A Jersey City Base, One PATH Stop From Manhattan
Open the door and turn east, and the Lower Manhattan skyline is laid out across the Hudson in front of you. NYC HomeBnB sits on a quiet residential block of Bergen-Lafayette in Jersey City, a converted multi-storey home that runs as an independent hostel with eight bookable room types, a fully equipped shared kitchen and a shared lounge anchored by a deep bay window. Five to ten minutes on foot brings you to the Richard Street Hudson-Bergen Light Rail station; four stops north and one PATH ride east is the World Trade Center.
This is not a Manhattan hostel pretending to be cheap. It is a Jersey City hostel that is actually cheap, with dorm beds and private rooms. Air conditioning runs throughout the building, every dormitory has lockers (bring your own padlock), every private room has a personal door code, and the free Wi-Fi is the property's strongest single feature and a consistent highlight in guest reviews. The manager is named in review after review for being available and communicative; the kitchen and shared spaces are described as recently refreshed by guests who arrived in late 2024 and 2025.
What's a Few Minutes' Walk from the Front Door
Garfield Avenue is the spine of the neighbourhood. Walk five blocks south and you hit Berry Lane Park, a 17.5-acre former Brownfield turned municipal park that opened in June 2016 as Jersey City's largest park, with basketball, tennis, baseball, soccer, a playground and a splashpad. Walk ten minutes east and you are at the gateway of Liberty State Park, 1,212 acres of waterfront parkland that is also the New Jersey ferry terminal for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Walk seven minutes the other way and you reach Richard Street Hudson-Bergen Light Rail station.
From Richard Street, the route into Manhattan is straightforward. Ride four stops north to Exchange Place, then one PATH stop east under the Hudson to the World Trade Center, about 25 to 30 minutes door to door for a $3.25 PATH fare after the 19 May 2026 Port Authority increase. Newark Liberty International (EWR) is the recommended airport at 7 miles; the property's own answer to the question 'how long to Manhattan from EWR?' is a flat 20 minutes to the World Trade Center. Drivers should know there is no on-site parking; street parking is residential, with daytime cleaning rules to watch for.
Inside the House: Shared Kitchen, Lounge and Eight Room Types
The shared kitchen is the social heart of the building: white cabinets, a stainless fridge, a gas range, a breakfast bar with stools and a small stained-glass window catching the morning light. Free all-day coffee and tea sit on the counter for any guest. Bring a few groceries from El Chevy on Garfield Avenue (six minutes' walk) and the kitchen does the rest, the laundromat is a short walk further on Ocean Avenue if you need it.
Eight bookable room types run from a Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room to a Double Room with Shared Bathroom. Private rooms have personal door codes; dormitories have lockers with a bring-your-own-padlock policy. Air conditioning is in every room and every common area. Two of the dormitories share an in-dorm private bathroom; the rest of the rooms share the house bathrooms. The manager is repeatedly named in reviews for being communicative and present, and a $30 refundable damage deposit is taken on arrival by credit card.
Why Book NYC HomeBnB?
A budget Jersey City hostel that is honestly the right length of train ride from the Lower Manhattan skyline, with the kitchen, the air conditioning and the dorm-bed price to match.
Jersey City, not Manhattan
A converted Bergen-Lafayette home, not a Times Square dorm. Five to ten minutes' walk to Richard Street light rail; about 25 to 30 minutes door to door to the World Trade Center via HBLR + PATH.
Dorm beds and private doubles
Eight room types across the building, from a Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory to a private Double Room with Shared Bathroom.
Shared kitchen, lounge and AC throughout
Recently refreshed shared kitchen with gas range and breakfast bar, shared lounge with a bay window, free all-day coffee and tea, free Wi-Fi guests find reliable, and air conditioning in every room and every common area.
Best-fit guests
Best for budget-conscious solo travellers and international visitors who would rather pay Jersey City hostel prices and ride a PATH train into Manhattan than pay Manhattan hostel prices and have nowhere to cook.
Check Availability at NYC HomeBnB
Interesting Points About NYC HomeBnB
- NYC HomeBnB occupies a 1911-era multi-storey converted single-family home on Garfield Avenue, between Bergen-Lafayette and Greenville, a residential pocket of Jersey City threaded by the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and Liberty State Park's 1,212 acres of waterfront parkland to the east.
- The fastest route to Lower Manhattan is the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail from Richard Street four stops north to Exchange Place, then one PATH stop east under the Hudson to the World Trade Center, roughly 25 to 30 minutes door to door for a PATH fare of $3.25 after the 19 May 2026 Port Authority fare increase.
