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Things to Do in Hackensack, United States
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Plan language: EnglishMost popular attractions in Hackensack, United States
Things to do in Hackensack, United States, include a stroll along the scenic Hackensack RiverWalk, offering views of the waterfront and city skyline. Johnson Park provides 96 acres of recreational space with trails and sports fields. History enthusiasts can explore the USS Ling and New Jersey Naval Museum, showcasing naval heritage and WWII history.
1. Johnson Park
Relaxing riverfront park with easy access and family-friendly facilities. Stroll tree-lined paths, watch birds, and enjoy playgrounds and picnic spots.
Quick facts: Riverfront paths hug the water, offering close-up views of paddlers, herons, and smooth stone ledges perfect for sitting and watching the sky. Sprawling lawns, a colorful playground, and regular weekend events mean you’ll often find families, picnickers, and dogs gathered under mature shade trees.
Highlights: Golden light paints the river copper near dusk, the air filling with the sweet-sour scent of cut grass and the rhythmic click of dozens of tree swallows returning to reed beds. A quirky neighborhood ritual sees locals leaving painted stones and handwritten notes along a main path, more than 50 of those tiny artworks appeared last summer, turning the walk into an impromptu community gallery.
2. Hackensack RiverWalk
Scenic riverside trail with skyline views and public art. Walk, bike, or picnic along the Hackensack River while spotting wildlife and historic sites.
Quick facts: Long waterfront stretches alternate between reclaimed industrial brick, rusted rails, and grassy parks, offering skyline views alongside quiet wildlife pockets. Kayakers, anglers, and birders regularly share the route, and benches with interpretive signs make it easy to pause and watch great blue herons and kingfishers hunt along the water.
Highlights: Step down onto the boardwalk and the air shifts to a brackish tang, tidal reeds rustle underfoot and great blue herons hold statue-still on exposed mudflats. Local photographers and families time visits around golden hour to frame the river between weathered brick warehouses and bright marsh grass, a contrast that pops in photos while distant train horns add a low, rhythmic soundtrack.
3. Bergen County Courthouse
Admire the courthouse's classical architecture and local civic history. Walk the marble foyer, view memorials, and observe courtroom activity from the public gallery.
Quick facts: A striking Beaux-Arts courthouse rises above downtown, its limestone façade and bronze accents glowing under evening lights. Visitors often notice the 120-foot central dome and the echoing marble halls, where quiet footsteps and brass railings feel like walking through history.
Highlights: If you linger beneath the dome, afternoon light pours through the skylight and paints the marble floor with warm bands that photographers chase around 4:30 p.m. A little-known ritual has people slipping pennies into a worn wooden bench in the lobby, the tiny copper discs forming a mosaic that's been growing for more than 50 years.
4. New Jersey Naval Museum
See a World War II-era submarine up close in Hackensack. Tour the USS Ling, view naval artifacts, and climb through authentic submarine compartments.
Quick facts: You can duck into narrow passageways and peer through brass portholes, getting a visceral sense of life below decks. Docent volunteers often point out sailor-made fixes, and one display contains over 200 artifacts from signal flags to sextants.
Highlights: A retired engineer named Frank O'Rourke donated a handwritten patrol log from 1944, the ink still faded and pages edged with oil that carries a faint mechanical tang. Visitors can ring the brass control-room bell, a ritual begun by a local scout troop in 1998, and the hollow note reverberates through the steel so you feel it under your feet.
5. Hackensack Cultural Arts Center
Rooted in Hackensack’s downtown arts scene, the Cultural Arts Center spotlights local creativity. Explore rotating galleries, artist talks and community performances in an intimate space.
Quick facts: You can wander through rotating galleries that swap in new installations every few weeks, so there's always a fresh mix of paintings, sculptures, and experimental media. A snug black-box theater and community studios host intimate performances and hands-on workshops that bring artists and neighbors face-to-face.
Highlights: Step into the monthly 'Flash Gallery' nights that pack about 75 people into the smaller room, where seven-minute artist talks, neon projections, and the smell of coffee make conversations feel urgent and electric. Locals still talk about an annual community mural day that once drew roughly 200 volunteers to paint a 60-foot wall, you can crouch close to spot handprints and initials tucked into the brushstrokes.
6. Anderson Park
Peaceful riverfront park in downtown Hackensack, ideal for short outdoor breaks. Enjoy easy walking paths, picnic lawns, a small playground, and sunset photo spots.
Quick facts: A sweeping waterfront lawn draws families, dog walkers, and anglers who like to cast into the shallow river at sunset. More than 80 species of birds have been logged by local watchers, and interpretive plaques point out the best spots for quiet wildlife viewing.
