Stand on the Grand Concourse outside the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage and you are looking at a small wooden farmhouse that once had clear views of the Bronx hills. Elsewhere in the borough, the Joker Stairs draw visitors who want the staircase itself. The Bronx rewards travellers who move between its gardens, waterfront and neighbourhood streets rather than treating it as a single stop.
This guide suits anyone with a day or two who is comfortable using the subway and buses, and who wants a mix of open space, art and food. It covers the sights named in our source material, in the order that makes for the best day out.
Top things to do in The Bronx
1. Bronx Zoo
A large zoo with over 6000 animals, reachable from the 2 and 5 trains at West Farms Square/E Tremont Av, E 180th St, or Pelham Pkwy-White Plains Rd. It sits on Southern Blvd and is one of the borough's biggest draws.
If you drive, be careful with your car and stow or carry valuables with you. Combine it with the New York Botanical Garden, which is close by on the same stretch of Southern Blvd.
2. New York Botanical Garden (NYBG)
Forty-eight gardens and plant collections on a 250-acre historic site at 2900 Southern Blvd. The Thain Family Forest here is New York City's largest remaining tract of the original forest that once covered the city.
It is open Tue-Sun 10AM-6PM and can be reached by the 2 and 5 trains at West Farms Square, E 180th St, or Pelham Pkwy-White Plains Rd, or by Metro-North at the Botanical Gardens station. Pair it with the zoo for a full day in the borough's centre.
3. Yankee Stadium
At 161st St and River Ave, home of the New York Yankees baseball and New York City FC soccer team. The site of the old stadium across the street is now Heritage Park, with markers in the sidewalk and a section of the frieze from the old park.
Security is strict: backpacks and camcorders are not allowed, and only bags under 14" are permitted. Monument Park behind center field closes 45 minutes before game time and often sooner when crowds are large, so arrive close to when the gates open if it is a priority. Tickets are expensive and should be bought far in advance; stadium tours are also available.
4. Wave Hill
A public garden and cultural centre at 675 W 252nd St, overlooking the Hudson River. It is one of the borough's calmest spots and works well as a slower counterpoint to the busier attractions.
It sits in the northwest of the borough, so plan it as part of a Riverdale-side day rather than trying to squeeze it between stops in the south.
5. Orchard Beach
Known as "The Bronx Riviera", this is 1.1 mi (1.7 km) of artificial beach created in the 1930s, located in Pelham Bay Park at the western end of Long Island Sound.
The Bx5 and Bx12 serve it during the summer. Combine it with the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum, which depicts Pelham Bay Park as it once was.
6. City Island
An island in the Long Island Sound with a New England fishing and boating village feel, full of sailboats. It has a good nightlife and is chockablock with seafood restaurants; the restaurants are not noteworthy, but the atmosphere is.
Take the Bx29 bus from the Pelham Bay Park 6 station. It makes a natural evening after a day in Pelham Bay Park.
7. Edgar Allan Poe Cottage
A small wooden farmhouse built about 1812, in Poe Park at the Grand Concourse and Kingsbridge Road. Poe lived here from 1846 to 1849, the last three years of his life, and wrote works including "Annabel Lee" and "The Bells" here. The cottage is restored to its original appearance with period furnishings, and there is a film presentation and guided tour.
It is open Sat 10AM-4PM and Sun 1-5PM, served by the B and D trains at Kingsbridge Road. The Bronx Museum of the Arts is a short trip south on the Grand Concourse if you want to pair the two.
8. Bronx Museum of the Arts
At 1040 Grand Concourse at 165th St, this museum highlights contemporary urban art and focuses on different dynamic local artists. It is accessible by the B, D and 4 subway trains.
It is open Thu, Sat and Sun 11AM-6PM and Fri 11AM-8PM. Pair it with a walk through the Mott Haven neighbourhood, which is the centre of the South Bronx's newer development.
