5 Best New York City Neighborhoods

New York is a cosmopolitan city with a unique atmosphere. It is divided into five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. If this is your first time visiting the city, I will explain its geography and some places of interest so that you can get to know it better before your trip.

New York City is made up of five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island, which are in turn divided into neighborhoods.

The most convenient and easiest way to see the highlights of these boroughs is to book the Contrasts Tour and the Upper and Lower Manhattan Tour.

Both are guided tours in which a specialized guide will tell you the most important details and anecdotes about each corner of the city. Another easy way to get around the city is by tourist bus.

Manhattan is the most visited district in New York and a true icon. It is so popular that many foreigners associate this borough with the city itself and believe it to be the same thing, as most of the city's tourist attractions are concentrated here. A tip: it may be interesting to book an electric bike tour of Manhattan to explore it.

Paradoxically, it is the smallest and most populous district and is home to the world's largest commercial, cultural, and financial centers. With an area of 59.1 square kilometers, the island of Manhattan is huge and is divided into different neighborhoods. Let's explore them from south to north, from Downtown to Uptown, passing through Midtown.

Financial District and Civic Center

I recommend visiting this area during the week, and to do so, you can rent a bike in the Financial District.

You may wonder why not on the weekend, and that's because the financial district is almost deserted, but from Monday to Friday there is a lot of activity and the streets of this neighborhood are constantly bustling with people, as it is home to Wall Street, the Federal Reserve, the New York Stock Exchange, and some of the most powerful financial institutions in the world.

In the west is the renovated World Trade Center with the 9/11 Memorial, a space dedicated to remembering the attacks of September 11, which you can explore in detail if you book the tour of Lower Manhattan, Wall Street, and the 9/11 Memorial. You can also take advantage of being there to go up to the One World Observatory.

Chinatown

Chinatown is one of Manhattan's most popular neighborhoods and a shopping paradise for tourists and New Yorkers alike, as its stores sell all kinds of products at very affordable prices. Here you will also have the opportunity to visit the Chinese Museum in America, the Mahayana Buddhist temple, or Columbus Park. Here I explain everything you can do in Chinatown.

Little Italy

Next to Chinatown is Little Italy, with several Italian-inspired restaurants and cafes (at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century, this neighborhood was the largest settlement of Italian immigrants, but it has now been absorbed by Chinatown). If you want to learn more about its cuisine, you can take a food tour of Little Italy with a local guide who will take you to sample the delicacies of Italian cuisine. And if you want to explore both neighborhoods, book a tour of Chinatown, Little Italy, and Soho.

NoLIta

Very close to Chinatown and Little Italy, there is a new neighborhood called NoLIta (North of Little Italy) where you can find many cafes, restaurants, and fashion stores.

SoHo and Tribeca

If you book the Chinatown and Little Italy tour, you'll also get to see SoHo. Another acronym, SoHo (South of Houston Street), gives its name to one of New York's bohemian neighborhoods. Take the opportunity to visit its designer shops, art galleries, and antique bookstores. This area was created in the 1960s and 1970s, when various artists and designers moved into the neighborhood, attracted by the affordable prices of studios and lofts created in old factories.

Tribeca's architecture is also very unique. This former industrial neighborhood is now full of fashion boutiques, art galleries, and exclusive restaurants.

In addition, this neighborhood has strong ties to the film industry. Robert De Niro created the famous Tribeca Film Festival, which focuses on independent cinema. You can also take a tour to see the locations of Friends, CSI, Breakfast at Tiffany's, or even, if you're looking for something more specific, a tour of the locations of Gossip Girl, among others.

West Village

The West Village is a quiet place to go for a walk away from the hustle and bustle of downtown. I recommend taking a stroll through Washington Square Park, one of the best gardens in the city, and then staying for dinner at one of its many charming restaurants, where you can end your day like a true New Yorker.

Times Square and Hell's Kitchen

In Midtown, you'll find the largest concentration of skyscrapers and New York landmarks. I recommend booking tickets in advance if you don't want to miss out on visiting them. I'm referring to:

• Empire State Building.
• Top of the Rock (at Rockefeller Center).
• MoMA.

Times Square, which is the heart of New York. With its lights and billboards, it has become the city's most recognizable image. However, this was not always the case, as until the late 1990s, the area was synonymous with drugs and crime. My advice is to visit during the day, but also at night to see it lit up, or even book a horse-drawn carriage tour of Central Park, Rockefeller Center, and Times Square.

