A lot of people that visit NYC for the first time, tend to stay in the Manhattan area. What if I told you that some of the coolest spots and the best foods are in Brooklyn? In 2019, I had the opportunity to book a trip to NYC and stayed 6 days in Manhattan and 5 days in Brooklyn.
If you have a spare day to explore the city, I highly suggest visiting Brooklyn; even if that meant only walking to the Brooklyn Bridge. There’s nothing more beautiful than watching the NYC skyline from DUMBO or Williamsburg.
Here’s 5 places you MUST visit in Brooklyn for the first time:
Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn bridge always looks better when you have a view of Manhattan in front of you. This bridge has become such a popular place to take pictures that it can get very overwhelmed with people in peak hours from 11-4 pm. Our suggestion would be to get up very early to have the bridge all by yourself and if you want to walk to Manhattan from the Brooklyn bridge.
Another spot that you can take awesome pictures of the Brooklyn Bridge, like the images below, is near Jane’s Carousel or New Dock St.
dumbo
DUMBO’s name is actually Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. This spot is precisely located between Water St. and Washington St. This bridge is the most photogenic one I’ve ever seen in my life. Even on midday lighting, it still looks impressive and amazing as always.
After taking some pictures in this spot, you can go to Brooklyn Roasting Company to grab yourself a cup of coffee and a vegan pastry. If you’re craving chocolate, you can go to Jacques Torres for a chocolate chip cookie or ice cream. And, if you’re craving pizza there are two famous pizzerias down in Old Fulton St., Grimaldi’s and Juliana’s. The best advice people have given us is to try them both and compare them, after all, they are said to be one of the best pizzas in NYC. There are so many things to do in DUMBO that you can take up a whole afternoon exploring and eating delicious food!
bushwick collective
Bushwick: the home of urban art. The Bushwick Collective reminds me of the art movement Santurce Es Ley from Puerto Rico. To get here by subway you must take the L train or Uber/Lyft to get here and stop by Jefferson St. Station. From there, you can walk and explore all the endless murals this place provides. The murals are MONUMENTAL… yes, we’re talking about large buildings covered with beautiful murals. This neighborhood is full of bars, clubs, and food places, and you will see a lot of hipsters! My favorite mural is one of Cardi B as Mona Lisa.
Brooklyn Botanical Garden
Brooklyn Botanical Garden (BBG) is right next to the Brooklyn Museum and Prospect Park. Therefore, it’s the perfect place to spend your entire day in this area if you want to. In the BBG, you will find Cherry Blossoms, many flowers such as tulips and daffodils, bonsai museums, and three pavilions that have: deserts, warm temperate, and tropical plants. It’s an experience that everyone should have. Even if you’re not a fan of flowers, we can all take the time to explore and see all the nature you’re not used to in your homeland. I’ve only seen tropical flowers and plants so everything was all new and fascinating to me. This place is magical when the spring/summer season is at its peak. After that, you can go to restaurants, bars and other places Prospect Heights has!
New York Transit Museum
Located in Schermerhorn St., this is a hidden gem that EVERYONE needs to go to. The museum looks like any subway station. As you would do in any station, you walk down the stairs, and you will stumble upon a glass door. After you push the glass door, you will find yourself in a small museum that tells you the story behind the construction of the subways. However, my favorite about this museum is the subway wagons from each decade from the 20th century. Not only it makes the perfect to take pictures, but also, it feels as if you’re traveling back in time. Best part? It’s only ten dollars!
Now that I’ve mentioned all of these 5 spectacular spots that you need to visit… Which one you’d love to go to? I hope you enjoyed this brief guide to Brooklyn. I hope this has served you as a guide to wander around outside of the perimeters of Manhattan; you won’t regret the experience! Also, the best places I got to eat were in Brooklyn (check NaNa Ramen and Fan Fried Rice Bar) so you might want to explore that also. Happy safe traveling!
