In a nutshell
- We’ll show you the best places in Brooklyn from personal experience — the highlights you shouldn’t miss, the coolest neighborhoods, and the photo spots worth your time.
- Brooklyn is New York’s most creative borough — think street art, food markets, skyline views, and neighborhoods that feel nothing like Manhattan.
- We’ve also put together a perfect one-day itinerary so you can make the most of your time, plus honest hotel and restaurant recommendations.
- Especially great for street art fans: guided street art tour through Bushwick with a local artist.
Top Places in Brooklyn on a Map
We’ve marked all the key highlights in Brooklyn on a map so you can get your bearings before you go.
Our Top 6 Places in Brooklyn
Ready to explore Brooklyn? Here are the six spots you absolutely can’t skip:
Brooklyn Bridge
What do you need to know? The Brooklyn Bridge is THE iconic highlight in Brooklyn — and one of the top attractions in all of New York. It connects Manhattan with Brooklyn and was the first bridge ever built across the East River. Today, over 100,000 cars and countless pedestrians and cyclists cross it every single day. The pedestrian and bike paths run on their own level above the traffic lanes and are now clearly separated.
Is it worth it? Absolutely! The Brooklyn Bridge is a must on any New York trip. You can even ride across it on a Citi Bike rental bike — seriously fun.
Our tip: Come early in the morning — it’s so much less crowded then. For a beautiful, quieter view of the bridge at sunset, head to Brooklyn Bridge Park instead.
Brooklyn Heights
What do you need to know? Brooklyn Heights sits directly across from the southern tip of Manhattan and is one of the most charming — and most expensive — neighborhoods in Brooklyn. Think historic townhouses, quiet tree-lined streets, and seriously spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline.
What can you do there? Stroll through Brooklyn Bridge Park, walk the Brooklyn Promenade for skyline views, catch a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty, and cross the Squibb Bridge for crowd-free photos.
Is it worth it? Yes! Especially if you love quieter spots with a lot of history. Brooklyn Heights is a real contrast to the non-stop energy of Manhattan.
DUMBO
What do you need to know? DUMBO — short for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass — sits just north of Brooklyn Heights and is a tiny neighborhood covering only around nine streets. It’s one of the most sought-after places to live in New York: urban, creative, and with an amazing position right on the East River.
What can you do there? Wander the streets, sit in cafés, score vintage finds at the Brooklyn Flea, relax in Main Street Park or at little Pebble Beach, ride Jane’s Carousel, enjoy the panorama from the rooftop terrace of the Time Out Market, and — of course — snap the famous Manhattan Bridge photo in person.
Is it worth it? Absolutely! DUMBO is a perfect mix of industrial charm, design, foodie hotspots, and skyline views. On a nice day, just wandering through here is a real treat.
Our tip: The Time Out Market is a great spot for breakfast!
Discover more free things to do in New York!
Williamsburg
What do you need to know? Williamsburg is one of the most creative and trendy neighborhoods in all of New York. Where warehouses and factories once stood, you’ll now find galleries, boutiques, cafés, and seriously good restaurants. Many trends that start here eventually spread around the world.
What can you do there? Visit Domino Park with views of the old sugar factory, stuff yourself at the Smorgasburg food market, get inspired by art and vintage pieces at Artists & Fleas, and grab a drink on Bedford Avenue.
Is it worth it? Williamsburg is creative, lively, and full of culinary and cultural surprises. It’s perfect if you want to experience the scene beyond Manhattan.
Our restaurant picks: Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream (heavenly!), Little Choc Apothecary (vegan crêpes), and Sunday in Brooklyn (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
Find the best budget-friendly restaurants in New York here!
Bushwick
What do you need to know? Bushwick is Brooklyn’s newest creative hotspot — and trust us, Brooklyn is seriously creative. Once industrial and rough around the edges, the neighborhood now draws artists, designers, and curious visitors from all over. While Williamsburg has already gone mainstream, Bushwick still feels raw. And that’s exactly what makes it so appealing.
What can you do there? There’s a ton of street art to take in here — the streets around Flushing Avenue are one big open-air gallery. The Bushwick Collective Block Party also takes place every June, with music, live painting, and performances.
Is it worth it? If you’re into street art and want to see a neighborhood that’s changing rapidly right now, Bushwick is exactly the right place to be.
Our tip: Take a guided street art tour through Bushwick with a local artist. You’ll get fascinating background on the scene and be shown the best spots.
Book the Bushwick street art tour online
Coney Island
What do you need to know? Coney Island is at the very southern tip of Brooklyn, right on the water, and is known for its sandy beach, classic boardwalks, and retro amusement parks. Locals especially flock here in summer to escape the city heat.
