Jersey City
1 hostel · dorms from $34
Across the Hudson from Manhattan, with skyline views and quick trains into New York.
Points of interest
- Liberty State Park
- Ellis Island ferries
- Hoboken
- Journal Square
State guide
Things to do in New Jersey
More than New York's neighbour: 200 km of Atlantic beaches on the Jersey Shore, Victorian Cape May, the Pine Barrens, Princeton, and Jersey City with Manhattan across the river.
2
Hostels across its 4 main cities
2.8
Average, from 124 reviews
2–3
Days, or a base for New York
The Garden State
New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the USA, and most visitors only see it from Newark airport or the train into Manhattan. That is a shame, because it has a lot to offer, and it is a cheaper base for New York City than staying in Manhattan itself.
Jersey City and Hoboken sit right across the Hudson from Manhattan, with the best skyline views in the area and a quick train ride into the city. Further south, the Jersey Shore runs the length of the Atlantic coast: boardwalks and amusement piers, the music town of Asbury Park, Atlantic City's casinos, and Cape May, a Victorian seaside town at the southern tip. Inland, the Pine Barrens are a huge, quiet forest, Princeton is a classic university town, and the Delaware Water Gap has hiking on the Appalachian Trail.
Give New Jersey two or three days on its own, or use Jersey City as a base for New York. Summer is the season for the Shore, when the beach towns come alive; outside it, many close down.
Where to base yourself
Jersey City for New York, and the Shore towns in summer.
Asbury Park
A Shore town with a restored boardwalk and a big live music scene.
Points of interest
- The boardwalk
- The Stone Pony
- Convention Hall
Atlantic City
1 hostel
Casinos and the country's first boardwalk.
Points of interest
- The Boardwalk
- Steel Pier
- Casinos
- Free beaches
Cape May
A Victorian seaside town at the southern tip of the state.
Points of interest
- Victorian houses
- Cape May Lighthouse
- Beaches
- Birdwatching
Regions of New Jersey
Across the river from New York in the north, beach towns all the way down the coast, and quiet forests and farms in between.
Gateway (Jersey City and Hoboken)
New York base, skyline viewsAcross the Hudson from Manhattan, with fast trains into the city.
The Jersey Shore
Beaches, boardwalks, summerBeach towns all the way down the coast, from Asbury Park to Atlantic City.
Cape May
Victorian town, birdwatchingThe southern tip, with painted houses, beaches and migrating birds.
The Pine Barrens
Forest, kayakingA huge, quiet forest of pines and rivers in the south.
Princeton and Central Jersey
University townPrinceton's campus and the historic towns around it.
The Skylands
Hiking, lakesHills, lakes and the Delaware Water Gap in the north-west.
Things to do
Things to do in New Jersey
In Jersey City, walk the waterfront at Liberty State Park for views of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline, and take a ferry to Ellis Island and the Statue from the park, often less crowded than leaving from Manhattan. Hoboken, next door, has a lively main street and the birthplace of Frank Sinatra.
On the Shore, Asbury Park has a restored boardwalk and the Stone Pony, the music venue where Bruce Springsteen started out. Atlantic City has casinos and the original boardwalk, the first in the country. Cape May, at the southern tip, has streets of painted Victorian houses, beaches and a lighthouse, and is one of the best places on the East Coast for birdwatching during migration.
Inland, walk the campus of Princeton University, kayak or hike in the Pine Barrens, and hike the Delaware Water Gap, where the Appalachian Trail crosses into Pennsylvania. Thomas Edison's laboratory in West Orange is a national historical park.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
Liberty State Park and the Jersey City and Hoboken waterfronts are free, with some of the best views of Manhattan. The Atlantic City and Asbury Park boardwalks cost nothing to walk.
Many Jersey Shore beaches charge a daily fee, called a beach tag, in summer, though some are free, including Atlantic City's. Princeton's campus is free to wander.
