New York City has 339 neighborhoods and as a native New Yorker, I think this diversity is what makes this city so interesting.
In my job as a local tour guide, I lead guests through the best neighborhoods for travelers and sometimes locals who want to get to know NYC better.
In this post, I share with you descriptions of those great neighborhoods, many of which we lead tours in at Tours by Foot NYC.
I go over what there is to do in each neighborhood and which attractions are located there, as well as explain a bit about where these neighborhoods are located in relation to each other.
Included are clickable maps and links to in-depth posts on many of these neighborhoods.
I've grouped the neighborhoods by NYC's five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island.
To learn more about each borough, read our post NYC's Five Boroughs Explained.
You can explore these neighborhoods on your own, using our self-guided tours and audio tours.
In the video below, Renee, a tour guide with us, Tours by Foot NYC, takes you on a virtual walk through one of them - Greenwich Village.
MIDTOWN AND UPTOWN MANHATTAN NEIGHBORHOODS EXPLAINED
Here are the best neighborhoods in Manhattan north of 14th Street up to the top of the borough, which ends at 218th Street.
- Midtown Manhattan
- Times Square
- Central Park
- Upper West Side
- Upper East Side
- Harlem
- The High Line
- Hudson Yards
- Murray Hill
- The Flatiron District
- Gramercy Park
- Roosevelt Island
- Washington Heights and Inwood
TIP: You can click on the neighborhoods on this map to go straight to our detailed guides of each.
Midtown Manhattan
There is simply no way to do justice to Midtown Manhattan in a small paragraph here.
I think it is one of the most vibrant parts of the city and it's jam-packed with attractions.
With places like Times Square and Rockefeller Center, you can easily spend a full day or more in Midtown.
One of the things I love to show my tour guests is New York City's architectural gems, like Grand Central Terminal. It's a must-see and it won't take up much of your time.
Also, two of the city's observation decks, the Empire State Building and Summit are in Midtown Manhattan.
See all the other Things to Do in Midtown Manhattan in our post with maps of attractions, subway stations, family-friendly activities and free Wi-Fi spots.
Click on this map to enlarge it and see the area's top attractions.
In addition to offering walking tours of Midtown Manhattan, we also have GPS-guided audio walking tours. Here is a sample.
Map of Hotels in Midtown Manhattan
The largest concentration of hotels in NYC is in Midtown Manhattan.
Prices tend to be a bit higher here with smaller rooms than what you will find in other parts of the city, but deals are aplenty.
Click on the map to be taken to TripAdvisor's top hotels by reviews.
Click here or click the map to be taken to TripAdvisor's top-rated area hotels.
Within the map, you can sort by price, ratings, as well as location.
Times Square
Head to Times Square to feel how electric New York City is!
I know many locals avoid the area, but I enjoy bringing friends visiting NYC for the first time to the area. It's a shock to their system, but an exhilarating one.
Many tour guests have told me the same thing. They have never encountered any place like it.
By day you can do some great souvenir shopping, see the Naked Cowboy and join the queue at the TKTS booth to snag cheaper Broadway show tickets.
By night, be bedazzled by gigantic LED billboards, and thousands of people. If you come at 11:57 pm, you can experience the Midnight Moment.
Read more about the area from our post on things to do in Times Square.
We visit Times Square on our free walking tours of Midtown Manhattan and we also have a GPS-guided audio walking tour.
If you love Broadway, you might be interested in discovering the Theater District with a professional actor as your tour guide.
Map of Times Square Hotels
Times Square is an excellent location for hotels. It's a central location with multiple subway lines that will transport you all over Manhattan quickly.
Click on the map to be taken to TripAdvisor's top hotels by reviews.
Click here or click the map to be taken to TripAdvisor's top-rated area hotels.
Within the map, you can sort by price, ratings, as well as location.
Central Park
With a perimeter of 2.5 miles (4.23 km) long and 1/2 a mile (804 m) wide, Central Park is larger than some of the neighborhoods in this post.
When I've had enough of the concrete jungle I duck into the park and escape into this gorgeous green space.
There are ponds, lakes and reservoirs. Big green lawns and wooded areas with small waterfalls. The landscape is so natural I am always amazed that it is man-made.
Click on this map to enlarge it and see Central Park's top sites.
Our post, Things to Do in Central Park, has a self-guided tour, maps, and a list of activities.
We also have a GPS-enabled audio tour. Here is a sample,
A MAP OF HOTELS NEAR CENTRAL PARK
There are many hotels to choose from that border Central Park, both in accommodation types as well as prices.
The closer to Midtown generally the more expensive the hotel.
Those to the northwest are more affordable.
Click on the map to be taken to TripAdvisor's top hotels by reviews.
Upper West Side
Often overlooked by tourists, this neighborhood has a number of nice things going for it.
There are some excellent museums, like the famous American Museum of Natural History.
Lincoln Center has every kind of performance including opera, symphony, ballet, contemporary dance and more.
On the west side of the neighborhood is Riverside Park South, which runs along the Hudson River, offering great views of the water.
Plus, it's within walking distance of Central Park.
When I go to the west side of the park, to the Sheep Meadow or Strawberry Fields for example, I grab food in this neighborhood where there are some great options.
Read more about things to do on the Upper West Side including where to get fantastic bagels!
Upper East Side
Like the Upper West Side, this neighborhood is adjacent to Central Park.
It's a mix of elegant brownstones and historic mansions, modern residential towers and busy avenues with shopping, restaurants and bars.
For the most part, I don't recommend the Upper East Side to my tour guests with limited time in NYC.
One exception is Museum Mile, a stretch of Fifth Avenue between E. 82nd Street and E. 105th Street with world-class museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim.
Madison Avenue, with its designer boutiques, has some of the best shopping in New York City though way over my budget, the window shopping is fantastic!
Read more about things to do on the Upper East Side.
Harlem
Harlem is such a great neighborhood. It's rich in African American history and culture.
Between its lively streets filled with music and its historic sites, I love spending an afternoon here or eating some authentic soul food.
Some of the top sights in Harlem are the Apollo Theater, the Museum of the City of New York, and Sylvia's Soul Food Restaurant, but there is much more.
For information on tours, where to eat, see, shop and stay in Harlem, see our guide to Harlem.
We offer a daily guided tour of Harlem, which usually takes place in the morning.
We also have a GPS-led audio tour. Here is a sample.
The High Line and Chelsea Market
The High Line is a 1.45 miles (2.33 km) long public park built on the rails of an abandoned and elevated train track.
It runs through several neighborhoods, including Greenwich Village, the Meatpacking District, Chelsea, and Midtown Manhattan.
I remember the High Line long before it was turned into a park. The tracks were an eyesore and a waste of space.
The transformation of the High Line was one of the best things that ever happened to New York City!
It is not to be missed. I think to make the most out of a stroll in the park, it's important to know its history and also the sites you can see from the park.
Click on this map to enlarge it and see the High Line's top sites.
Our post on visiting the High Line covers the best things to do there (and nearby), where to eat in the area and what tours are available.
Near the start of the High Line, on 8th Avenue and 15th Street, you can find the fabulous Chelsea Market, a one-stop-shopping for food, wine and shopping.
Along the Hudson River at West 15th Street is Little Island, a floating public park that resembles a series of tulip pots rising up from the river.
We have several tours of the area including our High Line, the Meatpacking District, and Chelsea.
You can tour it with our GPS-led audio tour. Here's a sample.
Hudson Yards
This 28-acre large neighborhood is between 10th and 12th Avenues and West 30th and West 34th streets.
It was once an abandoned freight train area, but it was developed into a sleek enclave with high rises, for both residential and commercial use.
It's not an area that has many attractions, but the two big ones are awesome.
Edge Observation Deck has breathtaking views of New York City.
This is my favorite of the city's five observation decks. Just look at this view in my photo.
The Vessel in Hudson Yards, is a structure/sculpture that makes for amazing photo-ops.
The Shed, a cultural performance venue, puts on some unique shows and exhibitions.
Map of Hotels Near the High Line, Chelsea and Hudson Yards
This is another area with high hotel prices, but there are a few good deals. particularly the Jane Hotel at the southern tip of the High Line.
Click on the map to go to TripAdvisor hotels and reviews.
You can also use this link to these hotels: TripAdvisor's top-rated hotels in and around the High Line.
Within the map, you can sort by price, ratings, as well as location.
Murray Hill
This neighborhood below E. 42nd Street on Manhattan’s east side was populated with the city’s wealthy in the late 1800s to early 1900s.
The beaux-arts mansions of that era have mostly been replaced with apartment buildings that attract professionals looking to live in a convenient location with restaurants and nightlife.
Murray Hill has many hotels that are near the best attractions in Midtown Manhattan but is a bit quieter than other parts of Midtown.
As with other neighborhoods, I don't suggest wandering around hoping to see something interesting.
One of the places I recommend going to is the gorgeous Morgan Library & Museum housed in one of the finest examples of neoclassical buildings in the United States.
It is free to visit on Fridays from 5 pm to 7 pm but reservations are required.
Flatiron District
Named for the landmarked triangular Flatiron building, this neighborhood has a peaceful park, Madison Square Park, and several landmarked, beautiful buildings.
If I am in the area, I like to sit in the park and get a burger from the original Shake Shack, considered to be the best burger in town.
Our self-guided tour can help you find your way around.
There are several hotels in this district that are excellent choices for affordable and convenient accommodations.
Gramercy Park and Union Square
Union Square is great for people-watching. The large park is a perfect spot to sit down and eat lunch which you can get at the Whole Foods store nearby.
It's also where one of my favorite Christmas markets is during the holidays.
Gramercy Park is a quiet and exclusive neighborhood speckled with historic pubs and homes of historic individuals including authors and also former President Theodore Roosevelt.
It's a sleepy gem of a neighborhood worth taking a nice stroll using our self-guided tour.
Roosevelt Island
Roosevelt Island is a 2-mile (3.2 km) long island in the East River parallel to Midtown Manhattan on its west and Astoria, Queens on its east.
To get there, you can take the Roosevelt Island Tram. It's a quick four-minute ride, but you get 360-degree views of NYC as you cross the East River.
Roosevelt Island is part of Manhattan though it feels nothing like it. It's almost entirely residential, but there are some lovely things to see.
When I have friends from out of town who have never been to Roosevelt Island, I take them so they can get the perfect photo of the Manhattan skyline.
See our self-guided tour of Roosevelt Island.
Washington Heights and Inwood
These two adjacent neighborhoods are in Upper Manhattan along the Hudson River between West 155th and West 219th Streets.
Washington Heights was celebrated in the Lin-Manuel Miranda Broadway show In the Heights which depicts the close-knit Dominican community.
The highlight for tourists is The Cloisters, located in Fort Tryon Park.
As part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Cloisters houses much of the museum’s collection of medieval art.
Inwood is known for its parks with views of the Hudson River as well as two landmarked historic homes that can be visited.
The other is the Morris-Jumel Mansion built in 1765 and is the oldest remaining colonial residence in Manhattan.
One is the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum built in 1783 and is Manhattan’s last Dutch-colonial-style farmhouse.
So if you are into American history, like I am, head to Inwood!
LOWER MANHATTAN NEIGHBORHOODS TO EXPLORE
Here are the best neighborhoods in Manhattan south of 14th Street down to the tip of Manhattan.
Links to in-depth posts are included.
- Wall Street + the Financial District
- Chinatown
- The Lower East Side
- Little Italy
- SoHo
- Greenwich Village
- East Village
TIP: You can click on a neighborhood on this map to go to a detailed guide.
Wall Street and Financial District
The southernmost tip of Manhattan is where NYC (New Amsterdam) was born.
As I mentioned above, I love American history and I find walking around this neighborhood really enjoyable.
The narrow streets are filled with historic sites from the colonial era and early America.
Of course, Wall Street is one of the most well-known streets in the world, as it is where the New York Stock Exchange is located.
Our post about 40 things to do in Lower Manhattan and the Financial District tells you how to visit the 9/11 Memorial and One World Observatory.
It also explains how to take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
Find out about Wall Street Tours offered by us and other companies, and use our self-guided tour of Wall Street to explore on your own.
Chinatown
Chinatown is in Lower Manhattan and is surrounded by the neighborhoods of SoHo, Little Italy, Tribeca, the Civic Center/City Hall area, and the Lower East Side.
