Travel Guide Brooklyn
Brooklyn is one of New York’s five boroughs and is often visited as an addition to Manhattan. The borough is large and made up of many different neighborhoods, each with its own atmosphere. Brooklyn is generally less crowded and has several well-known waterfront areas with views of the Manhattan skyline.
Many visitors come to Brooklyn to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, explore DUMBO, stroll through Williamsburg, or spend an afternoon in Coney Island.
Brooklyn is larger than Manhattan, which means you can’t get everywhere on foot. To reach many attractions, you’ll need to use the subway or take a taxi to travel between neighborhoods.
Brooklyn is too big to cover everything on a single page. That’s why you’ll find a travel guide below featuring the topics most relevant to you during a city trip to New York.
Sights in Brooklyn
Brooklyn offers a wide variety of attractions spread across the borough. You’ll find iconic spots familiar from photos and films, as well as neighborhoods and parks that show a very different side of New York compared to Manhattan.
Many visitors start their exploration with well-known highlights such as the Brooklyn Bridge, DUMBO, or Williamsburg, but more distant places like Coney Island also attract large numbers of visitors each year. The attractions vary greatly in atmosphere, ranging from historic bridges and scenic viewpoints to beaches, parks, and lively neighborhoods.
Because Brooklyn is so large, it’s common to combine sights by neighborhood or by part of the day. For example, you can pair a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge with visits to DUMBO and Brooklyn Bridge Park, or combine exploring Williamsburg with a nearby park or museum.
In the sections below, you’ll find more information about the most famous bridges, neighborhoods, parks, and other places that make Brooklyn so special.
Bridges in Brooklyn
Brooklyn is connected to Manhattan and other parts of New York by several bridges. The most well-known are the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge.
The Brooklyn Bridge is especially popular with tourists for walking or cycling across. The Manhattan Bridge is often chosen for a quieter walk, offering views of the Brooklyn Bridge and leading toward Washington Street in DUMBO, a well-known photo spot beneath the bridge.
Neighborhoods in Brooklyn
While neighborhoods in Manhattan are often dominated by skyscrapers, Brooklyn has a very different character. Here you’ll find areas with a more cultural, artistic, and industrial atmosphere. Think of Williamsburg and Bushwick, the elegant brownstone houses of Park Slope and Brooklyn Heights, or the maritime feel of Coney Island.
Along the waterfront are neighborhoods such as DUMBO and Greenpoint, where you can enjoy beautiful views of the Manhattan skyline from various spots. This variety between neighborhoods is what makes Brooklyn so interesting to explore.
Distances between neighborhoods in Brooklyn are larger than in Manhattan. Depending on what you want to see or do, you’ll usually travel from one area to another by subway.
Parks in Brooklyn
Brooklyn has a surprisingly large number of parks where you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city. These parks are spread throughout the borough and are often combined with a walk through the surrounding neighborhoods or a visit to nearby attractions.
One of the most famous parks is Brooklyn Bridge Park. Located directly along the East River, the park stretches along the waterfront of Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO. From various spots in the park, you can enjoy views of the Manhattan skyline, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Manhattan Bridge. The park is popular for walking, relaxing by the water, and taking photos of the skyline.
Further south in Brooklyn lies Prospect Park, a large park designed by the same landscape architects as Central Park. The park is located between several neighborhoods and is widely used by both visitors and local residents. You’ll find wide grassy lawns, walking paths, and quiet spots to relax after a day of sightseeing.
In general, parks in Brooklyn are less crowded than the famous parks in Manhattan. They are more often frequented by locals than by large groups of tourists, which creates a relaxed and distinctly local atmosphere.
Hotels in Brooklyn
More and more travelers choose to stay in Brooklyn during a city trip to New York. One of the main reasons is that hotels here are often slightly more affordable than in Manhattan, while the subway still allows you to reach other parts of the city quickly.
Where you stay in Brooklyn does make a difference. Neighborhoods such as Williamsburg, Brooklyn Heights, and Downtown Brooklyn have many hotels that are popular with tourists. These areas offer good subway connections and are relatively close to Manhattan. From Williamsburg, for example, you can reach Midtown or Lower Manhattan within just a few minutes.
Further away from Manhattan, in more residential neighborhoods, you’ll often find quieter hotels. These are usually a bit cheaper, but travel times to the main attractions are longer. This can be a good option if you want to explore Brooklyn more extensively or if you’re staying in New York for several days.
Brooklyn is a large borough, so when choosing a hotel it’s always a good idea to check the distance to the nearest subway station. This helps you avoid spending unnecessary time traveling and allows you to make the most of your stay.
Subway in Brooklyn
Because Brooklyn is such a large borough, you’ll quickly find yourself using the subway during your stay. Many attractions and neighborhoods are farther apart than in Manhattan, which makes getting everywhere on foot impractical. The subway allows you to travel easily between different parts of Brooklyn and reach other boroughs of New York just as quickly.
Almost all popular neighborhoods in Brooklyn have good subway connections. From areas such as Williamsburg, Downtown Brooklyn, and Brooklyn Heights, you can reach Manhattan in a short amount of time. Places like DUMBO, Prospect Park, and Coney Island are also easily accessible by subway.
Many visitors combine walking with a few subway rides while exploring Brooklyn. This makes it possible to visit several neighborhoods in one day without covering long distances on foot. Especially if you want to see a lot or include multiple attractions, the subway is the most convenient way to get around.
When planning your days, it’s a good idea to check in advance which subway lines run near your hotel and the places you want to visit. This helps save travel time and makes for a more relaxed daily schedule.
Visiting Brooklyn in One Day
Many travelers include Brooklyn as part of a multi-day city trip to New York. In one day, for example, you can combine a visit to the Brooklyn Bridge, DUMBO, and Williamsburg, or mix Brooklyn with other parts of the city. In my 5-day New York itinerary, I show how to fit Brooklyn into your trip in a logical and efficient way.
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 17, 2026
