Things to Do in Brooklyn NYC

On your list of things to see and do in New York you can't miss the borough of Brooklyn. It has been the hipster capital of the world for decades: it is full of cafes, stores and restaurants that were once former factories and today represent the gastronomic epicenter of New York.

Brooklyn is one of the trendiest neighborhoods in New York. A borough with an industrial past and a strong cultural identity that is well worth a visit. Welcome to Brooklyn!

In a city like New York where there is no shortage of great tourist landmarks, one of the first places you have to visit is the famous Brooklyn Bridge. You will have seen it countless times on television, but crossing it is imposing and its views over the East River of the New York skyline are fascinating. You can walk across it or take a bike tour from Manhattan.

Opened in 1883, this engineering marvel rises over the river connecting Brooklyn and Manhattan from the Brooklyn neighborhoods of DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights to the Civic Center neighborhood of Manhattan. In fact, from here you will have the best views of the Manhattan skyline.

The Barclays Center is a huge arena in the heart of Brooklyn just around the corner from the BAM. With a capacity of over 17,000 spectators, it is famous for being the "home" stadium of the Brooklyn Nets (NBA) and the New York Islanders (NHL) since 2012.

The Barclays Center has also hosted boxing championships and musical events (in fact, several of the best artists on the planet such as Celine Dion, Ariana Grande and Marc Anthony have performed here). If during your visit to New York you want to attend an NBA game, you can't miss the Brooklyn Nets here. The season starts at the end of October and ends in mid-April.

Why I recommend going to the Barclays Center

You come to New York to have a great time and even if you don't like sports, watching an NBA game in the United States is a real show of music, partying, dancing and above all, basketball. Are you ready to see the best players in the world up close? Here's how to get NBA tickets in New York.

One of the best things to do in Brooklyn especially if you are traveling to New York in summer and with children is to go to Coney Island, the neighborhood where New Yorkers go to relax outdoors and enjoy the beach in good weather.

Stroll along the boardwalk

One of my favorite things about Coney Island is walking along the boardwalk, feeling the Atlantic breeze on your face and the smell of the ocean. It's a fantastic feeling!

Luna Park

The other great attraction in the area is Luna Park, a mix between old fair and amusement park that retains much of its original attractions such as the Wonder Wheel or the roller coaster Cyclone and that vintage charm that is so special. Consider it an essential plan if you go to New York with children.

Nearby is a freak show so typical of the 20s and 30s. The show is different every season and, although some tricks are repeated, you will have the feeling of reliving times gone by among bearded women, dwarfs and other typical characters.

Visit the New York Aquarium

Last but not least, a fun attraction to see in Coney Island is the New York Aquarium, the only aquarium in the city located on the boardwalk. Its purpose is to show visitors the importance of preserving aquatic ecosystems. Here you can see sea otters, sharks and penguins, among many other species. Check when you enter to see when the animals eat and don't miss it if it coincides with your visit - the kids will love it!

Dyker Heights is a residential neighborhood in Brooklyn that would be nothing special if it weren't for the fact that its neighbors go all out when it comes to celebrating Christmas by decorating their homes and gardens with hundreds of garlands, balls, colored lights and other decorations. And when I say all out, I mean all out!

Some opt for elegant and discreet lights while others fill their gardens to the brim with all kinds of lights, inflatables and Christmas figures that sing Christmas carols and move around.

A real competition that began in the 80s and has become an annual event for which some families even pay decoration companies to surprise the curious. A tradition that you can not miss in Brooklyn if you travel to New York at Christmas.

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Another must-do plan is for you to discover the artistic culture of Brooklyn's Bushwick neighborhood. And for this, there is no better way than with a street art tour. On a tour of about an hour and a half with a local artist who knows in depth the techniques of graffiti, you will admire all the murals in the neighborhood, a real open-air exhibition!

In addition, you will learn all about the history of the neighborhood and the evolution of this artistic trend, and you will also discover a completely different vision of New York City.

Note that if you have done this activity before, you can do it again, because every year an event is held in which artists from all over the world come together to paint their works, which are kept until the celebration of the next edition in which other artists make new works on the previous ones.

And if the street art tour is not enough for you, you can book a graffiti workshop where you will be able to create your own work and keep it as a souvenir forever. You will work with a real graffiti artist and learn all the tricks of the trade.

An ideal plan for adults, but also for the children of the house. Come along with this original and fun plan, it will be one of the adventures that will leave your friends speechless!

Hipsters and New York's more conservative Jewish community coexist in Williamsburg, this Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn. However, each has their own space and live in their own way: the hipsters in Williamsburg and the Orthodox Jews in the South Williamsburg area, which is reached by crossing under the Williamsburg Bridge.

This place is like walking through a different world, austere and simple. There are not so many charming shops and its buildings seem a bit more neglected compared to the other part of the neighborhood. Here inhabit the Hasidic Jews (a branch within Orthodox Judaism) who came from Hungary fleeing the Second World War.

During the walk through South Williamsburg you will see that its restaurants and stores have signs in Hebrew as well as the typical yellow school buses. If you can, I recommend that you go into a kosher store and buy some sweets or rolls, they are quite tasty!