The neighborhood was founded in the 1870s by Chinese immigrants, mostly coming from America’s West Coast where they played a major part in building the Transcontinental Railroad.
From that time through the present day, immigrants from China continue to flock to Chinatown.
Manhattan’s Chinatown was once the largest in the Western Hemisphere, but due to rising rents and limited living space, Chinese immigrants have begun settling in the outer boroughs.
Now there are several Chinatowns including one in Flushing, Queens, and one in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
Manhattan's Chinatown is a historic and colorful neighborhood and should be a must-see list of places to visit in New York City.
As a foodie, I try out new places to eat in the area - and most of them are very inexpensive.
On our Chinatown and Little Italy Food Tour you can try some of the best cheap eats in both neighborhoods.
We also have a Soho, Little Italy, and Chinatown tour.
You can also use our guide of things to do in Chinatown, which covers the history of the neighborhood, good places to shop and recommendations of where to eat.
Lower East Side
One of the most historic and hip neighborhoods in NYC. In the late 1800s, it was cramped with immigrants, mostly Eastern European Jews.
Today it is jam-packed with Millennials and pricey apartments.
Aside from the Tenement Museum and Katz's Deli, signs of the neighborhood's former residents and the foods and culture they brought with them to America are everywhere if you know where to look.
This is one neighborhood I highly encourage you to visit. Walking around, you'll get a taste of yesteryear and feel the vibe of today.
Our Lower East Side Food Tour is rich in history, old-world food, and foods of today.
Little Italy
While Little Italy is growing smaller every year, you can find locales that reveal the important place this neighborhood has in creating the Great Melting Pot that America is today.
I tend to think of Little Italy as a place to shop for Italian foods at some establishments that are over 100 years old!
It's where I go to get some of the best fresh mozzarella in NYC.
Speaking of food, we have a Chinatown and Little Italy Food Tour.
You can see the neighborhood on our SoHo, Little Italy, Chinatown Tour, and our 6-hour All-in-One Downtown Tour, which include stops at locations where Italian-American roots are found.
Use our post about Little Italy to find your way around and choose a nice restaurant for a meal.
For the darker side of Little Italy, check out our New York Mafia Self-Guided Tour.
SoHo
SoHo stands for South of Houston Street and is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.
On the weekends the streets can be quite crowded but that lends itself to the exuberant energy of SoHo.
The side streets of SoHo are art galleries and boutiques.
There are dozens of restaurants and bars ranging from relatively affordable meals to exclusive and quite expensive ones.
Known for its designer boutiques, So-Ho also has lots of mid-range shops like Lulu Lemon and Club Monaco.
The stretch of Broadway from Houston down to Canal Street is a fantastic place to shop.
It's where I go to get sneakers since there are lots of shoe stores including the Adidas and Converse flagship stores.
If you would like to take a guided tour of Soho, join us for our free SoHo, Little Italy, and Chinatown Tour.
If you prefer to explore on your own, here's our list of Things to Do in SoHo.
We list hotels, food options, and shopping you can enjoy in the neighborhood.
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village is one of the most popular neighborhoods to spend time in. There are so many sights and things to do, you could spend days here.
Our self-guided tour shows you the historical highlights of the neighborhood.
Be sure to walk through Washington Square Park with its colorful cast of characters.
I grab food from some of the nearby cheap places to eat and enjoy my food watching the world go by.
Greenwich Village, particularly the West Village, is known for its wide range of cuisines that reflect the ethnic diversity of NYC.
Some of the neighborhood’s food shops, cafes, and restaurants opened up almost a century ago and are still every bit as popular as they were then.
We have multiple pay-what-you-like tours of Greenwich Village, some focusing solely on history (and there is a lot), a food tour with samples of the Village's most popular and inexpensive snacks (with a side order of history), and a spooky nighttime ghost tour.
We don't want you to miss out on the sites that our guides take you to, so if you can't make one of our tours, please enjoy our Greenwich Village Audio Tour or our Greenwich Village Self-Guided Food Tour.
East Village
A funky, fun, hipster-ish neighborhood with a great nightlife scene. There are plenty of restaurants and bars to keep you busy all night long.
There is also great shopping at vintage clothing stores and unique boutiques. The street art scene is fantastic as well.
Use our guide, Things to See and Do in the East Village, to see what's happening there.
