Brooklyn is one of New York City's five boroughs, sitting at the western end of Long Island across the East River from Manhattan. It is connected to Manhattan by several bridges and tunnels, including the Brooklyn Bridge, and to Staten Island by the Verrazzano–Narrows Bridge. It has a distinct culture of its own, and many of its neighbourhoods are ethnic enclaves.
For a visitor, Brooklyn is best understood as a collection of neighbourhoods rather than a single centre. Downtown Brooklyn is the main shopping and business district, with many subway and bus lines running to or through it, while the residential and waterfront neighbourhoods spread out around it. This guide covers which areas make sense as a base, depending on what you want from your trip.
Best areas to stay in Brooklyn
1. Downtown Brooklyn
Downtown Brooklyn is the central shopping and business area, anchored by Fulton Street west of Flatbush Avenue. It looks similar to the downtown of almost any other major American city, with department stores, clothing and electronics shops, Borough Hall, two universities, a major railroad station, the Brooklyn Academy of Music concert hall, office buildings, and municipal, state and federal buildings and courthouses.
This is the most practical base for a first visit. Many subway and bus lines go to or through Downtown Brooklyn, which makes it easy to reach the rest of the borough and Manhattan.
2. Brooklyn Heights
Brooklyn Heights is a residential neighbourhood with elegant buildings and historic churches, and its brownstone buildings and shopping district give it a quaint yet thriving feel. It is an expensive neighbourhood to live in, partly because of its great views of the Lower Manhattan skyline, and it is the richest neighbourhood in Brooklyn, more expensive than parts of Manhattan.
It suits visitors who want a quiet, handsome residential base within easy reach of the centre and the waterfront.
3. Park Slope
Park Slope is an upscale but downhome neighbourhood, known for boutiques, cafés, bars and health food stores, with a sizeable lesbian community since the 1970s. The tree-lined streets closer to Prospect Park hold ornate brownstones, townhouses and full-service apartment buildings. Fifth Avenue is the main strip for restaurants and bars.
Prospect Park itself is large, beautiful and green, with ice skating in winter and free weekend concerts in summer. The neighbourhood is served by the B or Q to 7th Avenue, the M or R to 9th Street, or the F or G to 4th Avenue or 7th Avenue. It suits families and visitors who want a relaxed, leafy base with the park on the doorstep.
4. Williamsburg
Williamsburg has many restaurants, popular music clubs and a significant art gallery district, and it is now what Greenwich Village used to be, with an artsy scene, eclectic galleries and off-beat bars. It is reached from Manhattan on the L train to Bedford Avenue or Lorimer Street.
This is the area to choose if nightlife and a lively food and bar scene matter most to you.
5. DUMBO
DUMBO stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. Once popular with artists for loft space, it has become popular with a richer, trendier crowd. A walk along the riverfront park gives a view of the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges and the Manhattan skyline.
It suits visitors who want a waterfront setting and quick access to the bridges, and who do not mind that the area has moved upmarket.
6. Fort Greene
Fort Greene has some great restaurants and the Brooklyn Academy of Music, which features an art-house cinema, theatre and concerts. It is a good option if you want to be near a cultural venue and a strong dining scene without basing yourself in the busiest parts of the borough.
7. Bushwick
Bushwick is home to many brownstones, mansions and housing projects, and is a major area for live music. It is a rapidly gentrifying, hip neighbourhood, much like Williamsburg used to be, with popular clubs alongside a large working-class Latino community. Shopping can be done on Knickerbocker Avenue for clothes, appliances or food, and the restored Maria Hernandez Park on Knickerbocker Avenue and Suydam Street is a good spot to sit in the shade.
It suits budget-conscious visitors and those drawn to live music, though it is further from the main sights than the areas listed above.
8. Coney Island and Brighton Beach
Coney Island is reached by taking the D, F, N or Q trains to the end of the line, and is the place to go for the beach and amusements. Brighton Beach, next to it, is the largest Russian-speaking community outside the former USSR, reached by the Q or B trains to Brighton Beach Avenue, with a boardwalk where you can eat shashlik.
These are options if you want to stay near the beach rather than in the centre of the borough, and you should expect a longer trip to reach the rest of Brooklyn and Manhattan.
Where to stay on a budget, mid-range or splurge
- Budget: Expect smaller guest rooms and simpler places in the less central neighbourhoods, where you trade a longer subway ride for a lower rate. Areas further from Downtown Brooklyn generally give you more for your money.
- Mid-range: The widest choice sits around the well-connected residential neighbourhoods, where you can find comfortable rooms within a short walk of a subway line.
- Splurge: The most expensive parts of the borough are the established residential neighbourhoods with the best views and the handsomest buildings, where you pay for location and setting rather than for facilities.
Best area for a first visit
Downtown Brooklyn is the best base for a first visit. It is the borough's central shopping and business area, and many subway and bus lines go to or through it, so you can reach the rest of Brooklyn and Manhattan without long connections. It also puts you within easy reach of Brooklyn Heights and the waterfront for the views back towards Manhattan.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get between Brooklyn and Manhattan?
Brooklyn has several bridge and tunnel connections to Manhattan across the East River, including the Brooklyn Bridge, and it is also connected to Staten Island by the Verrazzano–Narrows Bridge. Within the borough, the subway is the main way to move between neighbourhoods.
Which area is best if I want nightlife?
Williamsburg has many restaurants, popular music clubs and a significant art gallery district. Bushwick is also a major area for live music, with popular clubs, and East Williamsburg, centred on the Morgan Avenue stop on the L train, has a strong music scene.
Where should I stay if I want to be near the beach?
Coney Island, reached by the D, F, N or Q trains to the end of the line, has the beach and amusements. Brighton Beach next to it is served by the Q and B trains and has a famous boardwalk.
Which areas are hardest to reach by train?
Red Hook is hard to access by train; it can be served by the F and G trains at Smith–9th Street, or by taxi or the B61 bus. If easy subway access matters to you, base yourself in Downtown Brooklyn or another well-connected neighbourhood instead.
Compare live prices for the area you have chosen with the booking tools on this page.