Coney Island is the seaside end of New York City, a strip of beach, boardwalk and amusement rides on the southern edge of Brooklyn. It is where New Yorkers have gone to cool off since the late 1800s, and it is still one of the easiest beach trips from Manhattan: you can ride the subway to the very last stop and walk onto the sand a few minutes later. Coney Island is part funfair, part old-fashioned seaside resort and part ordinary neighbourhood, which is a big part of its charm.
Why go to Coney Island
There is nowhere else in the city quite like it. On a summer day the boardwalk fills with families, joggers, fishermen and people queueing for hot dogs, while the rides behind them turn and clatter. Out of season it is quieter and a little melancholy, with a wide empty beach and long views out to the Atlantic. Both versions are worth seeing. You can spend a whole day here with rides and the beach, or come for a couple of hours just to walk the boardwalk and eat.
How to get to Coney Island by subway
Take any of the D, F, N or Q trains to the end of the line at Coney Island-Stillwell Av. The station opens onto Surf Avenue, and the rides and the boardwalk are a short walk south. Nathan's Famous is on the corner right outside. From Midtown Manhattan the ride usually takes about an hour, a bit more if your train runs local.
If you are heading for the New York Aquarium or the eastern part of the boardwalk, the W 8 St-NY Aquarium station on the F and Q is one stop before the terminal and sits right beside the aquarium. Walking between the two stations along the boardwalk takes around 10 minutes.
Coney Island tickets: what is free and what is paid
The beach and the Riegelmann Boardwalk are free and open to everyone. You only pay for the rides, the aquarium and food. The rides are run by different operators: Luna Park covers most of the area along Surf Avenue and the boardwalk, and Deno's Wonder Wheel Park runs the Wonder Wheel and its own rides. They use their own card or ticket systems, so a pass bought in one park does not always cover the other.
Most rides are seasonal, running fully in summer and on a reduced schedule in spring and early autumn. Check the official Luna Park and Deno's Wonder Wheel websites for opening days and prices before you go, especially outside July and August. Lifeguards are on duty on the beach only during the official swimming season, roughly late May to early September.
Best time to visit Coney Island
For the full experience, come on a summer weekday. Weekends in July and August are very busy on the beach and on the trains. Late afternoon is pleasant, when the heat drops and the light over the water gets softer. In June the Mermaid Parade brings costumes and crowds to Surf Avenue, and summer often brings fireworks on certain evenings; check local listings for dates.
A spring or autumn walk is also rewarding if you want the boardwalk without the crowds, though many stalls and rides will be closed.
Highlights on Coney Island
The Cyclone
The wooden roller coaster opened in 1927 and is a city landmark. It is short, rough and loud, which is exactly the point.
The Wonder Wheel
A big Ferris wheel from 1920 with some cars that slide along tracks as the wheel turns. The fixed cars are the gentler choice and give good views of the beach.
Nathan's Famous
The original Nathan's hot dog stand on Surf Avenue dates from 1916 and hosts the well known hot dog eating contest every Fourth of July.
The boardwalk and beach
Walk west past the parachute jump tower, a former ride now lit up at night, or east toward Brighton Beach and its Russian and Ukrainian shops and cafés.
Nearby on the same stop
- New York Aquarium: sea lions, sharks and penguins beside the boardwalk.
- Maimonides Park: the minor league ballpark of the Brooklyn Cyclones, with summer games by the sea.
- Brighton Beach: a short walk east along the boardwalk for food and a very different atmosphere.
For more around the station, open Coney Island on Around the Metro, or browse other stops on the New York subway map.