- Berry Lane Park, an 17.5-acre former Brownfield turned park that opened to the public in June 2016 as Jersey City's largest municipal park, sits a few blocks south of the front door along the same Garfield Avenue.
Rooms & Accommodation at NYC HomeBnB
Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
Sleeps 1 · Shared bathroom · Locker (BYO padlock)
The entry-tier bed at NYC HomeBnB and the cheapest way to be one PATH stop from Manhattan. A single bunk in a mixed-gender 6-bed dormitory, with a personal locker (bring a padlock), air conditioning, free Wi-Fi and shared house bathrooms. Best for solo backpackers and budget-first travellers who treat the bed as a place to sleep between days walking Lower Manhattan.
Check Prices
Bed in 4-Bed Female Dormitory Room
Sleeps 1 · Female-only · Shared bathroom
A single bed in a women-only 4-bed dormitory with an in-dorm shared bathroom, a small step up over the mixed 6-bed for the smaller room and the single-gender setting. Best for solo women travelling alone who want the dorm price without sharing the room with male strangers.
Check Prices
Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
Sleeps 1 · In-dorm private bathroom · AC
A single bed in a 4-bed mixed dormitory, one of only two dorms in the building with a private bathroom inside the dorm itself, shared between the four occupants. Best for travellers who want the smaller-dorm vibe and would rather not queue for the house bathrooms at 8am.
Check Prices
Single Bed in Male Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom
Sleeps 1 · Mixed dormitory · Shared bathroom
A single bed in a shared dormitory with a shared house bathroom. Best for solo travellers happy in a small mixed-gender dorm who want the cheap dorm price with the slightly smaller room than the 6-bed mixed option. The listing name says 'male' but the property confirms there is no exclusively-male dorm here, the actual room is a mixed-gender 3 or 4-bed dorm shared between male and (occasionally) female guests. Choose one of the two female-only categories if a single-gender room is what you need.
Check Prices
Bunk Bed in Female Dormitory Room
Sleeps 1 · Female-only · Shared bathroom
A bunk bed in a women-only dormitory with shared house bathrooms, the second of the property's two female-only dorm options. Best for solo women who want a women-only room but don't need the in-dorm bathroom of the 4-Bed Female setup.
Check Prices
Standard Double Room
Sleeps 2 · Private room · Shared bathroom · Door code
A private room with one double bed, a personal door code that only your booking has, blackout blinds and the same air conditioning and Wi-Fi as the rest of the building. Bathrooms are shared with the wider house. Best for couples or solo travellers who want a private room with the door-locks-behind-you reassurance, at a price that still comes in well under any Manhattan hotel.
Check Prices
Basic Triple Room with Shared Bathroom
Sleeps 3 · Private room · Shared bathroom
A private room sleeping three on a flexible bed configuration, with a personal door code, AC and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are shared with the wider house. Best for a friend trio or a small family wanting one room rather than three dorm beds in three different dorms, and good value per person split three ways.
Check Prices
Double Room with Shared Bathroom
Sleeps 2 · Private room · Shared bathroom
The top-tier private double, with two windows, a personal door code, AC and Wi-Fi, sharing the same house bathrooms as the Standard Double but with the larger footprint and the brighter aspect. Best for couples who want the most generous private room in the building and are happy to step up from the Standard Double for the upgrade.
Check PricesIs NYC HomeBnB Right for You?