Food is a biggie for me and the East Village has a huge range of ethnic cuisines and some pretty good prices.
If you have never had pierogi, you must try some on the part of the East Village known as Little Ukraine.
Try some of the best NYC foods on our East Village Food Tour.
BROOKLYN NEIGHBORHOODS TO VISIT
Here are the best neighborhoods in Brooklyn, several of which are in the northwest part of the borough and adjacent to the East River.
Links are included to in-depth guides to each area.
Most of these neighborhoods can be visited just after walking the Brooklyn Bridge and several are visited on our daily, pay-what-you-wish Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Heights, and DUMBO Tour.
Be sure to also check out our post on things to do in Brooklyn.
- Brooklyn Heights
- DUMBO
- Downtown Brooklyn
- Bushwick
- Williamsburg
- Greenpoint
- Park Slope
- Prospect Heights
- Cobble Hill
- Fort Greene
- Red Hook
Brooklyn Heights
This is one of the oldest parts of New York City and its history dates back to before the Revolutionary War.
The neighborhood's leafy streets are lined with Federal-style houses and brownstones.
I live nearby and I often stroll through the charming, quiet streets.
A highlight of the area is the Brooklyn Heights Promenade with sweeping views of NY Harbor.
Whether you join us on our Brooklyn Heights Tour, take our audio tour or take our detailed self-guided tour, make sure you set aside time on your trip to explore this neighborhood.
DUMBO
What makes DUMBO so interesting is how its past as a mecca of American manufacturing in the late 1800s-early 1900s has not been erased by the influx of wealth into the area.
DUMBO embraces its past by re-purposing the 100-year-old warehouses into luxury condos, hip restaurants, cutting-edge performance art spaces, and tech start-ups like Etsy.
This is another Brooklyn neighborhood I live near and I take advantage of that fact!
It's a great mix of culture, greenspace, history, and food.
The waterfront parks have outstanding skyline views so do what I do -- grab food at the Time Out Market and take in the vistas.
DUMBO is just on the other side of the Brooklyn Bridge, making it perfect to check out after a walk over the bridge.
This is why we offer a tour called Across the Brooklyn Bridge to DUMBO.
Use our guide
Use our guide to Top Things to Do in DUMBO and find out the best things to see.
If you are wondering how the neighborhood got its name (no, it's not named after Disney's loveable elephant), read our post, What does the acronym DUMBO stand for?
Downtown Brooklyn
Located just next to beautiful Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn is a bustling neighborhood with a mix of residential and commercial buildings, many of which are landmarked for their architectural beauty.
I can't say to make Downtown Brooklyn a destination in and of itself. It's a commercial district with an ever-increasing presence of high rises.
But the neighborhood is a great place to stay as hotels cost less than in Manhattan and it is just one stop to Lower Manhattan.
If you do visit Brooklyn Heights, you'll start your exploration in Downtown Brooklyn which borders the heights.
One highlight is Juniors that serves up the best cheesecake in NYC!
Bushwick
It started as a small Dutch town called “boswijck”. It is now the home to artists and hipsters.
Two great things about Bushwick: art and pizza.
See the Bushwick Collective with large scale murals by famed artists.
Learn about the collective and other works of art on our Bushwick Street Art tour.
Click here for a video on the art in the neighborhood.
Roberta's Pizzeria is one of THE best pizza places in NYC (as far as I am concerned, and I have been eating NYC pizza for decades!)
Read more about it and the neighborhood using our self-guided Bushwick tour.
Williamsburg
This neighborhood located along the East River is one of the best places to hang out in Brooklyn for a casual weekend day, stopping at coffee shops or shopping for vintage and 'gently-used' clothes.
It's known for its population of young people and "hipster" vibe, but beyond that, it is a great place to get stunning skyline views of Manhattan from its several waterfront parks.
The Smorgasburg food market is a prime destination in Williamsburg on Saturdays from April to September.
You'll find 100 local food vendors selling cuisine like Ethiopian stews, Canadian potato puff poutine, and my favorite sweet, pastéis de nata, the most famous pastry of Portugal.
I've been introduced to all kinds of cuisines, and what is nice is that you don't have to invest in full portions.
Rather try small portions to split with friends and then go back for more of what you loved!
