10 Things To Do In Atlantic City 2024

Are You Looking For The Best Things To Do In Atlantic City, New Jersey?

If the answer is yes, then read ahead for my top 10 things to do in Atlantic City.

Atlantic City is a resort city located on the Atlantic coast of New Jersey, United States.

Known for its iconic boardwalk, lively entertainment, and nightlife, Atlantic City has been a popular destination for tourists and gamblers

We took a bus from Philadelphia for a day trip. We were able to see all the things below in one day.

Our trip was at the beginning of April and the weather was still not warm enough so make sure you go when it’s summer.

There is a map of Atlantic City at the end which shows the location of all the things I have mentioned.

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View of the beach and some of the hotels in Atlantic City

The Honest Truth About Atlantic City

Keep in mind that in recent years Atlantic City has fallen out of favor and has definitely seen better days.

A lot of the properties are empty and some look run down. I would recommend doing a day or weekend trip only (unless you are there only for the beach or to gamble).

The bus station had all these homeless people sleeping on the benches or on the floor, constantly asking for change and one or two were shouting the whole time.

In addition, our bus was late a few hours and it was midnight by the time it came.

The two of us were kinda scared because everything was sketchy.

If you are going to be visiting by bus, make sure you leave before it gets too late as the bus stop did not look safe to me at all.

Having said that, the rest of the city seemed safe and we had no issues.

Why Is Atlantic City In Decline?

The decline started during World War II when people were not able to go on family vacations anymore due to the current circumstances.

In 2012, Hurricane Sandy caused a lot of damage and contributed to the entire decline of the area.

Also, the city got hit hard due to all the COVID-19 restrictions and closures when a lot of the casinos and venues had to shut down.

View of the Boardwalk from the Playground Pier, things to do in Atlantic City — View of the Boardwalk from the Playground Pier

What Atlantic City Is Known For?

Atlantic City is known mainly for the long strip of beach, the hotels with casinos, and the historic Boardwalk that runs parallel to the beach.

Atlantic City’s famous Boardwalk is the world’s first (dating back to 1870) and longest boardwalk.

Also, Atlantic City is the home of the Miss America pageant.

Another interesting fact is that the street names in Atlantic City were used in the game Monopoly.

Can You See Atlantic City On A One-Day Trip?

Yes, you can see Atlantic City on a one-day trip!

That is what we did! We did a day trip from Philadelphia to Atlantic City.

We used the Grayhound buses for this round trip.

The drive is between 1.5-2 hours depending on traffic and construction.

Also, the bus station is close to the Boardwalk so you will need to walk for only 10 min from one to the other.

Statue dedicated to Miss America pageant, Atlantic City, New Jersey — Statue dedicated to the Miss America pageant

10 Things To Do In Atlantic City

Let’s jump into the blog post now – will start with the historic Boardwalk.

1. Boardwalk

The Boardwalk is probably one of the main things to see in Atlantic City.

Does the Atlantic City Boardwalk still exist?

Yes, the Atlantic City Boardwalk still exists in its entirety.

There is no way you can miss it!

The famous wooden Boardwalk runs parallel to the beach, connecting it from one end to the other.

Is the Atlantic City Boardwalk free?

Yes, the entire length of the Boardwalk is completely free.

Walking on the Boardwalk is one of the free things to do in Atlantic City.

View toward the beach and the Boardwalk from the Playground Pier

On one side you see the shops, hotels/casinos and on the other is the beach. There are a lot of souvenir stores, bars, and restaurants along the Boardwalk.

Some of the stores were cheap and some were expensive, so there was a mix of both.

Also, they did have a bunch of souvenir shops on the Boardwalk where you can get some not-too-expensive gifts.

How long is the Boardwalk in Atlantic City?

The Boardwalk in Atlantic City is about 4-5.5 miles (6-8km).

It is truly enormous, but the main part of it is not that long.

If you get tired of walking, don’t worry, there are these little trains that run along it which don’t cost too much.

Also, there are people pulling rickshaws that you can hop on if your feet hurt. You can negotiate the price with them.

