Brooklyn in New York

Brooklyn in New York includes famous neighbourhoods such as Williamsburg, DUMBO and Dyker Heights. This borough is New York’s most populated area. Brooklyn is a real “melting pot”, with residents of all kinds of cultures and nationalities. You’ll find for example Russian, Ukrainian, Italian, Puerto Rican, Jewish and Jamaican influences. If you have enough time during your trip, I recommend that you include a visit to this borough in your planning. Be sure to visit the Brooklyn Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge Park. Is there still time left? Then the other nice neighbourhoods in Brooklyn are also worth a visit!

Brooklyn neighbourhoods

Brooklyn is one of New York’s five boroughs and it’s divided into different neighbourhoods. The vast majority of Brooklyn is residential, but there are several neighbourhoods that are worth visiting. Here you can see a completely different side of New York and recover from the hectic pace of Manhattan. To get to Brooklyn, take the subway or the NYC Ferry. If you like to explore at your own pace, choose to rent a bike.

DUMBO

DUMBO stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, which immediately makes it clear where this part of Brooklyn can be found. DUMBO is located on the waterfront north of Brooklyn Bridge Park, “under” the Manhattan Bridge. It’s a very nice part of Brooklyn, where you can visit Empire Stores and Jane’s Carousel, among others. Washington Street is also here, where you can take the famous photo of the Empire State Building framed by the Manhattan Bridge.

Williamsburg

Williamsburg in Brooklyn is a hip neighbourhood where the atmosphere is defined by a mix of old, battered buildings and modern new constructions. On the streets, you will mainly find authentic restaurants, shops and coffee shops. As you walk through Williamsburg, you will also regularly come across beautiful graffiti art. Williamsburg is also known for its breweries, so those who love a locally brewed beer and a bite to eat with the locals should definitely check it out.

Brooklyn Heights

Brooklyn Heights is where you end up walking or cycling across the Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan to Brooklyn. Right on the waterfront is Brooklyn Bridge Park, the park with perhaps the most beautiful view of the Manhattan skyline. Here you can enjoy a walk or picnic, afterwards, it is worthwhile to walk through the rest of the neighbourhood. In Brooklyn Heights, you will find attractive streets with famous brownstone houses. Is it time to get something to eat? Then I recommend a fresh wood oven pizza at Grimaldi’s.

Dyker Heights and Bay Ridge

You visit Dyker Heights and Bay Ridge for one reason only: the lavish Christmas decorations that are conjured up here from the end of November. A Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tour will take you to the most beautifully decorated places in the neighbourhood. Entire streets are immersed in thousands of lights and decorations, so Christmas cheer is guaranteed!

Coney Island

On the south side of Brooklyn is Coney Island, a peninsula that is a hotspot, especially in the summer months. You can travel here on your own by metro, but it will take you a while. It is easier and more fun to book the New York Pizza Tour. Taste a variety of legendary New York pizzas along the way and end the tour at Coney Island. Here you can enjoy the holiday atmosphere, check out Luna Park and try Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs.

Greenpoint

Greenpoint is another hip Brooklyn neighbourhood located next to Williamsburg and East River. The area is known for its bars and cafes, vintage shopping, and beautiful waterfront views of Manhattan. Take a stroll through the bustling streets where you’ll find both former industrial buildings and luxury highrises. While taking in the unique atmosphere, grab a coffee, or sip on a beer at a local brewery.

Bushwick

Bushwick is a little more eclectic and edgy than other neighbourhoods in Brooklyn. It has quickly become a hotspot for alternative art and culture, thanks to the influx of artists and musicians. Bushwick is an industrial-looking neighbourhood filled with warehouses that have been converted into cafes, restaurants, shops and clubs. These warehouses also serve as an outdoor gallery of street art, with bright paint covering most of them. Easily accessible by subway, the area is a popular destination for street art fans.

Sunset Park

Sunset Park is where you will get the authentic Hispanic vibe in Brooklyn. It’s a nice area to walk around during the day and experience something totally different from Manhattan. Take the subway D, N or R to 36th Street and walk through 5th Avenue. This is also a good place to have lunch as there are many nice little restaurants. Try some Peruvian food at one of the typical chicken restaurants, or for some delicious chorizo tacos head to Tacos Matamoros. Visit Sunset Park (the park with the same name as the neighbourhood), sit on the grass and enjoy the beautiful view of Manhattan (you can even see the Statue of Liberty).

Crown Heights

As a neighbourhood, Crown Heights is not a very interesting attraction in itself, but that doesn’t count for the number of attractions that can be found here. The Brooklyn Museum and Brooklyn Botanic Garden are located on the edge of this district and a little further away you will also find the Brooklyn Children’s Museum.

The Brooklyn Museum is the second-largest museum in New York and contains a collection of one and a half million works. Some of the artists whose work can be found in the museum are Cézanne, Monet, Degas, Manet, Renoir, Kandinsky and Rembrandt.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden is actually made up of many smaller gardens. The Cherry Esplanade for example is very famous: it has more than 200 cherry trees. The Japanese Hill and Pond Garden have a koi pond, a Japanese temple, a Shinto shrine and Bonsai. At the Cranford Rose Garden, you can see nearly 1,400 species of rose. At the Yellow Magnolia Café, you can relax and enjoy some organic food.

With kids, it might be a fun activity to go to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum. It’s like a big indoor play area full of activities designed for the little ones. There is sensory play for toddlers with water, sand, sounds, pretend markets, pizzerias and giant lego. There are exhibitions on animals and, sometimes it is even possible to pet a snake.

Sports games in Brooklyn

Brooklyn, like the other New York boroughs, has a number of successful sports teams. The modern Barclays Center stadium is easily accessible by subway and home to basketball teams the Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty, the New York women’s team. Professional wrestling matches from WWE are also regularly held here. In addition, concerts and other events take place in this stadium every week.