Top 18 Things To Do In Newark, New Jersey

1. Admire the beauty of Branch Brook Park

One of the main attractions in Newark - Branch Brook Park is a place you can visit alone or with friends and family to have fun and enjoy nature. This park is the largest public park in Newark and as a result, offers ample space for the fun activities you hope to enjoy at the park. Take a walk in this park admiring the beauty of nature, especially the cherry blossom trees. It is interesting to note that the Branch Brook Park boasts of the most extensive collection of such trees in the US. You can enjoy the week-long festival that marks the blossoming of the cherry blossom trees.

Branch Brook Park

Address: Lake St & Park Avenue, Newark, NJ 07104, United States

Website: Branch Brook Park

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: 2 - 10 USD

2. Visit the stunning Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart

The Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart is a testament to the power of faith and one of the most wondrous edifices made by man. Stand in the shadow of this beautiful cathedral, which is the fifth-largest in North America. The cathedral is a work of art with beautiful stained glass windows, impressive columns and vaulted ceilings. It is an excellent example of the beauty that can be wrought by human hands. Visiting this landmark is sure to be a great experience.

Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart

Address: 89 Ridge St, Newark, NJ 07104, USA

Website: Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart

3. Watch a hockey game at Prudential Center

If you are a sports enthusiast, especially a hockey lover, there’s no better way to enjoy Newark than by watching a hockey game at Prudential Center. This Center is an indoor arena located in the business district of Newark. Aside from hockey, the stadium also hosts basketball games, indoor soccer, boxing & MMA, and a host of other sports. Apart from sports, the center serves as a location for family shows, concerts, and other fun events. Come to this center to relax with your friends and family.

Prudential Center

Address: 25 Lafayette St, Newark, NJ 07102, USA

Website: Prudential Center

4. Enjoy comfort food at Vonda’s Kitchen

After the hustle and bustle of a day in Newark, New Jersey, you need to find a spot to relax and enjoy some comfort food. You deserve it! There’s no better place to enjoy comfort food than Vonda’s Kitchen. The restaurant was designed to provide tasty food that everyone loves. The meals are delicious, and each bite is pleasant. At Vonda’s Kitchen, do not be surprised to find foods from different locations around the world. Take your taste buds on a trip around the world, as you taste foods from the farthest reaches of the globe.

Vonda’s Kitchen

Address: 183 W Kinney St, Newark, NJ 07103, USA

Website: Vonda’s Kitchen

Opening hours: Tue - Fri: 9am - 8pm; Sat - Sun: 8am - 6pm (closed on Mon)

Price: 11 - 30 USD

5. Relax at Riverfront Park

Riverfront Park is a beautiful and serene park. It is like an oasis of tranquility in the middle of the busy activities of Newark. Come here to relax and have fun. Riverfront Park is open to everyone all year round. It boasts of different wildlife and beautiful plants. Whenever you find yourself in Newark, ensure that you visit this park at least once. This beautiful park features events like kayaking, boat tours, movie nights, art exhibitions, and much more. You can be sure of no single dull moment at Riverfront Park.

Riverfront Park

Address: 1-3 Brill St, Newark, NJ 07105, USA

Website: Riverfront Park

Opening hours: 7am - 9pm (daily)

6. Eat sushi at Manu's Sushi Lounge

Manu’s Sushi Lounge is a must-visit restaurant in Toronto. The Lounge serves up tasty food that is sure to leave you wanting more. Manu’s Sushi Lounge blends rich, exotic old-world Mediterranean flavors with the fantastic taste of Japanese cuisine. This blend results in a meal you can find nowhere else but here. Aside from the incredible sushi, they also serve beef sliders, shrimps, and more well-prepared and delicious meals. Enjoy conversations with your friends while nibbling on these delicacies from Manu’s Sushi Lounge. And if you don’t feel like talking, you can relax and listen to live music as you eat your meal. It is an incredible experience that you have to try.

