A personal review of beaches in and around NYC

You probably don’t think of beaches right away when you think of NYC but as a coastal city with hundreds of miles of shoreline – it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the city and its surroundings has a fair share of beaches.

While the heat accumulates in the concrete jungle, the beaches are the best way to catch a fresh breeze and if you dare, you can take a dip in the icy cool Atlantic too! As summer is in full swing, I’m sharing 4 easy one day beach trips from NYC, including a personal (hence completely subjective) ratings on some important factors, such as food quality, access by public transportation and cleanliness – so grab your bikini/swimming shorts because vamos a la playa!

1. Coney Island & Brighton Beach

Home of the annual hot dog eating contest and the Mermaid Parade, the iconic Coney Island boardwalk is popular among locals and visitor’s alike when it comes to beaches and amusement parks in NYC. The Luna Park of Coney Island offers some thrilling pay-as-you-go rides, while the adjacent beach has a relaxed atmosphere and some decent swimming (but you should keep an eye on water quality and always follow the flags). If you’re looking for a quiet spot to chill, come in the mornings on a weekday as weekends get crowded quickly and you may have a hard time to find a free spot in the sand. The boardwalk in the other hand becomes a lively and fun place for people-watching!

While food is plentiful, most options are typical amusement park fare like hot dogs, fries, funnel cakes and so on… Personally, all I need is a Nathan’s hot dog to make my trip to Coney Island complete. Beer lovers will find their happy place at the Coney Island Brewery. And the best part: There are 4 subway lines (D, N, F, Q) that take you directly to the action, making the beach one of the easiest to access in NYC!

For a more local experience, head East on the boardwalk and you’ll quickly find yourself in “Little Odessa” as Brighton Beach is sometimes called – due to the large population of Russians and Eastern Europeans. The beach tends to be quieter as Coney Island.

Relaxation: ⭐⭐⭐
Cleanliness: ⭐⭐⭐
Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Food: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

2. Rockaway Beach & Jacob Riis Park

Ask a New Yorker about the city’s favourite beach and you’ll most likely hear the answer “Rockaway Beach“. No surprise, the long, sandy stretch in Queens is probably NYC’s most relaxed community with a small beach town vibe. Regarding the beach itself, it has undergone big changes since recent years. After hurricane Sandy has destroyed much of the boardwalk and buildings, everything has been rebuilt and shines in new splendor. Today another problem called erosion is giving Rockaway Beach a hard time: While last year the whole beach was accessible, this year a big section is closed off unfortunately. It still remained a popular meeting spot for surfers who find better conditions there then elsewhere.

While Rockaway Beach isn’t really boasting with restaurants, the food there belongs to the best NYC beaches has to offer: A must-eat are the arepas at Caracas, right by the boardwalk, and the excellent fish tacos at the Rockaway Surf Club (yes, there’s a surf club!) a little tucked away from the beach – perfect after a day full of sun and sea!

Since last year it also has become significantly easier to get there: The NYC Ferry makes frequent trips from Wall Street and Sunset Park (Brooklyn) to Rockaway Beach – all year round! Besides that, the A train takes you there too, although the ride is less spectacular and not the most pleasant. If you’re looking for more isolation, the Jacob Riis Park might be a good alternative. You’ll need your own vehicle to get there but there’s more space, less people and the sand is some of the most powdery I’ve seen!

Relaxation: ⭐⭐⭐
Cleanliness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Food: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

3. Sandy Hook

If you want to get away from it all, head to Sandy Hook – a narrow peninsula that stretches into the New York Bay with miles and miles of beaches. It’s part of New Jersey but the journey is relatively quick if you take the Seastreak ferry from East 35th Street or Wall Street (summer season only). The boat ride only takes about 40 minutes and shuttle buses serve different sections inside the Sandy Hook State Park, including a nude beach (or “clothing optional”). Due to its length, there should be plenty of space even on the busiest day. A couple of food trucks can be found on the parking lots, serving snacks and meals that suit almost every palate. Yup, there’s even cold brew coffee and acai bowls!

Unfortunately I’ve found more debris and trash washed ashore than on the other beaches, but due to Sandy Hook’s sheer size you can’t expect that every part is cleaned up on a daily basis…

Relaxation: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cleanliness: ⭐⭐⭐
Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Food: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

4. Jones Beach

Long Island is known to be boasting with wonderful beaches and if you don’t want to travel too far from NYC, Jones Beach might be your best bet! Once you made it out there, you’ll be rewarded with white sand that goes on for miles – so long, you can’t see where it begins or ends. There’s enough space to find a secluded spot easily outside the lifeguard protected area where families and swimmers like to concentrate. Plus: The beach was very clean! For car free travels, take the LIRR (Long Island Rail Road) to Freeport and take the beach bus N88 to either the East or West Bathhouse or Central Mall (see also the beach packages of the MTA).

While Jones Beach is well equipped with showers, toilets and cafeterias, I thought the food options were very limited. I’d recommend to bring your own snacks. On the upside, they have umbrella and sunbed rentals in case you didn’t carry them along.

Relaxation: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cleanliness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐
Food: ⭐⭐⭐

Pro tip: One thing all beaches here have in common is that there’s basically no shade. If you’re planning to visit the beaches more frequently it’s worth to invest in a proper (but lightweight!) umbrella and maybe a beach chair. These items make your beach trip so much more enjoyable!

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