'''Hoboken''' is a small city on the Hudson River in north eastern New Jersey. Once known only as the birthplace of baseball and crooner Frank Sinatra and the site of Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken has become a party town, rich in bars and clubs, and a bedroom community for young, mostly twenty-something professionals who work across the river in New York City.
Get in
By plane
Newark Liberty International Airport [http://www.panynj.gov/CommutingTravel/airports/html/newarkliberty.html] is the closest of metro New York three major airports. To get to downtown Hoboken take any New Jersey Transit train headed for New York to Seacaucus Junction and change there to a train headed for Hoboken Terminal.
By car
'''From New Jersey''': Take Route 3 East (Garden State Parkway exit 153, Turnpike exit 15E) to Route 495 East and exit on the "Last exit in New Jersey", then turn right at the bottom of the hill.
'''From New York''': Tune into 1010 WINS on the AM (radio) dial to see whether the wait to get into New Jersey is shorter at the Lincoln Tunnel or the Holland Tunnel. If you're in Midtown or the wait is much shorter at the Lincoln Tunnel, take that. Keep right, and follow the signs for Hoboken. If you're downtown or the wait is much shorter at the Holland Tunnel, take that. When you get out of the tunnel, make the first right turn. You will soon find yourself in downtown Hoboken.
By rail
'''New Jersey Transit commuter rail''' Connection with Amtrak can be made in Pennsylvania Station in Newark, NJ or New York Pennsylvania Station.
Main Line
Bergen County Line
Pascack Valley Line
Morristown Line and Gladstone Branch of the Morris and Essex Lines
Montclair-Boonton Line
North Jersey Coast Line (limited service)
Raritan Valley Line (limited service)
'''PATH train'''
From New Jersey, go to Newark's Pennsylvania Station, Harrison, Journal Square, or Grove Street and pick up a New York-bound PATH train (marked either 33rd St. or World Trade Center)and transfer to a Hoboken-bound PATH train at Christopher St. or the World Trade Center station.'''
From Manhattan in New York City, pick up a Hoboken-bound PATH train at 33rd & 6th Ave., 23rd & 6th Ave., 14th & 6th Ave., 9th & 6th Ave., Christopher St. & Hudson St., or the World Trade Center station.'''
'''Hudson-Bergen Light Rail'''
Hoboken Terminal is the terminus for two of the three Hudson-Bergen Light Rail services. The Hoboken Terminal-Tonnelle Avenue service to North Bergen and the 22nd Street-Hoboken Terminal service to Bayonne (including Bayonne Flyer service) both operate from the south end of the terminal concourse. The West Side Avenue-Tonnelle Avenue service bypasses Hoboken Terminal, requiring passengers from stations on the West Side Branch to transfer at stations between Pavonia-Newport and Liberty State Park.
By ferry
NY Waterway/Billy Bey Ferry
Passengers can connect to ferries traveling between Hoboken and Midtown Manhattan (West 39th Street), the World Financial Center or Pier 11.
By bus
From NJ: NJ Transit Buses serve Hoboken Terminal
22 to North Bergen via Bergenline Avenue
23 to North Bergen (limited service)
64 to Lakewood (limited service)
68 to Old Bridge (limited service)
85 to Secaucus - Harmon Meadow - Mill Creek
87 to Jersey City (Gates Avenue) via Journal Square
89 to North Bergen via Park Avenue
126 to Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan via Lincoln Tunnel
181 to George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal
Coach USA
5 to Lincoln Harbor or Jersey City (on Washington Street)
144 to Staten Island (limited service)
Get around
Walk! It is incredibly hard to find parking in Hoboken. Some places to find parking are Sinatra Drive by the Hudson River, or any street named after a president (besides Washington). The city-run parking garages on Hudson Street and elsewhere are also a good option if you're worried about getting booted.
If you '''must''' park, read the signs on the street. Make sure that you ARE allowed to park where you're leaving your car. Most streets have one side reserved for Hoboken Residents and the signs ARE confusing. Keep in mind that street cleaning restrictions are in effect as well as a time limit of 4 hours for non-residents - after that, you should move your car.
Finding a parking spot is so hard in Hoboken that they sell parking spaces for up to $100,000.
See
With a great assortment of prewar buildings (having great architectural features) and conspicuous lack of many corporate establishments, Hoboken is a great place to wander on foot.
The end of Pier A, which is just north of the historic, Hoboken Terminal (complete with Tiffany glass windows) containing the NJ Railway and PATH station offers great views of New York City. On a clear day the incredible panorama visible from the end of the pier stretches between the George Washington and Verazano Narrows Bridges. In the summer months around 5:00-6:00pm one can often see huge cruise ships sailing by on their way out to sea en route to Bermuda and Canada. If you are an early riser (or up very late) the views of sunrise silhouetting the city from Pier A is unforgettable. It is also the perfect place to view the _gTribute in Light_h (if they continue to do it) remembering the anniversary of September 11. Hoboken lost more if its residents in September 11th than any city other than New York. A memorial grove and flame shaped memorial is set up on Pier A to remember their sacrifice.
