Discover Hudson
24 carefully curated photography spots with GPS coordinates, shooting tips, and local insights
40.721412
This Jersey City waterfront location provides a stunning panoramic view of the Manhattan skyline across the Hudson River. It is an ideal spot for capturing the architectural density of Midtown, including Hudson Yards and the Empire State Building. The perspective allows for beautiful reflections on the water and dramatic lighting during the golden and blue hours, making it a premier destination for cityscape photographers.
1 Liberty Is
The Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island — an iconic architectural and cultural subject with dramatic scale against NY Harbor and the Manhattan skyline. Access via Statue Cruises from Battery Park (NYC) or Liberty State Park (NJ); ferries run early—arrive at first light for long shadows, fewer crowds, and front lighting. Crown/pedestal access requires timed tickets and security screening; crown tickets sell out months ahead. No private parking on the island; wheelchair access to grounds and the (
1 Ellis Island Bridge
The Ellis Island Bridge provides a stunning, unobstructed view of the Lower Manhattan skyline, dominated by One World Trade Center. It is a premier spot for architectural photography, offering a clear line of sight across the water. The location is particularly famous for its sunset views, where the sky often turns dramatic shades of pink and orange, providing a perfect backdrop for the glass facade of the skyscrapers.
40.733882
The Hoboken Terminal is a masterpiece of Beaux-Arts architecture, offering photographers a wealth of historic details. The interior features grand waiting rooms, ornate ticket windows, and dramatic natural lighting that filters through massive windows. It is a prime location for capturing the intersection of historic preservation and modern transit life, with its blend of limestone, bronze, and Tiffany glass elements.
500 Harbor Boulevard
Hudson River waterfront promenade with sweeping, unobstructed views of the Manhattan skyline and river traffic — ideal for skyline panoramas, sunset and blue‑hour cityscapes, and long exposures across the water. Easily accessible by car or NJ Transit buses; limited street and park parking nearby. No entry fee. Best at sunrise for soft light on towers or at sunset/blue hour for illuminated skyline; weekdays and early mornings have fewer people. Wind can be strong; check weather for reflections.
40.734300
The Hoboken Terminal is a masterpiece of Beaux-Arts architecture, featuring stunning copper-clad exteriors with a distinct green patina. Photographers will find a wealth of historic details, from the ornate waiting room with Tiffany glass to the industrial aesthetic of the train sheds. It offers a perfect blend of architectural elegance and gritty urban transit vibes, with the added bonus of Manhattan skyline views just outside.
300 Harbor Boulevard
Lincoln Harbor waterfront at 300 Harbor Boulevard offers sweeping, unobstructed views of the Manhattan skyline across the Hudson — excellent for skyline, waterfront, and night photography. Best at golden hour and after sunset when skyscrapers light up; sunrise can deliver warm sidelighting and reflections. Easy public promenade access, nearby parking garages and Lincoln Harbor ferry; weekends busier, weekdays and early mornings quieter. No entry fee; flat, wheelchair-accessible paths and piers.
40.723782
A low-lying waterfront spot on the Kill Van Kull near Bayonne with industrial port activity, bridge lines and distant Manhattan/Sunset skyline views. Photographers can capture long exposures of shipping traffic, layered silhouettes of cranes and the Bayonne Bridge, or colorful sunrise/sunset reflections on the water. Best at golden hour and blue hour for strong color contrast; weekdays and early mornings have fewer people and trucks. Access is roadside/walkway parking nearby but expect limited,;
Statue of Liberty
Iconic neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island — capture close architectural detail (patina, torch, crown) and dramatic wide vistas with Manhattan skyline and harbor. Access via Statue Cruises; reserve pedestal or crown tickets in advance and pass TSA-style screening. Best at sunrise for soft light and empty decks, and at blue hour for illuminated statue against city lights. Ferries from Battery Park or New Jersey/overnight harbor conditions affect reflections. Crowds peak midday and on summer/
156 Washington Street
156 Washington Street sits on Jersey City’s Paulus Hook waterfront with direct views across the Hudson to lower Manhattan and the Financial District. Photographers can capture skyline panoramas, reflections on the river, and commuter light trails from Exchange Place. Best at sunrise and blue hour for dramatic light; evenings offer glassy water reflections and city glow. Easily reached by PATH/Exchange Place; street parking is limited—use public transit or nearby garages. No entry fees; public es
21 Hamilton Avenue
Residential vantage point on the Weehawken bluff with direct, elevated views across the Hudson to lower Manhattan. Shoot wide skyline panoramas at sunset/blue hour, capture reflections and river traffic, or use foreground railings/trees for layered compositions. Easily reached by car (limited street parking), Port Imperial ferry or NJ Transit; expect crowds at sunset weekends. No entry fees; streets and waterfront are public. Best light: golden hour through blue hour; winter yields clearer air.
