Getting Around Brooklyn: A Visitor's Guide
Brooklyn is a large, densely populated borough with multiple options for getting around. The most practical approach combines subway, bus, and walking depending on your destination and time constraints. Understanding the different transit modes and how they connect will help you navigate efficiently.
The Subway Network
The subway is overall the best way to get around Brooklyn. The borough is well served by multiple subway lines that connect most neighborhoods and attractions. However, some areas like Red Hook and parts of East Brooklyn have poor subway coverage, and bus transportation is recommended for these zones.
The Atlantic Avenue – Barclays Center station is the largest subway hub outside Manhattan and serves as Brooklyn's main transit center. From here, you can transfer between the 2, 3, 4, 5, B, D, N, Q, and R lines to reach most Brooklyn destinations. Additionally, the Fulton Street station (G line) and Lafayette Avenue station (C line) are located nearby, though reaching them requires exiting and re-entering the subway system, which means paying another fare unless you have an unlimited rides card.
For northern Brooklyn neighborhoods like Williamsburg and Bushwick, the L line crosses from Manhattan into these areas and continues further east. The J and Z lines also serve these neighborhoods but terminate further south. The G line runs from Long Island City through Williamsburg and Downtown Brooklyn, though service on this line is known to be slower and more irregular than other routes.
Broadway Junction in Bed-Stuy and East New York serves as a secondary hub where the A, C, J, L, and Z lines intersect. This can be useful for accessing northern Brooklyn areas. Coney Island is another major hub serving the D, F, N, and Q lines.
Using Google Maps for transit directions is recommended for accurate routing throughout Brooklyn, but always check the MTA website for service changes, as Google Maps may not reflect real-time updates. Free subway maps are available at station agent booths.
Long Island Rail Road (LIRR)
The Long Island Rail Road offers limited service within Brooklyn for travelers with specific origins and destinations. The main LIRR station is Atlantic Terminal, located at Atlantic Avenue and accessible via the Atlantic Avenue/Barclays Center subway station. Other LIRR stops in Brooklyn include Nostrand Avenue at Atlantic Avenue and East New York.
The LIRR is faster than the subway for direct routes between its limited Brooklyn stops, though service is infrequent and coverage is restricted. One advantage is that eastbound LIRR trains continue to Jamaica Station in Queens, where you can access most LIRR lines or take the AirTrain to John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK). However, note that the LIRR does not operate between midnight and around 5 AM, so during late nights, taking the A subway line is necessary for airport access.
Bus System
Brooklyn has an extensive MTA bus network that is particularly valuable for reaching areas with limited subway coverage. Buses are slower than the subway but provide good neighborhood access. A bus map is essential—these are available for free at any subway station agent's booth, or you can use Google Maps for route planning.
Some bus routes offer limited-stop service, which means they skip certain stops and only halt at major intersections and points of interest. When riding any bus, remember to press the "Stop Request" button or tape before your stop; otherwise, the driver may skip it if no one is waiting at that location.
Notable routes include the B39, which crosses the Williamsburg Bridge between Manhattan and Brooklyn; the B15, which runs 24 hours between JFK Airport and South Williamsburg; and the B41, one of the longest routes, running nearly the full length of Flatbush Avenue. Express buses with an X prefix provide service to and from Manhattan for a higher fare and mainly serve Southern Brooklyn, which has less subway coverage.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
The source material provided does not contain specific information about taxi or ride-hailing services in Brooklyn. For these options, consult current local resources or ride-hailing apps.
Walkability
Many of Brooklyn's neighborhoods are pedestrian-friendly. All bridges between Brooklyn and Manhattan are accessible to pedestrians, allowing you to walk between the two boroughs across structures like the Brooklyn Bridge. Prospect Park has a main road closed to cars, making it pleasant for walking and cycling. Ocean Parkway also features pedestrian access alongside its bicycle path.
Cycling
Brooklyn is accessible to cyclists, with all bridges between Brooklyn and Manhattan open to bicycle traffic. Prospect Park's main road is closed to cars and open to bicycles, with numerous bicycle paths throughout the park. Ocean Parkway includes a dedicated bicycle path running from Coney Island in southern Brooklyn to Park Slope.
Ferry Service
Water Taxi service operates from Fulton Ferry Landing, providing connections between various points in Manhattan along the East River and Brooklyn destinations like Red Hook. This option is useful for specific waterfront visits.
Getting from JFK Airport to Brooklyn
From John F. Kennedy Airport, there are several routes to Brooklyn:
- Take the AirTrain from JFK to Jamaica Station in Queens, then transfer to the J or Z subway line, which will take you directly into Bushwick and Williamsburg in Brooklyn
- Take the AirTrain from JFK to Howard Beach Station in Queens, then take the A subway line, which connects to the eastern edges of Brooklyn and continues to Downtown Brooklyn via Bedford-Stuyvesant
- Use the B15 bus route, which operates 24 hours between JFK Airport and South Williamsburg
- During late night hours (midnight to around 5 AM) when LIRR service is not available, the A subway line is your best option for airport access
Crossing Between Boroughs
Brooklyn shares a land border with Queens, and most streets on the border continue into the other borough without interruption. Several bridges and tunnels connect Brooklyn to Manhattan: the Williamsburg Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, and Brooklyn Bridge are all free to cross and accessible to pedestrians, cyclists, and cars. The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge connects Brooklyn to Staten Island but charges a toll. The Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel also links Brooklyn to the southern tip of Manhattan (the Battery) with a toll.