Castle Point on Hudson also offers a great view of New York City (day or night) directly across the Hudson. It is located on the campus of Stevens Institute of Technology. Occasionally campus security can be a bit skittish so be prepared to be sent on your way by flashing lights and a siren even if you are doing nothing more than admiring the view.
Frank Sinatra's birth place is on Monroe Street (near 4th St)
If you are a baseball fan, the site of the first baseball game is commemorated on a plaque at the intersection of 11th and Washington, right next to Helmers restaurant.
Of course, the gritty and amazing Brando film, On The Waterfront was filmed in Hoboken. The parks on 4th & park and 11th & Hudson both were used as locations and can be easily recognized from the film even in their modern state. _gI coulda_f been a contender_c. _g
Do
Walk down Washington Street, there are many shops and restaurants here.
Visit Maxwell's, it's a great bar/restaurant and music venue. Stop in Tunes and buy some music, a nice little music shop. Walk/jog/rollerblade along the Hudson River.
Visit Pier A Park (1st Street and Sinatra Drive) for spectacular views of Downtown Manhattan. A small area of this park is dedicated to the ~25 residents of Hoboken who were killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
If you ride skateboards or Rollerblades, there is a small skatepark along the Hudson River (with spectacular Manhattan views) about 1 mile north of the PATH station.
Eat
'''Maru''' (Japanese) at 219 Washington bet. 2nd and 3rd streets.
'''Sri Thai''' (3rd and Bloomfield) is a great Thai restaurant located one block West of the McDonald's on Washington.
'''Illuzion''' is the best sushi restaurant located on the corner of 4th and Washington Streets.
Try the Amazing Chicken at '''Precious''' (Chinese food restaurant) on 5th and Washington Street as well.
Get a toasted bagel with cream cheese sometime after midnight at '''Bagels on the Hudson''' at Washington and 8th.
The recently re-opened '''7 Star Pizza''' on 4th and Garden streets serves slices that are as big or bigger than Benny Tudino's (below) but they're thin (and delicious!)
Fill up at '''Benny Tudino's Pizzeria''' (Washington between 6th and 7th; thick-style pizza) (featured in Zagat).
At 261 Park Ave (near 2nd) there is an inconspicuous Italian bakery which has fantastic bread and baguettes.
'''Tratoria Saporito''' (Italian) on Washington bet. 3rd and 4th streets.
'''La Isla''' (Cuban) on Washington and 2nd. Great food, good prices and it's BYOB, so your favorite bottle of wine for dinner.
'''Karma Cafe''' (Indian) on Washington street.
Drink
Hoboken has occasionally been called "Bartown" which is a well deserved nickname since it has more liquor licenses per capita than any other town in New Jersey. There is a huge range of lounges and bars in a very compact area.
Be aware, many Hoboken restaurants do not have liquor licenses so they allow you to BYO wine and beer with no corkage fee. This can save you a considerable sum since a good bottle of wine can be purchased at nearby bottle shops for <$10!
If you are looking for old school Hoboken, guys in hard hats, Aerosmith on the jukebox, and cheap draft beer, Wilton House on 1st just a few blocks from the PATH is a good place to start.
There are dozens of bars within a few minutes walk of the PATH station catering to every taste in boozing. Gay, straight, cover bands, pick up, meat market, stuffy, seedy, trendy, you name it...
Happy hours at many Hoboken establishments are a good deal. So if you want to get a buzz on the cheap, show up before 7:00 or 8:00
Mikie Squared (formerly called Dippers) Located on the west side of Washington between 6th and 7th Streets.
Uptown: Lua at Sinatra Drive North near 14th Street is a cool spot for drinks or Latin inspired food with spectacular views of the Empire State Building and midtown Manhattan.
Sleep
Incredibly, Hoboken has no hotels. It must be the only city of 40,000 in the entire USA without a single room for rent by the night!!! Construction is well underway on a W Hotel on Sinatra Drive between 2nd and 3rd Streets. The expected opening is late 2007 (according to the sign), but seeing the progress as of January 2009, it looks far more likely to open in early to mid 2009.
Of course if you are hammered from a night of hitting the pubs, sleep on the train! Otherwise, head back to Route 3 by the Lincoln Tunnel approach for an assortment of fleabag motor inns, or go into the riverfront area of Jersey City just south of Hoboken for higher class accommodations like the Hyatt, Courtyard, etc.
Get out
Take the PATH (subway), Bus #126 or the Lincoln or Holland Tunnels (car) to New York City
NJ Railways has numerous lines departing from Hoboken Terminal to places all over NJ and connecting to Newark Station where you can connect to Amtrak and Newark Airport.