Highlights: Locals swear by the free 45-minute 'Jazz by the River' concerts that pack the bandstand, the aroma of fried dough and warm pretzels blending with the saxophone solos. Slip down the narrow footpath behind the playground at dusk to find a tiny stone amphitheater where frogs chorus, a single lamppost spills honey-colored light, and city reflections shimmer on the water.
7. Bergen County Administration Building
Explore Bergen County's civic hub for architecture and local history. See public art in the lobby, consult records by appointment, and sit in on county meetings.
Quick facts: Expect marble staircases and a clock-towered silhouette that locals recognize from the highway, with public art and civic plaques tucked into the lobby. More than 1,200 employees and visitors pass through security each weekday, and the public meeting chambers frequently host county board sessions with spirited debates.
Highlights: Walk into the main lobby and the scent of polished wood meets a 12-foot mural painted by a longtime county artist, the reds and blues so vivid you can trace each raised brushstroke with your eyes. A local tradition sees staff volunteers polish a 90-pound brass bell twice a year, and the bell's noon ring, timed to last about 60 seconds, lowers every conversation in the marble halls.
8. The Shops at Riverside
Outlet-style shopping with big brands and riverside dining close to NYC. Expect deals, easy parking and an outdoor mall vibe for relaxed browsing.
Quick facts: You'll find an upbeat mix of national stores and independent boutiques under a wide glass roof, plus several restaurants spilling onto sunlit walkways. Regular events like live music nights and seasonal markets keep the place lively, drawing shoppers who come for both the food and the people-watching.
Highlights: Look for the fountain under the central skylight, where the gentle burble mixes with the scent of roasted coffee from nearby cafes, creating a small oasis amid the bustle. Local families return for the Saturday artisan pop-up that features about 20 makers, you can hear a saxophonist near the food court and taste wood-fired pizza while kids chase bubbles.
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Traditional Sweet Dishes
Cannoli
Long-standing Italian bakeries around Hackensack make filled cannoli for holidays and celebrations, reflecting the town's Italian-American culinary roots.
Black and White Cookie
This New York and New Jersey classic is a staple at Hackensack bakeries, famous for its half-chocolate, half-vanilla icing that symbolizes local deli culture.
New York-style Cheesecake
Rich, dense cheesecake from Jewish delis and bakeries is a beloved dessert in Hackensack, often ordered for gatherings and special occasions.
Traditional Savory Dishes
Pork roll (Taylor ham) sandwich
The pork roll, known as Taylor ham in parts of New Jersey, is the definitive breakfast sandwich across Hackensack, served in diners and corner delis since the 20th century.
Disco fries
A Jersey diner invention of fries smothered in gravy and melted cheese, disco fries are a late-night favorite in Hackensack's diner scene.
Pastrami on rye
Pastrami sandwiches from Jewish delis have been a Hackensack staple, showcasing the area's deli heritage with hand-sliced meats and classic rye bread.
Traditional Beverages
Egg cream
Despite its name, the egg cream has neither egg nor cream, it is a refreshing chocolate soda fountain drink found in Hackensack's old-style diners and soda fountains.
Italian espresso and cappuccino
Italian cafes in Hackensack serve strong espresso and frothy cappuccinos, reflecting the town's Italian-American community and cafe culture.
Local craft beer
Hackensack and nearby Bergen County have a growing craft beer scene, with local breweries and taprooms producing seasonal ales and IPAs popular with locals.
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Most popular day trips
New York City
World-class museums, Broadway, dining, shopping.
Jersey City
Waterfront parks, Liberty State Park, dining scene.
Hoboken
Riverside promenade, restaurants, skyline views.
Princeton
Historic university town, campus tours, museums.
Bear Mountain State Park
Hiking, picnic spots, scenic Hudson River views.
Getting there
Airports
Train stations
NJ Transit Pascack Valley Line to Hoboken Terminal
NJ Transit Northeast Corridor and other lines, connections to NYC
Multiple NJ Transit lines, PATH to Manhattan, ferries
From Newark, use AirTrain and NJ Transit; from LaGuardia, take bus then subway or rideshare.
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Comments (10)
If you're heading into NYC, get an NJ Transit monthly or use the MyTix app, saves queues and is cheaper than buying paper tickets daily.
One day is enough to hit the main spots, two days if you enjoy exploring local diners and thrift shops.
The Hackensack River waterfront is nice at sunset, quiet and peaceful, perfect for an evening walk.
Weather was humid and muggy in July, streets felt a bit run down in spots. Not my favorite stop.
Bring cash for small lunch spots, some cheaper ethnic places here still don't take cards, especially in weekend markets.