Here’s What You Didn’t Know About Coney Island

When you think of Coney Island, you’re likely thinking of one of the amusement parks on the beach, but that’s actually not Coney Island. Coney Island proper is a town in Brooklyn where thousands of New Yorkers live that just happens to include a beach. While there are some amusement parks there visited by many people each year, this lively town offers so much more. 

In this guide, I’ll share a few interesting facts about this beachside town that you probably didn’t know. I’ll also include tips for visiting, like how to get there, where to eat, and some recommendations for things to do on Coney Island. 

Facts about Coney Island that might surprise you

Before we get to the visiting tips, let’s dive a little more into the history of this unique New York island. Here are some facts I bet you never knew about Coney Island.

Coney Island started out as a seaside resort in 1824

Back in 1824, Coney Island began as a seaside resort in New York City. As the number of visitors grew, so did the number of attractions, which included restaurants, shops, racetracks, and the beach. Amusement parks, such as Sea Lion Park, Steeplechase Park, Luna Park, and Dreamland, became popular as well.

The neighborhood of Coney Island can be found in the southern part of Brooklyn, and the Coney Island Peninsula contains Coney Island, Manhattan Beach, and Brighton Beach. It’s here that visitors will find Coney Island Beach, as well as Luna Park — the amusement park most closely associated with Coney Island. 

Insider tip: As locals, we actually think the Coney Island Peninsula is one of the best beaches in the area (specifically Brighton Beach), so don’t sleep on it. It’s definitely worth the long train ride out there! 

Up to a million people would visit the beach each day

The resort got popular — some would say too popular. 

To address the problem of congestion, Brooklyn Borough President Edward Riegelmann embarked on a construction project on Coney Island. Boardwalk construction began in 1921 and was completed in 1923. The 80-foot-wide boardwalk is named in his honor. 

This Coney Island boardwalk is about 2.7 miles long, serving both Coney Island and Brighton Beach, and it successfully draws foot traffic away from the roads.

 There is another, separate boardwalk in Manhattan Beach that’s not connected to the Riegelmann Boardwalk, however, but you can take this path all the way to Manhattan Beach.

The boardwalk was designated a NYC landmark in 2018

The city of New York bestowed the Riegelmann Boardwalk with the high honor in 2018 after years of rejection. Now more than 100 years old, it has stood the test of time, thanks to the city consistently maintaining it and ensuring that it has remained modern and safe.

Though it was originally built with wooden planks, it has been updated with concrete and plastic in recent years to reinforce the structure. The landmark designation also means that the boardwalk — and everything it includes (like the light fixtures, railings, and even the sand under it) — are protected and will also continue to be maintained.

Things to do on Coney Island

If you’re visiting New York during the summer, you absolutely must come down to Coney Island. It’s a classic summertime NYC experience. Here are just a few of the things you can do.

Luna Park

Luna Park is the biggest draw for Coney Island. The amusement park is the focal point for the neighborhood. Open since the late 1800s, this park draws people from all over for fun, games, and rides all summer long. Visitors can enjoy rides of all kinds (including some water rides, perfect for those steamy summer days). 

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Ride wristbands can be purchased online ahead of time for discounted pricing, which starts at $49 for one day per person. The park also has a schedule posted so visitors can keep up to date with hours and plan accordingly. 

Local tip: Don’t miss out on some of the most popular rides, including the Cyclone and the Thunder Bolt.

New York Aquarium

The New York Aquarium at Coney Island is the oldest operating aquarium in the U.S. It’s situated right on the boardwalk in Coney Island and features more than 500 species of wildlife. The aquarium first opened in Manhattan before moving to the Bronx, and then it eventually found its home here on Coney Island in 1957.

Visitors can see everything from sharks to penguins, tiny fish to sea lions. There are daily aquatics shows as well. Tickets start at $25.95 per person, and children under 2 are free. 

The “First Symphony of the Sea”

White you’re at the aquarium, notice the art outside. There’s a 332-foot long concrete sculpture by artist Toshio Sasak. It covers a whole wall outside the building and was installed in 1992.

The wall features fish shapes of all kinds. In some places, it’s obvious, while in other places, the designs are more abstract.

As the New York Department of Cultural Affairs Percent for Art explains, the shapes get increasingly abstract as you walk, representing egg-like lifeforms or the ocean’s waves. So as you walk along the wall, you can almost feel this primordial sense of the ocean’s life-giving force.

Deno’s Wonder Wheel

The fun never stops in Coney Island. That Ferris Wheel you spotted from the beach is yet another attraction calling your name — and it’s called Deno’s Wonder Wheel. It’s more than 100 years old, and you haven’t done Coney Island right until you’ve taken a spin on it. Literally. 

Local tip: Not all the cars move around, so if you’re not into sitting in one of the cars that move, you don’t have to.  

Boardwalk events

Coney Island is the place to be during the summertime. Some famous events down at the beach include the annual Mermaid Parade, which is held in June, and Fourth of July festivities. 

Independence Day is actually when the biggest competition of the year goes down: Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. It all happens each year on July 4 on Coney Island. There are also fireworks just off the beach for the holiday from 9-9:30 p.m.

What to eat in Coney Island

You might think that if you’re in Coney Island, the only thing to eat is amusement park food, but fear not! There’s more to Coney Island than that. There are also some great options in surrounding areas too. 

Here’s what you absolutely can’t miss out on while you’re in the area.

• Nathan’s Famous: You have to eat a Nathan’s Famous hot dog when you’re in Coney Island. As a New Yorker, I can tell you it’s the original and it doesn’t get any better than this. 
• Totonno’s Pizzeria Napolitana: There’s a lot of really good pizza in New York, and you can’t go wrong with this one. It’s coal-oven pizza, it’s takeout-only, and the place is only open on the weekends. So grab it and eat it on the beach like a local.
• Paul’s Daughter: This classic spot is a great spot right on the boardwalk for a quick, casual seafood meal. Come for the lobster rolls, stay for the people-watching.

How to get to Coney Island

If you’re coming from Manhattan (which you most likely will be if you’re visiting the Big Apple), be prepared for a bit of a long train ride out to Coney Island. It’s not tricky to get out there, it’s just a bit lengthy. The name of the subway stop you want is “Coney Island-Stillwell Ave.,” and it’s served by the D,F,N, and Q lines. 

You can easily access these trains from within Manhattan (or elsewhere in Brooklyn) and easily connect to them from other lines. When you get on the train, just make sure you’re heading toward Brooklyn and not uptown, and that’s how you know you’re going in the right direction.

For more in Brooklyn

Brooklyn is, in a word, huge. (And it’s only one borough!) There is so much to eat, see, and do, and quite frankly, it’s impossible to cram it all into one trip. Fortunately you have us to help you navigate. Hopefully this guide will help you plan a day to Coney Island, but if you want to see more of Brooklyn, we also offer a Food and Culture DUMBO Walking Tour that will show you some sights, get you some good food, and help you take some good photos for the ‘gram. 

We also offer an NYC Bus Tour of Brooklyn, Bronx, and Queens that includes a little bit of everything and is quite comprehensive, though you’ll only get little snippets of each borough. However, if you want to be sure to hit all your marks while you’re in town, this is the way to go. 

We’re happy to help you see more of New York next time you’re here!