Hotels in Long Island City

Once a center of industry, Long Island City is now home to a thriving artistic community with creative installations of public art adorning its wide avenues. Part of the borough of Queens, this neighborhood encapsulates New York's diversity with sculptors and performance artists rubbing shoulders with bankers and commuters, and old factories and bakeries housing TV studios, galleries, and museums. With a flourishing restaurant and bar scene, Long Island City is also home to Casa Enrique, the only Michelin-star Mexican restaurant in NYC.

Hotels in Long Island City

From motels to apart-hotels and boutique hotels to luxury chains, there's a large selection of accommodation in Long Island City. If you're looking for budget hotels, you’ll find plenty of comfortable, family-friendly chain options such as the Best Western Plaza Hotel, conveniently located near the Queensboro Plaza subway station. More upscale hotels in Long Island City include the industrial chic Boro Hotel where visitors flock to chill with a cocktail on its stylish rooftop terrace. The hip Z NYC Hotel is another popular spot for those drawn to the neighborhood's bohemian vibe, and also guarantees views of the Manhattan skyline from every room.

Things to see in Long Island City

There's no better way to immerse yourself in Long Island City's artistic heritage than by paying a visit to MoMA PS1. One of the country's oldest and largest non-profit art institutions, MoMA PS1 provides a dedicated space for showcasing some of the world’s most experimental works of art. Continue your artistic odyssey at the Noguchi Museum, dedicated to the works of Japanese-American artist Isamu Noguchi and his fascinating sculptures, architecture, drawings, and furniture designs. If you're looking for family-friendly activities in Long Island City, spend a relaxing afternoon at the beautifully designed Gantry Plaza State Park, an urban waterfront park offering panoramic views of New York's iconic skyline. After all that sightseeing, you're bound to have worked up an appetite so why not take a stroll around Jackson Avenue and the surrounding streets to discover eateries like LIC Market on 44th Drive, an understated restaurant and market renowned for its good-value, seasonal fare.

Good for families

With a wealth of green spaces and plenty of galleries, museums, and theaters to while away the day, Long Island City has a great choice of activities for families. Whether it’s checking out the state-of-the-art water play area at the Gantry Plaza State Park, exploring multi-media installations at the Socrates Sculpture Park, or ice-skating at the City Ice Pavilion, families traveling with young children will be spoiled for choice. There are also plenty of family-friendly hotels in Long Island City, with no shortage of eateries with outdoor areas and kid-pleasing menus of burgers, pizzas and pasta.

How to get to Long Island City

If you're arriving by air, the nearest airport to Long Island City is La Guardia, just six miles away. From La Guardia you can travel by bus and subway, changing at Roosevelt Avenue and continuing by subway to Court Square. If traveling from the center of New York, you can choose from a number of subway routes serving Queensboro Plaza, Long Island City’s main subway and bus station. Getting around Long Island City is easy too. With plenty of bicycle rental services available, biking is a particularly good way to explore this thriving neighborhood at your own pace.