Manu's Sushi Lounge

Address: 90 Ferry St, Newark, NJ 07105, USA

Website: Manu’s Sushi Lounge

Opening hours:Thu - Sat: 11am - 3am; Sun: 12pm - 2am; Mon - Wed: 11am - 2am

Price: 11 - 30 USD

7. Enjoy recreational activities at Military Park

Military Park is a watering hole in the middle of downtown Newark. If you want to relax and meet the locals of Newark, this is the place to go. It is the town’s square, and as a result, is a lodestone that draws children, adults, worker, students, and visitors. Military Park used to be an unappreciated space, but ever since a nonprofit organization, Military Park Partnership, took charge of it, its transformation has been almost magical. The park hosts various activities like “Movies in the Park,” music shows, fitness events and so on.

Military Park

Address: 51 Park Pl, Newark, NJ 07102, USA

Website: Military Park

Opening hours: 7am - 9pm (daily)

8. Catch a performance at New Jersey Performing Arts Center

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center is a haven for those who love the performing arts. It has been hosting these shows and activities, for citizens of Newark, for years. This center is the cultural, civic, and artistic center of Newark. Come here to enjoy the incredible atmosphere and relaxing ambiance, and the excitement that comes enjoying the several performances that frequently occur at this venue. Your soul will be moved by the absolute pleasure you will derive from these shows.

New Jersey Performing Arts Center

Address: 1 Center St, Newark, NJ 07102, USA

Website: New Jersey Performing Arts Center

Price: 132 - 139 USD

9. Stargaze at Dreyfuss Planetarium

An institutional member of the International Planetarium Society, the Dreyfuss Planetarium is an incredible interactive theatre that allows guests to be one with the stars and constellations in the heavens. At this planetarium, you will learn about astronomy, space, and planetary science. If you have kids, they are sure to remember this experience for the rest of their lives. During the presentations in this Planetarium, you will travel the constellations, explore our Solar System, take a trip to galaxies light years away from earth and tether on the very edge of the Universe.

Dreyfuss Planetarium

Address: Newark Museum, 49 Washington St, Newark, NJ 07102, United States

Website: Dreyfuss Planetarium

Opening hours: Wed - Sat: 12pm - 5pm (closed on Sun - Tue)

Price: 3 - 4 USD

10. Play golf at Weequahic Park Golf Course

Do you want to engage in a relaxing activity? Then play some golf. If you are in Newark, the Weequahic Park Golf Course is the place to go. Newark might be a busy city, but there is room for a leisurely game of golf. The Weequahic Park Golf Course is the best golf course in the town. It is an 18-hole public course that is set on a lovely rolling property. It is located in the beautiful and serene Essex County Weequahic Park.

Weequahic Park Golf Course

Address: 1 Thomas Carmichael Dr, Newark, NJ 07112, USA

Website: Weequahic Park Golf Course

Opening hours: 6am - 8pm (daily)

11. See wonderful artifacts at Newark Museum

Every city that has a rich and colorful history has a museum dedicated to its history. Newark is no exception. The Newark Museum is home to different artifacts that tell the rich story of this city. This museum is the largest in the city. Therein, you will find an extensive collection of different types of art from decorative art to contemporary art and even art from places like Africa, the Americas, and others. Visit this museum and behold the beautiful Tibetian gallery which is widely regarded as one of the most extensive and unique exhibitions of its kind in the whole world.

Newark Museum

Address: 49 Washington St, Newark, NJ 07102, USA

Website: Newark Museum

Opening hours: Wed - Sun: 12pm - 5pm (closed on Mon & Tue)

Price: 8 - 15 USD

12. Taste cocktails at Mompou Tapas Wine Bar and Lounge

Spanish Tapas are appetizers from Spain. They give you a signature taste of Spain. To enjoy an authentic Spanish experience, there is no better place in Newark, in fact, no better place in New Jersey, than the Mompou Tapas Wine Bar and Lounge. Formerly a sporting-goods store, it was turned into a restaurant in 2005. Since then, it hasn’t looked back. Visiting this restaurant is sure to leave you refreshed and filled. Visit here with your family and enjoy an unforgettable experience. Although the bar has live music some nights, even without the music playing, you can feel the incredible tempo and ambiance of the place. The meals are delicious, and every bite takes you away from Newark to Spain. A visit to Newark without visiting the Mompou Tapas Wine Bar and Lounge is no visit at all!

