New Jersey

Newark is New Jersey's largest city and a busy urban centre in the New York metropolitan area, about eight miles west of Manhattan. Known historically as Brick City for its architecture and industrial roots, it combines a major seaport and airport economy with a growing arts, university and food scene.

Founded by New England Puritans in 1666, Newark grew into one of America's great industrial cities and later became a hub for transportation, insurance and higher education. Landmarks such as the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the country, and the Newark Museum of Art, New Jersey's largest museum, reflect its deep civic and cultural history.

The Downtown area centres on the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, the Prudential Center arena and Newark Penn Station, while the Ironbound district is known for its Portuguese, Spanish and Brazilian restaurants. University Heights is home to Rutgers University-Newark, NJIT and Seton Hall's law school, and the North Ward contains Branch Brook Park, which has one of the largest collections of cherry blossom trees in the United States.

Newark remains a significant business and logistics centre, anchored by Newark Liberty International Airport, Port Newark and the Port Elizabeth marine terminal, along with major companies in insurance, technology and health sciences. Its proximity to Manhattan makes it a practical base for business travellers, conference visitors and event attendees.

Leisure visitors come for museums, live performances, sports at the Prudential Center and the Ironbound's dining, while business travellers value the airport access, rail connections and corporate districts. As a gateway city with deep history and a modern cultural calendar, Newark offers a distinctive introduction to New Jersey and the wider New York region.