The Newark Liberty International Airport is one of those airports that you will most likely have to fly through at some point in your life. Newark Airport is located 15 miles southwest of Midtown Manhattan. It is one of three international airports that serve New York. Despite being an hour away from NYC, Newark offers plenty of options to have a New York experience both within the airport and nearby! Here are a few cool ways to enjoy your layover at Newark Airport.
Newark has 3 terminals and is located between the cities of Newark and Elizabeth in New Jersey. The Newark AirTrain runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and is an easy way for passengers to get to and from Manhattan. Depending on how long your layover at Newark is, you’ll find plenty of things to do in and around the airport.
1. Grab great grub
Newark Airport, and especially Terminal C, is a foodie’s paradise. There are quite a few must-not-miss food joints during your Newark layover. Abruzzo Italian Steakhouse is where you want to go for all classic Italian pastas, pizzas, seafood, and steaks. Phillips Seafood serves up Maryland-style seafood, including fish and chips, lobster rolls, clam chowder.
Malone’s Fish Market is another seafood joint that serves up boardwalk-style French fries and deep-fried seafood. Tsukiji Fishroom is another place that serves seafood but with an entirely different flavor profile – sushi, sashimi, and nigiri are all available read-to-go. If you’re craving something a little more international, try Riviera or Saison for French cuisine. Saison by the celeb chef Alain Ducasse s serves delicious onion soup, cheese plates, Croque monsieur, quiche, and beef tartare. Riviera offers Parisian delicacies like tuna niçoise salad, steak frites, foie gras terrine, and baguettes.
Try Flora Café for some Middle Eastern food, including falafel, hummus, babaganoush, and shawarma sandwiches. Kaedama is a noodle bar that dishes up ramen, dumplings, and rice bowls that hit the spot. Wanderlust is where you want to go for burgers, hot dogs, and fries (off a menu designed by burger whiz chef Josh Capon). You can satisfy your sweet tooth at the Melange Petit Patisserie with its delectable range of desserts, chocolates, and cookies.
2. Find a watering hole
There’s nothing quite like a long cold drink to ease your travel woes. Luckily, Newark offers plenty of options for that. Caps Beer Garden offers beer served up with sides of Asian fare. The Oeno Wine Bar lets you order your wine by the bottle or glass on an iPad. Proof Whiskey Bar offers a choice range of whiskeys (what else!) and snacks. Salumeria Prima provides an incredible selection of cocktails, craft beer, and fine wine, along with charcuterie. Tacquila has over 200 different tequilas to choose from and serves tacos, tortillas, and tortes.
3. Unwind at a lounge
Several lounges at Newark Airport will let you in, irrespective of which class of ticket you’re flying on if you purchase a day pass. A day-pass for an EWR lounge may cost you anywhere upwards of $40. But it might be worth paying a little extra if you’re really exhausted and want to unwind in peace and quiet away from the bustle of the Newark airport. Most Newark Airport lounges will allow you to shower, eat food, and relax or even doze on their comfy chairs.
4. Pamper yourself
Use your Newark Airport layover to give yourself a treat. After all this time in a cramped airplane seat, you’ve won more than earned it! Newark Airport has 2 D_parture Spas in Terminal C. Get all those travel knots worked out with a chair massage or feel your tension melt away with a scalp and eye massage. The spa also offers manicures and pedicures.
5. Get some shut-eye
Terminal B has armrest free seating where you can settle down for a nap during your Newark layover. There’s also a quiet room in terminal B where you can catch some zzzs. There are quite a few hotels near Newark Airport that offer free shuttle pick-up and drop-off if you don’t mind spending a little for that luxury.
6. Try retail therapy
If shopping’s your thing, you will have fun checking out designer boutiques you like Tumi, Coach, and Johnston & Murphy during your layover at Newark. There’s also America!, All You Know, and Hudson News for gifts and souvenirs. The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s shop offers a change from the usual airport stores. There are a few Duty Free shops for you to explore.
7. Commune with a higher power
If you need to get in touch with your spiritual side, there’s an Interfaith Chapel in Terminal C at Newark Airport. This can be a great place to sit in peace and quiet away from the chaos of the bustling EWR airport.
8. Explore the Big Apple!
If your layover at Newark Airport is going to be pretty short, we suggest that you settle for the many things that Newark Airport offers. If you have only a few hours, you might want to stick to exploring the areas near the airport. These include the New Jersey Historical Society and Museum, Aljira Center for Contemporary Art, the Newark Museum, Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, or Branch Brook Park.
If you need to know how to get from Newark Airport to NYC, here’s all the information you need – How to get from Newark Airport to Manhattan
However, if your Newark Airport layover is going to be a long one, you can spend the day exploring the Big Apple. You could take a cab or the Newark AirTrain to get to Manhattan. A train ride to Manhattan from Newark will take around an hour. A taxi ride will get you there sooner, in about half an hour or so, depending on traffic. Central Park, Times Square, Broadway, One World Trade Center Observatory, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 9-11 Memorial, Chinatown– all these popular NYC tourist spots are all easily accessible once you’re in Manhattan.
Travel Tip:
- If you want to spend time exploring all that Newark Airport has to offer, be sure to reach the airport early. Make sure you book your Newark Airport parking spot ahead of your travel so that there’s no last-minute hurrying.
- Avoid public transportation and services like rideshares or taxis as far as possible. Opt to drive yourself to the airport if you need to catch a flight. You can further minimize your risk by booking your contactless EWR airport parking spot online.
