A first timers guide to the five New York Boroughs
When most people think of York, they think of Manhattan - yellow taxis, towering skyscrapers, steaming drains, hot dog stands, crowded sidewalks, and the bright lights of Times Square. These are of course all things that go to make up the Manhattan experience, but if you take the time to explore the different boroughs that make up this incredible city, you can truly get under the skin of the Big Apple.
It would be impossible to cover all of these elements on one city break, but we hope that this brief guide to the five different New York boroughs will inspire you to step out of your comfort zone and explore some of the lesser seen corners of New York City. Most first timers don’t make it beyond Manhattan, but there is so much more to New York than this, so if you’re looking to get a little off the beaten trail, then our guide to the different boroughs will give you some pointers on where to go and what to expect when you get there.
Manhattan
Whatever you are into, you are sure to find it in the city that never sleeps. Art, theatre, museums, shopping, food, and nightlife are all world class here. Measuring just 23 square miles, much of New York’s smallest borough can easily be tackled on foot. Pack a pair of comfortable trainers and you’ll find that you will soon rack up the miles, as you tick off a long list of must-see sights.
Whether you are walking the high line (an elevated railway that has been converted into a landscaped city park), exploring boutique galleries in hipster Chelsea, taking a walking tour of Harlem, doing brunch on the Upper West, browsing farmers markets in the village, or rubbing shoulders with city folk during happy hour in the financial district – you’re soon realise that each neighbourhood has a different texture to it.
One of the best ways to see the city is form above. Manhattans famous skyline can be viewed from a choice of look out points, each offering a unique view of the city streets below. The new kid on the block, is Summit One Vanderbilt, a swish skyscraper climbing way above Grand Central Station. Take an elevator to the 57th floor and you’ll be able to indulge in sensory overload, as you navigate your way round four floors of imaginative and immersive art, whilst drinking in the jaw dropping views. For a more classic experience, The top of The Rock experience, at The Rockefeller Centre, gives you a premium open-air view of the Empire State Building to the South and Central Park to the North. Or for the classic skyscraper experience then you should ascend the original and the only Empire State Building.
Although the observation decks are best viewed by night, Central park should definitely be seen by day. With miles of paths to explore, boating lakes, jogging trails, Spring blossoms and Autumn colour, this is a fabulous place to wander and rub shoulders with native New Yorkers. One of the best ways to see Central Park is to hire a bike, or for the less active take a carriage ride! Linger for a while with a picnic, or if you want to continue sightseeing, make a beeline for West 72nd street where Beatles fans pay tribute to John Lennon at the Strawberry Fields. In winter you can skate beneath skyscrapers on the Woolman rink or cosy up in the boathouse restaurant.
At the tip of the island, you’ll be able to take a boat ride to the most famous statue in the world – The Statue of Liberty. Make sure you book well in advance if you plan to make the steep climb up into her famous crown though as there’s not the option to do this on the day. When you travel back from Lady Liberty you will have the option to stop at Ellis Island, a former immigration processing centre which once welcomed thousands of migrants arriving by sea. Do factor in enough time to visit the fascinating museum that now occupies this site.
Most visitors choose to stay in and around Times Square, here you will find a concentration of good quality, centrally located hotels that will put you in easy reach of New Yorks biggest sights and shopping opportunities. If you prefer to stay somewhere a little quieter though we would recommend choosing a base in Chelsea or The Upper West Side, here you will be able to appreciate the calmer side of Manhattan without the crowds and traffic. As with all our tailor-made USA holdays and city breaks, we would recommend speaking to our team of experts first though, so they can help you make an informed decision.
Queens
By far the city’s largest borough, Queens can be found directly East of Manhattan and North of Brooklyn.
Home to two major airports – New York JFK and La Guardia, most visitors to New York, fly in and out of Queens without ever stopping, but if you know where to go, there’s plenty in the borough to warrant a longer visit.
