The Perfect Walking Guide to Hoboken, New Jersey

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Begin your walking tour all the way downtown at the Hoboken Terminal. In its heyday, this transit hub was one of the finest Beaux-Arts structures when it was built in 1907. Since then, its lavish details, oversized columns and stained-glass features have survived floods, storms, train crashes, and the daily metro commute.

From the Hoboken Terminal, it’s a quick walk over to the park at Pier A. With unobstructed views of the city skyline there’s room for everyone on the great lawn. Its beautiful tree-lined walkway leads you to the end of the pier and a gazebo, plus, it’s also open to fishing.

Head back into town and over to Carlo’s Bakery for a sweet treat. This Hoboken-based bakery rose to fame for the impressive confectionery creations and today, you’d be lucky to visit the storefront and only wait in a line for a few minutes. Crowds or not, it’s worth stopping by.

Walk up Washington Street and head over to Bloomfield Street where you can stop by the Hoboken Fire Department Museum. Here for the kid in all of us, (come on, we know you think vintage fire trucks are still cool) the museum has free tours, historical artifacts and of course, fire trucks.

The Church Square Dog Park is a great spot to bring your dog or sit and relax under the shade of the trees on a hot day. Just off the main area of town, it’s a less crowded and a bit quieter, so whether you are here with your pooch are just people and err, dog, watching, you’ll find a little respite from the busy city scene.

Hoboken is the birthplace of music, film and culture icon Frank Sinatra, and also where he got his start in the 1940s. The city commemorates his life and accomplishments with a bronze sidewalk star. Visiting this spot and walking around the city is a fun way to see the “stars” and the sites of Hoboken.

On your way back to the waterfront, take a break and recharge with something strong at Bluestone Lane coffee shop. This chic Aussie-style coffee shop has recently opened its doors on Washington Street, and coffee lovers everywhere are rejoicing. Bringing its signature Gold Coast vibe and fun, modern interior to the East Coast, Bluestone offers popular menu items such as avocado smash toast, and their expert baristas brew sustainable coffee. Plus, you can sip on something warm on their outdoor patio on sunny days.

Make your way back east towards the waterfront area to take in the picturesque city skyline views at Sinatra Park from the ampitheater. In the summer, this is the spot where the town hosts their annual Frank Sinatra Idol contest (a la American Idol) and is a popular year round spot for locals and visitors alike.

It’s fitting to end your walking tour of Hoboken at Pier 13. Here, you can relax at their outdoor biergarten complete with food trucks, lawn chairs and beautiful views. Pier 13 is the ultimate spot to be on a warm summer night, and during the summer, if you’re lucky you just might be able to catch a free movie under the stars.