Things to do and see in Coney Island
Coney Island in New York is a neighbourhood in Southwest Brooklyn, known for the amusement park Luna Park, Wonder Wheel and New York Aquarium. It’s actually a peninsula with 60,000 inhabitants and partly consists of a large sandy beach with an adjacent boardwalk. When visiting Coney Island, you’ll experience the fun fair-like atmosphere that has reigned here ever since it became popular in the twentieth century. I’ll tell you about all the things you can do and see on Coney Island.
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Things to do and see in Coney Island
Coney Island is an excellent place to escape the intense heat you may experience in the city during the summer. Beaches, boulevards and roller coasters are the three main elements that characterise this fun place. You can even go swimming here.
Rides and Attractions in Coney Island
While Coney Island used to be a hangout for the ‘riffraff’, nowadays, it’s more like a giant funfair that attracts a varied crowd. Many smaller family businesses and amusement parks closed down when Coney Island went through huge renovations.
Luckily, you can still visit some of the most iconic attractions, such as the 150-foot Deno’s Wonder Wheel (located in the amusement park of the same name), an almost 100-year-old roller coaster Cyclone, Nathan’s famous hotdog stand and the boulevard with all its kitschy shops. Although the famous amusement park Luna Park kept its original name, it’s been completely renovated.
Coney Island Beach
When visiting Coney Island, of course, you should check out Coney Island Beach. This wide, sandy beach stretches for approximately 3 miles (5 km) along the shoreline and is a popular summer destination for New Yorkers. The beach is complemented by the iconic Coney Island Boardwalk, and amenities like restrooms, showers and lifeguards are available during the summer season.
New York Aquarium
The only aquarium in New York is located in Coney Island. In the New York Aquarium, you can see, among others, penguins, sea lions, walruses, sharks and otters in their various habitats. There’s an aqua theatre, where the sea lions and their trainers perform. Plus, there is a 4D theatre, where you can watch 3D films with extra-sensory effects. The New York Aquarium is not very big, but it’s a nice place to visit with kids after a day on the beach.
Coney Island Amphitheater
Coney Island Amphitheater, situated on Coney Island Boardwalk, is a partially indoor, partially outdoor venue where you can see all kinds of bands and singers perform. It’s especially nice in the summer, though there are performances throughout the year. You can check the Coney Island Amphitheater concert calendar here.
Coney Island and Contrasts Tour
If you want to explore Brooklyn and Coney Island but also see more of New York’s other boroughs, I recommend taking the Brooklyn, Queens and The Bronx Tour with a visit to Coney Island. A perfect option to get to know a different side of the city and visit Coney Island beach, without the hassle of getting there by subway (which takes about an hour!).
The Coney Island Mermaid Parade
Since 1983, Coney Island has had a unique way of marking the beginning of summer: with the annual Mermaid Parade. What to expect? Exactly that: a parade featuring thousands of people dressed as mermaids, or other sea creatures. In addition to a celebrity merman and mermaid who are crowned king and queen. Although the parade is a family event, you should know that it’s legal in New York for women to be topless in public and that this parade is known for its partial nudity.
The Coney Island Mermaid Parade takes place every year around the first day of summer. The next Mermaid Parade in Coney Island will be held: ....
Brighton Beach
Brighton Beach is also part of Coney Island. When visiting this unique part of the city, you’re likely to hear more people speaking an Eastern European language than English. The area is also known as “Little Russia” or “Little Odesa”, named after a Ukrainian city, from where many of the immigrants of Brighton Beach came in the 1940s and 1950s.
Because of the large Eastern European community, you’ll experience a different atmosphere than in other parts of New York. Probably the reason why many New Yorkers love to spend their holidays here (of course, alongside the fact that the beach is great!). You’ll notice the Eastern European influences when visiting the bars and restaurants. It’s perfectly normal to start your day by ordering a peppered Horilka with honey and to enjoy caviar at a reasonable price.
Where to eat in Coney Island?
When visiting Coney Island, you can’t leave without trying Nathan’s Famous hot dogs. Their branch on the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues is also the site of the yearly hot dog eating contest on the 4th of July. Another place to eat the famous Coney Island hot dogs is at the branch on the boardwalk.
There are several other nice places to grab a bite to eat on that same Coney Island boardwalk, serving everything from tacos to pizza. Does the salty sea air make you crave seafood? Then, I recommend going to Crab House Brooklyn. And for very unique mom-and-pop style restaurants with Eastern European cuisine, head to Brighton Beach.
Hotels in Coney Island
If you’d like to focus on Brooklyn and Coney Island during your trip, Best Western Coney Island is a decent option. From there, it’s a 20-minute walk to the beach. If you want to visit the New York attractions, I recommend staying closer to Manhattan.
How to get to Coney Island
To visit Coney Island, I’d recommend taking the subway. Subway lines DN are the quickest, and both take you to the stop “Coney Island – Stillwell Avenue”. The QF trains take a lot longer.
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