For food or drinks, you'll only find fast food or very expensive options around Times Square, so I recommend heading to the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood, west of Eighth Avenue, which is well known for its bars, restaurants, and cafes.

Broadway

Broadway, the avenue that is the epicenter of theater and musicals in New York. Every night, the curtain rises to make its audience dream with such memorable shows as The Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King, Aladdin, and Frozen.

Flatiron District

This is a business district in Manhattan that is very lively during the day, as it is full of offices, restaurants, and shops. It is named after the famous Flatiron Building, a century-old triangular-shaped building in the Beaux Arts style of the Chicago school.

I recommend taking a stroll around the area and visiting Madison Square Park, an oasis of tranquility where it is common to see office workers taking a break, eating, and chatting. Buy a sandwich at Pret À Manger across the street and eat it on the grass. Events and activities are also organized in this park, which you can find out about on its official website.

Chelsea

With its saffron-colored stone houses and tree-lined streets, the Chelsea neighborhood is a residential area full of shops, nightclubs, and art galleries. In fact, it is the neighborhood in New York with the highest concentration of art galleries, so if that's your passion, you can't miss visiting this neighborhood. You have the opportunity to book a tour of Chelsea.

I also recommend visiting Chelsea Market, a former cookie factory converted into a food market where the high ceilings and original brick walls have been preserved to give it an industrial feel and lots of character. Here you can buy delicacies from all over the world, but did you know that Oreo cookies were invented here?

Chelsea Market is next to the High Line, an urban park built on old elevated railroad tracks that crosses western Manhattan. If you feel like getting away from the concrete for a while and immersing yourself in a green area, don't hesitate to take a stroll.

Hudson Yards

This is the new trendy neighborhood in Midtown, built on what was once a dreary train depot next to the Hudson River.

The neighborhood is still under construction, but it already has some attractions that will make this area one of the must-see places to visit in New York, such as:

• The Edge.
• The Vessel.
• The Shops mall.
• The High Line elevated park.

Upper East Side

Uptown Manhattan is the least visited area by tourists as it is predominantly residential. However, here you will find some of New York's iconic sites such as Central Park, which forms the border between the Upper East Side and the Upper West Side, and where you have endless things to do:

• Tour of Central Park.
• Bicycle taxi tour of Central Park.
• Rent a bike and explore Central Park on your own.
• Yoga class in Central Park.
• Electric scooter tour of Central Park.
• Visit the Central Park Zoo.
• Rent an electric bike in Central Park.
• Horse-drawn carriage tour of Central Park, Rockefeller Center, and Times Square.
• Tour of Central Park featuring movie locations.
• Horse-drawn carriage tour of Central Park.
• Visit the Central Park Zoo.
• Photography tour of Central Park.
• Bicycle taxi ride through Central Park.
• 2-hour bike tour of Central Park.
• Private bike tour of Central Park.

The Upper East Side is New York's affluent neighborhood known for its imposing stately buildings and wide avenues. Although it is not the area with the most tourist attractions, it does have some very interesting places such as the Metropolitan Museum, the Neue Gallery, Gracie Mansion, and Central Park. If you liked the series, take a tour of the locations featured in Sex and the City, which probably needs no introduction.

Upper West Side

This is another residential neighborhood with unique and striking architecture. Here you can find the zero kilometer point of New York, Columbus Circle, a square dedicated to Christopher Columbus and the discovery of America. You'll also find Columbia University, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and the Museum of Natural History, which I highly recommend.

Keep in mind that it's one of the most visited attractions in New York, so book your tickets to the Museum of Natural History as soon as possible.

Harlem

Since the African American community settled in this area of Manhattan in the early 20th century, Harlem has been the neighborhood automatically associated with Black culture. Today, the neighborhood is safe to enjoy a Sunday tour with a gospel mass.

You'll also find great music at the Apollo Theater, where artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, and James Brown, among others, began their careers, or you can stroll among the brownstones, beautiful little houses made of red sandstone.

Behind Manhattan, the second best-known district in New York is probably Brooklyn. Before becoming a borough, it was the fourth largest city in the United States after New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia.

DUMBO

What was once an industrial area full of factories and warehouses is now one of the coolest places in New York. The name of this neighborhood comes from the acronym Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass and refers to its location, just below the Manhattan Bridge.

