Brooklyn, the most populous borough of New York City, is a true "melting pot" of cultures and home to artists and creatives. Explore with us the most attractive neighborhoods and the most famous attractions of Brooklyn!
The first settlement in the area of present-day Brooklyn occurred in 1636 when Dutch farmers settled on the shores of Gowanus Bay. In the following years, the settlements of Flatlands, Wallabout, The Ferry, Gravesend, and Breuckelen were established. The Dutch settlement of Breuckelen also gave rise to the name Brooklyn, which became the name for the area east of the East River in the late 18th century.
With the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1883, Brooklyn became more closely connected to Manhattan and attracted more and more people. By the early 19th century, it was a modern suburb of New York City, and neighborhoods such as Brooklyn Heights became prosperous residential areas.
More and more businesses settled in up-and-coming Brooklyn, which had risen to become one of the most important manufacturing centers in the United States in the 1880s. In 1898, Brooklyn relinquished its independence and became part of Greater New York City, which at that time consisted only of Manhattan and the Bronx.
In the 1950s, Brooklyn's businesses began to move their production to more convenient locations. Once-thriving Brooklyn struggled economically, and some neighborhoods slipped into poverty.
But in the 1990s, the borough experienced a revival. Families, young professionals, and creative types seeking an affordable alternative to Manhattan moved to Brooklyn. Technology companies increasingly settled in place of manufacturing plants. Thus, the character of the borough changed from an industrial area to an upscale residential neighborhood with a lively restaurant and art scene.
Brooklyn has many unique quarters called neighborhoods. The spectrum ranges from lively artist strongholds to middle-class, working-class areas. We take a closer look at some of Brooklyn's most beautiful neighborhoods.
When you cross the Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan, the artists' neighborhoods DUMBO (short for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) and Brooklyn Heights await you on the other side of the East River. In addition to the many artworks and galleries that you will find here on every corner, many startups, as well as trendy boutiques, restaurants, cafés, and bars, have also settled in these stylish neighborhoods.
Tip: The best view of the Manhattan skyline is from Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Due to its proximity to Manhattan, Williamsburg in North Brooklyn is a popular residential district for commuters. The neighborhood, which used to be characterized by warehouses and factories, has developed into a colorful and livable neighborhood since the 1990s with the influx of many artists and "hipsters." Today, you can find many trendy stores and markets, excellent restaurants, cafés, bars, and clubs in Williamsburg.
Tip: Williamsburg is known for its breweries, and you should definitely check out their quality with a beer tasting and brewery tour!
The Coney Island peninsula stretches along the Southern end of Brooklyn and is home to one of the most popular destinations in New York City. When the weather is nice, you can sunbathe, swim, do water sports, or stroll the boardwalk on Coney Island's famous beach.
Tip: Get a bird's eye view of the Brooklyn borough on a ride on Coney Island's landmark Ferris wheel, Deno's Wonder Wheel!
In Southern Brooklyn, you'll find New York's "Christmas districts" of Dyker Heights and Bay Ridge. The neighborhoods are famous for their lavish Christmas decorations, with Santa Clauses, angels, reindeer, and thousands of lights that get residents as well as visitors into the Christmas spirit starting in late November.
Tip: During the advent season, book a tour of the Dyker Heights and Bay Ridge Xmas houses!
The middle-class neighborhoods of Park Slope and Prospect Heights are famous for their tree-lined streets and chic row houses, affectionately called "brownstones" by New Yorkers. Although the neighborhood has seen an increase in luxury housing since the 2000s, you can still discover many historic buildings here. A central part of the residential area is part of the Prospect Heights Historic District, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
Tip: Park Slope and Prospect Heights are within walking distance of Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
Parks, attractions, museums, and more – be sure to take plenty of time to explore Brooklyn. The livable borough in the South of New York City offers you everything your heart desires. We've put together a bucket list of the best things to see and do.
You shouldn't miss these top three attractions in Brooklyn:
Your visit to New York just isn't complete without a walk across the famous Brooklyn Bridge! When it opened in 1843, it was the longest suspension bridge over which trains and cars could pass and a true marvel of engineering. To this day, the monumental bridge remains one of the most photographed landmarks in the city. It is located on the east side of Manhattan and crosses the East River to DUMBO in Brooklyn.
Tip: Walking from Brooklyn towards Manhattan, you'll enjoy a wonderful view of the New York skyline. And if you make your bridge crossing at sunset, you can watch all of Manhattan's lights come on in turn – a truly magical atmosphere!
