Hoboken is a one-square-mile city on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River, directly across from Manhattan's west side. It has one of the best skyline views in the New York area — stand on the waterfront promenade at dusk and the whole of midtown lights up in front of you.
The city has its own character, distinct from the metropolis across the water. Washington Street, the main drag, is packed with bars, restaurants, and brunch spots that cater to the young professionals who fill the brownstone-lined streets. Hoboken was Frank Sinatra's birthplace, and while the city does not make an enormous deal of it, there is a small park named after him on the waterfront and his presence comes up often enough.
Hoboken is also home to the Hoboken Terminal, a beautiful Beaux-Arts train station that serves NJ Transit and PATH trains into Manhattan. The building itself is worth seeing — its copper-green tower and grand waiting room date to 1907. For visitors, the PATH train makes Hoboken an easy and affordable alternative base to staying in Manhattan, with the ride to the West Village taking under ten minutes. Beyond the obvious sights, take time for Pier A Park, the strange little Sybil's Cave on the cliff, and the leafy campus of Stevens Institute of Technology.