What is the first thing you imagine if we talk about New York? For many, the city is synonymous with parks, museums and skyscrapers of Manhattan.
But the truth is that New York is made up of five boroughs, known as the boroughs of New York, and Manhattan is just one of them.
Let's find out what the districts of New York and what you can visit in each of them.
The 5 boroughs of New York
Here the districts of New York sorted from largest to smallest:
- Queens
- Brooklyn
- Staten Island
- Bronx
- Manhattan
Although some New York City guides refer to Manhattan, Brooklyn or Queens as "neighborhoods," it is an incorrect distinction. In fact, they are districts consisting of dozens of neighborhoods different. For example, Williamsburg is a neighborhood in the borough of Brooklyn, Harlem is a borough in the borough of Manhattan ...
1. Queens
Il Queens it is the largest borough in New York. Located on the west side of Long Island, the Queens District is home to two of New York's three major airports: John F. Kennedy (JFK Airport) and LaGuardia Airport.
From a tourist point of view, Queens does not offer as many attractions as Manhattan. However, the neighborhood is a place of diversity, immigration from around the world and, thanks to it, various and authentic kitchens and shops.
With an explosive food scene, unrivaled diversity and even beautiful beaches, Queens has even managed to become the best travel destination in the United States by Lonely Planet for 2015 and is poised to be the next landmark in New York City. .
Some of the best known neighborhoods in Queens they are Astoria, Long Island City, Flushing or Sunnyside. Here are a few ideas to discover this district:
What to do in Queens
- Visit the fantastic cinema museum, the Museum of the Moving Image.
- Discover New York Hall of Science, one of the largest science and technology centers in New York. It is one of the 10 best science museums in the United States and hosts more than 400 exhibits, many of which are interactive.
- Lo zoo in Queens, located inside the Flushing Meadows Corona Park, is a zoo completely dedicated to the protection and breeding of endangered species, mainly North American animals such as the American bison, pumas, California sea lions ...
- Like other boroughs in New York, Queens also has its own Botanical Garden (Queens Botanical Garden), less crowded than the other botanical gardens in the city with 300.000 visitors a year.
- Lo Shea Stadium is one of the most famous municipal stadiums in New York. Located in Flushing Meadows, it has long been home to the baseball team of the Mets and the New York Jets.
- Close to the stadium, you can stroll to the Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Located in North Queens, Flushing Meadows Corona Park is the area's entertainment and cultural hub. The park, which covers an area of ​​5,1 km², is more than one and a half times the size of Central Park in Manhattan.
- Visit Queens Museum, in the same park as Flushing Meadows Corona.
- If you like contemporary art, visit the MoMA PS1, the brother of MoMA.
- Guarda the skyscrapers of Manhattan off the coast of Long Island City and find the Pepsi sign at Gantry Plaza State Park.
2. Brooklyn
Brooklyn it is the most populous neighborhood in New York City with over 2,5 million inhabitants and the second largest district in terms of area. Brooklyn is known for its cultural, social and ethnic diversity, an independent art scene and a unique architectural heritage.
Located at the western end of Long Island, Brooklyn is connected to Manhattan by the Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge and the Williamsburg Bridge. Brooklyn is also well served by public transportation with 18 subway lines, most of which offer direct links to Manhattan or Queens.
Things to do in Brooklyn
- Follow the path through the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood and enjoy the view from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade. This popular destination, one of New York City's most romantic spots, offers spectacular views of Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, the East River, and the Brooklyn Bridge.
- Enjoy the hipster scene of Williamsburg around such lively streets as Bedford Avenue, Berry Street or Wythe Avenue. In Williamsburg, you can also stroll through Domino Park, a huge park overlooking Manhattan, and cross the Williamsburg Bridge.
- The Brooklyn Bridge crosses the East River and connects Manhattan to Brooklyn. With a length of 2km, it is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States and arguably one of New York's most famous architectural wonders.
- Discover urban art in the Bushwick neighborhood, where some of the best graffiti in New York is concentrated.
- Spend a morning in the Coney Island neighborhood, an island south of Brooklyn renowned for its beaches, aquarium and famous amusement park.
- At Christmas, enjoy the incredibles Christmas lights in the Dyker Heights neighborhood.
- Consultation Prospect Park, an oasis of greenery, right in the heart of Brooklyn. Prospect Park is home to a 35-acre Long Meadow and Brooklyn's only forest.
- Il Brooklyn museum it is one of the largest and oldest art museums in the United States and houses one of the largest art collections in the world.
Some of the most famous neighborhoods in Brooklyn sono Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Park Slope, Bushwick, Dumbo, Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, Boerum Hill o Carroll Gardens.
3. Staten Island
Staten Island, located in southwestern New York, is the least populated of the five districts, but the third in size (153 km2 in area). And also the greenest neighborhood in New York, with nearly two hundred parks.