If you’re looking for a taster of Queens, without diving in headfirst, the Long Island city neighbourhood is a great entry point to the Borough. It’s just one subway stop from Midtown Manhattan or neighbouring Brooklyn and or a short uber/lyft ride away. Your first stop should be its riverside parks. Choose between Hunters Point South Park, a former or Gantry Plaza Park. Once the industrial heartlands of Queens, these regenerated areas are now beautiful green spaces offering up wonderful views of the midtown-Manhattan skyline, making this the perfect place for a chilled walk or picnic. Follow the boardwalks, people watch or admire the view – its impressive day or night. One must see here is the historic Pepsi Cola sign which you'll find at Gantry Plaza Park. When lit up this iconic sign can be spotted from the deck of Summit One Vanderbilt.
Although not on the scale of Manhattan, Queens has made its own contribution to the New York art scene, including MoMA PS1, an “artist centred and community driven” space that encourages visitors to encounter and engage with new art. Based in Long Island City, it has been affiliated with the MOMA for over 20 years, but retains a strong identity of its own, offering up a range of installations and exhibitions. In the summer months the courtyard space draws revellers from across the city who come to attend Warm Up, a series of live music nights held throughout August.
Film lovers will already associate Queens with Peter Parker, the boroughs friendly neighbourhood Spiderman, but what they may not be aware of is that New York’s largest borough is also home to the Museum of Moving Image. The museum is dedicated to the history, technique and appreciation of film, television, and digital media. Visitors to the museum will be able to view a collection of 1400 artifacts that are on display in the museums core exhibition “Behind The Screen”. Featuring audio-visual material, art works and interactive experiences, the exhibit focuses on the creative process that goes into putting a film on the silver screen. Fans of the muppets will enjoy the muppets will enjoy the Jim Henson exhibition, but there is also a series of regularly changing exhibits which are sure to pique the interest of film devotees. With a packed programme of film screenings and talks, movie lovers will want to stay for an afternoon/evening to fully make the most of their experience here.
Near enough at the centre of the borough is Flushing Meadows, an expansive park that’s best known for its Billie Jean King tennis complex, home of the US Open. Tennis fans will want to pay a visit to the complex, where they can reserve and play on the very same courts that have seen some of the sports greats do battle. Also nearby is the Citi stadium, belonging to the Met’s New York’s other, slightly less prolific baseball team. Unless it’s a big game, tickets for the Mets are affordable and easy enough to come by, making this a good option if you are looking to experience a ‘ball game’ whilst in New York.
Besides its sporting credentials, Flushing Meadows is a pleasant place to wander, featuring plenty of green spaces, as well as some interesting sculptures that date back to when it hosted the World’s Fair exhibition– notably the Unisphere, a huge metal globe surrounded by fountains that you may recognise from various films and tv shows that have used the iconic structure as a backdrop. The Queens Museum is nearby too and is well worth a look, if only to see the scale model panorama of New York. At the time it was created, this mind-blowing exhibit, featured every single building, in every single borough of NYC.
To the west of Flushing Meadows is the neighbourhood of Corona, once home to Jazz legend Lois Armstrong. From Thursday to Saturday, visitors to this part of the borough can visit his former residence, a rather humble abode given his musical achievements. There is the option to tour his home and garden, as well learn more about his life and career in the accompanying museum. Sometimes there are screenings and concerts which take place here, but booking is essential!
As the most ethnically diverse borough in New York, it should come as no surprise that you can eat your way round the world without leaving the borough. There’s a seemingly infinite amount of choice here, as food from every continent is represented. Whether you are snacking from a food truck or going all out with a sit-down meal, there’s no shortage of choice here including Greek, Korean, Peruvian, and good old fashioned USA cuisine. The best way to get a feel for both Queens and its food scene is to take a foodie tour, this is a great way to see the neighbourhoods through the eyes of a local.
Now that we’ve whet your appetite for Queens, our virtual tour of the five New York boroughs will move onto The Bronx.
The Bronx
Once a no-go area for tourists, much of the borough has long cleaned up its act, making it an upcoming area for locals and visitors alike.
