Where to Stay: the 5 Boroughs of NYC

New York City is made up of five distinct boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Each New York City borough contains several neighborhoods and has its own unique personality and charm. 

Many visitors will head straight for Manhattan, where they remain for the duration of their stay, and it’s easy to see why, as so many of NYC’s most famous landmarks are there. But there’s more to the Big Apple than Manhattan. 

This guide will help you plan your trip to NYC by sharing the highlights of the boroughs of New York so you know where you want to stay and visit.

Manhattan for the Big Attractions

Manhattan is, without a doubt, one of the most popular boroughs in NYC. It feels like the center of the city and it probably is, as this is where Dutch New Amsterdam was born back in 1624. 

Many of the top tourist attractions, like the iconic Empire State Building or the Statue of Liberty, are situated in Manhattan, and it has one of the world’s most recognizable skylines. Although Manhattan is smaller in area than the other boroughs, there are over 60 neighborhoods, and most tourists end up staying in one of the many hotels here.

You can’t visit Manhattan and not go to Times Square, where you can enjoy a Broadway show, go shopping, or sip a cocktail-with-a-view from a rooftop bar. Central Park is another iconic Manhattan destination. 

This massive urban park is spread over 843 acres and features walking trails, playgrounds, green spaces, waterways, and historic structures. Some of the top museums in NYC are nearby, and Manhattan also has some of the best lookout points in the city. Top of the Rock, The EDGE at Hudson Yards, SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, and One World Observatory all have incredible views.

Manhattan’s Neighborhoods

Midtown Manhattan is the best area to stay in New York City if you’re visiting for the first time. It’s the most famous area, with the greatest amount of skyscrapers, and many of the biggest attractions are within walking distance. 

But if you fancy a little more luxury, head to the Upper East Side, once home to the Rockefellers, Whitneys, and Astors. The Upper East Side is also home to some of the city’s most famous museums, including the Guggenheim, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Jewish Museum.

On the other side of Central Park is the Upper West Side. Bordered by the Hudson River and Central Park, this is the preferred destination for architecture lovers who can wander along Central Park West, West End Avenue, and Riverside Drive and be amazed by the large, ornate buildings and apartment blocks. Jazz lovers might want to head to the Harlem area, which offers an entirely different experience with vibrant street life and West African soul food cuisines.

If you’re on a tight budget, head to Lower Manhattan, which has excellent accommodation options at a pocket-friendly tariff. This area is within walking distance of the Wall Street financial district, the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, the 9/11 Memorial, and Battery Park. 

Lower Manhattan is home to Chinatown, a densely populated neighborhood packed with souvenir stores, markets, and some of the best international cuisine in the city. 

Just north of Chinatown is Little Italy, named when Italian immigrants moved to this area in Manhattan in the 1800s and brought their food, customs, and language. Little Italy’s heritage is evident to this day, with Italian restaurants lining its streets, offering up Italian specialties that are hard to find anywhere else.

Brooklyn for Hipster Café Culture

Super-trendy Brooklyn has a vibrant atmosphere filled with art, culture, entertainment, and food. It is the largest NYC borough by population, with an estimated 2.6 million New Yorkers living here. There’s a huge amount to see, spread over 70 neighborhoods. To get to Brooklyn, just head over the Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan.

If you are looking for somewhere great to stay in Brooklyn, look no further than DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass). This area has been extensively rejuvenated in recent years and tons of warehouses have now been repurposed into beautiful condos with striking views of the NYC skyline. 

There’s also easy access to the most popular NYC attractions directly across the East River. DUMBO’s cobblestone streets are home to plenty of restaurants and cafes, as well as art and performance galleries.

What to Do in Brooklyn

One of the highlights in Brooklyn has to be the stunning Brooklyn Botanic Garden. This romantic venue is situated in Prospect Park and was founded more than a century ago. The huge green space has a lake, boathouse, sports fields, and cafes for dining. There is a full events calendar with festivals, garden tours, and plenty for the kids to do. Children under 12 can visit the Botanic Garden for free.

For art lovers, check out the Brooklyn Museum, New York City’s second-largest museum at 560,000 square feet. The museum houses art collections from Africa, Egypt, and Central and South America. Special events and exhibitions are held throughout the year, all listed on their website. 

For a slightly different take on art, head to The Bushwick Collective for amazing street art and murals. The Bushwick Collective has attracted artists from all over the world and hosts the annual Bushwick Collective Block party, where international artists are invited to showcase their creations.

Brooklyn offers breathtaking views of Manhattan across the East River. Head to the Brooklyn Heights promenade or Brooklyn Bridge Park for some of the best vistas. 

Nearby Williamsburg is one of the most sought-after foodie areas in NYC and is home to plenty of rooftop bars with more of those incredible views. Williamsburg is known as the “hipster” neighborhood, thanks to its trendy nightlife and arts scene, but it’s also a great spot for boutique shops filled with vintage treasures.

If you’re traveling with your kids in NYC, you might want to spend a day at Coney Island in southwestern Brooklyn. In the summer months, this place is buzzing with amusement piers, shops, food vendors, and other activities. Take a stroll along Coney Island Boardwalk, or escape the crowds and cool off with a swim in the sea at Brighton Beach. For thrill-seekers, look no further than Luna Park, with its rollercoasters and carnival games. If you are a sports fan, you might want to see if the Brooklyn Cyclones are playing in Maimonides Park.

