Things to Do in Atlantic City, New Jersey

Atlantic City’s Boardwalk is the original — the first boardwalk in America (1870) and the inspiration for the Monopoly game board. The casino era brought neon and nightlife, and while AC has had its ups and downs, the beach is still beautiful, the boardwalk is still 4 miles long, and the casinos still deliver entertainment, great restaurants, and live shows.

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01 Best Things To Do in Atlantic City, NJ 2026! (1 of 8)

Best Things To Do in Atlantic City, NJ 2026!

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Quick Facts: Atlantic City sits on Absecon Island on the Jersey Shore, about 60 miles southeast of Philadelphia and 130 miles south of NYC. Best time to visit: May–October for beach weather; the casinos run year-round.

Here’s everything worth doing in Atlantic City, whether you’re coming for a casino weekend, a family beach trip, or a Jersey Shore tour.

The Boardwalk

The Boardwalk Itself — 4 miles of casinos, shops, restaurants, arcades, and saltwater taffy. The original 1870 boardwalk was built so hotel guests could keep sand off the carpets. Today it’s the heart of the AC visitor experience and one of the most iconic stretches of waterfront in America.

Rolling Chairs — Push carts that have been carrying passengers up and down the boardwalk since 1884. About $20-30 for a 30-minute ride. Cheesy, historic, and a quintessential Atlantic City experience.

Steel Pier — The amusement pier extending out over the ocean. The 227-foot Observation Wheel at the end gives the best view of the AC skyline and coast. Helicopter rides launch from the pier. Classic carnival rides, games, and food.

Tanger Outlets — The Walk — Open-air shopping center built right into the boardwalk neighborhood with over 100 outlet stores and easy walking access from any of the boardwalk casinos.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not — The classic boardwalk oddities museum with 500+ exhibits inside a building that looks like a giant pile of crashed tilted blocks.

The Casinos

Atlantic City has nine casinos, all interconnected with the boardwalk and each with its own character.

Borgata — Generally considered the best of the AC casinos. Marina district location (off the boardwalk), the highest-stakes poker room on the East Coast, top restaurants from celebrity chefs, and the best concerts. Worth the cab ride if you’re staying on the boardwalk.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino — Located in the former Trump Taj Mahal. Music memorabilia throughout, a 7,000-seat concert venue, and the rock & roll vibe that the brand is known for.

Ocean Casino Resort — The newest of the boardwalk casinos. Modern design, pool clubs, and the highest-end suites in AC.

Harrah’s Resort — Marina district. The Pool After Dark is a famous nightclub built around the indoor pool. Eldorado/Caesars loyalty program ties in here.

Caesars Atlantic City — Direct boardwalk access. Roman-themed throughout. The Pier Shops at Caesars connect right to Caesars across a footbridge over the boardwalk.

Bally’s, Tropicana, Resorts Casino, Golden Nugget — Round out the rest of the casino lineup, each with their own restaurants, shows, and pool decks.

The Beach

Atlantic City Beach — Free and open to the public (Atlantic City is one of the few Jersey Shore towns that doesn’t charge beach tags). The beach is wide, the sand is clean, and it’s less crowded than you’d expect given the casinos right behind it.

Surfing — Better waves on the Atlantic side compared to most of the Jersey Shore. Several surf schools rent boards and offer lessons.

Beach Bars — Most of the casinos have beachfront bars and pool decks open to non-guests. Margaritaville and the LandShark Bar at Resorts have the most boardwalk-bar energy.

Brigantine Beach — 10 minutes north over the bridge. Quieter and more residential — a good day trip from AC if you want a calmer beach scene.

Shows & Entertainment

Concerts — Borgata Event Center, Hard Rock Live, Ocean Casino’s Ovation Hall, and Boardwalk Hall (the historic 14,770-seat arena that hosted the Miss America Pageant for decades) bring touring acts year-round.

Comedy — Borgata Comedy Club, Hard Rock’s comedy lineup, and weekend shows at Resorts.

Boxing & MMA — Hard Rock and Ocean Resort host major boxing cards and UFC events.

Atlantic City Air Show — Every August. Free. The Blue Angels, Thunderbirds, and various aerobatic teams perform over the boardwalk and beach.

Miss America — The pageant returned to its historic AC home and runs annually at Boardwalk Hall.

Restaurants Worth the Trip

Casual: White House Sub Shop (a Jersey Shore institution since 1946 — Sinatra had them flown to Vegas), Tony Boloney’s Pizza (massive over-the-top slices), Tony’s Baltimore Grill, the Knife and Fork Inn for old-school Jersey atmosphere.

Mid-Range: Angelo’s Fairmount Tavern (Italian, family-run since 1935), Dock’s Oyster House (1897, the oldest restaurant in AC), Café 2825 in Ducktown.

Splurge: Bobby Flay Steak at Borgata, Wolfgang Puck American Grille at Borgata, Il Mulino New York at the Hard Rock, Old Homestead Steakhouse at Borgata.

Breakfast: Tony’s Baltimore Grill for diner classics, the buffets at Borgata and Harrah’s, the Continental at Caesars. Full picks at our Atlantic City breakfast and brunch guide.

Day Trips From Atlantic City

Cape May, NJ — 45 minutes south. The historic Victorian-era town at the southern tip of New Jersey with painted gingerbread houses, lighthouses, and the most charming Jersey Shore experience.

Ocean City, NJ — 15 minutes south. Family-friendly, alcohol-free boardwalk town with one of the best Jersey Shore experiences for kids.

Wildwood, NJ — 40 minutes south. Three classic amusement piers, doo-wop architecture, and one of the wildest Jersey Shore boardwalks.

Lucy the Elephant — In nearby Margate, 10 minutes from AC. A 6-story elephant-shaped building from 1881 that you can actually climb inside. Weird, historic, and only in New Jersey.

Absecon Lighthouse — Right in AC. New Jersey’s tallest lighthouse (171 feet). Climb 228 steps for panoramic views.

Philadelphia — 1 hour west. Easy day trip for Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and a real Philly cheesesteak.

For more options check Atlantic City day trips.

Free Things to Do in Atlantic City

Walk the entire 4-mile boardwalk
Beach access (no beach tags required)
The fountain shows at Caesars Pier Shops
Free concerts on the boardwalk in summer
Atlantic City Air Show (August)
Free casino entry — anyone can walk through and people-watch
Sunrise from the boardwalk (legitimately worth getting up early)

More at our Atlantic City free things to do guide.

Atlantic City Resort Stays

AC has multiple casino-resort and vacation club properties offering promotional stays at deeply discounted rates. These typically include 3-4 nights in a casino resort suite in exchange for attending a 90-120 minute vacation ownership presentation.

Available Resort Properties:

Wyndham Skyline Tower — On the boardwalk with full-suite accommodations and pool access
Flagship Resort — Beachfront tower property with kitchen suites and easy boardwalk access
Various casino resort partners — Promotional packages also available at major boardwalk and marina-district casinos

View Atlantic City Timeshare Promotions →

Vacation Deals