The South Bronx may still feel quite edgy but is home to some unmissable attractions including the famous Yankee baseball stadium. If you’re lucky you will be able to get a ticket for the game in the summer months, or you can take a stadium tour and learn about sporting greats such as Babe Ruth and Joe Di Maggio, who made history on this fabled diamond.
The neighbourhoods’ coolest destination is the Universal Hip Hop museum, a fantastic pop up dedicated to the cultural movement born which was born and raised here in the Bronx. Pioneered by hip hop legends such as Grandmaster Flash, Nas, Ice Cube and LL Cool J. The current incarnation is a pre-cursor to a much larger museum that is due to open in 2024. The museum will explore the origins of hip hop, its impact on popular culture and its evolution over the past 50 years, through a series of archive footage, memorabilia, and artefacts. The current exhibition focuses on hip hop between 1986-1990 but is soon to move onto the 90’s era. This is a must visit for any self-respecting music fan!
Stay on the subway a little longer and you’ll find yourself in the North Bronx, home of the beautiful New York Botanical Gardens. These lush, landscaped gardens cover 250 acres of Bronx park, a green oasis in this part of the city. Although the gardens visited by 1 million people each year, there is plenty of space to unwind and escape the city crowds. Whatever time of year you visit there is always something to enjoy; this could be spring blooms at daffodil hill, a technicolour display at the azalea gardens, the fragrant roses in summer or the changing colours of Autumn. There are miles of paths to explore on foot , or you can take a guided tram tour which points out highlights of the gardens.
To the South of Bronx Park is the incredible Bronx Zoo, the largest metropolitan zoo in the USA. Home to over 6000 species from around the world, the zoo is sure to be a hit with families and animal lovers. You can explore the African Plains, the Himalayan Highlands, and the Congo Gorilla Forest are just some of the exhibits you can cover in a day at the zoo. There’s a handy zoo shuttle to connect up the park, helping you to cover as much ground as possible.
Foodie visitors will want to make a pilgrimage to Arthur Avenue, the heart of ‘Little Italy’ in the Northern Bronx. With over 100 years of Italian Heritage in the neighbourhood, you will be able to find some of the best Italian restaurants in New York here, alongside bakeries, deli’s and cafés, serving up tasty Italian treats such as buffalo mozzarella, handmade pasta and of course pizza!
Should you wish to stay a little longer in The Bronx we would recommend The Opera House Hotel, an attractive boutique hotel in the heart of South Bronx. Once a famous theatre, this historic building hosted shows for acts such as The Marx Brothers, Harry Houdini, and Fats Waller, this previously neglected building was transformed into a 60-room boutique hotel. Although much of the old theatre couldn’t be saved, there are reminders of its heritage in the spacious rooms, most of which are decorated with old posters from the theatre’s heyday. Just a short walk from the subway and minutes from the Yankee stadium, this is the perfect base for anyone wanting to explore the borough further.
Stay with us for the next stop on our tour of the five New York boroughs as we travel South to Staten Island!
Staten Island
For most visitors to New York, Staten Island is not so much about the destination, but the journey itself. The Staten Island Ferry operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week without fail. The iconic orange vessels chug across the bay, offering its passengers a bargain basement sightseeing cruise between Manhattan and Staten Island. The free ferry ride provides amazing views of Lady Liberty and the skyline and an authentic New Yorker experience but are no substitute for a proper sightseeing boat!
Step off the ferry though and you will find plenty to explore on Staten Island, including Snug Harbor Cultural Centre and gardens.
Once a respite for 'worn out sailors', Snug Harbour’s historic buildings formed part of a huge self-sustaining community, that at the time was one of the richest charities in the USA. These days the harbour buildings are protected by the national historic register of places and are now home to an assortment of museums exhibitions and gardens, including the Staten Island museum and Staten Island’s Childrens museum.
The gardens here include nine botanical gardens and acres of wetlands. One of the highlights is the spectacular Chinese Scholars gardens, with its pavilions, zigzagging paths, zen like waterfalls and bamboo forest. This mystical space is sure to transport you away from New York to the mystic East!