Coney Island is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. Experience thrills on the roller coasters "The Cyclone," "Slingshot," and "Thunderbolt," do some laps on the go-kart track, stroll through the fairground, try your luck in the casino, and end the day in the beer tent!
The most famous photo motif of Brooklyn can be found on Washington Street in DUMBO, where the brick buildings on the sides of the street are at a perfect angle to the Washington Bridge. A New York view that no Instagram account should lack!
These are the most beautiful parks in the borough of Brooklyn:
In the North of Brooklyn, you will find the picturesque Brooklyn Bridge Park, from whose waterfront you have a breathtaking view of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline. Once you've taken your panoramic photo, enjoy a drink at Fulton Ferry's beachside cafes or relax in the shade of Brooklyn Bridge Park's 3,000-plus trees. Also, make sure to check out the events calendar, as Brooklyn Bridge Park has exciting events throughout the year, such as open-air cinema, concerts, and outdoor sports classes.
In the 1850s, when Brooklyn was not yet part of New York City, the municipality decided to create a green space for Brooklyn's rapidly growing population, similar to Central Park in Manhattan. The choice for the new recreation area was a 2.4 km2 area South of the Park Slope and Prospect Heights neighborhoods.
To this day, Prospect Park offers Brooklyn residents the opportunity to take a break from everyday life while walking or playing sports. You'll find courts for baseball, basketball, bocce, soccer, and tennis, as well as a huge lake where you can go boating. In the summer months, small musical events are also organized on a regular basis.
The Botanical Garden and Arboretum are located in the North of Brooklyn between Washington Avenue and Flatbush Avenue. It was established in 1910 on the grounds of Mount Prospect Park and borders Prospect Park.
On the colorful, 21-hectare grounds, you can forget the hustle and bustle of the city and let yourself be whisked away to distant lands amidst more than 14,000 plant species. For example, you'll find three different pavilions dedicated to different themes, 200 Japanese cherry trees, a rose garden, the C. V. Starr Bonsai Museum, an aquatic plant house, and an art gallery.
You can enjoy art in Brooklyn in these museums and galleries:
The Brooklyn Museum is the second largest museum in New York City and is located in Prospect Park. It's perfect for a group outing among friends with different tastes in art, as the huge collection of around 1.5 million exhibits covers works from all continents and eras. African masks, Egyptian statues, oil paintings by Cézanne, or contemporary installations and photography exhibitions – every art lover will find their favorite section at the Brooklyn Museum.
The borough of Brooklyn is known for its vibrant artistic scene. A prime example of creativity is the graffiti art in the Bushwick neighborhood. Most of the street art can be found at the outdoor gallery "The Bushwick Collective," located mainly along Starr Street, Troutman Street, and Jefferson Street. If you want to learn more about the more than 50 murals and artists of the gallery, which was established in 2012, you can join a New York street art tour.
In Brooklyn, not only art lovers but also history buffs get their money's worth. For a journey through time, we recommend a tour of these Brooklyn museums:
Wherever there are artists, creative professionals, and young people, there is usually a wide range of restaurants, bars, markets, and events. This means that you can also make the most of your free time in Brooklyn.
Brooklyn is a shopper's paradise, where you can find your fair share of quirky vacation souvenirs or unwind from your wanderings through the borough. You're guaranteed to have a good time at these shopping hotspots:
Do you want to dive into Brooklyn's nightlife after the sun goes down? Here are some recommendations for you:
If you wish to attend top-class sporting events in Brooklyn, you cannot miss the Barclays Center in the Prospect Heights neighborhood, where you can watch the events of two typical US sports. Both the NBA's Brooklyn Nets and the New York Islanders ice hockey team play their home games here.
Brooklyn is very well connected to the public transportation network. To get around the borough in the South of New York City, you can use 170 subway stations, which are served by 18 subway lines. In addition, there are numerous bus and express bus connections from various providers. The East River Ferry departs from the Williamsburg and DUMBO neighborhoods and takes you to Midtown Manhattan.
If you prefer to drive yourself through Brooklyn, you can use several freeways.
Among the most important ones are the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, the Prospect Expressway, the Ocean Parkway to Coney Island, and the Shore Parkway to John F. Kennedy International Airport. Several bridges and tunnels cross the East River into Manhattan, and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge connects Brooklyn with Staten Island.
Did you know these 10 interesting facts about the borough of Brooklyn?
After our extensive tour of the borough, you're now a Brooklyn expert! But what about the other four parts? Discover the other boroughs of New York City and follow us to Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx.