Things to see in Coney Island

Coney Island in New York is a neighbourhood in Southwest Brooklyn, that’s known for the amusement park Luna Park, Wonder Wheel and New York Aquarium. It’s actually a peninsula, which has 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 there ever since it became popular, in the twentieth century. Read on for all things to see on Coney Island.

Things to see in Coney Island

Coney Island is an excellent place to avoid the intense heat you might experience in the city in 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 Wonder Wheel, almost a 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.

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. Go to the Aquatheater to watch sea lions and their trainers perform, and there is a 4D theatre where you can see 3D films with extra-sensory effects. The New York Aquarium is not very big, but a nice place to visit with kids after a day on the beach of Coney Island.

Coney Island Amphitheater

Coney Island Amphitheater, situated at Coney Island Boardwalk, is a partially indoor-outdoor venue where you can see all kinds of bands and singers perform. It’s especially nice in the summer though there are performances all through the year. You can see the Coney Island Amphitheater concert calendar here.

Coney Island and Brooklyn Tour

If you want to explore Brooklyn and Coney Island, while enjoying stops at a number of great pizza parlours, then I suggest taking the Brooklyn and Coney Island Pizza tour. This is a perfect option to visit the Coney Island beach without the hassle of getting there by subway (which takes about an hour!).

The Coney Island Mermaid Parade

Ever since 1983, Coney Island has had a unique way to mark the beginning of summer by organising an annual Mermaid Parade. What to expect? Exactly that: a parade featuring thousands of people dressed up as mermaids or other sea creatures, and a celebrity merman and mermaid 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.

Brighton Beach

Brighton Beach is also part of Coney Island. When visiting this unique part of the city, you’ll be likely to hear more people talking in an Eastern European language than English. The area is also known as “Little Russia” or “Little Odesa”, named after a Ukrainian city where many of the immigrants that came to Brighton Beach in the 1940s and 1950s came from. Because of the large Eastern European community, you’ll experience another atmosphere than in other parts of New York. That’s 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 in the area. It’s perfectly normal to start your day ordering a peppered Horilka with honey and to enjoy caviar for a reasonable price.

How to reach Coney Island?

To visit Coney Island, I’d recommend taking the subway. Subway lines D and N are the quickest and both take you to the stop “Coney Island – Stillwell Avenue”. The Q and F trains take a lot longer.

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.