StayAreasIs Long Island City a good place to stay in New York?
Yes, if you want a modern hotel for much less than Manhattan. Midtown is a few subway stops away and the waterfront parks have superb skyline views, though the streets around the hotels are plain.
Stay here if
- Travellers on a budget who want a modern hotel
- Business trips in Queens or Midtown
- Families who want more space for their money
Look elsewhere if
- You want to walk to the sights
- You want lively streets around your hotel
- It's a short first trip and you want to feel in the middle of Manhattan
Is it safe?
Less street crime than the New York average.
Source: NYC Open Data (NYPD)Hotels in Long Island City
All Long Island City hotels on Booking ↗Typical rates for a double outside peak events, not live prices. Updated Sep 2026 · How we rate areas · Booking through our links costs you nothing extra and may earn us a commission. Learn more
Staying in Long Island City
Long Island City is a good base if you want a modern hotel at a much lower price and don't mind a short subway ride into Manhattan. Queens Plaza and Court Square have trains that cross under the East River to Midtown in minutes, and the E train runs out towards JFK. It suits budget travellers, business visitors and families who want more room for their money.
The area is a mix of new towers, old warehouses and wide streets. Most hotels cluster around Queens Plaza and Court Square, while Vernon Boulevard has the neighbourhood's best restaurants and bars. Down by the water, Gantry Plaza State Park has lawns, old railway gantries and a wide view of the Midtown skyline, and a branch of MoMA shows contemporary art in a former school.
The downside is that Long Island City feels practical rather than pretty around the hotels. The streets near Queens Plaza are busy with traffic and elevated tracks, there's little to see on your doorstep, and evenings are quiet. Every day starts and ends with a subway ride, so it isn't the place to feel in the middle of New York.
What makes Long Island City worth considering is value. Rooms cost a fraction of Midtown prices, the subway gets you to Times Square quickly, and coming back to a quiet waterfront with the whole skyline lit up across the river is one of the nicest surprises of a New York trip.
Getting around
- Rockefeller Center17
- Grand Central17
- Times Square21
- Empire State Building24
- The Met29
- One World Trade Center34
- JFK45
Long Island City questions
Is Long Island City a good area to stay in New York?
Yes, if you want a modern hotel for much less than Manhattan. Midtown is a few subway stops away and the waterfront parks have superb skyline views, though the streets around the hotels are plain. It suits travellers on a budget who want a modern hotel, business trips in Queens or Midtown and families who want more space for their money.
Is Long Island City safe?
Street crime in Long Island City is below the city average for New York, based on NYC Open Data (NYPD).
How much does a hotel in Long Island City cost?
A typical double is around $150 a night at a budget hotel, $210 mid-range and $260 for luxury, outside peak events.
How do I get from JFK to Long Island City?
About 45 minutes door to door: E train from Court Square to Jamaica, then the AirTrain.
How far is Long Island City from the main sights?
Door to door from Long Island City: Rockefeller Center 17 minutes, Grand Central 17 minutes, Times Square 21 minutes and Empire State Building 24 minutes.