of patience. I'm the kind of person who wants to get where I'm going in the quickest way possible, completely ignoring the old adage “It’s about the journey, not the destination.” Yeah, right. I’m a travel writer, remember? It’s all about the destination. Or so I thought.
En route to Morocco in May 2024, Avery and I ended up with a 10-hour layover in New York during which he had to work. Originally, I had planned to knock out some work too, but my husband being the adventurous soul that he is, pushed me to go exploring solo. I’d never been to NYC before and to be honest, it wasn’t high on my travel bucket list. I decided to make the most of our JFK layover and head into Manhattan for a little side quest.
When I asked around for recommendations, at least half of the folks who responded told me that it wouldn’t be worth it to try and make it into the city during a layover. Rather than take these warnings at face value, I took it as a personal challenge: How much of New York City could I really see in roughly 8 hours of my 10-hour layover? As it turns out, quite a bit.
Want to take on the challenge for yourself? Follow in my footsteps and make the most of your layover with my one-day New York City itinerary.
How to Get from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Brooklyn or Manhattan
Step one: Getting out of the airport. There are plenty of ways to get to the city from JFK. If you’re on a budget and not on a time crunch, you can always hop on the subway via the AirTrain or take the Long Island Rail Road.
However, since I was pressed for time, I opted for Uber. Rideshare and taxi services are definitely more expensive but admittedly faster for getting from point A to point B. There are taxi stands available outside of baggage claim at every JFK terminal and rideshare pickup spots can be found by following the signs for “Ride App Pick Up.” So, I sucked it up and paid for an Uber to Brooklyn to begin my challenge.
Stop 1: Time Out Market New York
My first priority upon arriving in New York was to procure a bagel. A poll of current and former city residents left me with a shortlist of bagel shops to try, and I landed on Ess-A-Bagel because it fit within this one-day NYC itinerary (stay tuned).
I had my Uber drop me at Time Out Market New York, a food hall curated by lifestyle publication Time Out conveniently located between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. Since I arrived between the breakfast and lunch rush, I had no trouble walking right up to the counter and ordering my breakfast sandwich on a hand-rolled everything bagel, with an oat milk latte for good measure. At this point, I can confirm that New York bagels are the superior carb. Thoroughly fueled and caffeinated, I did a quick lap around the rest of the market and took a quick stroll along the East River waterfront to take in some gorgeous views of the Manhattan skyline.
Hot tip: Once you leave Time Out Market, head around the corner to Washington Street to find one of the most Instagram-famous views of Manhattan Bridge. Inputting “DUMBO” (Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass) into your GPS will lead you to the exact spot.
Stop 2: Brooklyn Bridge
In an effort to burn off my carb-heavy breakfast and wear myself out for my impending transatlantic flight, I decided to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge — but also because it’s one of the most iconic things you can do in New York. The roughly mile-long trail makes for a scenic stroll with plenty of photo ops along the way.
Walking from Brooklyn to Manhattan provides the best skyline vistas, so be sure to give yourself time to soak it all in. Just beware that if you’re walking alone, you will be asked to take photos for no less than three families and/or couples as you make your way across.
Stop 3: Chinatown
Not so much a stop on this itinerary as a passthrough, Chinatown is worth a gander for its lively streets and vibrant shops. If I had more time in town, I would’ve definitely stopped into a dim sum shop or two for some steamed buns but I had a schedule to keep. At the very least, grab a bubble tea to sip on as you make the most of your NYC layover.
Stop 4: Levain Bakery
As a self-proclaimed foodie who had never been to New York, Levain Bakery’s Insta-famous behemoth cookies were on my bucket list from the beginning. I popped into the NoHo location to grab two for the road (fun fact: they travel well) before continuing on. I’d highly recommend at least trying the original chocolate chip, though you really can’t go wrong with any of the comforting flavors.
Stop 5: The Subway
Ok, so this isn’t so much a stop as something I just needed to experience. After leaving the NoHo Levain, I hopped on the subway at Bleecker Street and managed to snag a seat for the ride up to Grand Central Station.
The idea of navigating New York public transit admittedly made me very nervous — I’m from Atlanta where public transportation is all but nonexistent. One thing I wish I knew about navigating New York's subway system is that you don't have to purchase a ticket for a single ride.
After watching a family in front of me struggle to understand the ticketing system, I walked over to the turnstile to see a sign informing me that I could just pay as I go with my credit card. While this isn’t necessarily the best option for those staying in town for several days, it was a huge sigh of relief for me, who just needed to get from one end of town to the other in a timely fashion. So I tapped my Chase card on the turnstile and walked on through to the platform.
Stop 6: Grand Central Station & Grand Central Market
Another iconic stop on the NYC bucket list, Grand Central Station deserves a good half-hour of your brief city itinerary. I chose to enter through Grand Central Market, a small gourmet grocery store equipped with a cheese shop, a produce stand, a butcher, and a Zabar’s where you can pick up a babka for the road if you so choose.
Once I passed through the market, I made my way to Grand Central Terminal to soak up the stunning architecture of the cavernous space. I snagged a few photos of the central kiosk with its famed gilded clock, gazed up at the night sky-inspired ceiling frescos, and strolled down the stairs to the food hall to grab a small banana pudding from Magnolia’s to add to my ever-growing collection of sweet treats.
Stop 7: Times Square
Is it touristy? Of course. Was it necessary? Absolutely yes. Choosing to visit Times Square at 2:30 p.m. on a weekday was probably the right call for someone who gets anxious in large crowds.
While it was certainly buzzing, the world-famous intersection wasn’t nearly as busy as I expected it to be, though the sights and sounds led to plenty of sensory overload. You likely won’t need more than 15 to 20 minutes here to soak up the ambiance unless you’re just dying to shop.
Stop 8: Central Park
A stroll through Central Park is the perfect way to end a New York City itinerary. I spent probably an hour just meandering down the paths, stopping for photos and to just soak up the amazingly Zen-like ambiance of a green space plopped in the middle of a major metropolis.
I found a semi-secluded bench on which to try some of my NYC treats before deciding to make my way back to the airport. Keep in mind that with Manhattan traffic, it’s likely going to take close to an hour to get back to JFK. So with that, I shelled out more money than I wanted to for an Uber and made my way back to the airport with plenty of time to spare, having hit almost all of the highlights on my New York City bucket list.
Fun fact: They will let you take a half-eaten container of Magnolia’s banana pudding through security at JFK.
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