The Pine Barrens and the Delaware Water Gap have free trails.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
New Jersey is the land of the diner, with more diners than almost anywhere in the country, open late and serving huge plates. Try a pork roll, egg and cheese sandwich, the state's breakfast, and Italian-American food, especially pizza and subs.
On the Shore, eat saltwater taffy, boardwalk fries and fresh seafood. In summer, farm stands sell Jersey tomatoes, blueberries and sweetcorn, the reason for the nickname the Garden State.
Jersey City has excellent Indian food around Journal Square.
Nightlife
Going out
Hoboken and Jersey City have bars full of young professionals, and Manhattan is a short train ride away. Asbury Park has a strong live music scene.
Atlantic City's casinos have clubs and shows, and Shore towns such as Seaside Heights and Wildwood are lively in summer.
Outside summer, the Shore is quiet.
Getting around
Getting around
The PATH train links Jersey City and Hoboken with Manhattan in minutes, and ferries cross the Hudson. NJ Transit trains run to Newark, Princeton and the northern Shore, and buses reach Atlantic City and Cape May.
Newark Liberty International Airport is one of New York's three main airports, with trains to Manhattan and around the state.
A car helps for the southern Shore, the Pine Barrens and the Delaware Water Gap. The New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway have tolls.
Costs
What New Jersey costs
New Jersey is expensive, but cheaper than Manhattan, which makes Jersey City a good base for New York. Hostels are rare outside Jersey City, and Shore towns are expensive in July and August.
Sales tax is 6.625 per cent. Clothing and most food from shops are exempt. Tip 18 to 22 per cent in restaurants.
Beach tags, tolls and parking add up on the Shore.
Safety
Safety and scams
The main tourist areas of New Jersey are generally safe. Take normal city care in Newark and Atlantic City, where some streets away from the boardwalk are best avoided at night.
On the Shore, swim only where lifeguards are on duty, as rip currents are common. Ticks are common in the Pine Barrens and woods.
Health insurance is essential in the USA. In an emergency, call 911.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Summer on the Shore and music in Asbury Park.
Memorial Day to Labor Day
Shore season
The Jersey Shore
Boardwalks, beaches and nightlife at full volume.
September
Sea.Hear.Now festival
Asbury Park
A music and surf festival on the beach.
September to October
Cape May bird migration
Cape May
Hawks, songbirds and monarch butterflies pass through.
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels across New Jersey's main cities, straight from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
When to go
Summer is the season for the Jersey Shore, from Memorial Day in late May to Labor Day in early September. Spring and autumn are mild and quiet, and good for walking. Winter is cold, and most Shore towns close.
Jan
Cold, Shore closed
Feb
Cold
Mar
Cool
Apr
Spring
May
Shore season opens
Jun
Summer begins
Jul
Peak beach season
Aug
Peak beach season
Sep
Warm, quieter
Oct
Autumn colour
Nov
Quiet
Dec
Cold
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs for Newark, rounded. The Shore is cooler in summer.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Jersey City prices.
Treat these as a guide. Shore towns cost more in summer.
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- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
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New Jersey questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is New Jersey a good base for New York City?
Yes. Jersey City and Hoboken are minutes from Manhattan by PATH train, and usually cheaper.
What is the Jersey Shore?
The Atlantic coast of New Jersey, lined with beach towns, boardwalks and summer nightlife.
Do I need to pay to go on the beach?
Most Shore beaches charge a daily beach tag in summer. Some, such as Atlantic City's, are free.
How do I get to the Jersey Shore without a car?
NJ Transit trains reach the northern Shore, including Asbury Park, and buses go to Atlantic City and Cape May.
When is the best time to visit New Jersey?
June to September for the Shore. Spring and autumn are quiet and mild.
Can I visit the Statue of Liberty from New Jersey?
Yes. Ferries leave from Liberty State Park in Jersey City.
Is New Jersey expensive?
Yes, but cheaper than Manhattan. Shore towns are expensive in summer.
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