Coney Island Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Coney Island. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• NYC Highlights Tour: Bronx, Brooklyn, Harlem, Queens, & Coney

• NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan & Brooklyn

• The Empire Helicopter Tour of New York

• Coney Island Nostalgia Tour

• New York: The Best of Brooklyn

It’s free to visit Coney Island to walk along the boardwalk or relax on the beach, but there are a number of paid activities to enjoy here, too, including the famous amusement parks and the New York Aquarium. Luna Park operates both wristband and per-ride ticketing; wristbands start at US$38 for 4 hours of access to the rides. Single rides on Deno’s Wonder Wheel cost US$10 for adults, and other rides in that park have different fees. Admission to the New York Aquarium during peak hours costs US$32.95 for adults and US$27.95 for kids (aged 3–12); it's a bit cheaper off-peak.

Yes, Coney Island is definitely worth visiting, whether you come to enjoy the rides at the amusement parks, browse the aquarium, stroll along the boardwalk, or swim in the ocean in warmer weather. Families with kids will especially love visiting this attraction-packed neighborhood. If you're short on time, guided tours that include Coney Island with some other outer-New York City neighborhoods can be an easy way to learn more.

Per one customer who booked the Coney Island Nostalgia Tour, "Dom was the perfect guide for our Coney Island adventure! Funny, charming, and incredibly knowledgeable, he brought the history and culture of the area to life in a way that was both entertaining and deeply personal. His own connection to Coney Island added a unique and heartfelt layer to the tour that you just can't get from a guidebook."

Yes. There’s no admission charge to the Coney Island Boardwalk or the beach so you can stroll, shop, and munch without buying tickets. However, most travelers will want to enjoy attractions like the Luna Park theme park, the Cyclone roller coaster, and the Coney Island Circus Sideshow, so costs tend to add up.

That depends on the time of year. During most of April, May, September, and October, Coney Island’s rides and attractions only operate on weekends, so you’ll want to visit on a Saturday or a Sunday. During the summer vacation months, you’ll likely find the shortest lines early in the week.

Yes. You can take your car to Coney Island, although many travelers find public transit, taxis, or rideshares easier than self-driving. There is official parking from morning to evening at the lot by the Maimonides Park baseball stadium, plus other parking lots along Surf Avenue, the area’s main drag.

Start with a stroll along the boardwalk, one of New York’s top people-watching locations, then eat an original Nathan’s Famous hot dog. In the afternoon, ride the Cyclone, a roller coaster dating back to 1927, then catch the Coney Island Circus Sideshow—plus a Brooklyn Cyclones game, if schedules allow.

Yes. Coney Island Boardwalk (technically, the Riegelmann Boardwalk) was first built in 1923, and a stroll on this historic pathway is an essential part of any visit to Coney Island—and it’s free. Sections of the boardwalk are not in perfect repair, so watch your footing while you’re watching the people.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting Coney Island. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Brooklyn:

• Brooklyn Bridge

• Dumbo

• Williamsburg

• New York Transit Museum

• Carroll Gardens

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Brooklyn.