Hotels near Long Island City, Queens

Long Island City in Queens is the most practical budget-friendly alternative to Manhattan for World Cup visitors. The neighbourhood sits directly across the East River from Midtown and is connected by the 7, E, M, and N/W subway trains - Midtown is 10-15 minutes away. Hotel rates here run 30-50% lower than comparable Manhattan properties on match weekends, with mid-range options at $200-380/night.

The neighbourhood has become a genuine cultural and culinary destination - MoMA PS1 (22-25 Jackson Ave) is here, along with a strong restaurant and coffee scene, and spectacular Manhattan skyline views from Gantry Plaza State Park on the waterfront. For families or groups booking multiple rooms, the savings versus Manhattan are substantial without sacrificing convenience.

Pro Tip: The 7 train from Queensboro Plaza or Court Square runs directly to Times Square/42nd St (10 min) and from there you can connect to Penn Station for the MetLife Stadium train. Total door-to-door time from Long Island City to MetLife is around 55-65 minutes.

Stadium distance: 25 km, 55-65 min via subway to Penn Station + NJ Transit train.