Accessible via the Staten Island Ferry, Staten Island is a 25-minute drive from Lower Manhattan. Here, art enthusiasts will find many unique museums and galleries while relaxation lovers will be seduced by the miles of beach that Staten Island offers.
Things to do in Staten Island
- On the north coast of Staten Island, the Snug Harbor Cultural Center is home to beautiful Victorian, Greek Revival, Italian and fine art buildings. Walk through the Staten Island Botanical Garden. Consisting of over 20 gardens, this wooded natural site is home to the United States' first Chinese garden.
- Enter to St. George Theatre, well known for its magnificent lobby with its typically Italian decor, spiral staircases and oversized chandeliers.
- Lo Staten island ferry connects Manhattan to Staten Island in about 25 minutes. The ferry operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Available for free, on ferry offers one of the best views of New York City, the New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty.
- Visit i remains of the military fortification of Fort Wadsworth, one of the oldest military sites in the United States, and enjoy great views of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.
- In summer, swim on South Beach with the Verrazano bridge as a backdrop.
- Visit the historic city historic Richmond and learn how Staten Islanders and New Yorkers lived and worked, from early settlers to subsequent generations.
- Visit him zoo di Staten Island. It is relatively small compared to other New York zoos, but is known worldwide for its reptile collection and includes one of the largest collections of rattlesnakes in North America.
4. Bronx
Il Bronx it is the only one of New York's five boroughs located primarily on the mainland of the United States rather than on the island. The district is regarded worldwide as the birthplace of hip-hop culture and the symbol of the Melting Pot of New York City and even the United States.
The Bronx offers many popular attractions, wildlife parks and is not the gangster district as it has often been portrayed in movies. Once in the Bronx, you will have a wide choice of places, monuments, museums to visit and discover.
What to do in the Bronx
- The New York Botanical Garden, comprising nearly 50 gardens, covered in waterfalls and bicentennial trees, and the nearby Bronx Zoo, the largest urban zoo in the world.
- Get the Bronx Tour Trolley, it's the best way to visit the Bronx and don't miss any of the Borough's major cultural institutions and attractions. It is also free.
- The house of Edgar Allan Poe, a small country house where the writer spent the last years of his life.
- It is also worth seeing in the Belmont neighborhood Pelham bay park, the largest park in New York, which is more than three times the size of Central Park in Manhattan. Pelham Bay Park's main attraction is Orchard Beach, Belmont's only public beach.
- The baseball stadium of the legendary Yankees. It is a historic venue that has hosted more Champions League Baseball than any other stadium.
- Little Italy of the Bronx, often considered more authentic than that of Manhattan. It is located in Belmont, one of the most fascinating areas of the Bronx.
5. Manhattan
And let's get to the icing on the cake! Manhattan is the heart of New York, the smallest but also the most densely populated district in the state, as well as in the whole of the United States. Manhattan is home to many large corporations, the United Nations, as well as numerous prestigious universities and many cultural attractions.
Then there are the museums, hotels, parks, shops, lights, squares. It is undeniable: almost everything you imagine of New York is in Manhattan ... Did you know that during the week, during the day, Manhattan doubles the population thanks to more than a million people who work there?
The Borough of Manhattan can be divided into 11 major boroughs. Each of these Manhattan neighborhoods has its particularities, its history, its culture, its monuments.
Central Park
Chinatown
Greenwich Village
Harlem
Little Italy
Lower Manhattan
Midtown
Soho
Upper East Side
Upper West Side
What to see and do in Manhattan
- Times Square - With its giant screens, neon signs and frenetic movement, Times Square, a temple of consumption, is the most famous square in the world.
- Central Park - In the heart of New York, this beautiful green space built in the 19th century has been the subject of careful work that has made it an iconic park.
- The empire state building - Located in Manhattan, this innovative building has New York's tallest open-air observatory, located on its 86th floor.
- One World Observatory - Reach the top of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere and take in spectacular views of New York.
- Ground Zero - All that remains of the World Trade Center Twin Towers, but above all, an enduring symbol of New York that thinks of the 2974 people who died in the disaster.
- Statue of Liberty - an illustrious monument and urban architectural symbol.
- American Museum of Natural History - With over 32 million species this museum offers visitors a full day of interesting activities.
- Top of the Rock - From 50th Street, start a quick climb along Rockefeller Center! In the end, a great reward: a breathtaking view of New York.
- Madison Square Garden - it is a multipurpose hall that hosts sporting events and concerts.
- The MoMA - This modern and contemporary art museum ranges from innovative European paintings and sculptures from the 1880s to today's cinema, design and performing arts.
- Broadway - the most visited artery in the borough of Manhattan stands out as one of the must-see places in the city.
- Chinatown - quintessential Chinese district full of restaurants, souvenir shops and street vendors.
- Little Italy - generations of Italian immigrants settled in New York and founded Little Italy, this small Mediterranean corner.
