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Major city · United States

PatersonPaterson, New Jersey

Give Paterson half a day for the Great Falls, then leave: 12 miles from Manhattan, thin on hotels, and most crime sits in specific wards.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jan–Feb (cold, ice on paths), Jul–Aug (humid)
Airports
EWR · JFK · LGA
Nights
0–1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Paterson is New Jersey's third-largest city and the first planned industrial city in the United States, built in 1791 around a 77-foot waterfall that once powered silk mills. The Great Falls and its historic district are the reason to come; the rest of the city is a working, diverse place with strong Peruvian, Arab, Dominican and Italian food streets. Most visitors see it as a half-day stop from New York or a base-free day trip, because hotels are scarce and the safer visitor zones are small.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Paterson, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$2–5
  • Street or quick mealFalafel or gyro sandwich, South Paterson$6–12
  • BeerBeer at a bar$5–9
  • Taxi, about 5 km5 km taxi or rideshareSurge pricing at peak times.$12–20
  • Metro or bus rideNJ Transit local bus ride$2–4
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25
  • Budget bedFamily room (up to 4), a night, per roomUS$150
  • Mid-range bedChain-hotel double room (Wayne or Totowa), a night, per roomUS$150
  • High-end bedChain-hotel double room (Wayne or Totowa), a night, per roomUS$260

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$55 · Mid US$95 · High US$180

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Great Falls of the Passaic RiverFirst planned US industrial city (1791)Silk City heritage and mill buildingsLittle Lima on Market StreetLittle Ramallah in South Paterson
Airports
EWR Newark Liberty International (About 30–40 min by car via I-80/I-280; NJ Transit rail plus bus or taxi for the last leg.) · JFK John F. Kennedy International (About 1–1.5 h by car; longer in rush hour.) · LGA LaGuardia (About 45–75 min by car.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Paterson: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

4°C

−5°C

10 rd

Feb

6°C

−4°C

9 rd

Mar

11°C

0°C

10 rd

Apr

17°C

6°C

11 rd

May

23°C

11°C

11 rd

Jun

28°C

16°C

10 rd

Jul

30°C

19°C

10 rd

Aug

29°C

18°C

9 rd

Sep

25°C

14°C

8 rd

Oct

18°C

8°C

8 rd

Nov

12°C

3°C

9 rd

Dec

6°C

−2°C

10 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The city is only about 8 sq mi (21 km²) but holds over 145,000 people, so buses are frequent and a car helps for the edges. NJ Transit Main Line stops at Paterson station on Market St (toward Hoboken or Suffern, NY). NJ Transit buses 161, 190 and 171 run to New York City; route 72 goes to Newark Penn Station; local routes 74, 702–704, 707, 712, 722, 744, 746 and 748 cover the city. Dollar vans run along Main St and Broadway toward Clifton, Passaic, Union City and Upper Manhattan. Parking near the falls can be scarce — allow extra time.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Wayne, New Jersey

go

Door to door: About 30–45 min

NJ Transit bus or about 15 min by car via Route 80

Malls, chain hotels and Willowbrook; useful as a bed base rather than a sight.

Passaic, New Jersey

go

Door to door: About 20–30 min

NJ Transit Main Line train or local bus south

Next city down the line; easy add-on if you are riding the Main Line.

Clifton, New Jersey

go

Door to door: About 20–30 min

NJ Transit bus or about 10–15 min by car

Borders South Paterson; good for a meal stop on Main Street.

New York Citygo

Door to door: About 1–1.5 h

NJ Transit bus 161/190/171 from Paterson, or Main Line train to Hoboken plus PATH

12 miles (19 km) from Manhattan; the reason most people day-trip Paterson rather than sleep here.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Downtown Paterson

Train station on Market St and the bus station on Broadway; commercial core with City Hall and Little Lima. Few visitor hotels — check availability before committing.

Great Falls District

Closest to the falls and the Paterson Museum, just west of downtown near I-80. Daytime area; little lodging.

Eastside Park and Manor Section

Quiet, tree-lined streets with the city's historic mansions; the calmest residential feel for a walk.

Wayne or Totowa (outside the city)

Chain hotels and motels 10–20 min by car; the practical base if you want a normal hotel bed.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$40–70 excl. bed
Mid
$70–120 excl. bed
High
$120+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Chain-hotel double room (Wayne or Totowa)1 × 1 night × US$150US$150
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$95US$190
NJ Transit bus from Port Authority, both ways2 × US$16US$32
Main Line train Paterson to Hoboken, one way2 × US$6US$12
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$41
Trip total≈ US$228 per person per day, bed includedUS$455

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax and tips excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$2–5
Falafel or gyro sandwich, South Paterson$6–12
Ceviche or chifa plate, Market Street$12–22
Beer at a bar$5–9
5 km taxi or rideshareSurge pricing at peak times.$12–20
NJ Transit local bus ride$2–4
eSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Paterson has a rough reputation but the visitor zones — Downtown, the Falls District, Eastside Park and the Manor Section — are calm in daylight. Avoid Wrigley Park (4th Ward) and the North Side, don't walk alone at night, and keep the same city caution you would use anywhere.
  • Most crime is concentrated in Wrigley Park (4th Ward), the North Side and parts of Riverside, Totowa Section and Sandy Hill; avoid drug corners there, especially after dark.
  • Downtown, Eastside Park, the Manor Section and the Falls District see little crime, but keep normal city caution and call 911 if threatened.
  • Some nightclubs operate illegally; stick to established venues in Downtown Paterson.
  • Lambert Castle and its grounds have been closed for renovation — check before going.
  • Prices in the US are shown before sales tax; tip 18–22% at sit-down restaurants.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
NJ Poison Control
800-222-1222
NJ Transit customer service
973-275-5555

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

PatersonPaterson, New Jersey

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • NJ Poison Control800-222-1222
  • NJ Transit customer service973-275-5555

Embassy

No embassies in Paterson; consulates and embassies are in New York City and Washington, DC. Check your country's list before you travel.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • NJ Transit bus, Port Authority to Paterson: about $8 one way, 45–70 min
  • Main Line train, Paterson to Hoboken: about $6 one way
  • Taxi or rideshare, Paterson to EWR: $45–70

Say or show

  • Excuse me — Excuse me (ik-SKYOOZ mee)
  • Thank you — Thank you (THANK yoo)
  • How much is it? — How much is it? (how much iz it)
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card? (kan eye pay by kard)
  • Where is the train station? — Where is the train station? (wair iz thuh trayn STAY-shun)
  • I need help — I need help (eye need help)

English is the working language; Spanish and Arabic are widely spoken in the neighborhoods.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Paterson. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jan–Feb (cold, ice on paths), Jul–Aug (humid) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for EWR and JFK: last NJ Transit departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Great Falls and the museum, Downtown and Little Lima, South Paterson (Little Ramallah), Eastside Park.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Great Falls park, Paterson Museum, Lambert Castle, American Labor Museum) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Ward-level safety fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources