Overview
Bayonne is a city of 72,000 people (2020) in New Jersey. It is home to Cape Liberty Cruise Port. The city is not a usual tourist destination for daytrippers from New York City, but it does have the authenticity of a suburban town with a relatively low-density, often tree-lined urban feel that harkens back to the times before gentrification. And like some of the lower-density neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Bayonne has many churches.
7 sights · 2 things to do · 4 places to eat · 2 bars & cafés · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Bayonne
9/11 Tear Drop Memorial
Bayonne's Tear Drop Memorial is a 10-story sculpture by Russian artist Zurab Tsereteli that was dedicated by Bill Clinton and Vladimir Putin in 2006. It's a dedication to both the 9/11 and 1993 attacks on the World Trade…
Stephen R Gregg Park
Established in 1916 as Bayonne Park. It was designed by Charles N. Lowrie. The park was renamed in honor of life-long Bayonne resident, Stephen R. Gregg, who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in World War II f…
Bayonne Community Museum
It was built as a bank in 1912, and was preserved in the 1970s for its architecture. Since 2002, it has been owned by the city as a museum. In 2006, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Cape Liberty Cruise Port
The Cape Liberty Cruise Port is one of the few trans-Atlantic passenger terminals in the New York Harbor. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises base their ships at this port and sail mostly to the Caribbean and Canada.
First Reformed Church
Bayonne's oldest church dating back to 1866. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.
Saint Henry Roman Catholic Church
More than 50 Bavarian families established the original church in 1889 a few blocks from the current one, which was dedicated in 1915. The church can serve more than 1,500 families per mass.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 86°F; winter lows dip to about 29°F. Cold months (Jan) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Aug and Jul. (climate data from nearby New York City)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- EWR Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark — 3 mi away (major hub). Directions
- TEB Teterboro Airport, Teterboro — 13 mi away. Directions
There are only three ways to get in and out of the city by car: the Bayonne Bridge from Staten Island, Route 440 from Jersey City, and the New Jersey Turnpike (I-78) from Newark/New York City. During rush hour this results in traffic jams when exiting the city via New Jersey Turnpike.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Bayonne Community Museum, Saint Henry Roman Catholic Church, First Reformed Church
- Lunch Hendrickson's Corner
- Afternoon Richard Rutkowski Park, Bayonne Golf Club
- Dinner Cafe Talya
- Evening Bake N Brew Cafe
Day 2
- Morning 9/11 Tear Drop Memorial, Cape Liberty Cruise Port
- Lunch Da Noi
- Afternoon Stephen R Gregg Park
- Dinner Broadway Bistro & Diner
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Bayonne is a largely working-class city, with a mix of private houses and small apartment buildings, just south of the larger, more built-up Jersey City and right across the Bayonne Bridge from the North Shore of Staten Island.
Get in
By car
There are only three ways to get in and out of the city by car: the Bayonne Bridge from Staten Island, Route 440 from Jersey City, and the New Jersey Turnpike (I-78) from Newark/New York City. During rush hour this results in traffic jams when exiting the city via New Jersey Turnpike.
By bus
Bus transportation is provided on three main north-south streets of the city: Broadway, Kennedy Boulevard, and Avenue C, both by the state-operated New Jersey Transit and several private bus lines. The Broadway line runs solely inside Bayonne city limits, while bus lines on Avenue C and Kennedy Boulevard run from various starting points in Jersey City. One Kennedy Boulevard service (the Coach USA 99S) runs from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in midtown Manhattan, New York City, and rush hours peak direction the NJ Transit 120 runs between Battery Park in downtown Manhattan and Avenue C in Bayonne.
By train
New Jersey Transit's Hudson-Bergen Light Rail system provides service throughout Bayonne, Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, Union City and North Bergen.
