how to get to the best of them by public transport

On Memorial Day (May 29), the beaches in New York will open. We can’t wait for this moment, so we have already started planning a trip to the water. There are several beaches very close to New York (or in the city itself) that are ideal for a day trip, and moreover, they can be reached by public transport.

rockaway beach

This beach is so beautiful that it was even sung in a song 🙂 It’s about the Ramones and their hit Rockaway Beach. This beach is the best in the area for surfing. In addition, this is one of the cleanest beaches in New York.

How to get there: on the A train on the Far-Rockaway route. Or the ferry that follows the Rockaway route from midtown Manhattan.

Jones Beach State Park

This is one of the most beautiful beaches near New York. Still would! After all, it is surrounded by a charming park. There is also the Jones Beach Theatre, located right on the water. During the summer months there are outdoor concerts. TLC, Luke Bryan, Dave Matthews Band, Matchbox Twenty, Sting, Smashing Pumpkins and The Offspring are scheduled to perform at the Jones Beach Theater this year. See the full list of performers and buy tickets here.

If that’s not enough for you, then another reason to go to Jones Beach is the WildPlay adventure park with a huge list of activities, including zip-lining and bungee jumping.

How to get there: you need to take the LIRR to Freeport, then transfer to the local bus n88, which will take you directly to the beach. Buses run quite frequently during the summer months, especially on weekends.

Coney Island Beach

Perhaps this is not the most beautiful beach on the list. But it has one main advantage – the Coney Island amusement park! You can spend part of the day enjoying the rides and relax on the beach in the afternoon. And don’t forget to stop by for lunch at Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs!

How to get there: the easiest way to get there is to take the subway (long!) to the last station on line Q, F or D.

Brighton Beach

This beach is close to Coney Island beach. It is quieter and less touristy than the neighboring one. However, during the summer it is one of the busiest beaches. So if you do go there, try to arrive early!

Of course, a trip to Brighton is “our” food and entertainment, because it is not for nothing that the area is called “Little Odessa”.

How to get there: just take metro B or Q.

On the subject: Food, views and beaches: 6 interesting driving routes on the East Coast

Jacob Riis Park Beach

This beach is one of the most popular in New York. It has a beautiful coastline and a beautiful 1930s art deco beach house. There you can find food trailers and there are even sections of the beach where alcohol is allowed. In summer, the Riis Park beach market operates there, where you can rent sun loungers and umbrellas for the day.

How to get there: it’s not the easiest beach if you don’t have a car, but you can try. You can take bus 2 to Flatbush Ave. And from there – by bus Q35 to Jacob Riis. For a more scenic route, you can take the Rockaway ferry. And from Rockaway Beach there is a free bus that will take you to Jacob Riis.

long beach

This, of course, is not the Maldives, but this beach has the whitest sand in the area. The city of Long Beach is also very nice. There is a farmers’ market and there are many festivals during the summer. Much of the beach and city area was destroyed during Hurricane Sandy in 2012. And therefore, most of what you will see, including the embankment, was built recently.

Please note that this is a paid beach (last year the entrance was $15).

How to get there: The LIRR will take you directly there from Penn Station. Usually for the summer they introduce the LIRR Beach Getaway Package – a train ticket and entry to the beach for $27. These packages are usually not published online until the start of the summer season, so stay tuned.

Beaches in New Jersey

From New York City, you can quickly and easily get to the beaches in New Jersey. So be sure to add them to your summer to-do list!

Sandy Hook Beach

Unfortunately, we know this beach because of the news of the terrible damage it suffered as a result of Hurricane Sandy. Over the past few years, the area has been completely restored. This is a very nice town with a sparsely populated beach. During the summer, food trucks operate there, and you can even visit the 250-year-old lighthouse that survived the hurricane.

How to get there: from the city can be reached by the Seastreak ferry.

Asbury Park

Another beach sung in songs. This time by Bruce Springsteen, who called his debut studio album “Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ”

The beach has a beautiful promenade and a small shopping center including restaurants, antique shops and art galleries. In summer, oyster and jazz festivals are also held here, which attract a large number of tourists.

How to get there: direct train from Penn Station via NJ Transit Coast Line.