New Jersey is more than just the "little sister" of New York. The state full of contrasts awaits you with an exciting mix of urban regions, beautiful coastal towns, and historical highlights.
| Capital: | Trenton |
| Area: | about 23,000 km² |
| Population: | about 9.3 millionen |
| Location: | in the North East of the USA |
| Nickname: | The Garden State |
| State animal: | Horse, Brook Trout, Goldfinch |
| Time zone: | UTC -5 (Eastern) |
Little but nice - New Jersey is the fourth-smallest state after Rhode Island, Delaware, and Connecticut, but there is a great deal going on in this "dwarf state." It ranks eleventh in terms of population size and even has the highest population density of all US states, with about 390 inhabitants per km². No wonder because New Jersey lies at the center of the American megalopolis BosWash, a densely populated area that stretches from Boston to Washington D. C. along the American east coast.
You will find New Jersey in the northeast of the USA, south of New York. It is separated from Pennsylvania in the west and Delaware in the southwest by the Delaware River. Over the eastern side of New Jersey stretches a more than 240 km long Atlantic coast.
New Jersey's most populous towns are all located in the metropolitan region around New York City. Trenton, the capital of New Jersey, is only the tenth-largest city in the state, with a population of around 85,000.
Based on population, these cities are New Jersey's top five:
| City | Population |
|---|---|
| Newark | 278,000 |
| Jersey City | 248,000 |
| Paterson | 146,000 |
| Elizabeth | 125,000 |
| Edison | 100,000 |
New Jersey's northeast is close to New York City and densely populated. About one million people commute from here to work in the Big Apple every day. In northwestern New Jersey, you'll find many rural, wooded, and mountainous areas.
The area in the center and south along the Atlantic coast is known as the Jersey Shore and is characterized by its location on the Atlantic Ocean. The 227 km long oceanfront is home to the highest concentration of seaside resorts and boardwalks in the United States.
The southwestern part of New Jersey contains the landscapes of the Delaware Valley, and to the south is the relatively sparsely populated Pine Barrens region, which is largely covered by pine and oak forests.
New Jersey's south, central and northeast regions have a humid subtropical climate. The northwest, on the other hand, has a more humid continental climate due to its high altitude. Temperatures vary throughout the year, so you can experience all four seasons in the Garden State. In the warmest month, July, the average temperature climbs to 28 °C, while in January, the coldest month, the average temperature drops to 3 °C.
Attention: In winter and early spring, severe storms known as Cape Hatteras storms can occur in New Jersey. They form or strengthen over Cape Hatteras in North Carolina and then move north along the coast toward New Jersey. The consequences are usually snowstorms or floods. Tropical cyclones, however, are rare.
The best time to travel to New Jersey is from May to September. Now you can enjoy pleasant to warm temperatures and be safe from storms.
In summer, New Jersey residents and travelers alike have always been drawn to the shore with its fine, white sandy beaches. In the popular resort of Cap May at the southernmost point of New Jersey, you can vacation in the oldest seaport in the United States. For families with children, Ocean City offers great opportunities for sports and relaxation.
Fall is the season with the least rain in New Jersey. If you travel to the Garden State now, you can not only be enchanted by the spectacularly beautiful colors of Indian summer but also participate in wine tastings or experience fall festivals such as the "Relief Beerfest" in Moorestown or the "Alstede Farms" in Chester.
There are two international airports in the state of New Jersey:
There are many direct flights from Europe to Newark Airport. With 46 million passengers annually, Newark Airport is not only the largest airport in New Jersey but also one of the most important hubs on the US east coast.
Direct flights from Frankfurt or Munich to Newark Airport in New Jersey can be booked with Lufthansa and United Airlines, for example. If you're traveling from Tokyo in Japan, you'll have to make a stopover, for example, in San Francisco or Dallas.
Plan on spending around €500 to €600 for your flights between Germany and Newark Airport. If you have a little more time and choose a connection with a stopover, you can also get flights under €500. For a flight connection from Tokyo to Newark, you should budget around €1,500.
If you are not a US citizen and do not have a Green Card, you must apply for a US visa or an ESTA travel authorization. The latter allows you to enter the United States easily and comparatively cheaply. To qualify for ESTA, you must come from a country that is part of the Visa Waiver Program (e.g., Japan, Australia, and most EU countries).
With an ESTA, you can stay 90 days visa-free in the USA. Apply online now!
If you're traveling to New Jersey on a long-haul flight, you'll probably arrive at Newark Airport, which is about five kilometers south of the city of Newark. You are about 17 km away from the metropolis of New York City in the neighboring state. After arriving at the airport, you have the following transfer options:
There are plenty of cabs available at the busy Newark airport. If you want to get to New York City, you can expect to pay around $75 per ride. Getting to the city of Newark costs about $15.
Newark Airport Express shuttles leave the airport every 20 to 30 minutes during the day. For around $17, you can reach the three stations Port Authority Bus Terminal, Bryant Park, and Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan.
