The best attractions in Brooklyn in 2026 are walking the Brooklyn Bridge into Dumbo and Brooklyn Bridge Park, Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Brooklyn Museum, and Coney Island's boardwalk, Cyclone and New York Aquarium. Green-Wood Cemetery, the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, Smorgasburg and the New York Transit Museum round out the list.
The city's most famous walk, from Manhattan to Brooklyn.
The 1883 Brooklyn Bridge's elevated wooden promenade gives sweeping views of the harbor and skyline; walking from Manhattan into Brooklyn takes about 30 minutes.
Good to know: Walk toward Brooklyn early in the morning for the best light and fewest crowds.
Waterfront piers, Jane's Carousel and the classic Manhattan Bridge view.
Brooklyn Bridge Park stretches along the East River with lawns, playgrounds and piers; Dumbo's cobbled Washington Street frames the Manhattan Bridge.
Good to know: Get the classic photo on Washington Street at Water Street.
A clifftop walkway with one of the best skyline views in the city.
The Promenade runs along the edge of Brooklyn Heights above the waterfront, facing Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty; the brownstone streets behind it are lovely too.
Good to know: Wander Willow and Pierrepont Streets for some of the city's prettiest houses.
Olmsted and Vaux's other masterpiece, with a vast Long Meadow.
Prospect Park, designed by the creators of Central Park, has the 90-acre Long Meadow, a lake, the Prospect Park Zoo and the LeFrak Center for skating.
Good to know: Smorgasburg sets up in the park on summer Sundays.
Cherry blossoms, a Japanese garden and a rose garden.
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden's 52 acres include a celebrated Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, cherry esplanade and conservatories.
Good to know: Visit in late April for the cherry blossoms.
990 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11225
One of the country's largest art museums.
The Brooklyn Museum has major Egyptian, American and African collections, Judy Chicago's 'The Dinner Party' and ambitious contemporary exhibitions.
Good to know: Combine with the Botanic Garden next door.
200 Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11238
The boardwalk, the beach, the Cyclone and Nathan's.
Coney Island has a wide public beach, a long boardwalk, Luna Park's rides including the 1927 Cyclone, the Wonder Wheel and the original Nathan's Famous.
Good to know: Go on a summer weekday; the Mermaid Parade in June is a spectacle.
Sharks and sea lions on the Coney Island boardwalk.
The New York Aquarium, run by the Wildlife Conservation Society, has a shark exhibit, sea lions and sea otters steps from the beach.
Good to know: Combine with the beach and boardwalk.
602 Surf Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11224
A 478-acre Victorian landscape with history, art and views.
Green-Wood, founded in 1838, is a National Historic Landmark with rolling hills, monuments and famous graves, and views of the harbor from Battle Hill.
Good to know: Take one of the cemetery's trolley or walking tours.
500 25th St, Brooklyn, NY 11232
New York's biggest weekend food market.
Smorgasburg brings dozens of food vendors to the Williamsburg waterfront on Saturdays and Prospect Park on Sundays from spring to fall.
Good to know: Arrive at opening and bring an appetite.
Vintage subway cars in a decommissioned station.
The Transit Museum, in a 1936 subway station, lets you board train cars from across a century of New York transit.
Good to know: Kids love the old turnstiles and trains.
99 Schermerhorn St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
A waterfront industrial complex turned food, shopping and design hub.
Industry City's restored warehouses hold Japan Village, food halls, shops, studios and courtyards with events.
Good to know: Eat at Japan Village and explore the courtyards.
220 36th St, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Walk the Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan in the morning, explore Dumbo and Brooklyn Bridge Park, walk the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, then take the subway to Prospect Park, the Botanic Garden and the Brooklyn Museum.
Take the D, F, N or Q subway to the end of the line at Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue, about an hour from Midtown.