A long layover doesn’t have to be a boring or frustrating ordeal or simply a pit stop before your next flight. Travel smarter with these eight things to do on a layover at Newark Airport.
1. Grab a meal
No matter your terminal, there are plenty of eating options. You’ll find a range of cafes, to-go markets, kiosks, and sit-down restaurants. In Terminal A, you’re limited to primarily speedy options, but Phillip’s serves solid seafood. In Terminal B, there are foodies like Sora Sushi and the Belgian Beer Cafe. Terminal C offers the most diversity, including Wabi Sabi, Caps Beer Garden, and Nonna’s Meatball Kitchen. For an authentic New Jersey experience, visit the Garden State Diner. Overnight travellers can visit the 24-hour Subway or Dunkin Donuts for midnight snacks.
2. Lounge
Did you know that you no longer need to be flying Business or First Class to gain entrance to an airline lounge? A few lounges are open only to lounge program members and to Air Canada, American, or United travellers who purchase a one-time lounge pass. Take a look at our Newark Airport Guide for details.
3. Shop
Go window shopping or give your credit card some exercise at the various shops. While the quantity of shops is pretty high, the quality isn’t anything special. You’ll find the usual airport staples, like convenience stores, booksellers, Duty-Free, and shops offering travel goods, technology, and souvenirs—head to terminal C to browse the boutiques. The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s shop is a nice break from typical airport stores.
4. Relax at the spa
D_parture Spa has two locations in Terminal C, so you can relax with a chair massage or get your nails done with a manicure or pedicure.
5. Sightseeing
Adventurous travellers with long layovers can leave the airport altogether, thanks to the public transit options linking nearby Newark and New York City.
You can head into Newark with a shorter layover, around 6 hours. Taxis can have you downtown in under 20 minutes, and the bus route 62 only takes about 25 minutes. Explore art and science at the Newark Museum, the largest museum in New Jersey, which has a Planetarium and a lovely outdoor sculpture garden. Get some fresh air at Branch Brook Park, or visit Ironbound, the Portuguese neighbourhood known for its excellent restaurants.
Of course, for obvious reasons, New York City is the bigger draw. But, a taxi into nearby Manhattan will take about 40 minutes, depending on traffic, and the Newark Airport Express bus into Midtown Manhattan takes about 1 hour. To head into the Big Apple, you’ll want a layover of at least 8 hours. In the city, pick just one or two things to explore: the art scene at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Met, or the Guggenheim. Stroll through Central Park and imagine who lives in the towering penthouses. Visit the Empire State Building for great views, or stroll along the High Line, a landscaped walkway on a former elevated train line. Depending on your time, head downtown to tour the Freedom Tower and get a bite to eat in Chinatown.
Whatever adventures you seek, leave plenty of time for traffic and airport Security lines before your next flight.
6. 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.
7. Sleep
Catch up on sleep during your layover. Daytime nappers will have to cope with seats with armrests, though some armrest-free benches can be found inside Security in Terminal B. The Secure area closes for the night, so overnight campers will be relocated to pre-Security areas, where your options include sleeping on the floor or creating a bridge across rows of seats. A designated Quiet Room is located pre-security in Terminal B, near the British Airways ticketing counter. The airport can be chilly wherever you are, so bring along an extra layer. Note that some travellers have reported instances of homeless people or non-travellers milling about. If you prefer a hotel, a Marriott is located on airport premises, and several others are within a 5-minute drive – and they all run airport shuttles. Locations and details are available in our Newark Airport Guide.
These are just a few things to do on a layover at Newark Airport. Visit our Newark Airport Guide for more information about the services and facilities available, such as food, WiFi, mobile charging, luggage storage, nearby airport hotels, and much more.