8800 Boulevard East
James J Braddock Park is a premier spot for portrait and nature photography in North Bergen. The central Woodcliff Lake provides a tranquil focal point, while the surrounding trails and trees offer varied textures. It is particularly striking in winter for high-contrast monochrome shots or at sunset for views of the Manhattan skyline from the park's eastern edges.
The Hudson
A waterfront promenade at Exchange Place offering sweeping views of Lower Manhattan, the Hudson River, and the ferry piers. Ideal for skyline, sunset, long-exposure water shots and urban reflections. Best visited at sunrise or blue hour for dramatic light and fewer tourists. Easily reached by PATH, ferry, or short walk from Jersey City parking garages; public access is free but can be windy. Nearby historic buildings and modern glass towers add compositional variety.
967 Communipaw Avenue
A working-class Jersey City street scene mixing rowhouses, light industrial buildings, occasional murals and view corridors toward the Hackensack Meadowlands and distant Manhattan. Photographers can capture gritty urban textures, colorful storefronts, architectural details, and the changing light on Communipaw Avenue. Best visited at golden hour for warm directional light and soft shadows; blue hour adds moody streetlamp scenes. Area is sidewalk-accessible with on-street parking (pay meters) and
110 Goldsborough Drive
A quiet waterfront stretch on the Newark Bay offering industrial-pastoral compositions: shipping infrastructure, the Bayonne/Arthur Kill channels and distant bridges and Manhattan skyline lines. Best at golden hour or blue hour for dramatic skies and reflective water. Access by car with limited street parking; watch for private property and tidal mudflats underfoot. Weekday mornings are less crowded and light winds give clean reflections.
Hamilton Park
Clifftop park with panoramic NYC skyline and Hudson River views—ideal for sunset, blue hour and night shots of Manhattan lights. Grassy terraces, benches and floral borders provide foreground interest; summer concerts add event opportunities. Small parking lot and street parking can be limited; best visited at sunrise or golden hour on weekdays for fewer crowds. No entry fee; paved paths and short stairs make most viewpoints accessible.
Ellis Island Hard Hat Tour
Hard Hat Tour grants access to the abandoned Ellis Island hospital complex — decaying tile corridors, rusting ironwork, vaulted surgical wards and dramatic shafts of light through broken windows. Photograph textures, leading lines and human-scale details that tell the story of immigration and medicine. Ferries run from Battery Park; reserve tickets in advance (hard-hat tour requires separate timed entry). Best light: late morning to mid-afternoon when shafts of sunlight penetrate interiors; go a
31 Paterson Street
A working-class Jersey City block of brick rowhouses, stoops and utility lines that capture authentic urban texture and everyday life. Best for architectural details, environmental portraits and gritty street scenes; light is strongest at golden hour and blue hour for moody facades. Easily reached by PATH (Journal Square) and local buses; street parking is limited and often metered. No entry requirements — public sidewalks only; be respectful of residents. Weekday mornings are quieter, evenings.
Flagpole Plaza
Small waterfront plaza at Jersey City's Exchange Place with rows of tall flagpoles framing sweeping views of Lower Manhattan, the Hudson River and Statue of Liberty. Ideal for skyline compositions, patriotic/architectural studies and reflections off the river. Best at sunrise and blue hour for warm light and skyline illumination. Easily reached by PATH/Light Rail; street parking limited—use transit or nearby garages. Public, no entry fee; expect tourists at peak times.
Weehawken Dueling Grounds
Small wooded park on a Hudson bluff with sweeping Manhattan skyline views and a modest memorial marking the Burr–Hamilton duel site. Best at golden hour or sunset for dramatic light and reflections; sunrise offers softer light and fewer people. Site is uphill with stairs from the waterfront; limited parking — consider Hoboken/Weehawken ferry + short climb. No admission fee; quiet, respectful behavior required around memorials. Weather can be windy on the bluff.
Woodcliff Lake
Woodcliff Lake sits inside James J. Braddock North Hudson County Park — a small reservoir and shoreline paths that frame water reflections, marsh grasses and skyline views toward Manhattan. Photographers get a mix of tranquil waterscape compositions, seasonal foliage, and city-skyline silhouettes. Best at sunrise or golden hour for warm light and calm water; clear evenings give crisp skyline outlines. Park is free, accessible by foot or car (parking off Bergenline Ave), with paved trails and a 1