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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Atlantic City
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Give it 2 nights: one for the Boardwalk and beach, one for a show or the casinos. Skip if you want quiet — this is a resort strip, not a town.
Atlantic City is a 6.4 km Boardwalk resort on Absecon Island, about an hour from Philadelphia by car or NJ Transit train. Casinos and shows anchor the north end; the free beach and the piers run the length of the boards. Two nights covers it; a third only pays off if you are here for a concert or a casino weekend.
- Country
- United States
- Local name
- Atlantic City, New Jersey
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (crowds, heat, higher room rates)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $90–150 excl. bed · Mid $150–280 excl. bed · High $280+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | $3–6 |
| Boardwalk slice of pizza | $4–7 |
| Sub sandwich (White House Sub Shop) | $10–16 |
| Casino buffet or mid-range dinner | $25–55 |
| Beer: casino bar / boardwalk stand | $8–14 / $6–10 |
| Jitney ride | $2.25 |
| Taxi within city limits | up to $13 for five passengers |
| Absecon Lighthouse entry | $7 adults, $5 ages 4–12 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- ACY · Atlantic City International
- About 15 km west of the city; limited scheduled service — check current routes before booking.About 9.3 mi west of the city; limited scheduled service — check current routes before booking.
- PHL · Philadelphia International
- About 100 km west; far more flights. SEPTA to 30th Street, then NJ Transit Atlantic City Rail Line.About 62 mi west; far more flights. SEPTA to 30th Street, then NJ Transit Atlantic City Rail Line.
Typical fares
- NJ Transit Philadelphia → Atlantic City
- about $12.70 one way, about 1 h 30 min (check)
- Jitney along Pacific Avenue
- $2.25 flat, 24 h
- Taxi within city limits
- up to $13 for up to five passengers, tip extra
Get around
Walk the Boardwalk — it is the main street for visitors. The Atlantic City Jitney minibus runs 24 h along Pacific Avenue and to the Marina District, $2.25 flat. Taxis are metered with a city maximum of $13 for up to five passengers. Bikes are allowed on the Boardwalk only 6:30–10:00 in summer.Walk the Boardwalk — it is the main street for visitors. The Atlantic City Jitney minibus runs 24 h along Pacific Avenue and to the Marina District, $2.25 flat. Taxis are metered with a city maximum of $13 for up to five passengers. Bikes are allowed on the Boardwalk only 6:30 AM–10:00 AM in summer.
See and do
Known for
- The Boardwalk (oldest in the US)
- Casino resorts
- Free beach access
- Steel Pier amusement rides
- Absecon Lighthouse
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Margate (Lucy the Elephant) | Jitney or taxi south along Atlantic Avenue, about 15 min | About 30 min |
| Ventnor City | Walk or bike south on the Boardwalk | 20–40 min on foot |
| Brigantine | Car or taxi over the Brigantine Bridge, about 10 min | About 20 min |
| Somers Point | Car via the expressway, about 20 min | About 30 min |
| Hammonton | NJ Transit Atlantic City Rail Line, about 35 min | About 1 h |
| Egg Harbor City | NJ Transit Atlantic City Rail Line, about 25 min | About 45 min |
Sleep
- Boardwalk (north end)
- Casino hotels, shows and the beach at the door; loudest and priciest.
- Marina District
- Borgata, Harrah's and Golden Nugget; quieter, 10–15 min by jitney from the Boardwalk.
- Inland / Absecon
- Cheaper motels and chain hotels along the expressway; you will need a car or taxi.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Where is the Boardwalk? | Where is the Boardwalk? |
| One jitney ride, please | One jitney ride, please |
| How much is it? | How much is it? |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card? |
| Where is the taxi stand? | Where is the taxi stand? |
| Is the beach free? | Is the beach free? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Casino floors are 21+; bring photo ID.
- Parking at casino garages is expensive — check for free lots on the north end.
- The beach is free, but swimming is only safe where lifeguards are posted; check seasonal hours.
- Some blocks inland from the Boardwalk are rough after dark — stay on lit, busy streets.
The Boardwalk and casino areas are busy and patrolled; the blocks immediately inland are less so after dark. Keep to lit streets, watch your drink in casino bars, and treat the beach as swim-only where lifeguards are posted.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Atlantic City yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- The Boardwalk (oldest in the US)
- Casino resorts
- Free beach access
- Steel Pier amusement rides
- Absecon Lighthouse
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- City of Atlantic City: www.cityofatlanticcity.org/
- Visit Atlantic City: www.visitatlanticcity.com/
- NJ Transit — Atlantic City Rail Line: www.njtransit.com/atlanticcity
- South Jersey Transportation Authority — Atlantic City Expressway: www.sjta.com/acexpressway/
- Wikivoyage: Atlantic City, revision 5287436 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5287436
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Atlantic CityAtlantic City, New Jersey
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
No embassies in Atlantic City; consulates-general are in New York and Philadelphia. Check your country's list before travelling.
Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/atlantic-city). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.