Of the three NYC-area airports, LaGuardia doesn’t have the best reputation. Despite its outdated, unclean facilities and the lack of amenities, you can get a little more out of your time here with these 8 things to do on a layover at New York City LaGuardia Airport:
1. Grab a bite to eat
There’s enough options for eating here, but nothing is better than average for an airport. You’ll have a decent range of food court options and a few sit-down restaurants in Terminals B, C, and D, but Terminal A is woefully lacking. Good burgers are on offer at Five Guys, Sam Adams and Biergarten are great for sampling craft beers, and Crust serves up a solid NYC slice. No 24-hour eateries are available.
2. Hang out in a lounge
A long layover is the right time to try out an airport lounge. If you are flying Air Canada, American, Delta, or United or hold an American Express credit card, you can purchase a day pass to enter a lounge. For a single price, take advantage of unlimited food and drinks, solid WiFi, comfortable couches and seating, and news and TV – in a quiet setting conducive to work or relaxation. See our New York City LaGuardia Airport Guide for details and locations.
3. Shop
Like the dining scene, you’ll find a good amount of shops to help pass the time, but you won’t find anything too original. Terminals B and C have the most options, including convenience stores, shops offering makeup, sunglasses, souvenirs, and technology, and a few Duty Free areas. If you’re feeling spendy, head to Lacoste, Desigual, or TUMI, though a couple Uniqlo outlets give you much more bang for your buck.
4. Relax at the spa
The XpresSpa in Terminal C offers manicure and pedicures, facials, express massages, and more to travellers in need of some TLC before that next flight.
5. Get some work done
Unique, work-friendly Jabbrrbox pods are available to rent. These “automatic workspaces” are noise cancelling, so you can take care of work calls or video conferences using the included WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. Available in 30-minute blocks for $15.
6. Go sightseeing
It doesn’t take too much time here to want to turn around and leave. In fact, if you’ve got a layover of 7 hours, it may just be worth leaving the airport to explore in New York City.
The NYC Airporter vans make it easy to get into Manhattan for $16 one-way. Buses are available, too, but can take much longer to reach Manhattan. Taxis are pricier but will shave some time off the ride – a standard-traffic ride from LGA to Midtown Manhattan takes about 35 minutes. Once in Manhattan, visit neighborhoods like Greenwich Village, Chinatown, and TriBeCa. Wander in Central Park and pop into the nearby Met or Guggenheim. Pick up a slice of NYC pizza and stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge (walk fast enough and you may be confused for a local).
If you want to stay closer to the airport, catch a cab to MoMA PS1, a contemporary outpost of the Museum of Modern Art, about 20 minutes from the airport.
7. WiFi
WiFi is now free and unlimited, so you can catch up with your social media accounts, text your friends and stream the latest episodes of your favourite shows.
8. Sleep
Unfortunately, we do not recommend sleeping at this airport, especially overnight. Many travellers have reported homeless people and squatters hanging out in any public area. As armrests are common, come prepared with something to lie down on if you opt to sleep on the floor. Floods and construction have wreaked havoc on the floors even inside the Secure area. Instead, opt for one of several hotels located within minutes of the airport – a couple are within walking distance of Terminal C and many offer free shuttle service. Details and locations are listed on our New York City LaGuardia Airport Guide.
These are just a few things to do on a layover at New York City La Guardia Airport. Visit our New York City LaGuardia Airport Guide for more information about more services and facilities available, such as food, WiFi, mobile charging, luggage storage, nearby airport hotels, and much more.
