Margate, New Jersey travel guide: things to do, food & where to stay

Overview

Margate, officially Margate City, is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey.

Margate is on Absecon Island, a few miles west of Atlantic City. It borders Ventnor City to the east, and Longport to the west. It has a year-round population of 6,354, and a peak summer population reaching over 30,000. The city is primarily known for its beaches, as well as being notable for its large Jewish population. Although it does attract tourism, Margate caters more to the locals than the surrounding towns, with a decent collection of restaurants, delis, and other commerce. Margate was incorporated in 1885.

8 places to eat

Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage

Plan your trip

Best time to visit & weather

Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 85°F; winter lows dip to about 22°F. Wettest: Mar and Aug. (climate data from nearby Toms River)

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.
ACY Atlantic City International Airport, Atlantic City — 9 mi away. Directions
DOV Dover Civil Air Terminal/Dover Air Force Base, Dover — 53 mi away. Directions
PHL Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia — 54 mi away (major hub). Directions

Full “Get in” guide ↓

Budget & where to stay

No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.

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

Get in

One of the easiest ways to get to Margate is to take Margate Boulevard, a bridge to Northfield and the mainland.
Taking Atlantic Avenue west from Atlantic City will also bring you into Margate.
It is a short 10-min drive from the Atlantic City Rail Station, and about 20 minutes from Atlantic City International Airport. The airport has a shuttle into Atlantic City.

See

There are a number of things to see in Margate, most of which involve beaches.

Lucy The Elephant Atlantic & Deactur Aves +1 609 823-6473 Family -- Perhaps Margate's most well-known attraction, a giant life-size elephant statue which offers tours on a regular basis, and views from the top of nearby beaches.
Milton & Betty Katz Jewish Community Center and Chabad House, Jerome & Fulton Aves, Margate Family -- The heart of Margate's Jewish community, and one of the only centers in the region.

Do

Beaches, Margate has many beaches, and you are never further than a mile from the ocean! Jefferson Beach is the most popular beach, located at Jefferson Avenue. In order to visit the beach during the summer, before 5pm, a beach pass is required. During this time most beaches are fully staffed with lifeguards.

Casinos, Atlantic City's world-class casinos are just a short drive away, and the boardwalk begins in Ventnor, just over the border from Margate.