The AirTrain stops at all three terminals of Newark Airport and takes you to Newark Liberty Airport Station. If you want to continue to New York City, you can board the NJ Transit Train there, which will take you to New York Penn Station in Manhattan. The ticket to New York costs $14.75.
New Jersey may be the most densely populated US state, but the Garden State also has a few oases of tranquility where you'll have plenty of space to yourself. Forest or sea, what's it going to be?
Right on the border between New Jersey and Pennsylvania, you'll find the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Stretching 64 kilometers along a protected stretch of the Delaware River, this vast recreation area is a haven for every outdoor activity imaginable – from hiking and swimming to rafting, canoeing, and fishing. Tip: The Red Dot Trail takes you to the top of Mount Tammany, where you can enjoy the best panoramic views of the entire area.
Meadows, ponds, forests, dunes, and beach: Cape May Point State Park has everything that city folk dream of. Here you can spend a wonderful relaxing beach day under the sun. At the same time, the park, through which a natural route for migratory birds runs, is also one of the most popular places for bird watching in America. A short bike ride will take you from the park to the famous Cape May Lighthouse.
The following New Jersey attractions should definitely be on your travel list:
You won't find a metropolis with millions of inhabitants in the small state of New Jersey, but you're sure to forget this fact quickly because life is bustling in our two city highlights as well.
If you are interested in history and culture, Trenton should definitely be on your travel list. It was here that George Washington's army fought the strategically important Battle of Trenton during the American War of Independence. Today, New Jersey's capital is home to a variety of museums, cultural venues, and the second oldest Capitol building in the US with its gleaming golden dome.
Get inspired by these city highlights in Trenton:
When the sun goes down in coastal Atlantic City, the casinos come alive! Stroll the famous wood-plank boardwalk, and you'll find waterfront restaurants, shopping galore, the Atlantic City Aquarium, and Absecon Lighthouse, New Jersey's tallest lighthouse.
These highlights await you in dazzling Atlantic City:
Do you want to see more of New Jersey? Then write these exciting places down on your travel list:
New Jersey offers the most beautiful view of the Manhattan skyline! To enjoy the panorama of the skyscrapers, Liberty Island, and Ellis Island, you have to go to the Upper New York Bay in Jersey City. On the park grounds, you'll also find the Empty Sky memorial, where the names of all the victims of the September 11 attacks from New Jersey are engraved.
The frigate USS Constitution, built in 1797, is the oldest seagoing warship in the world. Today, however, the US Navy only operates its "ship of state" for representative purposes, such as receptions and official occasions. Visitors also have the opportunity to take a closer look at the historic ship on a sightseeing tour.
The 23-meter-high waterfall of Great Falls on the Passiac River made the nearby town of Paterson famous. Here, a company of manufacturers around William Paterson first built facilities to harness water power, making the town one of the first industrial cities in the United States. The area is now a New Jersey National Historic Landmark.
There are beautiful and exciting places hidden in the state of New Jersey that you should definitely show to your friends and followers. Here are our top 5 Instagram hotspots::
When it comes to culinary delights, New Jersey residents are rather ambivalent. In the north, the influences of New York City are clearly noticeable. Here, typical dishes of the metropolitan region are extremely popular, for example, pizza, bagels, pastrami, and submarine sandwiches.
The south around the Delaware Valley, on the other hand, is more oriented toward Philadelphia cuisine. Some specialties include:
The Garden State is also known for its commercial food production. M&M's sweets have been produced in Hackettstown since 1958. In the town of Camden, the Campbell's Soup Company was founded in 1869, and its classic red and white can design is now an American icon.
Want to entertain your travel buddy with your knowledge of the state of New Jersey? Then memorize these exciting facts well:
New Jersey offers the perfect mix of urban life and rural scenery for you? The following tips will give you a few ideas on how to immigrate to your favorite state.
New Jersey offers good job opportunities, not just because of its proximity to the metropolis of New York. As one of the leading industrial states in the USA, the Garden State is also known for its flourishing economy.
Major industries in New Jersey are electronics, steel production, the textile industry, shipbuilding, and mechanical engineering. There is also plenty of work in tourism in the coastal areas.
New Jersey, which is home to the famous Princeton University, is also among the American leaders in the field of research.
New Jersey is rich in population – and just as rich in quality of life. A commuter's dream of a cottage in the countryside comes true at just an hour's drive from New York City.
New Jersey's Cost of Living Index is about 20% higher than the US average. Housing expenses have the greatest impact, being 42% higher in the Garden State.
However, there are big differences within the state. While the regions near New York City (e.g., Newark or Jersey City) are about 20% above the American average, you live 20% cheaper in the capital Trenton!
If the state of New Jersey has captured your heart, we recommend that you apply for a Green Card. Officially called a Permanent Resident Card, it allows you to live and work anywhere in the USA for an unlimited period of time.
Participating in the US government's Green Card Lottery is a quick and easy way to obtain a Green Card. A total of 55,000 of them are drawn annually. Try your luck right now!