10 Things to Do in Cliffside Park NJ (2026 Local Guide)

10 Things to Do in Cliffside Park NJ (2026 Local Guide)

Cliffside Park occupies a narrow strip along the Hudson Palisades in Bergen County, with a compact residential core, two active commercial avenues, and views of the Manhattan skyline from multiple points throughout the borough. It is positioned between Fort Lee to the north and Edgewater to the south, giving residents access to the full range of waterfront amenities along that corridor while maintaining its own distinct character — dense, walkable, culturally diverse, and practical for Manhattan commuters.

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1. Take the Bus to Manhattan from Anderson Avenue or Palisade Avenue

Cliffside Park is served by NJ Transit bus routes 156 and 159, which run along Anderson Avenue and Palisade Avenue with service to Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. Total trip time from Cliffside Park to Port Authority is approximately 53 minutes under typical conditions. Route 159 stops at Anderson Avenue and Columbia Avenue; Route 156 stops at Palisade Avenue at Riverview Avenue. Both routes run throughout the day with increased frequency during peak commute hours. Use the NJ Transit MyBus app for real-time arrivals. Route 156 is the last bus of the night. For residents commuting to Midtown or the West Side, the bus from Cliffside Park is the primary daily transit path.

Commuter detail: Cliffside Park's position on the Palisades ridge means the bus connects riders going north to Fort Lee (and its GWB bus connections) as well as south toward Edgewater and the NY Waterway ferry terminal — giving residents multiple Manhattan access points without a car.

2. Walk Anderson Avenue for Dining and Shopping

Anderson Avenue is Cliffside Park's most active commercial street and one of the most culturally diverse dining corridors in Bergen County. The avenue reflects the borough's established Turkish-American community alongside Korean, Italian, Latin, and Japanese restaurants and food markets. Specific destinations along Anderson Avenue include Saray Cuisine for traditional Turkish dishes, Blackbeard Ramen for Japanese ramen, Mashed Burgers for halal American food, Grand Bazaar Food for Turkish and Middle Eastern groceries, and Nizam International Market for imported specialty goods. Piccolo's Gastronomia Italiana at Anderson Avenue has been selling imported Italian specialty foods since 1993. Food Bazaar supermarket in the borough's south end serves general grocery needs. On weekends, Anderson Avenue runs at full activity — restaurants, grocers, and small shops all open and busy.

3. Dine on Palisade Avenue with Hudson River Views

Palisade Avenue runs parallel to Anderson Avenue and carries a second commercial corridor with restaurants and services, including several dining options with views across the Palisades toward the Hudson River and Manhattan. Dayi'nin Yeri at 333 Palisade Avenue is a well-reviewed Turkish restaurant open Monday through Friday from 11:30 AM to 10:30 PM. Cinar Turkish Restaurant on Palisade Avenue operates as a BYOB with Hudson River views. Hakki Baba, Meyhane, and Terravita are among the additional dining options along the Palisade Avenue corridor drawing both local residents and visitors from surrounding towns. The combination of the Turkish dining district, Italian specialty shops, and Korean restaurants makes Cliffside Park a consistent food destination for the waterfront communities of Bergen and Hudson County.

4. Visit Christopher Columbus Park

Christopher Columbus Park at 785 Anderson Avenue is Cliffside Park's primary neighborhood park. It offers walking paths, playgrounds, picnic areas, and views of the Hudson River and Manhattan skyline. The park is the most-used greenspace in the borough for families and is active on warm-weather weekends. The borough occasionally closes the park for maintenance — check cliffsideparknj.gov for current status before visiting. The park serves as the anchor for civic gatherings, informal community events, and everyday outdoor activity in the borough's residential core.

5. Use West Grantwood Park and Memorial Park

Beyond Christopher Columbus Park, Cliffside Park maintains additional greenspace including West Grantwood Park at 480 Oakdene Avenue and Memorial Park, where the borough holds its annual Memorial Day Service and Celebration each May at 11:00 AM. Memorial Park is the site of the borough's formal remembrance events and seasonal community programming. Tennis courts are available at School No. 6 on Highridge Avenue (check cliffsideparknj.gov for seasonal closures). The parks system in Cliffside Park is compact but central to daily residential life in the borough.

6. Access Palisades Interstate Park from the Southern Entrance

Cliffside Park borders Palisades Interstate Park on its western edge. The park's trail system, which runs for 12 miles north from the Fort Lee area into Rockland County, New York, is accessible from Cliffside Park via the Gorge Road corridor south toward Edgewater and the Ross Dock Picnic Area entry point. Palisades Interstate Park covers more than 2,500 acres along the Hudson River cliffs and includes over 30 miles of hiking trails, fishing access, and Hudson River views from the Palisades ridgeline. The park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark. It is the largest greenspace amenity within reach of Cliffside Park residents.

