Jersey City

The best view of the Manhattan skyline isn't in New York at all, but on the opposite shore of the Hudson River. A trip to Jersey City pairs that view with proximity to the Statue of Liberty, historic brick neighborhoods, and one of the most diverse populations in the United States.

Gateway for Millions of Immigrants

In the 17th century, the Dutch founded the settlement of Pavonia here, one of the first European settlements in New Jersey. In the 19th century, the great railroad lines from the West ended in Jersey City, and ferries carried travelers across to Manhattan. For many immigrants arriving at Ellis Island, the journey inland began at the Central Railroad of New Jersey terminal. After the decline of the ports, the city has been enjoying a revival since the 1980s, with office towers rising along the waterfront; today it is among the fastest-growing cities in the region.

Things to See in Jersey City

Liberty State Park is home to the restored Central Railroad terminal with its grand waiting hall, as well as the dock for ferries to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island—often with shorter lines than in Manhattan. The Liberty Science Center, which includes a planetarium, is popular with families. Along the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway, you stroll past the Colgate Clock, a giant clock from the former toothpaste factory. The Paulus Hook neighborhood and the area around Van Vorst Park, with its brownstones, recall old Jersey City. Mana Contemporary, housed in a former tobacco factory, is a large arts center.

Eating and Going Out in Jersey City

On Newark Avenue near Journal Square, India Square is home to one of the largest Indian communities on the East Coast, with sari shops, sweet shops, and South Indian dosa restaurants. You'll also find Filipino, Egyptian, Peruvian, and Italian cuisine. Downtown around Grove Street is the nightlife district, with bars, craft breweries, and restaurants with outdoor patios. In summer, street festivals take place on the pedestrian zone of Newark Avenue.

Neighborhoods of Jersey City

The city is made up of very different neighborhoods. Downtown, with Paulus Hook, Van Vorst Park, and Hamilton Park, is the most sought-after, with tree-lined streets, brownstones, and cafés. Journal Square, home to the magnificent Loew's Jersey Theatre, a movie palace from 1929, is changing with new high-rises. The Heights, on a cliff in the north, offer lookout points over Hoboken and the Hudson. Bergen-Lafayette and Greenville in the south have strong African American and Latino communities. To the west, Jersey City borders the river landscape of the Hackensack River.

Getting Around Jersey City and Best Time to Visit

Newark Liberty Airport is only about 20 minutes away. The PATH train gets you to the World Trade Center or Midtown Manhattan in just a few minutes, and ferries cross the Hudson. The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail connects the waterfront with Bayonne and Hoboken. That makes Jersey City a more affordable hotel alternative for a visit to New York. The best times to visit are late spring and early fall; on July 4, the waterfront offers a great view of the fireworks.