Queens for Arts and Diversity

Next to Brooklyn on Long Island is the borough of Queens. It’s the largest borough by size and connects to Manhattan and the Bronx via several bridges. You will almost certainly visit Queens if you go to NYC because both John F. Kennedy and Laguardia Airports are there.

Much of the Queens borough is residential, but that doesn’t mean the streets here are quiet. The 2.2 million population makes up one of the most ethnically diverse urban areas in the world, and this is reflected in the 138 languages spoken throughout the borough. 

Queens was established in 1683 but became a New York borough during the consolidation of New York City in 1898. Nowadays, this borough is a patchwork of unique neighborhoods, all with their own distinct character.

Queens is home to Art and Sport

The MoMA PS1 is located in the Long Island City neighborhood and is one of the oldest and largest non-profit contemporary art institutions in the United States. It also happens to be one of the best free things to do in NYC, as it is free on Fridays. This has to be the best spot in Queens for art lovers who come here for the ever-changing exhibitions of contemporary art. 

Another great arts destination in Queens is The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum. Isamu Noguchi is one of the twentieth century’s most important and critically acclaimed sculptors, and this stunning museum houses many of his most important works. For more sculptural art, head to nearby Socrates Sculpture Park. This public park is just one block from the Noguchi Museum and is free for all visitors.

If sports are more your thing, Citi Field baseball stadium, home to The New York Mets, is located in Queens. Citi Field is at the north end of Flushing Meadows Corona Park, which simply has to be one of the top parks in NYC. 

As well as the Mets, the park is home to the Queens Botanical Garden, a beautiful venue with outdoor gardens, a fragrance walk, an arboretum, and an indoor gallery. Flushing Meadows Corona Park is a spectacular music venue and hosts some of the biggest names in entertainment. The U.S. Open Tennis Championship is also held here.

The Bronx for Hip-Hop Culture

The Bronx is known for being a bit grittier than Manhattan and some of the other boroughs. But that’s what visitors tend to love about it. Separated from Manhattan by the Harlem River, this is the only district in New York located on the mainland. The Bronx offers a different take on New York City, with open green spaces and a melting pot of cultures. It is perhaps best known as the birthplace of hip-hop.

A Melting Pot of Nature, Sports & Music

Van Cortlandt Park offers a taste of the great outdoors in the Big Apple. This 1,146-acre park contains the borough’s largest freshwater lake, forests, playing fields, and the country’s first public golf course. 

There are plenty of barbecuing areas and public restrooms, making it an excellent place for a picnic with the family. Van Cortlandt Park is next door to Woodlawn Cemetery which is one of the largest and oldest cemeteries in the city. And if that’s not quite enough greenery, head to the iconic New York Botanical Gardens, with its indoor rain forests and deserts, rivers, waterfalls, and rolling green hills.

The Bronx is home to the New York Yankees Major League Baseball team, and if you happen to be visiting when a home game is on, the atmosphere at the Yankee stadium is unmissable.

If you’re going to the Bronx with children, discover your wild side at the Bronx Zoo. It is the largest metropolitan zoo in the United States and successfully recreates its animal’s naturalistic habitats. Wildlife in the zoo is largely separated by natural elements rather than housed in cages. Rides, exhibits, animal feedings, and an exciting program of events provide guaranteed fun for the whole family.

Certain areas in The Bronx remain a little unsafe, and you might want to avoid the South-East Bronx area, particularly at night. But don’t let that put you off visiting this vibrant borough.

Staten Island for a Quieter Ride

Staten Island has a slower pace of life than the other boroughs of New York City. There are around half a million people living here, and it is not a big tourist destination simply because it is overwhelmingly residential. But there are plenty of historical sights on Staten Island, and even some local beaches.

The free Staten Island Ferry is a highlight for many visitors and is a very cost-effective way of seeing the skyline of Manhattan whilst taking you past the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Governor’s Island. From where you pick up the ferry on Whitehall Street in Lower Manhattan, the ride to Staten Island takes about 25 minutes. 

Once you arrive, there are local buses to transport you to the main attractions. You can also drive to Staten Island from Brooklyn over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in the United States.

Staten Island is often described as the Borough of Parks, as it has more green space than any other borough. There are over 9,300 acres of parklands here. Check out the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, with its fourteen distinctive gardens, including the Chinese Scholar’s Garden, which transports you to the tranquil gardens and ponds of Ming Dynasty China. 

Or head to the Rose Garden, with over 100 varieties of roses and a reflecting pool at its center. Snug Harbor Cultural Center is open every day from dawn to dusk and entry to the 83-acre historic main campus is free. There are public restrooms, cafes for dining, or plenty of green spaces if you prefer to take a picnic.

Learn About New York’s History & Art

For a look into New York City’s maritime past, head to the National Lighthouse Museum, near the Staten Island Ferry arrival point. This museum is dedicated to the history of lighthouses and their keepers, and its self-guided exhibits educate visitors about the history and technology of the nation’s lighthouses.

The Staten Island Museum at Snug Harbour, houses an impressive collection of art, history, and scientific artifacts and is well worth a visit. Founded in 1881, the museum aims to spark curiosity and generate meaningful shared experiences through its exhibitions and events and charges a very reasonable $8 for admission.

Five Boroughs & Plenty to See!

Whichever part of New York City you choose to stay in, your trip to the City that never sleeps is guaranteed to be full of fun and adventure. Visitors love that each borough, and the neighborhoods within them, have their own distinct characters, and it can feel like you’ve visited a dozen different countries by just walking down one street!

Wherever you choose to stay and visit, embracing the differences will help you get the most out of each area.

Featured Image Credit: TZIDO SUN