In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · United States
Hackensack
Spend one day in Hackensack as a base for Bergen County; arrive early, see the library and river, then head to nearby towns.
Hackensack is the county seat of Bergen County, New Jersey, with two NJ Transit stations, a historic library, and easy highway access. One full day covers the main sights and lets you explore surrounding towns by train or bus.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, occasional snow)
- Stay
- 1 night
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 $50–$70 excl. bed · Mid $80–$120 excl. bed · High $150+ 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 at a café | $3–$5 |
| Sandwich | $6–$9 |
| Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km)) | $15–$20 |
| NJ Transit fare | $2.75–$5 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TEB · Teterboro Airport
- General‑aviation airport ~3 mi away
- EWR · Newark Liberty International
- Major airport ~15 mi away, NJ Transit to Hackensack
Typical fares
- Teterboro → Hackensack (taxi)
- about $30, 10 min (check)
- NJ Transit Hackensack → NYC Penn Station
- about $13, 30 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
NJ Transit Pascack Valley Line serves Essex Street and Anderson Street stations; local buses connect to NYC and nearby towns. Drive only outside rain; traffic peaks 7‑9 am and 4‑6 pm.
See and do
Known for
- County government and legal center
- Johnson Public Library
- Hackensack River
- Proximity to New York City
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Englewood | NJ Transit Pascack Valley Line, ~10 min | ≈30 min round trip |
| Fort Lee | Bus NJ Transit 144, ~20 min | ≈45 min round trip |
| Ridgewood | NJ Transit Main Line, ~25 min | ≈1 h |
Sleep
- Hilton Hasbrouck Heights
- Rooms from $104; near highways, 5 min drive to Hackensack
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Excusez‑moi / Pardonexcusez‑moi |
| Thank you | Mercimerci |
| How much is it? | Combien ça coûte ?combien ça coûte |
| Where is the bathroom? | Où sont les toilettes ?où sont les toilettes |
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
- Heavy traffic on I‑80 and Route 4; avoid rush hour.
- Flooding can close River Street after 15 min of steady rain; use higher‑ground roads like Summit Avenue.
Generally safe; stay alert in busy transit hubs and watch for traffic, especially during rush hour and after heavy rain.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Hackensack yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- County government and legal center
- Johnson Public Library
- Hackensack River
- Proximity to New York City
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Hackensack, revision 5243829 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5243829
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Hackensack
À cette adresse, s’il vous plaît
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
US consulate in New York; nearest US embassy in Washington, DC.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/hackensack). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.