Stations in Bayonne are:
Go 45th St
Go 34th St
Go 22nd St
Go 8th St
Service within Bayonne is available between these four stations. Northbound service from Bayonne runs through Jersey City, mostly near the waterfront, to Hoboken Terminal. Other parts of the system can be accessed via transfers. The Liberty State Park station is the nearest transfer station for those traveling between Bayonne and stations on the West Side Avenue line. PATH trains for Midtown Manhattan and New Jersey Transit commuter train service throughout the state are available at Hoboken Terminal. PATH trains for Newark, Harrison, and Downtown Manhattan are available at Exchange Place.
Get around
Although not extensive, Bayonne has a bus (NJ Transit, A&C Bus) and train option (Light Rail). Most visitors come to Bayonne for either the two shopping centers along Hwy 440 or to walk around the only county-owned park, which is also the largest in the city. NJ Transit offers buses at Kennedy Blvd (10-Journal Square, 119-New York), Ave C (81-Exchange Pl, 120-Lower Manhattan NY) and Broadway which has their own bus that you can transfer to the Journal Square Transportation Center in Jersey City (33). New York's MTA offers the S89 bus from Staten Island to the 34th St Light Rail Station.
See
See 9/11 Tear Drop Memorial ("To the Struggle Against World Terrorism" and "Tear of Grief,")
Bayonne's Tear Drop Memorial is a 10-story sculpture by Russian artist Zurab Tsereteli that was dedicated by Bill Clinton and Vladimir Putin in 2006. It's a dedication to both the 9/11 and 1993 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. Located at the end of the former military Ocean Terminal Dock past the Cruiser Terminal. No pedestrian or bus access so if you take the HBLR to 34th Street you will have to take a 3-mile taxi ride using a local taxi service or Uber.
See Stephen R Gregg Park (Bayonne Park)
Established in 1916 as Bayonne Park. It was designed by Charles N. Lowrie. The park was renamed in honor of life-long Bayonne resident, Stephen R. Gregg, who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in World War II for his courageous charge on a German outpost in France enabling the rescue of seven severely wounded American soldiers. Gregg was also a member of the Hudson County Sheriff’s Department for 51 years and retired as chief of court officers. The park offers several sports facilities, a historic monuments area, fishing pier, an ornamental garden, two century-old sun houses, and a panoramic view of Port Elizabeth and Newark.
See Bayonne Community Museum
It was built as a bank in 1912, and was preserved in the 1970s for its architecture. Since 2002, it has been owned by the city as a museum. In 2006, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
See First Reformed Church
Bayonne's oldest church dating back to 1866. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.
See Richard Rutkowski Park
Birdwatching park with a 2-mile nature path, and a monument to the ELCO Naval Division.
Do
Buy
Shop South Cove Commons
Shopping centre in Bayonne. Has a supermarket (Stop & Shop), clothing store (TJ Maxx), restaurants (Houlihans, Otaki Hibachi, Wendy's), movie theater (Frank Theaters), spa, GameStop, Subway, phone centers (AT&T, Verizon), laundromat, and a tanning parlor
Shop Bayonne Crossing
Offers Walmart (supermarket), New York's Sports Club (fitness), Lowes (home decor), VisionWorks (eye doctor), GNC (wellness center), places to eat (Popeye's, Longhorn, Five Guys, Qdoba, Sonic, WonderBagels, Panda Express, Subway,Jersey Mike's) and Michael's (art supply).
Eat
Eat Cafe Talya
Small diner with extensive breakfast options and regular lunch options and calm neighborhood vibe.
Eat Broadway Bistro & Diner
Eat Hendrickson's Corner
Established in 1884, Hendrickson's is one of the oldest restaurants in Bayonne. It specializes in German cuisine.
Drink
Sleep
Nearby
Jersey City
City / town · 71 listings · 4 mi away
Elizabeth
City / town · 5 listings · 5 mi away
Harrison
City / town · 8 listings · 6 mi away
Newark
City / town · 57 listings · 6 mi away
Staten Island
City / town · 59 listings · 6 mi away
New York City
City / town · 47 listings · 7 mi away
Hoboken
City / town · 22 listings · 7 mi away
Linden
City / town · 2 listings · 8 mi away
My experience
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