The 7 Most Beautiful Beaches in New York

New York may not be Miami or California, but the Big Apple has some truly beautiful beaches that hold their own. According to NYC Parks, New York has over 22 km (13.7 mi) of sandy beaches, plus equally stunning options just across the border in New Jersey. If you want to escape the city and take a dip in the Atlantic Ocean, here are the 7 best beaches near New York:

1/ Coney Island, Brooklyn

• When people think of New York beaches, Coney Island comes to mind first. This long stretch of sand at the edge of Brooklyn seems to go on forever. Weekends and school holidays bring crowds, especially because of the amusement park that runs along the shore. The beach also has several volleyball, handball and basketball courts.
• Don’t miss a walk along the boardwalk and pier. You’ll get great views of the beach and can chat with fishermen trying their luck.
• Swimming is supervised daily from 10 am to 6 pm during the season. Outside these hours, swimming is not permitted.
• How to get to Coney Island: Take the Q subway to Coney Island–Stillwell Av.

2/ Brighton Beach, Brooklyn

• From Coney Island, head north a short distance to Brighton Beach. It’s really a continuation of Coney Island, so you get the same long sandy stretch. The difference is in the shops and restaurants nearby: Brighton Beach borders Little Odessa, New York’s Ukrainian neighborhood. When Russian and Ukrainian families settle on the beach, you might feel like you’re on the Black Sea coast.
• Like Coney Island, swimming is supervised from 10 am to 6 pm during the season and not permitted when lifeguards are absent.
• How to get to Brighton Beach: Take the Q subway to Ocean Parkway.

3/ Sandy Hook, New Jersey

• Sandy Hook feels like a trip within a trip. This narrow peninsula at the eastern tip of New Jersey guards the entrance to New York Harbor and offers nearly 11 km (6.8 mi) of beach and dunes. After enjoying the sand, visit the lighthouse and Fort Hancock, a former military fortress occupied by the US Army until 1975.
• Tip: bring enough cash—there are no ATMs on Sandy Hook. Don’t forget sunscreen either.
• How to get to Sandy Hook: The easiest and fastest way is the Seastreak ferry from the dock at the end of East 35th Street or from Pier 11 at the end of Wall Street. The crossing takes about 40 minutes. Free shuttle buses connect the different beach areas once you arrive.

4/ South Beach, Staten Island

• In the shadow of the Verrazano–Narrows Bridge, South Beach is a long, photogenic stretch of sand. A pleasant 3 km (1.9 mi) boardwalk, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk, runs along the beach. Don’t miss the Fountain of Dolphins, one of the beach’s iconic features. The elegant Ocean Breeze Fishing Pier is also worth a visit to watch anglers at work.
• Swimming is supervised from 10 am to 6 pm during the season and not permitted when lifeguards are absent.
• How to get to South Beach: From Manhattan, take the Staten Island Ferry, then bus S51.

5/ Orchard Beach, Bronx

• Set aside any preconceptions about the Bronx and head to Pelham Bay Park. This park is three times larger than Central Park and is home to Orchard Beach, the Bronx’s only beach. It’s not entirely natural—it was created in the 1930s from sand dredged from beaches in Queens and New Jersey—but that hasn’t stopped it from earning the nickname “New York’s Riviera.” Today the beach has about 20 volleyball, handball and basketball courts, two picnic areas, and kiosks for drinks and food.
• During the season, swimming is supervised from 10 am to 6 pm and not permitted when lifeguards are absent.
• How to get to Orchard Beach: Take the 6 subway to Pelham Bay Park.

6/ Rockaway Beach, Queens

• Near JFK Airport at the southern edge of Queens, Rockaway Beach is the only place in New York where surfing is allowed. The vibe here is distinctly different from other New York beaches—much more California than New York. You can also kayak or paddleboard at Beach 32 Street and Beach 57 Street.
• Like other New York beaches, swimming is supervised from 10 am to 6 pm during the season and not permitted when lifeguards are absent.
• How to get to Rockaway Beach: Take the A subway to Broad Channel, then the S shuttle to Rockaway Park–Beach 116th St.

7/ Fire Island, Long Island

• Fire Island isn’t the easiest beach to reach, but it rewards the effort. This narrow barrier island off the south shore of Long Island has no roads and no cars. It’s also one of the few beaches in the area with a maritime pine forest, making it feel like a complete escape.
• How to get to Fire Island: From Penn Station, take the Long Island Rail Road toward Montauk. Get off at Bay Shore, Sayville or Patchogue. From there, take a ferry to Fire Island—the crossing takes about 20 minutes.