If you prefer your museums a little smaller, then why not check out the Lighthouse museum (a homage to the USA’s many lighthouses) or the Alice Austen House museum, a collection dedicated to the life and works of Victorian photographer Alice Austen. Her historic house offers a window into New York’s past and is also a designated national site of LGBTQ history.
Whilst you're in the borough it would be rude not to pay a visit to Flagship brewery - here you will find one of New York’s best micro-breweries, serving up a huge selection of beers from their taproom. If you follow this up with lunch or dinner and you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to restaurants. Staten Island has a wealth of Italian eateries and authentic delis for a quick bite, but other interesting picks include Sri Lanka, Filipino, and New Orleans inspired cuisine, so you won’t head back to the city hungry.
Before you take the ferry back to Manhattan, shoppers won’t want to miss Empire Outlets, the only outlet mall in New York City. With over 100 shops , featuring much loved American Brands such as Gap, Nike, Banana Republic and more, there's plenty of bargains to be had, as we well as stunning waterside views of the financial district.
That wraps up our visit to Staten Island but stay tuned for the final borough on of our tour of NYC – Brooklyn!
Brooklyn
In recent years Brooklyn has been wooing visitors away from the bright lights and sky scrapers of Manhattan, as they cross the East River in search of relaxed neighbourhoods.
Here you will find buzzy nightlife, foodie hotspots, leafy residential streets and old-fashioned seaside towns.
DUMBO (Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass) is the closest neighbourhood to Manhattan and is an easy walk from Manhattan via the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. The huge suspension bridge, is an attraction in its own right, offering up magical views of the city skyline as you tread its wooden boardwalk.
Having crossed the bridge you'll have worked up an appetite after the walk, so stop for pizza at Juliana's, a mainstay of TripAdvisor and critics guides to the best pizzas in New York. There's no reservations, so bring a friend or a good book and jump in the queue. If you manage to finish lunch, you'll need another long walk, so take a stroll round the historic streets of DUMBO which offer up gram worthy views of the bridge. You'll find boutique stores and cosy cafes aplenty, as well as the fancy Time Out Market. The Brooklyn Bridge Park is a great place to enjoy a picnic, whilst feasting on the skyline views across the water.
For a longer walk, follow the promenade all the way along the shoreline and up into Brooklyn Heights, a beautiful neighbourhood, characterised by its brown stone houses and tree lined streets.
Continue onto Redhook and you’ll get a taste of Brooklyn’s industrial past, here you will find converted industrial buildings, cobbled streets and The Waterfront museuem a floating musuem based on an old barge! You won’t find fancy restaurants here but there are plenty of authentic cheap eats; such as Home Town Bar B-Que, Red lobster rolls from Red Hook Lobster Pound or Steves Authentic Key Lime Pie.
Hipsters will want to make a beeline for Williamsburg, a short uber ride from Manhattan or just a couple of stops on the subway. This low rise neighbourhood is crammed with bars, craft breweries, clubs and paths to explore, making this a good night out if you want to escape the tourist crowds! If you want to stay a little longer then you'll find stylish boutiques such as The Hoxton Hotel or The Williamsburg either of which can be incorporated into your city break.
If you ride the subway to the end of the line you will come to Coney Island, a traditional seaside resort that is etched on the hearts of New Yorkers. Here you can ride the rollercoasters at Luna Park, chow down on a famous Nathans hot dog, or enjoy the views from the sandy beaches as you see a different side to the city. In summer months this resort will be heaving with native New Yorkers, but visit out of season and you will have the place to yourself. If you’re looking to stretch your legs, then you can follow the boardwalk all the way to Brighton Beach, a quieter seaside suburb famed for its Russian community.
That concludes our tour of the five New York boroughs, if we have inspired you to visit the Big Apple for the first time, or try somewhere new on your return, then get in touch with one of our team of experts who will be happy to help you plan your trip.