With a rich immigrant history, world-class dining scene, and diverse neighborhoods, there are lots of things to do in Brooklyn, arguably New York City's hippest borough. Trendy Williamsburg is the epicenter of Brooklyn’s shopping, street art, and nightlife scene, while green spaces such as Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens offer a welcome escape from the urban grind. Plus, the views just can't be beat—from the Manhattan skyline at Brooklyn Heights Promenade to the iconic span of the Brooklyn Bridge from its namesake park on the East River shore.
Springtime in Brooklyn is one of the best times to visit. From the blooms in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden to the return of Smorgasburg (the large-scale, open-air street food event), spring sees the borough shake off the winter blues and blossom into life. As the summer heat moves in, you'll find more to things to do, including attending annual festivals like the West Indian Day Parade, the concert series in Prospect Park, and outdoor film screenings in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
New York City’s robust public transit network makes exploring the city easy, and that's certainly true in Brooklyn. The borough is served by more than a dozen subway lines across 170 stations, while major hubs like Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center Station also connect to the Long Island Railroad. Buses, taxis, and rideshare services offer street-level transit options, and the borough is also pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly.
Though often overlooked in favor of green spaces like Prospect Park, Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery offers another way to temporarily escape the urban hubbub. A National Historic Landmark located on a former Revolutionary War battlefield, the 478-acre (193.5-hectare) cemetery is the final resting place of luminaries like Jean-Michel Basquiat and is crisscrossed by walking trails. It also offers impressive views of the downtown Manhattan skyline.
Local Currency US Dollar ($) | Time Zone EDT (UTC -5) | Country Code +1 | Language(s) English | Attractions 34 | Tours 149 | Reviews 1,941 |
Writer and editor Claire made her home in Brooklyn for years. Though she's since relocated to London, she still returns every year to see old friends and revisit favorite spots and discover new ones (and misses it so!).
load up on carbs. You haven’t really been to Brooklyn until you’ve had pizza at Di Fara or Lucali and bagels at La Bagel Delight or Court Street Bagels—and for liquid carbs, the beer at Other Half is on point.
Skip the brunch scene, and grab the best bagel and coffee you can find. After browsing the Fort Greene Park Greenmarket or Greenlight Bookstore, hit the Brooklyn Museum — then grab a beer at Gold Star Beer Counter or BierWax.
walking across the Brooklyn Bridge as the views never get old, even if the crowds do. And it’s worth going to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (adjacent to Prospect Park) throughout the year — yes, even in winter.
don’t just stay in Williamsburg or Park Slope — Brooklyn has many neighborhoods. Visit Brooklyn’s Chinatown in Sunset Park, nosh on vareniki and other Eastern European staples in Brighton Beach, and swing by Little Haiti for a dose of Haitian culture.
you can go to the famous intersection in Dumbo at Front and Washington streets, where the Empire State Building is perfectly framed by the Manhattan Bridge. But for a less clichéd view, head to Green-Wood Cemetery to see the whole skyline.
Don’t let their sometimes brusque exterior fool you — most New Yorkers really look out for each other. Sure, they’ll get annoyed if you break certain social codes (spatial awareness helps), but the prevailing attitude is that we’re all in this together.
Brooklyn is a byword for all things hip and trendy, thanks to its edgy art, dining, and nightlife scenes. Brooklyn is New York City’s most populous borough and has long been known for its diverse communities, brownstone buildings, green spaces like Prospect Park, and culinary highlights like coal-fired pizza.
...MoreThe best Brooklyn weekends mingle outdoor excursions with cultural pursuits. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge, visit the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and discover Coney Island’s shoreline amusements. Explore the art galleries and restaurants of Williamsburg and Bushwick, visit the Brooklyn Museum, and catch a Brooklyn Nets game.
...MorePopular activities in Brooklyn include walking the Brooklyn Bridge and Brooklyn Heights Promenade, exploring Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and going on a pizza tour. Sports fans frequent the Barclays Center, and summer visitors go to Coney Island and Brighton Beach.
...MoreBegin a Williamsburg day out by browsing the hip shops and cafés that line Bedford Avenue. In summer, get snacks at the Smorgasburg food court; in winter, cozy up with brunch at Pies and Thighs. Visit the waterfront Domino Park, drop by Brooklyn Brewery, and scope out street art murals.
...MoreBrooklyn offers many free attractions. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge and Brooklyn Heights Promenade, visit Prospect Park, go on a self-led street art tour, explore the scenic Green-Wood Cemetery, and hit the beach and boardwalk at Coney Island. Some attractions, such as Brooklyn Botanic Gardens and Brooklyn Museum, have free admission days.
...MoreBrooklyn is generally a safe place to visit, and most neighborhoods won’t pose safety issues. Because of the borough’s size and scale, focus on visiting the areas that are home to popular attractions: Williamsburg, Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope, Fort Greene, Prospect Heights, Dumbo, and Bushwick are all good choices.
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