The five boroughs of New York City
The five boroughs of New York City are Manhattan, Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. Manhattan is the smallest borough by area, while Queens is the largest, and each borough consists of multiple neighborhoods.
On a first visit to New York, the focus is often on Manhattan, where many well-known neighborhoods and landmarks are located. The other boroughs lie outside Manhattan. On this page, you can read more about the neighborhoods in each borough and what there is to see and do.
Manhattan
Manhattan is the smallest of New York City’s five boroughs. Many places commonly associated with the city are located relatively close to one another here, such as famous streets, landmarks, and neighborhoods popular with tourists.
The borough stretches from Lower Manhattan in the south to well beyond Midtown. The southern part is home to the Financial District, while Midtown is best known for its hotels, shops, and major attractions. North of Midtown are areas that are less tourist-oriented and consist mainly of residential neighborhoods.
First-time visitors to New York often spend a large part of their time in Manhattan. A more detailed overview of the borough can be found in the Manhattan travel guide.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is located directly east of Manhattan and is the most populous borough of New York City. The borough consists of many different neighborhoods, each with its own character. Along the edge of Manhattan are neighborhoods such as DUMBO, home to Brooklyn Bridge Park, from where you can enjoy views of the Manhattan skyline.
Brooklyn is also known for the Brooklyn Bridge, which connects the borough to Manhattan. In other parts of Brooklyn, you’ll mainly find residential neighborhoods that are less touristy.
A more detailed overview of the borough can be found in the Brooklyn travel guide.
Queens
Queens is located east of Manhattan and is the largest borough of New York City. It consists of many different neighborhoods, including Astoria and Jackson Heights. Citi Field, the home stadium of the New York Mets, is also located here. In addition, the airports JFK and LaGuardia are situated in Queens.
Outside these well-known places, the borough mainly consists of residential neighborhoods and parks. Flushing Meadows–Corona Park is the most famous of these.
An overview of neighborhoods and attractions in Queens can be found in the Queens travel guide.
The Bronx
The Bronx is located north of Manhattan and is the only borough of New York City that lies on the mainland. It consists of several neighborhoods and is known for places such as Yankee Stadium and the Bronx Zoo. Within New York City, The Bronx has a distinct character, in which music, sports, and local eateries play a visible role. This varies by neighborhood but is strongly connected to everyday life in the borough.
An overview of neighborhoods and well-known places in The Bronx can be found in the travel guide about The Bronx.
Staten Island
New York Info
Hi, I’m Edward, an experienced New York enthusiast. Over the past few years, I’ve visited the city multiple times and explored it from north to south. On New York Info, I share my own experiences, practical tips, and honest recommendations to help you plan your city trip to New York. Do you have any questions? Feel free to send me an email.
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Last updated: January 14, 2026
