8 Neighborhoods to Explore in New York City Beyond Manhattan
Most first trips to New York never leave Manhattan, and I get it. There’s a lot there. But eight and a half million people live in this city, and most of them live somewhere else: Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island.
In this guide
That’s where you’ll find the best food for the money, the calmer streets and the views of the skyline you came to see. Everything here is a subway ride away for one flat fare. Here are eight neighborhoods beyond Manhattan worth a few hours of your trip.
1. DUMBO, Brooklyn
DUMBO stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, and it’s the easiest first step off the island. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge (go early, it’s chaos by noon) and you’ll land right in it.
The famous shot is on Washington Street, with the Manhattan Bridge framed between old brick warehouses and the Empire State Building peeking through the arch. Then head down to the waterfront. Jane’s Carousel sits in a glass box by the river, and the views of Lower Manhattan from the pebbly beach are excellent.
2. Brooklyn Heights
Brooklyn Heights is right next door to DUMBO, and it’s one of the prettiest neighborhoods in the city. Quiet streets, old brownstones, trees and very little traffic. It was New York’s first suburb, back when crossing the river meant a ferry.
Walk along the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, a long walkway over the water with an incredible view of the skyline and the Statue of Liberty. Then go down to Brooklyn Bridge Park, which stretches along old piers with lawns, playgrounds and more views. At sunset, it’s hard to beat.
3. Park Slope
Park Slope is the classic Brooklyn brownstone neighborhood. Strollers, cafés, bookstores and block after block of beautiful row houses. It sits on the west side of Prospect Park, which was designed by the same people who made Central Park (and some say they liked this one better).
Wander Fifth and Seventh Avenues for shops and restaurants, then walk into the park. Grand Army Plaza, with its big arch, is at the top, and the Brooklyn Museum and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden are right nearby. On Saturdays, there’s a great farmers market at the plaza.
4. Williamsburg
Williamsburg is the one everyone’s heard of, and yes, it’s very hip. It’s a quick L train ride from Manhattan, and Bedford Avenue is lined with vintage shops, record stores, coffee bars and plenty of people who look like they’re in a band.
Look for the street art on the side streets, especially around Wythe and Kent Avenues. On weekends from spring to fall, Smorgasburg sets up a huge outdoor food market by the river. Grab a few things, sit on the grass in Marsha P. Johnson State Park and enjoy the Midtown view.
5. Flushing, Queens
Flushing is at the end of the 7 train, and it has the best Chinese food in New York. Not the touristy kind. This is one of the biggest Chinatowns in the world, with regional cooking from Sichuan, Shanghai, Fujian and beyond.
Go hungry. The basement food courts on Main Street are cramped and wonderful. Try hand-pulled noodles, soup dumplings and anything that looks good. A big meal costs less than a sandwich in Midtown. Then take the train back one stop to Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.
6. Flushing Meadows and Jackson Heights, Queens
Flushing Meadows-Corona Park hosted two World’s Fairs, and the giant steel globe from 1964, the Unisphere, is still there. It’s a great photo. The Queens Museum next door has a huge scale model of the entire city, and it’s fun to find your hotel on it.
A few stops back along the 7 is Jackson Heights, one of the most diverse neighborhoods on the planet. Within a few blocks you’ll find Indian sweets, Tibetan momos, Colombian bakeries and Mexican tacos. Just walk along Roosevelt Avenue and eat your way through it.
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7. Arthur Avenue, the Bronx
Forget Little Italy in Manhattan, which is mostly a few streets of tourist restaurants now. Arthur Avenue, in the Belmont section of the Bronx, is the real thing. Bakeries, butchers, cheese shops and old-school red-sauce restaurants that have been here for generations.
Visit the Arthur Avenue Retail Market for fresh mozzarella and cured meat, then grab a slice or a proper sit-down lunch. It’s a short walk from the New York Botanical Garden and the Bronx Zoo, so you can make a whole day of it.
8. St. George, Staten Island
The Staten Island Ferry is free, and it’s one of the best deals in New York. It sails past the Statue of Liberty and gives you a gorgeous view of the skyline, and it runs all day and night from the southern tip of Manhattan.
Most people ride straight back, which is fine. But if you have an hour, get off in St. George. Walk along the waterfront, check out the 9/11 memorial, called Postcards, and get a drink with a view of Manhattan. Ride back at sunset if you can time it.
How to get around
The subway goes almost everywhere on this list, and one fare covers any ride, however long. Tap a contactless card or your phone at the turnstile. After 12 rides in a week, the rest are free. Google Maps handles the routes well. Just check for weekend service changes, which are frequent.
How to fit it into a short trip
You don’t need to do all eight. If you only have half a day, walk the Brooklyn Bridge into DUMBO, wander Brooklyn Heights and catch sunset from Brooklyn Bridge Park. That’s the best return for the least effort.
With a full day, pair DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights in the morning with Williamsburg in the afternoon, or ride the 7 train out to Flushing and stop at Jackson Heights on the way back. Arthur Avenue works well with the Botanical Garden or the Bronx Zoo. And the Staten Island Ferry fits in anywhere, since it leaves every 15 to 30 minutes from Lower Manhattan. Just don’t try to cram too much into one day. These neighborhoods are worth wandering slowly.
Common questions
Is it worth leaving Manhattan in New York?
Yes. Brooklyn and Queens have some of the city’s best food, views and neighborhoods.
What’s the best Brooklyn neighborhood for first-timers?
DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights. They’re close to Manhattan and have the best skyline views.
Where is the best food in Queens?
Flushing for Chinese food and Jackson Heights for everything else.
Is the Staten Island Ferry really free?
Yes. It’s free and runs 24 hours a day.
Is Arthur Avenue better than Little Italy?
For food, most New Yorkers would say yes.
