As great as New York City is, you don’t actually have to stay in the City to make the most of your time up in the area. In fact, Hudson County has so much more to offer, you could stay for days and weeks and not even see everything this area of New Jersey has to offer. But if you only have a few days, this 2-day Hudson County tourism guide is for you!
Things to Do in Hudson County
First of all, you may be wondering what Hudson County even is. What does it comprise?
Hudson County comprises quite a few cities, but the most popular are Hoboken and Jersey City – located right across the river from NYC. You truly can’t beat the skyline views from the Jersey side.
Visit the City
If one of your goals for your visit to Hudson County is to visit NYC, you have easy access to get there! Whether you take the Path to World Trade or 33rd St. or want to take the bus to Port Authority from Hoboken, you can’t go wrong. Depending on your departure area, you’ll be there in about 10-15 minutes.
Once there, you have plenty of things to do at your fingertips.
Take a Ferry to the Statue of Liberty
Although you can access the Statue of Liberty from the NY side, going from the Jersey side is so much easier. The lines are shorter, the ferry is shorter, and it’s just all-around better.
Realistically, you could spend an entire day visiting both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Pay attention to the ferry schedules so you can fit in both areas to visit (I recommend going to Ellis Island first and then the Statue for ease of your schedule)
- Ellis Island has a ton of history within the museum that you can spend hours wandering around as well as an outdoor area to admire the City and grab a bite to eat
- If you want to go up to the Pedestal at the Statue of Liberty, you need to buy a specific ticket
In addition, once you visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, you can spend time at Liberty State Park admiring the views of the City across the river. You wouldn’t be able to do that as easily if you came from the NY side!
Still want more to do? Head to the Liberty Science Center to see what events and exhibits they have going on while you are there.
Take a Bike Ride Along the Hudson
One of my favorite things to do in the area on a nice day is take a bike ride along the water. The path extends from the Colgate Clock (another fun site to see) all the way past Hoboken. You can rent one of the many Citibikes around the area, or if you stay at the Canopy by Hilton Jersey City Arts District, you can check out a free bike from them to take out for a couple of hours!
Wander Grove Street and Washington Street
Grove Street is Jersey City’s equivalent to Washington Street in Hoboken. Both are bustling areas with some of the best coffee shops, restaurants, and shops around. Grove Street even has a pedestrian area to enjoy walking at leisure or sitting outside at one of the great restaurants and bars there!
If you are on Washington Street in Hoboken, you can cut over to the water at any point to enjoy one of the many parks in the Mile Square City.
Places to Eat and Drink in Hudson County
Think you need to head to NYC for some of the best food and drinks in the area? False. Hudson County has some of the best as well.
If you are in the mood for drinks, be sure to check out Departed Soles in Jersey City. This is Jersey City’s first brewery and tasting room which opened in 2015. The story behind the brewery itself is heartfelt and meaningful, and if you want to know the meaning behind the name…you’ll have to take a visit for yourself.
For more drinks with different vibes, check out:
- The Rooftop at Exchange Place
- The Archer
- Finnegan’s
- The Hamilton Inn
- Pier 13
If you are a foodie like me, you’ll be in your own little slice of heaven. Be sure to check out:
- Porta
- Luna Restaurant
- Sorellina Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar
- Tenth Street Pizza
- City Bistro
- White Star Bar
- Grand Vin
- Zack’s Oak Bar & Restaurant
- Margherita’s
And, of course, you can’t visit a new place without stopping by a coffee shop for a boost of energy before a long day. Here are a few of my favorites:
- bwé kafe
- Hidden Grounds
- Cafe Peanut
- Jefferson’s Coffee
- Mojo Coffee
- The Roost Outpost
- The Hive
Where to Stay in Hudson County
If you want to be in the heart of the action, staying downtown Jersey City near Grove Street is your best bet. You have easy access to all things in Jersey City as well as an easy bike ride or train over to Hoboken. You could even walk a couple of miles over if you wanted!
For a hip hotel that has everything you need, stay at the Canopy by Hilton Jersey City Arts District. This 4-star hotel has everything you need, from a full gym to a delicious restaurant and bar, and a great breakfast buffet to upscale rooms.
Your Ultimate Hudson County Tourism Guide
If you only have a couple of days in Hudson County, you may not be able to squeeze all of this in as each thing can take you quite a bit of time. Realistically, you want to enjoy every moment touring around and not rush through it!
But, if you have more than a couple of days or come back often, you’ll want to hit all of these items at least once!
With this Hudson County tourism guide, you’ll be getting the best of the best in the area!
If you have anything to add or if I missed something, feel free to add a comment below!
Thank you Canopy by Hilton Jersey City Arts District and Visit Hudson NJ for hosting this wonderful stay!