The Five New York Boroughs: What to See and Do

New York is split into five distinctive boroughs that offer masses of different tourist attractions to suit every taste. Each New York borough has its own vibe and its own must see and do activities and attractions. No matter where you are in The Big Apple there’s always something new to try. Here’s the Globehunters lowdown on the five New York boroughs and the top things to see and do in each.

Manhattan

Some of New York’s most popular tourist attractions like bustling Times Square are found in Manhattan. Times Square is home to the legendary Broadway theatres and hosts more than 39 million visitors a year. Its iconic billboards are one of those fantastic photo opportunities to make your Facebook friends jealous! The 843 acre Central Park is another must-visit and offers respite from the hustle and bustle of New York’s busy streets. Central Park is charming at any time of year, especially in the snow.

Of course no trip to Manhattan would be complete without a visit to the Statue of Liberty. It’s found on Liberty Island, which is classed as Manhattan. Liberty Island is accessed by ferry and it’s advisable to book tickets to see the statue well in advance. Visits to the statue can be combined with a trip to the 9/11 memorial; a deeply moving tribute at the sight of Ground Zero.

Times Square, Manhattan

The Bronx

The Bronx is a fascinating, ethnically diverse borough which houses the Bronx Museum of the Arts as well as the famous Yankee Stadium - home of the New York Yankees baseball team. If you fancy some top notch food from The Bronx’s sizeable Italian community head to Arthur Avenue in Belmont.

Woodlawn is the place to be for fans of all things Irish, offering traditional Irish breakfasts, live Celtic music and perfect pints of Guinness. As you’d expect, Woodlawn is a real must if you’re lucky enough to be in NYC on St Patrick’s Day!

Yankee Stadium, The Bronx

Brooklyn

New York’s hipsters are often found in the Williamsburg neighbourhood, which is in the New York borough of Brooklyn. Williamsburg attracts young creative types and boasts a plethora of cafes, live music venues, vintage clothes boutiques and restaurants.

Check out Brighton Beach (known as Little Odessa because of its large Ukrainian community) and its large variety of colourful shops and restaurants. Alternatively, you could see a concert or a Brooklyn Nets basketball game at the Barclays Centre or visit the Coney Island funfair during the summer. Finally, don’t miss the great photo opportunities of Brooklyn Heights with its impressive architecture and views of the New York skyline.

The view from Brooklyn Heights

Queens

There’s lots to do in New York’s largest and most culturally diverse borough Queens. Long Island City, once a manufacturing hub, is now home to art galleries, museums and studios dotted amongst renovated industrial buildings. It’s also very easy to get to from central Manhattan by train or even ferry.

Culture vultures should also visit MoMA PS1 in Jackson Avenue – a non-profit contemporary art museum which showcases the latest artistic talent and emerging genres. Visitors of all ages will enjoy Queens Zoo with its daily sea lion feedings and Andean bears.

Staten Island

The journey to Staten Island is an experience in itself. Most tourists choose to take the 25 minute Staten Island ferry across the Hudson River to the island in order to photograph the Lower Manhattan skyline and of course the Statue of Liberty.

On the island itself, visitors can enjoy Staten Island Zoo, Staten Island Children’s museum and the Chinese Scholar’s Garden. The latter is a charming green space filled with Chinese architecture that’s considered a bit of a hidden gem.

Whether you want to experience the five New York boroughs for the first time or simply reacquaint yourself with this fantastic city, take a look at Globehunters’ cheap New York flights.

Which is your favourite New York borough? Is there anything we've missed that you’d recommend?