Best Suited For
- Budget-conscious solo travellers who want a hostel bed in the New York metro for the price of a sandwich in Manhattan
- International visitors flying into Newark Liberty (EWR) who want a 20-minute trip to the World Trade Center, not a 45-minute one from JFK
- Travellers who would rather have a real shared kitchen and an air-conditioned dorm in Jersey City than a windowless capsule in Midtown
- Solo women who want a women-only dorm option, with two female-only configurations across the building
- Photo IDs out-of-state? You're fine, but bring something showing your current address (a piece of recent mail counts) per the property's house rule
Worth Considering Alternatives If
- You expect a Manhattan-style streetscape outside the door: this is residential Jersey City; the cobblestones and glass towers are a 25-minute train ride away
- You are travelling with children: house rules don't allow children at the property
- You need on-site parking: there isn't any. Street parking is residential with cleaning rules to read
- You need lifts and step-free access: this is a multi-storey converted 1911 house with steep internal staircases
- You travel with a pet: pets are not allowed in any room
Amenities & Facilities
Shared spaces
- Fully equipped shared kitchen with gas range, fridge, oven, microwave, kettle, toaster
- Free all-day coffee and tea on the kitchen counter
- Shared lounge with a bay window and seating
- Free Wi-Fi throughout
- Air conditioning in every room and every common area
- Free luggage storage on arrival and before departure (limited hours)
- Free bike storage (limited hours)
Room amenities
- Personal door code on every private room
- Locker in every dormitory room (bring your own padlock)
- Bedding and towels supplied
- Blackout blinds and curtains on bedroom windows
- Free Wi-Fi in every room
- Two dormitories have a private bathroom inside the dorm itself
Reception & services
- Reception staffed until 21:30 every day
- Self check-in available by arrangement after 21:30
- Free luggage storage and free bike storage during limited hours
- Communicative on-site manager named repeatedly in recent guest reviews
- Photo ID required at check-in; non-NJ ID needs proof of out-of-state residence (e.g. a piece of recent mail)
- Genius loyalty programme partner
- Non-smoking property
Not available
- Not available: On-site parking (residential street parking with cleaning rules)
- Not available: On-site restaurant or bar (Wanamaker's Tavern and Space Pizza are a 4–7 minute walk)
- Not available: Breakfast service (the shared kitchen is yours)
- Not available: Swimming pool, spa or gym
- Not available: Airport shuttle service
- Not available: Lift / step-free access (multi-storey 1911 house with stairs)
- Not available: Children
- Not available: Pets
- Not available: Smoking on the premises
- Not available: Cash payment (card only)
Location & Getting Around
NYC HomeBnB sits on Garfield Avenue in Bergen-Lafayette, a quietly residential pocket of Jersey City that runs between Downtown Jersey City to the northeast and Liberty State Park to the east. The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail threads the neighbourhood from north to south, with the Richard Street station a five to ten minute walk from the front door and Garfield Avenue station 0.7 mi south. From either, the route into Lower Manhattan is four light-rail stops north to Exchange Place and one PATH stop east to the World Trade Center, about 25 to 30 minutes door to door at a $3.25 PATH fare.
The wider neighbourhood is a working residential one, not a Manhattan-style streetscape. Communipaw Avenue is the local restaurant row, with Caribbean spot Harry's Daughter and The Grind coffee shop a few blocks away. Ocean Avenue is the everyday-needs strip. Wanamaker's Tavern is 300 yards from the door, Space Pizza 350 yards, and El Chevy Grocery (for late-night essentials) about 600 yards. Walk ten minutes east and you are at the gateway to Liberty State Park, the New Jersey ferry terminal for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and the 18.5-mile Hudson River Waterfront Walkway.
- Richard Street Light Rail: 400 yd / 5–10 min walk. The nearest Hudson-Bergen Light Rail station; from here it is four stops north to Exchange Place and one PATH east to the World Trade Center.
- Berry Lane Park: 0.8 mi / 17 min walk. The largest municipal park in Jersey City at 17.5 acres, opened June 2016, on the same Garfield Avenue.
- Liberty State Park: 1.1 mi / about 25 min walk or 10 min HBLR. 1,212 acres of waterfront parkland and the New Jersey ferry terminal for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
- Statue of Liberty: 1.4 mi line of sight; access by ferry from Liberty State Park. The Statue ferry from the New Jersey side is the closest public crossing to the property.
- Journal Square PATH: 2.4 mi / 8 min drive or 10 min HBLR. Major PATH hub for direct trains into Lower and Midtown Manhattan.
- One World Trade Center: 4.2 mi via PATH. The 1,776-foot tower confirmed by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat in November 2013 as the tallest in the Western Hemisphere; reachable on one PATH ride from Exchange Place.
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum: 4.4 mi via PATH. Reflecting pools at the original tower footprints and the museum beneath.
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR): 7 mi / 20 min drive. The recommended airport for the property; the in-house rule of thumb is 20 minutes to the World Trade Center via NJ Transit + PATH.
- Brooklyn Bridge: 5 mi. Reached via PATH from Exchange Place + a short walk or subway from World Trade Center.
- JFK Airport: About 22 mi by road. Cheapest route is AirTrain + A train via Fulton Street + PATH to Exchange Place + HBLR back south to Richard Street.
Getting to Key Locations
Photo: Mobilus In Mobili, CC BY-SA 2.0
Liberty State Park
Ten minutes east on foot or a few stops on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, Liberty State Park is 1,212 acres of waterfront parkland and the New Jersey side of the Statue of Liberty story. Statue Cruises depart from the park's ferry terminal for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, so the closest public crossing to the statue actually leaves from here rather than from Battery Park. The 18.5-mile Hudson River Waterfront Walkway runs the length of the park with picnic lawns, the Liberty Science Center and the restored Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal at its northern end.