Bohemians and artists settled in DUMBO and changed the neighborhood. Today, it is a combination of artistic and design movements with the old industrial architecture typical of the area.

During your visit to this neighborhood, don't miss Washington Street, the Dumbo Flea Market, Plymouth Street, or Main Street Park. And don't forget to take the iconic photo with the Brooklyn Bridge in the background (although more than one tourist will sneak in behind you while you're taking yours). You can also sign up for a bike tour of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Williamsburg

Williamsburg is a neighborhood of contrasts where New York hipsters and Orthodox Jews mix. One of its attractions is the street art in the form of murals and graffiti throughout the neighborhood, including the Williamsburg Mona Lisa and Andy Warhol and Basquiat.

Also, East River State Park, where the Smorgasburg Market is held on Saturdays in April and October. To get to know it in depth, I recommend booking the Williamsburg tour in Brooklyn.

Also, be sure to buy tickets for Water Country USA if you go in the summer and for Busch Gardens, a water park and amusement park that will blow your mind. Oh, and of course, don't miss the series Unorthodox, based precisely on this neighborhood.

Coney Island

This is the neighborhood where New Yorkers go when the weather is nice to relax outdoors and enjoy the beach, especially in summer. During your visit to Coney Island, you can walk along the boardwalk and get close to the sea to feel the breeze.

A fantastic plan that can be complemented with an extra dose of excitement at Luna Park, a mix between an old-fashioned fair and an amusement park that, with its carousels, roller coasters, and the smell of cotton candy and caramel, promises to give you an unforgettable time.

Nearby is a freak show so typical of the 1920s and 1930s that you'll feel like you're reliving the past. Another fun attraction to see in Coney Island is the New York Aquarium, located on the boardwalk. If you want to get to know the neighborhood in depth, sign up for a tour of the boroughs and Coney Island.

Queens is the largest borough in New York, home to more than 150 different cultures. It is also the fastest changing borough, with an increasing number of tourist attractions in its different neighborhoods.

Long Island City

Very close to Manhattan is Long Island City, the most avant-garde neighborhood in Queens, home to a large number of museums, galleries, and contemporary art studios such as MoMA PS1, the Isamu Noguchi Museum, and Socrates Sculpture Park.

Astoria and Flushing

The Astoria neighborhood is the heart of the Greek community in New York and is home to the largest Greek community outside of Europe. There is much to do in this part of Queens, such as visiting Orthodox churches, listening to European techno music, savoring Greek cuisine with an American twist, or watching the sunset over Manhattan from Astoria Park.

On the other hand, if you're a sports fan, you probably already know that the Flushing neighborhood is home to the new New York Mets stadium and the US Open Tennis Championships. Make the most of your trip to New York and buy tickets for baseball or tennis.

Another tourist attraction in this Queens neighborhood is the house-museum of Louis Armstrong, the great jazz musician.

Jackson Heights, Rockaway Beach, and Jamaica

During your visit to Queens, if you like Indian cuisine, you have to go to Jackson Heights, as this neighborhood has plenty of buffets and restaurants specializing in this type of food at very good prices.

After a hearty meal, you may want to stretch your legs and take a stroll along Rockaway Beach, the longest urban beach in the United States. You can finish your tour in the Jamaica neighborhood, the birthplace of hip-hop, where you can learn more about this musical genre as you wander through its streets.

During the 20th century, the Bronx was synonymous with crime and poverty, but don't be put off by its bad reputation because today this New York neighborhood has changed a lot and tourist attractions such as the New York Zoo, Edgar Allan Poe's house, and Fordham University Church are in safe areas.

If you're passionate about baseball, you have to take advantage of a visit to the Bronx to see a New York Yankees game. The atmosphere is spectacular! And if you like nature, a stroll through the huge New York Botanical Garden will fill your senses with colors, scents, and peace.

Staten Island is the least known borough to tourists, but there are several places of interest related to the origins of the United States, as there are more colonial-era buildings here than anywhere else in the city.

For example, two of the most amazing places to see on Staten Island are, on the one hand, a restored village called Historic Richmond Town, where you can see houses dating back to the 17th century. On the other hand, there is Fort Wadsworth, a 17th-century defensive fort built by the Dutch.

But for many travelers, the visit to Staten Island is best enjoyed with a ferry ride, a cheap way to see the Manhattan skyline from afar.