It can be difficult to choose New York City’s best beaches. With 14 miles of public beaches that are free, open to all, and just a subway, bus, or ferry ride away, there really is something for everyone.
And even though New Yorkers are well known for their highly-respectable resilience to long frigid winters, they also enjoy escaping the concrete jungle for a sandy beach with cool ocean breezes during the summer months.
Read on to discover everything you need to know about the best beaches New York City has to offer.
Coney Island
In addition to three miles of sandy beach, Coney Island features amusement park rides (including the world-famous Cyclone roller coaster, and the Wonder Wheel), burlesque and sideshows entertainment, the New York Aquarium, fireworks displays, and lots of classic summertime food (the hot dog was reportedly invented there).
Coney Island is reachable via the D, F, N and Q subway lines, the journey from midtown Manhattan takes approximately one hour. Check out our tips for exploring Coney Island.
Brighton Beach
Brighton Beach, just east of Coney Island, is known as “Little Odessa” for its Russian immigrant community (and delicious Russian eateries). It’s a smaller, more relaxed version of the Coney Island beach so, if you’re looking for a quieter day, or the opportunity to explore Russian gastronomy, this might be the place for you to visit.
Manhattan Beach
In order to get to Manhattan Beach, take the subway B or Q to Brighton Beach. Once you’re in Brighton Beach, take the B1 bus to Orient Blvd. & Ocean Ave. (4 minutes/8 stops) or walk (just under a mile).
As they’re not very far away from each other, it’s a great opportunity to see these different beaches and find the one that suits your mood for the day.
Rockaway Beach
Rockaway Beach is the largest urban beach in the nation. It stretches for miles along the Rockaway Peninsula, facing the Atlantic Ocean. Beach goers can enjoy the sand and water, boardwalk, food concessions, and the city’s only surfing beach.
Take the A train from Manhattan (make sure it’s headed to Far Rockaway–Mott Avenue) to Beach 67 Street. For the popular western beaches, exit the train at Broad Channel, and transfer to the S shuttle. The journey should take 90–105 minutes from midtown Manhattan.
NYC Beach Bus offers shuttle bus service from Downtown Brooklyn & Williamsburg to Rockaway and Jacob Riis Park on weekends and holidays.
Jacob Riis Park
Jacob Riis Park is at the southwestern end of the Rockaway Peninsula, between Fort Tilden and Rockaway Beach, and includes a boardwalk, an Art Deco bathhouse with exhibits, ball courts, and free kayaking.
While the park does have food concessions, it’s advisable to bring a picnic, since concessions are not always open.
The easiest way to get to the park from Manhattan is the New York Beach Ferry, a weekend shuttle between Pier 11 at Wall Street, and the Rockaways. The park can also be reached via a combination of subway and city bus (the journey takes between 90 minutes and two hours from midtown Manhattan).
Orchard Beach
Orchard Beach is located in the Bronx’s huge Pelham Bay Park. This one-mile-long beach on Long Island Sound is called “The Riviera of New York.”
It includes a promenade, a pavilion with food stores, playgrounds, two picnic areas, and courts for basketball, volleyball, and handball.
Take the 6 subway line to its last stop (Pelham Bay Park). Just outside the station, transfer to the Bx29 bus toward City Island (5 mins, 3 stops, ask the driver). From the bus stop, there is a one-mile walk through the park.
Midland Beach
Midland Beach, located on Staten Island, just beyond the Narrows and facing the Atlantic, is a two and a half mile sandy stretch that also includes South Beach and the F.D.R. Boardwalk.
The beach includes areas for barbecue, restrooms, a restaurant, and fishing pier. To reach the beach from the Staten Island Ferry Terminal, take bus S51 (32 mins) just outside of it.
From Manhattan, take Staten Island Express Bus X1 to Highland Blvd./Midland Ave. (35 mins, 17 stops), then walk the half mile to the beach.
Going farther than New York City’s best beaches
The Long Island Rail Road offers getaways to the beaches of Long Island, a bit farther away from New York City, but still in the State of New York.
You can discover extraordinary beaches, such as Jones Beach, Long Beach, and Fire Island beaches.
The packages include round-trip rail tickets and transfers for local bus or ferry service. See the LIRR’s Beach Getaways site for schedules, prices, and details.
New York City’s beach rules
NYC’s beaches are open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. During beach season, lifeguards are on duty daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Swimming is prohibited when lifeguards are not on duty and in closed sections. Closed sections are marked with signs and/or red flags. Visitors must be off the beaches from 9 p.m. until 6 a.m.
The NYC Parks Department prohibits the following on beaches:
- Littering and all glass containers.
- Smoking and alcohol.
- Barbecuing, open fires, and tents or shelters.
- Amplified music.
- Dogs on the sand from May 1st until October 1st.
- Snorkels, fins, rafts, or other flotation devices.
- Fishing, except in designated areas.
Visit the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s New York City Area Beaches page for water quality advisories or closures before you head to the beach.
Update Notice: This post was updated on February 15, 2024.
After spending a day enjoying NYC’s best beaches, you’ll definitely need a good meal. Why not check out one of our popular New York City Food Tours? From new foodie favorites to legendary NYC haunts, our local New Yorker guides will take you on one of the most memorable food tours in town.
