With an 8-hour layover, you *could* get into manhattan for a quick visit. I'm assuming that both flights involved are domestic so there are no customs involved. Here's what you're looking at:
You need to be back at the airport an hour before your flight to clear security. We have 7 hours left.
The best way to get to the city is to take the Airtrain to Jamaica station, where you will get the Long Island Railroad to Penn Station. This trip costs $25 (peak times, round trip). Travel time is 35-45 minutes in each direction. Adding in time to find the Airtrain, etc., this is two hours round trip. We have five hours left.
Penn Station is at W. 34th Street between 7th Ave and 8th Ave. This gives you easy access to:
- Macy's (34th St & 7th Ave)
- The Empire State Building (34th St & 5th Ave)...but I wouldn't advise actually trying to go up into the ESB. The lines are brutally long.
- Times Square (around 42nd St and 7th Ave)
- Rockefeller Center (around 50th St between 5th and 6th Aves)
- The southern part of Central Park (starts at 59th Street)
- Shopping on 5th Ave.
Can you see the Statue of Liberty? Sure, but if you do, that's about all you'll be able to see (although you could see a bit of the financial district while you're in Battery Park).
Alternatively, get reservations at one of the great restaurants in the gramercy/union square area. Gramercy Tavern, Craft, Union Square Cafe, Blue Water Grill and Gotham Bar and Grill are just a few of the restaurants you could target. They're 10-15 minutes from Penn Station via cab or 10 minutes away via subway (take the N/Q/R/W trains from the station at 34th Street & Broadway).
So if you want to see NYC and you have 8 hours at the airport, you can definitely do so. Just plan carefully and be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to get back for your flight.
With an 8-hour layover, you