Brazil
Argentina
Bolivia
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
French Guiana
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Germany
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Denmark
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Finland
France
Greece
the Netherlands
Hungary
Ireland
Iceland
Italy
Luxembourg
Norway
Poland
Portugal
the United Kingdom
the Czech Republic
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Canada
Mexico
the Dominican Republic
South Africa
Australia
Fiji
New Zealand
Papua New Guinea
Before you go
Your trip to Atlantic City.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Atlantic City – New Jersey Destination Jersey Shore and Atlantic City
How to get there
-
Atlantic City International Airport (ACY) 16 km
-
Atlantic City Rail Terminal 2 km
Approximate distances. Check flights and bus, train or boat schedules before you travel.
ACY airport is about 16 km away, with few domestic flights; Philadelphia (PHL) is about 100 km. Atlantic City rail service departs from 30th Street Station in Philadelphia and arrives at Atlantic City Rail Terminal. Buses link the city to New York and Philadelphia. By car, you arrive via the Atlantic City Expressway or the Garden State Parkway.
How many days
One day is enough for the boardwalk, Steel Pier and the lighthouse; with two days you can add the beach, Lucy in Margate and an evening show.
When to go
June to September for beaches and the Steel Pier, which runs seasonally. Spring and fall offer a quieter boardwalk. In winter it’s cold and windy, but casinos and performance venues remain open.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
Not for the central area: the boardwalk concentrates hotels, beach and attractions, and there are buses and jitneys (small local buses). A car helps for getting to Margate, Cape May and the Jackson parks. If you drive in the area, you drive on the right.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Atlantic City
-
Morning
Promenade and beach
Walk the boardwalk from Boardwalk Hall, pass the piers and set aside time for the beach. The pushed wheelchair chairs, a local tradition, make the route accessible for those who prefer not to walk.
-
Afternoon
Absecon Lighthouse and Steel Pier
Climb the steps of Absecon Lighthouse for a view over the island. In the late afternoon, head to Steel Pier, lit up at night with its Ferris wheel over the sea.
2 days in Atlantic City
Day 2
-
Morning
Lucy, in Margate
Take the guided tour inside Lucy the elephant in Margate and enjoy the quieter beaches south of Atlantic City.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do in Atlantic City beyond the casinos?
Walk the boardwalk, go to the beach, climb Absecon Lighthouse, ride the Steel Pier and visit Lucy in Margate. At night, performance venues offer shows and boxing matches.
Do you have to pay to enter Atlantic City’s beach?
There is no charge to access Atlantic City’s beaches, unlike other towns on the New Jersey coast, such as Cape May, which require a beach tag in summer.
How do you get from Philadelphia to Atlantic City?
By train on the line that departs from 30th Street Station and arrives at the Atlantic City rail terminal, or by car via the Atlantic City Expressway, in about an hour and a half.
What time zone is Atlantic City in?
Atlantic City follows Eastern Time: UTC-5 in winter and UTC-4 during daylight saving time, from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.