Take a stroll on the Boardwalk and enjoy the lovely ocean view, stop for a drink or a bite or simply people-watch.

The famous Boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey — The famous Boardwalk *(you can see one of the rickshaws to the right)*

2. Caesars Atlantic City

Caesars is one of the main hotels/casinos in the area. There are tons of stores and restaurants inside as well.

We went to check out the casino for a bit but are not big on gambling so we preferred to chill on the beach. However, it is definitely worth the visit!

Don’t forget to check out the Playground Pier which is connected to the Caesars by a long overhead tunnel (more on the Playground Pier below).

You can take some nice photos from the end of that pier as there is a nice balcony with chairs.

Caesar's statue inside Caesars Atlantic City — Caesar’s statue inside Caesars Atlantic City

How close to the beach is Caesars Atlantic City Hotel & Casino?

Caesars is beside the beach, it has a door right on the Boardwalk.

Cross the Boardwalk and you are on the beach, 5 mins walk max.

What are some of the property amenities at Caesars Atlantic City?

Caesars has all the usual hotel amenities.

Some of the other amenities are a full-service spa, wedding services, a business center with 12 meeting rooms, a pool, 12 restaurants, 2 coffee shops, 4 bars, etc.

Caesars Atlantic City, casino, hotel — Inside the Caesars Atlantic City

3. Chill On The Beach

The beach looked nice and clean. Unfortunately, it was too cold to go in the water but we sat on the beach and relaxed.

Definitely go after April to take full advantage of the beach.

I personally prefer nature rather than sitting in stuffy casinos so I was a fan.

The sand strip is wide so it doesn’t look like it will be too crowded even in the high season as there is a lot of space.

I am assuming there will be more activity once the weather is warmer such as water sports and beach activities.

View of the beach in Atlantic City, things to do in Atlantic City — View of the beach in Atlantic City

Does it cost money to go to Atlantic City Beach?

The Atlantic City beach is free to the public, anyone can access it.

You do not need a ticket or to be staying in one of the hotels.

Can you swim on Atlantic City beach?

Yes, you can swim on Atlantic City Beach.

However, keep in mind that since this is the Atlantic Ocean, the water is wavy most of the time.

Also, you can only swim in the warm months of the year since any other time the water will be too cold.

🦄 If you need help packing for the beach, check out this blog post: How To Pack For Your First Beach Vacation

Beach, Atlantic City, New Jersey — Relax on the beach

4. Absecon Lighthouse

A bit of a walk from the main attractions but if you have a car you can definitely drive to it.

Otherwise, the walk is about half an hour to get to it from the main area.

Absecon Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in New Jersey and the third tallest in the U.S.

Can you climb the Absecon Lighthouse?

Yes, you can! This was my first chance to be inside a lighthouse.

You can check it out from the outside or you can climb to the top for a small fee.

It is quite a climb, pretty steep and narrow but the view was nice.

Also, there is a small museum and gift shop at the bottom.

Absecon Lighthouse, Atlantic City — The Absecon Lighthouse

How old is the Absecon Lighthouse?

The Absecon Lighthouse opened in 1856 so as of 2024 it is 167 years old.

👉 If you want to grab your ticket ahead of time, you can do so over here: Atlantic City: Absecon Lighthouse Admission Ticket

View from the top of the Absecon Lighthouse

5. Shopping

There are a lot of shopping options available. That includes high-end brands as well as bargain stores.

The Playground Pier which is connected to the Caesars by an overhead tunnel has high-end stores such as Tiffany & Co., Gucci, Burberry, etc.

This luxurious shopping mall is situated right on the Boardwalk. There are also some fancy restaurants there as well.

The Boardwalk with some of the cheaper souvenir shops, things to do in Atlantic City — The Boardwalk with some of the cheaper souvenir shops

If you are looking for bargain shopping then check out the Tanger Outlets which are a few blocks from the Boardwalk (10 min walk).

The Tanger Outlets, unlike the Playground Pier, are outside and are more spread out.