Travel responsibly

This is a very closed community that respects their way of life and traditions. Visitors do not pay too much attention to them and are used to seeing them pass through the neighborhood, but it is advisable that during the route through South Williamsburg you act with consideration (especially when taking pictures in which the neighbors may appear).

The contrast between the different ways of life can be shocking, but even if their clothing, hairstyles or any other detail catches your attention, try not to make them feel uncomfortable by staring at them with curiosity or following them to take pictures. Being respectful of others is also part of traveling responsibly.

DUMBO has no shortage of restaurants where you can take a lunch break. Next to Grimaldi's Pizzeria, famous throughout New York for its pepperoni pizza, in this neighborhood is located the Time Out Market, a food hall with more than twenty food stalls where you can try different dishes without leaving Empire Stores, the picturesque building in which it is located and that testifies to the industrial past of Brooklyn in the nineteenth century.

This is a perfect choice if you are traveling in a group and want to avoid the typical eternal debate about where everyone wants to go to eat. There's a little bit of everything here: Italian, Japanese, Thai, Lebanese, bagels, burgers, vegetarian food, sweets, etc. Some of the city's best chefs, chosen by Time Out New York magazine, share the 2,400 m2 space.

The Time Out Market at 55 Water Street also brings together some of New York's best bartenders in three bars, who will prepare delicious cocktails to toast your trip. If, in addition to filling your stomach, you feel like having a drink with a view, make a note of the best rooftops in New York.

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What was once an industrial area full of factories and warehouses rather dreary, today is one of the trendiest areas of New York. By the late 1970s, DUMBO was home to bohemians and artists who changed the soul of the neighborhood, which became the epicenter of new artistic movements that attracted new wealthy neighbors due to its proximity to Manhattan.

When you arrive in DUMBO, the first thing you want to do is take a long walk and get lost in its streets. It is very striking how it has maintained that perfect combination of old industrial architecture and cobblestone floors, where the old train tracks are still visible, with the most modern design and luxury spaces that can be seen in the neighborhood.

What to see in DUMBO?

Another thing to do in Brooklyn is to spend an evening at BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music), a multi-arts center that for more than a century has been home to adventurous artists with risky ideas that have surprised audiences. They work especially with emerging artists, but also with innovative artists who have already made a name for themselves. Even actors such as Cate Blanchett, Jeremy Irons and John Malkovich have graced the stages of BAM.

The main building, located near the Atlantic Avenue - Barclays Center subway stop, is shared by Rose Cinemas, which specializes in auteur films, the Howard Gilman Opera House and Lepercq Space, a multi-purpose performance space.

If you like innovative and alternative art, take a look at its official website because you will find the coolest and most different cultural proposals. And if you prefer to continue your itinerary seeing one of the best museums in New York, do not miss the Brooklyn Museum.

One of my favorite places in DUMBO for its breathtaking views is Main Street Park, one of the best parks in New York. With the Brooklyn Bridge on one side, the Manhattan Bridge on the other and the East River and the Financial District skyline in front of you, you won't be able to stop taking pictures!

But, to tell you the truth, I not only like it for this reason but also because here is Jane's Carousel, an authentic 1920's carousel that was restored to its original splendor and has been part of the Brooklyn landscape since the 80's when it was brought from Ohio.

Main Street Park with kids

If you' re visiting New York with the family, it's a great place to take the kids to have fun and you can ride it too. Jane's Carousel is for all ages so don't be shy and ride one of their cute little horses for only $2. It is also a perfect plan if you are traveling as a couple and want to surprise them with a romantic evening.

Brooklyn Beach

On the other hand, in Main Street Park there is a tiny rocky beach known as Pebble Beach. There is a kind of bleachers where you can sit for a while to rest, to see the photos you have taken so far and also enjoy the panoramic view of the city. If you travel to New York in summer, this place will be key for the hottest days of July and August in New York.

Another plan to do in Brooklyn during your visit, especially between August and October, is to rent a kayak to navigate the East River. You can find more information on the official website. If you are looking for more special plans like this one, don't miss this list with the must-do experiences in New York.

One of the best things to do in Brooklyn is to take a stroll through the Brooklyn Flea Market inDUMBO on Saturdays from 10AM to 5PM from April to October. This is a vintage flea market that offers a wide variety of products (clothing, furniture, books, jewelry and crafts) displayed with care by more than 150 local vendors and artisans.

If you love flea markets and you travel to New York in winter, this space is transformed into Winter Flea, a flea market of antiques, crafts and food that opens between November and March. Shopaholics, here you will find the best things to buy in New York.

Why I like this flea market

This is not your typical flea market where the objects are piled up without rhyme or reason, but there is a careful presentation that attracts the eye to the stalls to tempt you to take a unique souvenir home, either for you or for your family. There are unique things!

If you don't leave here with a super cool vintage jacket, you'll leave with a full stomach. Here you'll sample some of the best tacos, hot dogs, lobster rolls and Sicilian cannoli in New York. It's one of the best places to eat in Brooklyn.

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