View on Map
Photo: Boris Dzhingarov, CC BY 2.0
Statue of Liberty
The icon. From Bergen-Lafayette it is 1.4 miles in a straight line across the Hudson, but the closest public ferry crossing leaves from the Liberty State Park terminal a ten-minute walk east. Statue Cruises run year-round; tickets are timed and pedestal/crown access is limited and usually booked a week or two ahead. The full visit (ferry across, walk the grounds, return) takes about three hours and pairs naturally with an Ellis Island stop on the same ticket.
View on Map
Photo: Matthew Bellemare, CC BY-SA 2.0
One World Trade Center
The 1,776-foot tower at the head of the Lower Manhattan skyline, confirmed in November 2013 by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat as the tallest in the Western Hemisphere. From Richard Street the route is four HBLR stops north to Exchange Place and one PATH ride east under the Hudson to the World Trade Center, about 25 to 30 minutes door to door. The 9/11 Memorial reflecting pools sit at the base, and One World Observatory on the top floors is the highest indoor observation deck in the city.
View on MapHow to Get to NYC HomeBnB from Newark Liberty (EWR)
- AirTrain from your terminal to the Newark Liberty rail station: From any EWR terminal, board the AirTrain Newark monorail (free between terminals, $8.25 to the NJ Transit / Amtrak rail platform). The platform is signed 'Newark Liberty International Airport Station' and the AirTrain runs every few minutes.
- NJ Transit to Newark Penn Station: From the rail platform take any NJ Transit Northeast Corridor or North Jersey Coast Line train to Newark Penn Station, about 4 minutes. Tap-to-pay or off-peak one-way is around $5.50.
- PATH from Newark Penn to Exchange Place: At Newark Penn, walk to the PATH platform (signed) and board the PATH Newark-World Trade Center line. Get off at Exchange Place after 20 minutes. PATH fare is $3.25.
- HBLR south from Exchange Place to Richard Street: Cross the platform at Exchange Place to the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and take a southbound train (towards 8th Street or West Side Avenue). Alight at Richard Street after 4 stops, about 12 minutes.
- Walk 5–10 minutes east on Garfield Avenue: Leave Richard Street station and walk east on Garfield Avenue. NYC HomeBnB is at 623 Garfield Avenue. If you arrive after 21:30 the front desk is closed; message the property in advance to arrange a self check-in code.
Jersey City at a Glance
Jersey City is the second-most populous city in New Jersey after Newark, with a 2020 U.S. Census population of 292,449, sitting directly across the Hudson River from Lower Manhattan. The waterfront has become a finance, food and arts hub anchored by Exchange Place, the Colgate Clock and the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway; the inland neighbourhoods around the property are 19th-century brownstone districts threaded by the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and three PATH stations. Liberty State Park sits between the two, 1,212 acres of public waterfront with the closest New Jersey ferry to the Statue of Liberty.
For visitors the city operates as a much cheaper New York base than Manhattan with the same transport access. Best months are May through early October (warmest, longest days, longest restaurant patios) and the December holiday weeks (Manhattan lighting, rooftop skyline views); January and February are quieter and cheaper. Demand spikes around July 4 fireworks over the Hudson at Liberty State Park, Jersey City Pride in late August and the autumn All About Downtown Street Fair on Newark Avenue.
Watch a Walking Tour of Jersey City
A 8-minute walking tour of Jersey City's waterfront and inland landmarks by Do Travel: Liberty State Park, the Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal, the Colgate Clock, Loew's Jersey Theatre, the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway, Van Vorst Park, Morris Canal Park, Saint Peter's University Campus, Audubon Park and the Jersey City Museum. Liberty State Park is a ten-minute walk east of NYC HomeBnB.
What Guests Say About NYC HomeBnB
Scores and review counts are aggregated from verified guest bookings on major travel platforms.
Good
Guests overwhelmingly leave with a good impression of the building and the host, anchored by very strong Wi-Fi, staff and cleanliness and a kitchen that recent guests describe as recently refreshed. The location is the consistent caveat: travellers who arrive understanding it is a Jersey City converted-home hostel rather than a Manhattan property tend to leave delighted, with international solo travellers from India, Algeria, Hungary and Malaysia leading the recent praise; travellers who arrive expecting a Manhattan streetscape are the ones who rate the location lowest. Across platforms the picture is consistent and positive.
An amazing stay, clean and comfortable. The kind of hostel you'd happily rebook.
Nathaniel
An amazing stay, clean and comfortable. The kind of hostel you'd happily rebook.
2026-05-10Superb location for getting into Manhattan, easy and quick on the light rail and PATH. Cleanliness could be a touch sharper but the value is hard to argue with.