Some of the stores you will find are Calvin Klein, J.Crew, H&M, and Abercrombie & Fitch.

If you are planning to go shopping there, here is a link for the Tanger Outlets.

shops, Boardwalk, Atlantic City, New Jersey, travel — More shops situated on the Boardwalk

6. Casinos/Gambling

Again, gambling is not my cup of tea but we checked out a few of the casinos.

Also, we played on some slot machines (I don’t know how to play any of the other games, to be honest).

If you like gambling, there are a lot of casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey to check out.

Most of the big hotels have a casino so if you are up for it, try your luck.

However, the number of casinos is constantly changing so check your options online before you go.

Try your luck at some slot machines, New Jersey, casino — Try your luck at some slot machines

What happened to the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City?

Trump’s Taj Majal (a hotel and casino) is no longer there.

It has been transformed into the Hard Rock Hotel Casino and it looks different.

When we were visiting, they were dismantling the Taj.

Can you walk between casinos in Atlantic City?

Yes, you can! Most of the casinos are connected via covered walkways.

Therefore, even if it is raining or the weather is bad you can still walk between the casinos.

casinos, gambling, hotels — Try your luck at the casinos

7. Steel Pier

The Steel Pier is like a small amusement park situated on a pier. It has a few rollercoasters and arcade games.

Some of the rides to find at the Steel Pier is the Crazy Mouse ride and a Ferris Wheel.

However, we didn’t spend a lot of time here as we were both not interested in the amusement park rides but we walked around to check it out.

Also, it looks charming at night when the whole thing is lit up. If you have children, this is the place to be for some family fun.

View towards the Steel Pier from the Boardwalk, Atlantic City, fun things to do in Atlantic City — View towards the Steel Pier from the Boardwalk

Does AC Boardwalk have rides?

Yes, there are rides! They are some of the fun stuff to do in Atlantic City, USA.

The biggest and nicest ones are located on the Steel Pier.

Some of the casinos have rides for small children as well as arcade games.

amusement park rides, Steel Pier, family fun, fun things to do in Atlantic City — The Steel Pier has many amusement park rides – fun things to do in Atlantic City

8. Food

There were many great restaurants including the Gordon Ramsey Pub and Grill restaurant which is situated inside the Caesars.

You need to make a reservation prior to going to the restaurant.

We tried the famous Beef Wellington which was tasty.

However, the meat inside (according to the recipe) is lightly cooked so keep that in mind before you order it.

The atmosphere is a high-class English pub. The service was exceptional.

Gordon Ramsey Pub and Grill, burger, restaurant, food — This was what I ate at the Gordon Ramsey Pub and Grill restaurant

What kind of food is Atlantic City known for?

Atlantic City is famous for its seafood. Take a guess what we ate (see below lol).

I would highly recommend Harry’s Oyster Bar and Seafood which is located in Bally’s hotel. Bally’s is located on the Boardwalk and it is easy to find.

We had lunch there and it was great.

***Unfortunately, as of 2022, the restaurant has closed.

Harry's Oyster Bar and Seafood, lunch, seafood — Harry’s Oyster Bar and Seafood lunch

Atlantic City is famous for the saltwater taffy (any Friends fans here?).

Personally, I am not a huge fan as it gets stuck to my teeth but I do recommend trying it if you never have before.

There are different flavors, I like the strawberry one 🙂

Saltwater taffy - they are little sticky candies that come in this box — Saltwater taffy – they are little sticky candies that come in this box

9. Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall

Boardwalk Hall is a big stone building – can’t miss it as it is right on the Boardwalk.

It was formerly known as the Historic Atlantic City Convention Hall.

It is the main event venue in Atlantic City where they have concerts, comedy shows, sporting events, etc.

Inside you can find options for food and drinks (mostly fast food).

We only saw it from the outside as we didn’t have tickets.

Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City — The Boardwalk Hall

What are the top-rated hotels near Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall?

Some of the top-rated hotels that are close to the Boardwalk Hall are Caesars Atlantic City, Bally’s Atlantic City Hotel & Casino, and Madison Hotel Boardwalk.