Things to do at JFK International Airport
John F. Kennedy airport (IATA: JFK) is a major international airport in Queens, New York City. Located approx. 18 miles from Manhattan, JFK is a popular destination for business travelers. In 2018, 61 million passengers passed through JFK’s doors making it the 6th busiest airport in the United States and the 21st busiest airport in the world.
John F. Kennedy has several hotels within a very short distance from the airport plus the iconic TWA Hotel which is accessible directly from the terminal.
Whether you are catching a flight out of JFK and are spending a few hours past security or your are facing down a long layover, John F. Kennedy Airport has an option for you.
Things to do at JFK
TWA Hotel & Fitness Center at JFK
The biggest hotel gym in the world, the TWA Fitness center at JFK is 10,000 square ft and offers a full yoga studio, Peloton bikes and lots more. The fitness center is located in the lobby, next to The TWA Shop and is open 24/7. Head to Terminal 5 and take the escalator down to JetBlue’s baggage claim area. On the far right, you'll see an elevator for the TWA Hotel. Sanctifly members can use Sanctifly points to use the TWA fitness center.
KAL Lounge | Terminal 1 | Departure Lounge
Grab a snack and relax or refresh with a shower at the KAL Lounge at JFK. This lounge is located across Gate 3 on the left hand side, past security. Sanctifly members can use Sanctifly points to access the KAL Lounge at JFK.
XpresSpa | Past security in Terminal 1, 4 and 7
Relieve some pre-flight stress with a massage or other salon service at XpresSpa. With 3 locations throughout the airport it’s the perfect way to spend your pre-flight airport downtime and head for your flight feeling relaxed.
Sanctifly premium members can use points to get $30 off XpresSpa services.
Free things to do at JFK
Meditate and relax in the chapel – Located pre security in Terminal 4, the Interfaith Chapel at JFK offers passengers a bit of peace and quiet away from the chaos of the airport. The Chapel is open to all people, of all faiths and can be a great places to sit and meditate before heading through security.
Luggage storage
Due to security reasons, there are limited luggage storage facilities at JFK. However, the airport does offer some limited luggage storage for passengers that have a long layover. These can be found in multiple terminals throughout the airport. The luggage storage facilities cost approx. $4 - $18 per day depending on the size of your luggage. Find out more here. Unfortunately, due to increased security ricks transport facilities such as Grand Central Station no longer offer luggage storage facilities.
An alternative to storing your luggage at JFK is to use a service such as Vertoe. Vertoe offers private solutions to luggage storage. Search your city on their website and you can book a location to store your luggage. Vertoe has many options in New York and costs approx. $6 per item, per day.
Best eats
Quick bite – Jikji Café
One of the best ad healthiest spots to grab a quick bite pre security at Terminal 1, JFK. Jikji Café serves Korean and Japanese food such as fresh sushi, sashimi, fruits, salads and more.
Sit down meal – Due Amici
If you are looking for a more leisurely dining experience head to Due Amici, located post-security in Terminal 2. Order delicious Italian cuisine and head to your flight full and satisfied.
If you have more than 6 hours on a layover at JFK, why not get out of the airport and enjoy the surrounding area.
Head into Manhattan – The trip into Manhattan takes at least an hour so make sure you give yourself enough time to get back to the airport and through security before your connecting flight. The AirTrain connects you to New York City subway from which you can easily get to any of New York’s famous sites. Head to Time Square or Central Park and soak up the energizing atmosphere of New York City.
Walk on Rockaway beach – Located approx. 9 miles from JFK, Rockaway beach is a vast and sandy beach with a 5.5-mile boardwalk. A drastic contrast to the concrete jungle of New York City and the busy, fluorescent terminals of JFK, a walk on Rockaway beach is great way to clear your head and connect with nature. As with all of New York’s attractions the beach can get busy, especially during the summer season. Getting to the beach via public transport can be a bit laborious, you will need to take the AirTrain to the A train and then take a bus to get you to Rockaway beach. This will take you at least an hour (factor in more time at rush hour) but you can get there a lot faster if you grab a taxi from the terminal.
Top tip for your layover – Plan ahead, factor in traffic and set alarms. Even if you have plenty of time to explore New York during your layover, navigating an unfamiliar city can be a time suck. Choose one or two sites that you would like to see and plan your routes down to the last minute. Set a ‘turn back’ alarm and stick to it, to ensure you are not rushing back to the airport.
Transport options – getting to and from the airport
The train - The AirTrain JFK connects JFK airport to the New York City Subway and the Long Island Rail Road. This is the cheapest option for getting from JFK to Manhattan or anywhere else in New York city. The AirTrain runs 24 hours a day and stops at all terminals. Travel time via the AirTrain to the city varies but it is best practice to allow 90 minutes to get from JFK to midtown.
The bus – Getting the express bus from JFK into the city is another great and reasonable priced option. The bus can be picked up at Terminal 1, 4 and 8 and drops passengers off at Grand Central Station and at Times Square. This is a great option however be weary that NYC traffic can be unpredictable. If you are traveling into the city around rush hour the journey could take more than 2 hours.
Hotel shuttles – All hotels close to JFK offer a free shuttle service to the airport. Contact your hotel for more details.
Taxis – Taxis can be easily picked up from all Terminals at JFK. This option is by far the easiest however it is also the most expensive. The convenience of door to door service can be worth the extra cost however you should also consider traffic if choosing to take a taxi. During rush hour your taxi ride can end up taking a lot longer than you planned for.
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