Mompou Tapas Wine Bar and Lounge

Address: 77 Ferry St, Newark, NJ 07105, USA

Website: Mompou Tapas Wine Bar and Lounge

Opening hours: Fri - Sat: 11:30am - 11pm; Mon - Thu: 11:30am - 10pm (closed on Sun)

Price: 11 - 30 USD

13. Shop at University Plaza

A getaway without shopping is not a complete vacation. Ensure you experience all of Newark by shopping at the University Plaza. This shopping center is home to local stores that sell local handmade stuff, and it’s also home to more prominent retailers. Come here to find different types of items. Get your credit card ready! You will find so many goods that will catch your eye, from electronics to apparel and perfumes. After the stress of shopping, you can relax for a bit at one of the restaurants and joints that are located in the vicinity of University Plaza.

University Plaza

Address: Newark, NJ 07103, USA

Website: University Plaza

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 9am - 7pm (closed on Sun)

14. Relish homemade Italian ice cream at Nasto's

It’s a widely-held belief that Italian ice-cream is the best in the world. If you are in Newark but want a taste of home-made Italian ice-cream, do not despair. You can get it! How? At Nasto’s. This ice-cream shop sells the best ice-cream in Newark, and no wonder, it is home-made Italian ice-cream! From humble beginnings, the high quality of the ice-cream and fantastic customer service has propelled Nasto’s to the top of the list of best ice-cream sellers in Newark. Visit Nasto’s ice-cream shop in Newark to have a taste of this remarkable treat.

Nasto's

Address: 236 Jefferson St, Newark, NJ 07105, USA

Website: Nasto’s

Opening hours: Sun: 12pm - 8pm; Mon - Sat: 8am - 8pm

15. Wander around Ironbound District

The Ironbound District is home to the largest multi-ethnic community in Newark. This district is in the heart of Newark. It grew as a result of the immigration of Germans and the Irish into the area. This vastly increased the workforce that enabled the city of Newark to be an industrialized city. Take a walk along the streets of this district. Stand in the shadow of edifices that once belonged to wealthy immigrants. Aside from the architecture, something else that attracts folks to this district is its cuisine. Since this district is made up of so many nationalities and cultures, this multi-ethnicity is much reflected in the food.

Ironbound District

Address: Newark, NJ

Website: Ironbound District

16. Visit New Jersey Historical Society

The New Jersey Historical Society is home to the Newark Museum and the Newark Public Library. Visit this location to find out more about the history of Newark and New Jersey as a whole. It is home to the lovely Newark Public Library where you can sit and expand your knowledge via the wealth of information it contains. The New Jersey Historical Society hosts different exhibitions that highlight the past of the city. Some of the exhibits focus on the lives and times of notable residents of the town. The Society hosts many programs. These include family programs, education programs, and walking tours.

New Jersey Historical Society

Address: 52 Park Pl, Newark, NJ 07102, USA

Website: New Jersey Historical Society

Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 10am - 5pm (closed on Sun & Mon)

17. Savor Italian food at Nico Kitchen and Bar

Are you thinking of having Italian food but do not know where to go? You should go to Nico Kitchen and Bar. Tucked into the eastern end of the Performing Arts Center in Newark, Nico Kitchen and Bar is your one-stop destination for everything Italian. You can visit this place right after enjoying a show at the Performing Arts Center. You can also dedicate an entire night to enjoying a great time there. This flashy bar is a must-see place to visit. Enjoy your meal in a large dining room that has enough space to accommodate loads of people at a time.

Nico Kitchen and Bar

Address: 1 Center St, Newark, NJ 07102, USA

Website: Nico Kitchen and Bar

Opening hours: Sat: 3:30pm - 10pm; Mon - Fri: 11:30am - 9pm (closed on Sun)

Price: 11 - 30 USD

18. Go on a zombie scavenger hunt (from USD 20.0)

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Do you have what it takes to survive a zombie catastrophe? Find out by engaging in a zombie scavenger hunt in Newark. This game is a fun game that you can participate with family and friends. By the way, if you were wondering, there are no actual zombies in the game!! It is a family-friendly game that will deliver loads of fun for the whole family.

Zombie Scavengers Game - Newark, NJ

Duration: 1 hour

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Enjoy your stay in this fantastic city

Newark has something for everyone. Whether you are craving Italian ice-cream, to enjoying performing arts, visiting a museum or park, or even playing a zombie-apocalypse game, the city of Newark offers you all these opportunities and more. Whenever you find yourself in Newark, consult this list to get acquainted with the best things to do here.