7. Explore the Former Palisades Amusement Park Site

The site of Palisades Amusement Park — which operated from 1898 until 1971 across 38 acres straddling Cliffside Park and Fort Lee — is now occupied by high-rise residential buildings along the Palisades ridge. The park was one of the most-visited amusement parks in the country at its peak and was the subject of the 1962 rock song "Palisades Park" by Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon, which reached the top of the Billboard charts. While the amusement park no longer exists, the site is part of local history that longtime Bergen County residents still reference. The views from the ridge where the park operated remain some of the clearest Hudson River and Manhattan skyline views available in Northern New Jersey.

8. Visit the Cliffside Park Public Library

The Cliffside Park Public Library at 505 Palisade Avenue is one of the borough's most active civic institutions. It offers programming, community meeting space, digital resources, and events throughout the year. The library serves as a practical gathering point for residents of all ages and is among the most reliably open public amenities in the borough. It also functions as a cooling center during heat advisories. For current hours, events, and programming, check the Cliffside Park Borough website at cliffsideparknj.gov.

9. Attend Bergen County Music and Movies in the Park

Bergen County's Music and Movies in the Park series runs each summer at parks across Bergen County, including venues accessible to Cliffside Park residents. The series typically includes free outdoor concerts and film screenings at county-managed parks. For Cliffside Park residents, the closest county-managed venues are generally accessible by car in 10 to 20 minutes. Check the Bergen County website for the annual schedule, which is released in late spring. Cliffside Park's own borough calendar at cliffsideparknj.gov also lists local community events, arts programming through the Cliffside Park Arts Association, and seasonal civic events throughout the year.

10. Connect to the Full Waterfront Corridor

Cliffside Park's location between Fort Lee and Edgewater puts it within a 10-minute drive or 20-minute walk of the full Hudson waterfront amenity corridor. To the south: Edgewater's NY Waterway ferry terminal at 989 River Road, Mitsuwa Marketplace at 595 River Road, SoJo Spa Club at 660 River Road, and the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway. To the north: Fort Lee's Bridge Plaza transit hub with NJ Transit routes 154, 156, 158, and 159 to Port Authority, the George Washington Bridge walkway, and Ross Dock Picnic Area inside Palisades Interstate Park. Cliffside Park residents who know the corridor use different pieces of it depending on what they need — the ferry for a lower Manhattan commute, Mitsuwa for weekly grocery runs, the Palisades trails for weekend hikes, and Anderson Avenue restaurants for dinner.

Why Cliffside Park NJ Homeowners Work with Scott Selleck

Scott Selleck is a Bergen County REALTOR and SRES-designated specialist with The Selleck Group at KW City Views Realty, licensed and active in New Jersey since 2013. His office is at 2200 Fletcher Avenue, Suite 502, Fort Lee, NJ 07024 — directly north of Cliffside Park along the Palisades corridor. Scott specializes in home selling for downsizers, expired and cancelled listing solutions, and NJ to Florida transition advisory. He works across Bergen County and Hudson County with direct knowledge of the Palisades communities.

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5 Frequently Asked Questions About Cliffside Park NJ

What bus goes from Cliffside Park NJ to New York City? NJ Transit routes 156 and 159 serve Cliffside Park with service to Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. Route 159 stops at Anderson Avenue and Columbia Avenue; Route 156 stops at Palisade Avenue at Riverview Avenue. Total trip time to Port Authority is approximately 53 minutes. Use the NJ Transit MyBus app for real-time arrivals and schedule updates.

What is Anderson Avenue in Cliffside Park NJ known for? Anderson Avenue is Cliffside Park's primary commercial corridor and one of Bergen County's most diverse dining streets. It is known for its Turkish restaurants and grocery stores, Japanese ramen, Italian specialty food importers, and halal dining options. Grand Bazaar Food, Nizam International Market, Saray Cuisine, Blackbeard Ramen, and Piccolo's Gastronomia Italiana are among the established businesses on or near the avenue.

What parks are in Cliffside Park NJ? Cliffside Park's main parks are Christopher Columbus Park at 785 Anderson Avenue, West Grantwood Park at 480 Oakdene Avenue, and Memorial Park. The borough also has tennis courts at School No. 6 on Highridge Avenue. Palisades Interstate Park borders the borough on the west and is accessible via Gorge Road and the Edgewater entry points to the south.

Where is Cliffside Park NJ located? Cliffside Park is located in Bergen County, NJ, on the Hudson Palisades ridge between Fort Lee to the north and Edgewater to the south. It sits in zip code 07010, directly west of the Hudson River and approximately 10 miles from Midtown Manhattan by bus.

What is the history of Cliffside Park NJ? Cliffside Park was incorporated as a borough in the 1890s, taking its name from its location along the Palisades cliffs. It was home to Palisades Amusement Park from 1898 to 1971, a 38-acre park that was one of the most visited in the country at its peak and the subject of a 1962 Billboard chart-topping song. The borough has developed into a culturally diverse commuter community with a strong Turkish-American population and a walkable commercial district along Anderson Avenue.

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Contact Scott Selleck

Scott Selleck, REALTOR, SRES The Selleck Group at KW City Views Realty 2200 Fletcher Avenue, Suite 502 Fort Lee, NJ 07024

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