See excellent street art, enjoy the live music scene, and shop at independent boutiques and vintage stores. Also, Williamsburg is open late for dancing and drinking!
There are a number of boutique hotels in the neighborhood that are quite chic and also have stunning views of the Manhattan skyline, like the Wythe Hotel.
Plan your visit to this neighborhood with some help from our post on things to do in Williamsburg.
Greenpoint
This neighborhood is just north of Williamsburg, and like that neighborhood, it has parks along the river with great views, some cool shops, and music venues.
I typically go to Greenpoint for two food specialties: local Polish-American cuisine like kielbasa and white borscht.
Then there is the incomparable Paulie Gee’s, serving up some of the very best pizza in NYC.
If you have some time to spare on your trip and want a taste of local life, Greenpoint is worth a visit.
You may even want to stay here at the fabulous William Vale hotel with a rooftop bar with skyline views that are hard to match.
Park Slope
Besides Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope is the most well-known neighborhood of what New Yorkers call "Brownstone Brooklyn".
This residential area of tree-lined streets and historic brownstones is home to many young families and young professionals.
The avenues are lined with trendy restaurants, independent book and record shops, and boutiques. Come here for a stroll in a laid-back part of Brooklyn.
Yet another neighborhood I live by, I get to enjoy Prospect Park, a large park with shady trees, open fields and bike lanes. It was designed by the same landscapers of Central Park.
One lesser known museum is here, the Brooklyn Museum. It's quite an excellent museum and easy to reach by express trains from Manhattan.
Plus, it is free entry by 'suggested donation' - but only if you get your tickets at the ticket desk.
See our self-guided tour of Park Slope and Prospect Park.
Prospect Heights
This neighborhood northeast of Prospect Park has bustling avenues lined with mom-and-pop shops and hipster boutiques and plenty of restaurants.
The side streets are quieter with brownstones, though not as pristine as nearby Park Slope. The residents are a diverse bunch with old-timers and starter families.
The area isn’t known as a tourist destination, but it’s worth checking grabbing a bite along trendy Vanderbilt Avenue if you go to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. The Cherry Blossom festival there is sublime!
Cobble Hill
I have a soft spot for Cobble Hill having lived here for 15 years, in a typical 5-story walkup apartment.
Just south of Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill is yet another of the 'Brownstone Brooklyn' neighborhoods.
It’s primarily residential, with leafy quiet streets and small parks.
Atlantic Avenue on its northern border and Court Street on its eastern border are bustling thoroughfares with shops and restaurants.
Just a block north of the border is the nice and affordable NU Hotel. It’s a great spot for those who want a safe, quiet area by night with easy transport to Manhattan by day.
A lesser-known fact about Cobble Hill is that Winston Churchill's mother was born here in 1850!
Fort Greene
Also part of 'Brownstone Brooklyn', this neighborhood is just east of Downtown Brooklyn.
This is where I currently live and I love it. But I don't think it is worth exploring. There is nothing here that you can't find elsewhere.
Its tree-lined streets are speckled with restaurants, boutiques and a few watering holes. On the weekend, locals can be found in Fort Greene Park having family picnics or playing sports.
Some notable points of interest here are the Brooklyn Academy of Music, a performing arts venue, founded over 150 years ago.
One destination may be the Barclay’s Center, home of the Brooklyn Nets basketball team and also a major concert venue.
Red Hook
Settled by the Dutch in the 1600s who called it “Roode Hoek”, this neighborhood is located on a small peninsula jutting out into the East River.
Once cut off from other neighborhoods, there are many old cobblestone streets and small attached houses.
At the same time, old industrial buildings have been converted into pricey lofts with views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty.
Red Hook is a cool neighborhood to take a walk around. There are eclectic shops and a great food scene around the main drag, Van Brunt Street.
Plus, there is a local winery with a tasting room and two whiskey distilleries!
It was once not so convenient to reach the area as only one train services the area and not so close by.
But now you can catch the NYC Ferry from Wall Street to Red Hook.
If you are looking for something a bit different to do, go to this neighborhood and check out the waterfront views from Valentino Pier.
Please do stop at the Pupusa Lady. She's been serving the best authentic Salvadoran home-style pupusas (cornmeal pancakes) since 1990. Her cart is at the corner of Bay Street and Clinton Street.
