Newark

Many travelers know Newark only as the airport just outside New York City—and miss out on a city with Portuguese grill restaurants, one of the region's leading art museums, and a cathedral that recalls Reims. A trip to Newark is worth it as a day destination or as an affordable base for visiting New York.

An Industrial City with a Turbulent History

Newark was founded in 1666 by Puritans from Connecticut, making it one of the oldest cities in the United States. In the 19th century, it became a center of leather processing, brewing, and insurance—Prudential is still headquartered here today. Thomas Edison set up his laboratory in nearby West Orange. The 1967 riots and the departure of industry hit the city hard. In recent years, new residential and office buildings have been going up again in the downtown area around the universities and cultural venues. The writer Philip Roth and the singer Whitney Houston both come from Newark.

Sights in Newark

The Newark Museum of Art holds a large collection of American art and a famous Tibetan collection that includes a consecrated Buddhist altar. The Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, one of the largest Gothic Revival churches in North America, was built over several decades. Branch Brook Park has one of the largest collections of cherry trees in the U.S.—in April, the park turns into a sea of pink and white blossoms. The New Jersey Performing Arts Center is one of the region's most important concert and theater venues. The New Jersey Devils play hockey at the Prudential Center. Thomas Edison National Historical Park in neighboring West Orange showcases the inventor's laboratory and home.

Eating in Newark: The Ironbound

The Ironbound neighborhood, east of Penn Station and enclosed by railroad tracks, is the city's culinary center. Portuguese, Brazilian, and Spanish immigrants have turned Ferry Street into a restaurant row: here you'll find rodízio with spit-roasted meats, bacalhau, mariscada with seafood, and pastéis de nata. In June, the Portugal Day Festival brings celebrations to the streets. Latin bars and bakeries also shape the streetscape. Downtown and around the universities, you'll find cafés and breweries.

Sports, Music, and Parks

The Prudential Center, known to fans as "The Rock," hosts major concerts in addition to hockey. The New Jersey Performing Arts Center puts on a jazz festival and concerts by the New Jersey Symphony. Military Park and Washington Park downtown have been redesigned and invite you to linger with cafés and events. Riverfront Park on the Passaic River, with its orange wooden walkways, is a new gathering spot. In the Ironbound, soccer fans watch Portugal and Brazil matches during major tournaments in the neighborhood's bars.

Getting Around Newark and the Best Time to Visit

Newark Liberty Airport is one of the East Coast's major hubs, with many direct flights from Europe. The AirTrain and NJ Transit trains take you to New York Penn Station in about 30 minutes; PATH trains also run from Newark Penn Station to Manhattan. A light rail line connects the train stations with the northern neighborhoods. The best time to visit is spring during cherry blossom season and early fall. Day trips lead to Hoboken, Jersey City, and of course Manhattan.