If Brooklyn were anywhere else in the US, guidebooks and tour operators would all hai it: for great museums and Prospect Park, long descriptions of ethnic diversity, trails through Jewish Williamsburg, through Little Arabia, through Russian Odessa. Of course, describing Brooklyn Heights as a “19th-century small-town gem” would not go unnoticed either. Even for Coney Island, which has certainly seen better days, there would still be some very positive attributes. One of the best spots would be the Brooklyn Bridge Park waterfront for the breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline. By the way, Brooklyn would be the fourth largest city in the USA.
The fact is that the trendy boutiques and restaurants in Williamsburg and the picturesque brownstones in Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope and Cobble Hill through to the new Brooklyn Bridge Park on the waterfront are now must-see sights for interested visitors. Foreign guests are therefore not bothered by the fact that Brooklyn has lost its independence as part of Greater New York since 1898.
Quote: “New York should actually be called Brooklyn, because that’s where most of the population lives” Raymond Cartier (French writer and journalist)
Ever since the young and creative discovered Brooklyn, its popularity – and real estate prices – have skyrocketed. Tourist interest has also increased – not only because of the breathtaking walk over the Brooklyn Bridge, which was the longest suspension bridge in the world for 20 years from 1883, but also for other reasons. Hotel density in downtown Brooklyn has increased significantly in recent years. From simple bed & breakfasts to boutique hotels to large hotel chains, there are numerous accommodation options for visitors.
Information about Brooklyn
Location and Size
According to usaers, Downtown Brooklyn is just minutes from Lower Manhattan and is easily accessible by bus and subway at any time. Brooklyn is one of the five boroughs of New York City and is located in the southeastern part of the city on the west end of Long Island. In the Northeast is the only land border with the Borough of Queens. Across Upper New York Bay are Manhattan (to the northwest) and Staten Island (to the west). Brooklyn has a land area of 251 km² and a water area of 68 km².
Population
Around 2.5 million people live in Brooklyn.
Downtown
Brooklyn is just minutes from Lower Manhattan and is easily accessible by bus and subway:
- 17 subway lines connect each neighborhood in Brooklyn to the rest of the city.
- The area can be accessed via the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and FDR Drive and is a short drive from LaGuardia Airport and JFK International
Airport. - The East River Ferry connects Midtown Manhattan with Williamsburg and DUMBO.
- New York water taxis offer a hop-on, hop-off service between Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Brooklyn attractions
BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music: Presents traditional and contemporary arts in film, dance, music, theater and opera.
Opened in 2012, the Barclays Center (in Brooklyn) is the new home of the professional basketball team, the Brooklyn Nets. In the 205,740m² sports and event location, concerts and circus performances are held in addition to sporting events. Stars such as Jay Z and Barbra have performed Streisand at barclayscenter.com
Brooklyn’s famous food market, Smorgasburg , received a liquor distilling license a few years ago. This allowed for the opening of SmorgasBar, which offers Brooklyn-brewed beer, wine, and spirits. During the summer months, the weekly market takes place on Williamsburg’s waterfront and opens its doors with more than 100 vendors.
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a model of urban horticulture. The New York Times called the garden “New York’s most important natural science attraction”. The visitor center, built a few years ago, with its approximately 3,000 m² “living roof” represents a remarkable synthesis of architecture and landscape design. The visitor center has numerous exhibits, an orientation room for group tours, a leaf-shaped event hall and a spacious shop with plants and garden accessories.
New to Brooklyn Bridge Park is the 1922 Jane’s Carousel , housed in a transparent pavilion designed by French architect Jean Nouvel. It is located in Empire Fulton Ferry State Park , which features a spacious lawn, a waterfront boardwalk, and amazing skyline views between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. Opening hours are from April to November, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed on Tuesdays).
The BRIC House is located in Brooklyn’s downtown cultural district. The “House of Arts” – as the BRIC house calls itself – is intended to be a home for artists and spectators alike.
Brooklyn Brewery: New York’s premier brewery offers happy hours, tastings, and tours.
Brooklyn Museum: The second largest museum in New York exhibits art from ancient Egypt to contemporary works.
Brooklyn Navy Yard: The former shipyard operated by the US Navy until 1966 employed nearly 69,000 workers in 1943. Warships, tank landing ships and aircraft carriers were built here. In the 1970s, the site also served as a film set.
New York Transit Museum: The exhibit charts 175 years of New York’s transportation history and is housed in a disused 1930’s subway station.
DUMBO ( D own Under the M anhattan B ridge O verpass ): Once founded as an artists’ quarter, DUMBO has established itself as an alternative to high-priced Manhattan as a residential area. It has been designated as a New York City Historic District since 2007.
For more information about Brooklyn , call them: +49 89 552 533 806.
