Long Island City in New York

Long Island City New York (LIC) is near the East River opposite the east side of Manhattan. This Queens neighbourhood is known for its cheap hotels, vibrant art scene and waterfront parks with views of the Manhattan skyline. Long Island City hotels are a good budget-friendly alternative to accommodation in Manhattan. It takes just fifteen minutes to travel from Long Island City to Manhattan by subway.

Sightseeing in Long Island City

Long Island City might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of New York, but there are a number of nice places to visit.

MoMA PS1

MoMA PS1 in Long Island City is part of the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan. This exhibition space showcases experimental works by emerging artists. Are you in Long Island in the summer and love art and music festivals? Every summer MoMA PS1 organises Warm Up Sessions. Every Saturday, you can enjoy outdoor music and changing genres in an artistic environment.

Waterfront of Long Island City

Since Long Island City is located on the East River, you can walk along the waterfront and enjoy the view of Manhattan and Roosevelt Island. Walk through Gantry Plaza State Park, where, among other things, you can find the large Long Island Sign and the Pepsi-Cola Sign. If you are in New York in March or April, visit Hunter’s Point South Park. During these months, the flowers are blooming, and you can take beautiful pictures with the skyline in the background.

Silvercup Studios

Silvercup Studios is located in Long Island City. You will find studios where films and series are recorded. Silvercup has been one of the major recording facilities for series such as Sex and the City, The Sopranos and Gossip Girl. It is also an iconic building because of its large logo on the roof, which can be seen from the Queensboro Plaza subway station.

Accessibility Long Island City

Travelling from Manhattan to Long Island City and vice versa is very easy. Several subway lines run to the Queens borough, and since Long Island City is located on the water, you can also take the NYC Ferry.

Subway to Long Island City

The neighbourhood is just outside Manhattan, making it somewhat remote, but very easy to get to. Many LIC hotels are located near a subway station, so you’re only one stop away from Manhattan and can be in Times Square within 15 minutes.

If you arrive at JFK Airport, you can take the JFK AirTrain to travel to Long Island City quickly. The AirTrain will take you to the Jamaica Center subway station, where you can change to subway line E. This line goes in the direction of Manhattan and passes through Long Island City.

NYC Ferry

A cheap and easy way to travel to Long Island City is the NYC Ferry. On the New York Ferry, during the crossing, you’ll have a great view of the skyline and you can easily reach different parts of Manhattan. There are several routes that take you from Long Island City to Manhattan. When you return with the NYC Ferry to Long Island City, you can board at different stops in Manhattan.

Where to stay in Long Island City

Hotels in Long Island City are an affordable option for your trip to New York. Most of them are located in Dutch Kills, an area in Long Island City. There used to be many factories in Long Island City, some of which have been given a new purpose, like that of a hotel.

In Long Island City, I can recommend Hotel Ravel which offers good food and a beautiful view of the skyline and Roosevelt Island. Other cheap hotels near the subway are the Sonder the Dutch and Hyatt Place Long Island City. If you are looking for something artsy, Aloft Long Island City is a good place to stay. The LIC Hotel has a roof terrace where you can enjoy the skyline view.

If you are looking for the true New York experience, I would always recommend staying in Manhattan during your trip, but if this is not an option, then Long Island City is a great alternative. It is the closest to Manhattan, and the hotels here offer great value for money.