What can you do there? Ride the roller coasters at Luna Park, stroll along the boardwalk with water views, soak up the sun on the beach and grab a hot dog, visit the New York Aquarium, play mini golf, and check out the Coney Island Museum.
Is it worth it? The atmosphere at Coney Island is nostalgic and truly one of a kind. It’s not one of the typical tourist spots, but if you already know the city and want to see something beyond skyscrapers, you should definitely make the trip.
Our tip: If you’re planning to visit Luna Park, check beforehand whether your New York Pass covers admission. It can save you money — and you can decide on the spot how long you want to stay.
Brooklyn in One Day: Our Suggested Itinerary
You could easily spend an entire week exploring Brooklyn, but we also know that most visitors have limited time in New York.
That’s why we’ve put together a suggested itinerary for the perfect day among the coolest things to do in Brooklyn:
- Bushwick: Start by taking the subway (L train) to Jefferson Street and explore the incredible street art. Plan about an hour.
- Williamsburg: Head over to Bedford Avenue. You’ll find great cafés and restaurants here — like Sunday in Brooklyn. On Saturdays (April through October), the Smorgasburg food market is also worth a visit. Afterward, stroll through Domino Park to the South Williamsburg ferry landing.
- Ferry to DUMBO: Take the ferry toward Wall Street (Pier 11) and get off after one stop in DUMBO. If the weather’s nice, make sure to go up to the top deck!
- DUMBO & Brooklyn Bridge Park: Explore DUMBO, snap the famous Manhattan Bridge photo, and enjoy the sunset with skyline views in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
- Brooklyn Bridge: To wrap things up, walk back to Manhattan across the Brooklyn Bridge.
You can also do this in reverse — just know you’ll miss the sunset in Brooklyn Bridge Park that way.
Want to plan more than just one day and get a full week’s itinerary for New York? Then check this out:
Staying in Brooklyn: Our Hotel Tips
Of course, we can’t leave out our recommendations for where to stay in Brooklyn. One heads-up though: for repeat visitors, a hotel in Brooklyn is a great choice. For first-timers, we’d suggest Manhattan — or Queens if you’re watching your budget.
Pod Brooklyn: Modern budget hotel with a central location in Williamsburg.
Penny Williamsburg: Stylish boutique hotel with a cozy vibe, surrounded by trendy bars and restaurants.
Moxy Brooklyn: Trendy hotel with a rooftop bar and views over the Brooklyn skyline.
Find more hotel tips for New York here:
7 Interesting Facts About Brooklyn
- Brooklyn is one of New York’s five boroughs and is probably the best-known after Manhattan.
- Even though Brooklyn doesn’t have New York’s biggest tourist attractions, it’s still the most exciting borough in New York in our opinion.
- Brooklyn was once an independent city and only became part of New York City in 1898.
- 2.5 million people live in Brooklyn — nearly a million more than in Manhattan.
- That would make Brooklyn the fourth-largest city in the US — after New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago — if it were its own city.
- Brooklyn is also three times the size of Manhattan in terms of area.
- And: the famous bagel trend in the US actually started right here in Brooklyn.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sightseeing in Brooklyn
Who is Brooklyn a good fit for?
For us, a visit to Brooklyn is an absolute must — but of course, it depends on what you’re looking for.
If you want to see more than just the usual highlights in Manhattan during your New York trip, Brooklyn is absolutely worth your time.
If you love strolling through a city’s trendiest neighborhoods, Brooklyn is a great fit.
And if you’re after the coolest bars and cafés in New York with a healthy dose of independent shops, Brooklyn is a place you simply can’t skip.
Is Brooklyn safe?
Thanks to movies and TV shows, Brooklyn has long had a reputation for crime. But those days are long gone.
Most parts of Brooklyn — including all the neighborhoods we feature here — are nearly as safe as Manhattan. We never felt unsafe in Brooklyn at any point.
Bottom line: Brooklyn is safe!
What's the difference between Brooklyn and Manhattan?
Brooklyn and Manhattan are two very different worlds.
Manhattan is the fast-paced center of New York — skyscrapers, non-stop energy, and world-famous spots like Times Square and Central Park.
Brooklyn, on the other hand, is known as a creative, diverse borough with lively neighborhoods, a thriving arts scene, and a much more residential feel.
In short: Manhattan gives you the classic big-city tourist experience, while Brooklyn delivers something more cultural, laid-back, and authentic.
Which movies were filmed in Brooklyn?
Brooklyn is one of THE go-to locations for Hollywood films.
Marvel in particular loves the borough — it features throughout the entire Spider-Man series and in The Avengers from 2012.
Classics like Men in Black and Saturday Night Fever were also shot here.
