The Ultimate Guide to Coney Island, According to a Native New Yorker

As a native New Yorker I’m the first to balk at the idea of doing anything that reads remotely touristy. (If you ever recommend dinner in the heart of Times Square, I may actually block you.) But going to Coney Island is one of those activities I make an exception for—in fact, I’m so obsessed, I go every summer.

The first time I went to Coney Island amusement park district I was a teenager. I won’t say how long ago that was, but to put it into perspective for you, Astroland still existed. Equipped with Metrocards and about $10 between us, my best friend and I took the trek from Bed Stuy, where I lived, out to the beach neighborhood, hoping to ride rides and eat lots of junk food. We flirted our way into mostly kiddie rides—beggars can’t be choosers, right?—but that day filled me with such joy that I immediately knew that visiting Coney Island would become a yearly ritual for me.

Over the years there have been several changes at Coney Island, including a serious cleanup of Coney Island beach—one of only a handful of NYC beaches you can get to without a car—but it remains a summer must-do. While the Mermaid Parade and Fourth of July hot dog eating contest at Nathan’s Famous are on most tourists’ lists, there are so many other reasons to go to Coney Island. Whether you live in New York or you’re simply visiting and wondering if Coney Island is worth going to, the answer is a resounding yes. Take note of these tips from a Brooklyn native on how to do Coney Island like a real New Yorker.

If you’re used to driving most places, you may be tempted to take the car out to Coney Island, especially if you plan on hitting the beach, but you’ll regret it. Not only is taking the subway more efficient (even on the weekends) because it lets you avoid traffic on the Belt Parkway or BQE, you won’t have to spend an hour trying to find somewhere to park once you get there.

Take the F, D, N, or Q trains to Stillwell Ave. If you go on the weekend be mindful of reroutes and know that the B doesn’t run on weekends (the Q sometimes has shuttle buses). Download the MTA app for updates and real time train arrivals.

Dressing comfortably and wearing shoes that won’t wear down your toes or go flying off into the ocean while you’re on a ride is important, but nothing is more crucial than the bottoms you choose. Wearing the right shorts, pants, or skirt will make your bathroom visits easier than if you wear a romper, overalls or any other type of one-piece that you need to remove in its entirety to relieve yourself. Just as important: Bring your own water. No one wants to look up and realize they’ve spent $20 on just water. That’s beer money!

While we may have decided that Memorial Day weekend marks the start of summer, the sun actually says otherwise. By the time New York summer officially arrives in late June, it’s accompanied by humidity that doesn’t wane until fall—but before then, the beach is cold. It could be 84 degrees in the West Village and feel like 67 at Coney Island. So, be sure to bring a sweatshirt or sweater that you can tie around your waist just in case this happens on your visit, especially if you plan to be there in the evening when it’s generally cooler. I’ve learned this lesson the hard way to spare you the suffering.

Playing carnival games at Coney Island is non-negotiable (don’t forget to give your stuffed animal to the kid you beat out for it). While some games will take credit and debit cards (a handful are card only), many don’t, so having cash is necessary. Between $50 and $75 should be enough to get you through a full day of fun.

I like to call mine a waist bag so I feel cooler, but a fanny pack is clutch (no pun intended) when going to Coney Island. A crossbody bag may seem fine at first, but if it has an open top or feels uncomfortable once a rollercoaster bar comes down, you’ll wish you had something more versatile. Fanny packs can be worn many ways and are easy to maneuver no matter what ride you’re getting on.

Now that you have what you need to know before you visit Coney Island, don’t forget to do these very fun things that you can only do at Coney Island.

If you want to ride Go-Karts at Coney Island you do need to get there early, but it’s worth it. The new Electric Eden Raceway in Luna Park features electric powered Go-Karts decorated in colorful LED lights and designed to ensure driver’s safety. It’s 900 feet-per-lap of twists and turns meant to bring out your competitive side. If you’re an evening Coney Island visitor, make this your first stop. Each run is about five minutes, which is a generous amount of time to take some laps around your friends like a pro motorsport driver.

No trip to Coney Island is complete without indulging in at least one of the original rides. Take a turn on Deno’s Wonder Wheel (aka the Wonder Wheel) which opened in 1920, or the Coney Island Cyclone at Luna Park, which debuted in 1927 and is the second-steepest wooden roller coaster in the world. There’s also the Thunderbolt at Luna Park, a steel roller coaster built in 2014 that pays homage to the original version erected in 1925 and the Thunderbolt at Deno Park (known to insiders as the Himalaya), which plays the best music and is a speed-seeker’s dream.

My favorite ride at Coney Island is Steeplechase, which goes from zero to forty miles per hour in seconds, whipping you around at heights that offer some of the most beautiful views of the beach and park, that is, if you take a moment to stop screaming and look.

You have to eat, so eat the best. A staple at Coney Island since it was founded in 1916 by Polish immigrant Nathan Handwerker, Nathan’s Famous should be at the top of your list when it comes to where to eat in Coney Island. Be sure to go to the original restaurant on the corner of Stillwell and Surf Avenues, and top your dog with onions, relish, sauerkraut and mustard if you really want it Brooklyn style.

Sure, you can eat a funnel cake at any carnival, but having one at Coney Island is a rite of passage. The crispness of the dough. The sweetness of the powdered sugar topping. The immediate yearning for another after you get to the bottom of one. Eating a funnel cake—with no guilt—is what separates summer from all other seasons. I’d argue that the Notorious B.I.G. came up with the lyric, “spread love, it’s the Brooklyn way,” right after enjoying a Coney Island funnel cake. Don’t quote me on that, but in my mind, that’s exactly how it happened.

When those swanky New York City pools are too crowded, a dip in the ocean may provide some relief on extra hot days. While I won’t fault you if you ask, “Can you go in the water at Coney Island?” I can assure you that the water is clean enough for swimming. There are restrictions on entering the water when there are no lifeguards on duty though. Otherwise, enjoy that dip in the freezing cold Atlantic ocean, and don’t forget to spend some time on the boardwalk. You don’t need to walk all 2.7 miles of it—you can get off the subway at W 8th Street/NY Aquarium and walk the boardwalk to Stillwell Ave for some only-in-Brooklyn people watching.

Remember, you can walk around Coney Island for free, so it’s a low-cost activity if you want it to be. Between the high energy of the crowds, the upbeat music playing around the park, and the sounds of people enjoying rides, Coney Island just has a vibe that adds to the joy that comes with summer.

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