9. Woodlawn Cemetery
A 400-acre (160-ha) cemetery opened in 1863 and one of the largest in the city, with over 300,000 people buried here. Famous residents include Joseph Pulitzer, Herman Melville, David Farragut, Duke Ellington and Frank Woolworth.
Reach it via Metro-North to Woodlawn or the 2 train to 233rd St for the Bx31 bus. Call for tour times, and note that a permit is required for photography.
10. Valentine-Varian House (Museum of Bronx History)
The last farmhouse in the Bronx from the mid-1700s, at 3266 Bainbridge Ave at E 208th St. Its exhibitions and public educational programs focus on the borough's history.
It is open Sat 10AM-4PM and Sun 1PM-5PM. It pairs well with a morning at Woodlawn Cemetery, which is in the same northern part of the borough.
11. Hall of Fame for Great Americans
At 2183 University Ave, called the "original" Hall of Fame in the United States and founded in 1900 to honour Americans who significantly impacted the country's history. The site holds about 100 bronze busts of its inductees and is now part of Bronx Community College.
It is open 10AM-5PM daily and free to visit, reached by the 4 train to Burnside Ave.
12. Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum
At 895 Shore Rd, this museum depicts Pelham Bay Park as it once was centuries ago. The house is one of the only country estates left and is now surrounded by urban scenery.
It is open Wed, Sat and Sun noon-4PM. Combine it with Orchard Beach, which is in the same park.
13. Maritime Industry Museum at Fort Schuyler
At SUNY Maritime College, 6 Pennyfield Ave, at the end of Pennyfield Ave under the Throgs Neck Bridge. The main exhibit area covers the history of seafaring from the ancient Phoenicians to present-day steamship and passenger ship lines, with paintings, models, tools and navigational instruments. The waterfront location is a draw in itself.
Reach it by the Bx40 along Tremont Ave.
14. Fordham University
At 441 E Fordham Rd, the third oldest university in New York and the oldest Catholic university in the Northeast, known for its Rose Hill campus in the Bronx.
It sits near the borough's "real Little Italy" on Arthur Avenue near East 187th Street, where there is good shopping in Italian foodstuffs. Take the B, D or 4 trains to Fordham Road and transfer to the Bx12 bus to Arthur Avenue, or take Metro-North to Fordham for the Bx9, Bx12 local, Bx17 or Bx22.
15. Joker Stairs (Guason Stairs)
A free stop for anyone who wants the staircase itself and the view from it. It is a short, simple visit rather than a full attraction.
Treat it as a quick detour on a day built around the Grand Concourse sights rather than a destination on its own.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the New York Botanical Garden when it opens at 10AM, then walk or ride the short distance to the Bronx Zoo. Both are on Southern Blvd and both are served by the same subway stops, so the two fit together without much travel.
Afternoon: Head south to the Bronx Museum of the Arts on the Grand Concourse, then continue to the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage in Poe Park. Check the cottage's opening days before you commit, as it is only open at weekends.
Evening: Finish at Yankee Stadium for a game or a stadium tour, arriving early if Monument Park matters to you. If there is no game, take the Bx29 from the Pelham Bay Park 6 station out to City Island for seafood and the waterfront atmosphere instead.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get around the Bronx without a car?
The subway and bus network covers the main sights. The 2 and 5 trains serve the zoo and botanical garden, the B and D serve the Poe Cottage and the Bronx Museum of the Arts area, the 4 serves the Hall of Fame for Great Americans, and the Bx29 connects the Pelham Bay Park 6 station to City Island.
Which sights are free?
The Hall of Fame for Great Americans is free, and the Joker Stairs are free. Other sights charge admission, and the Bronx Museum of the Arts has suggested admission.
When is the best time to visit Orchard Beach?
The Bx5 and Bx12 serve Orchard Beach during the summer, which is when the beach is the point of the trip.
Do I need to plan ahead for Yankee Stadium?
Yes. Game tickets are expensive and should be bought far in advance, and bags over 14", backpacks and camcorders are not allowed inside.
Decide which of these fits your dates, check the opening days for the places that keep limited hours, and start building your Bronx itinerary around them.