2026-04-19Comfortable bed and the location worked for what we needed. The kitchen, especially the oven, could use a refresh, but everything else was fine.
2026-04-12The manager was very communicative and the place is genuinely close to transport, train is a five-minute walk. The neighbourhood is quiet and clean. The only catch is no shops in the immediate streets, bring water and snacks before you settle in.
2026-04-05Peaceful stay. Everything I needed and nothing to really complain about.
2026-03-28Very clean and pleasant. Everything was great, the only downside was checking out.
2026-02-27Good to Know Before You Book
Bring a padlock for the dorm locker
Every dormitory has a personal locker but the property does not supply the padlock. A small combination padlock from any travel shop or supermarket is fine; without one your valuables are not lockable. Private rooms have a personal door code instead of a locker.
$30 refundable damage deposit on arrival
House rules require a $30 refundable damage deposit at check-in, taken by credit card. It is refunded within 7 days of check-out subject to a room inspection. Cash is not accepted for the deposit (or any other payment); bring a working credit card.
Reception is staffed until 21:30
If you arrive after 21:30 the front desk is closed. Message the property in advance and the staff will send self check-in instructions and a code. If you arrive at EWR after 9pm the property's own advice is to text the host before you board the train so the code is waiting in your phone when you arrive.
Photo ID and proof of address at check-in
A photo ID is required at check-in. If your photo ID is not a New Jersey ID, the property may also ask for proof of out-of-state residence, e.g. a piece of recent mail addressed to you at your home address. Worth screenshotting before you fly.
Children are not allowed
The property's house rules do not allow children to stay. Travelling with family? You'll need a different listing in Jersey City or Newark.
Photos of NYC HomeBnB
Frequently Asked Questions
No, NYC HomeBnB is in Jersey City, New Jersey, at 623 Garfield Avenue. It is one PATH train stop from the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, about 25 to 30 minutes door to door via the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and PATH. The 'NYC' in the name refers to the trip you can make from here, not the location of the building itself.
Walk five to ten minutes to Richard Street Hudson-Bergen Light Rail station. Take a northbound HBLR four stops to Exchange Place. Cross the platform onto a PATH train heading to the World Trade Center, one stop east under the Hudson. Total door to door is about 25 to 30 minutes for a PATH fare of $3.25.
Both. Three private room types (Standard Double, Basic Triple and a Double Room with Shared Bathroom) sit alongside five dormitory options including a 6-bed mixed dorm, a 4-bed female dorm and a 4-bed mixed dorm with an in-dorm private bathroom. Exact nightly rates depend on the room type and your dates, and the current price is shown before you confirm. Every private room has a personal door code; every dormitory has a locker (bring your own padlock).
Check-in is from 15:00 to 20:00; reception is staffed until 21:30. Check-out is from 08:00 to 11:00. If you'll arrive after 21:30, message the property in advance and the team will send a self check-in code. Early or late requests can be made when you book but are not guaranteed.
No, pets are not allowed in any room at NYC HomeBnB.
No, the property's house rules do not allow children at NYC HomeBnB. The hostel is set up for adult solo travellers, friend groups and couples.
No, there is no on-site parking. Street parking in the surrounding residential blocks is free but subject to street-cleaning rules and time limits; check the daily signage. The closest pay-and-display car parks are downtown around the PATH stations.
Yes, free Wi-Fi runs in every room and every common area, and guests consistently name it as the property's standout facility. Signal is reportedly weaker through closed dorm doors than in the shared kitchen and lounge.
A $30 refundable damage deposit is taken on arrival by credit card and refunded within 7 days of check-out subject to a room inspection. Cash is not accepted for the deposit or for any other payment at the property; bring a working credit card.
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is the recommended and closest airport, 7 miles away. The property's own answer to 'how long to Manhattan from EWR via the hostel' is about 20 minutes from front door to the World Trade Center via AirTrain + NJ Transit + PATH. LaGuardia and JFK are reachable but slower, especially JFK which requires AirTrain + A train + PATH.
Other Great Stays in the New York Metro
Starlight Guesthouse, West Orange
A small New Jersey guesthouse 25 minutes' drive inland from Jersey City, a quieter alternative when you want a private NJ base and don't need to be on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail.
Feather Factory Hotel, Long Island City
A converted-factory hotel in Long Island City, Queens. Same one-train-ride distance to Midtown but on the Manhattan side of the river, if your trip leans more uptown than Lower Manhattan.
Ready to Book NYC HomeBnB?
Dorm beds and private rooms, five to ten minutes' walk from the Richard Street light rail and 25 to 30 minutes door to door to the World Trade Center.
Check Availability