QUEENS NEIGHBORHOODS TO VISIT
Astoria and Long Island City are neighborhoods on the west of Queens either along or near the East River.
All three are easily reached by subway. Astoria and Long Island City can be reached by the East River Ferry.
Astoria
This Queens neighborhood just a few subway stops from Midtown Manhattan is popular with young professionals, multi-generations families, and everyone in between.
In fact, Astoria is quite popular with tourists looking for affordable, nice hotels.
The area is ethnically diverse and mom & pop restaurants are just as popular as the trendy food scene.
Astoria Park has unbelievable views of Manhattan. The nightlife is hopping and arts and culture thrive.
Some attractions are the Museum of the Moving Image, the Socrates Sculpture Park, Bohemian Beer Hall, the Noguchi Museum, and SingleCut Beersmiths Brewery.
The Noguchi Museum is a very special place if you like this sculptor's work. The Noguchi Museum is free the first Friday of every month all day.
Long Island City
Once an industrial waterfront neighborhood, Long Island City (LIC) is now a vibrant part of Queens.
On nice days, LIC’s waterfront parks are filled with locals enjoying outstanding views of the Manhattan skyline.
On weekends, LIC draws outsiders, like myself, who come for edgy art at MoMA PS1, an outpost of the Museum of Modern Art.
It's easy to get to LIC with the NYC Ferry and the views from the water are nice.
Like Astoria, there are some great accommodation options in LIC, including some trendy hostels.
Sunnyside
The most delicious neighborhood you probably never heard of! Sunnyside is a diverse part of Queens, and that means many types of ethnic cuisine.
We’re talking Indian to Italian, Korean, Chinese, Tibetan, Columbian, Ecuadorian…did we leave anything out?
It’s only a few stops from Midtown Manhattan on the 7 train, famous for being the subway line that takes you on a food tour of the world!
I've made the 7-train self-guided food tour a few times in my life using recommendations from Reddit.
See this thread for three routes to take and what to eat along the way.
Of course, there is more to this laid-back and livable neighborhood.
There are parks, some cool thrift shops, and the Calvary Cemetery, established in 1848 and the lasting home to many Civil War soldiers.
STATEN ISLAND NEIGHBORHOODS TO VISIT
Staten Island, often nicknamed the forgotten NYC borough, is largely residential.
I have to be honest. I have only been to Staten Island a few times since there are limited attractions of interest to me.
The highlight of this borough is taking the free Staten Island ferry there.
St. George
It’s easy to get to Staten Island via the free Staten Island Ferry.
The ride is an excellent way to get a close-up look at the Statue of Liberty.
When you disembark the ferry you are in the neighborhood of St. George.
There are a number of sites to see including the Staten Island September 11th Memorial and the historic St. George Theatre.
There is also a small shopping outlet with chain shops, but I don't think it's worth stopping in.
See our self-guided tour of Staten Island.
Randall Manor
This is an attractive and affluent neighborhood on Staten Island just a ten-minute bus ride from the ferry terminal.
The main visitor’s destination is Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden.
On the garden grounds, there are five museums and art galleries.
The enchanting gardens include the Victorian-style White Garden and the Secret Garden, which has a hedge maze.
BRONX NEIGHBORHOODS TO VISIT
Many people have heard of the Bronx, but not as many visit this borough. It is huge with many residential neighborhoods.
Some parts are very wealthy while others are among the poorest in the U.S.
There are a number of sites that draw tens of thousands of people each year, including Yankee Stadium.
Here are two Bronx neighborhoods that tourists visit.
Belmont
Belmont is a residential neighborhood where two of the Bronx’s best attractions are located: the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Garden.
Belmont is also the Bronx’s answer to Little Italy.
Famous Arthur Avenue is lined with family-run Italian food shops where fresh cheeses are made and other food specialties can be purchased.
I put together this self-guided tour of Arthur Avenue so you can get a taste of true New York City Italian!
Fordham
This is a primarily residential neighborhood just west of Belmont. Fordham University's historic original campus is here as is Poe Park, which opened in 1902.
It is named for author Edgar Allen Poe whose original cottage where he lived from 1844 to 1849.
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