Brooklyn, a vibrant and diverse borough of New York City, attracts visitors from around the globe. Getting to Brooklyn involves navigating a series of well-established travel routes, whether you’re coming from another city in the United States or from an international location. The journey typically begins with selecting a mode of transportation that best suits your starting point and travel preferences. For those traveling from afar, major international airports serve as key gateways, offering numerous flight options. Upon arrival in the New York City area, a variety of transit systems, including trains, buses, and rideshare services, provide accessible and efficient means of reaching Brooklyn.
Travelers within the United States have the flexibility to choose between flying, driving, or taking long-distance buses or trains. Each mode of transportation offers its own unique experience, balancing convenience, cost, and travel time. For those opting to drive, well-connected highways and scenic routes offer a direct path to Brooklyn.
Once in the New York City area, the journey to Brooklyn is facilitated by an extensive public transportation network. The interconnected subway and bus systems ensure that visitors can easily navigate the borough and discover its rich cultural tapestry, historic landmarks, and thriving neighborhoods.
Each route offers different experiences and convenience levels, allowing travelers to choose based on their preferences and circumstances.
MTA | Nearby Stations & Stops
New York City is composed of five boroughs – Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. Brooklyn is located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelve original counties established under British rule in 1683.
As of the 2020 United States census, the population stood at 2,736,074, making it the most populous of the five boroughs of New York City, the most populous county in the State of New York, and the ninth most populous county in the United States. In 2022, the population density of Brooklyn was recorded at 37,339.9 inhabitants per square mile (14,417.0/km2), making it the second most densely populated county nationwide, behind only Manhattan (New York County). Had Brooklyn remained an independent city, it would today be the fourth most populous American city after New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
Brooklyn is named after the Dutch town of Breukelen in the Netherlands, Brooklyn shares a border with the borough of Queens. It has several bridge and tunnel connections to the borough of Manhattan, across the East River, and is connected to Staten Island by way of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. With a land area of 69.38 square miles (179.7 km2) and a water area of 27.48 square miles (71.2 km2). This East River separates Brooklyn from Manhattan and is a key waterway for transportation and recreation. The Upper New York Bay lies to the south of Brooklyn and is a major shipping and transportation route.
Prospect Park is located roughly in the central part of Brooklyn, Prospect Park is a large green space designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, who also designed Central Park in Manhattan. The Brooklyn Bridge is the iconic that bridge connects Brooklyn to Manhattan and is a significant architectural and historical landmark. Brooklyn’s landscape varies from urban areas with dense buildings and streets to residential neighborhoods with tree-lined streets and green spaces. The borough features waterfront areas along the East River and the Atlantic Ocean, with parks and recreational areas that take advantage of these coastal locations.
Here are some important phone numbers to keep handy during your NYC visit.
In New York City and throughout the United States, the dollar is the standard currency.
New York remains among America’s safest large cities, but visitors should still use common sense to protect themselves and their property. Be aware of your surroundings, and make sure to always use licensed, reputable businesses for any services you need. For example, don’t hail livery cabs (as opposed to taxis) at the airport, and don’t rent bikes from companies that seem suspicious. If you’re not sure where to find legitimate businesses, the listings at nycgo.com are a good place to start, as are those published by the Better Business Bureau. Your hotel concierge should be able to answer questions on this topic and will be helpful if you need more information about neighborhoods in the five boroughs. Another useful resource is 311, the City’s official government services and information hotline.
The legal minimum age for drinking alcohol in New York City (and throughout the USA) is 21. Many bars and nightclubs will ask to see photo ID before letting you in. Smoking (including all tobacco products, vaping products and marijuana) is prohibited in all public buildings, bars, restaurants and stores (plus some outdoor public areas). You must be 21 years old or over to buy cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vaping products, cigars or any tobacco products.
It’s now legal for adults 21 or over to possess up to 3 ounces (85g) of cannabis/marijuana (or just 0.85 ounces/24g of concentrated cannabis) for personal use in New York, and officially licensed dispensaries where you can buy recreational marijuana products have begun to open—the first appearing in late 2022. Smoking rules still apply (you can’t smoke at outdoor dining areas at restaurants, for example). Possession of more than the permitted amount, and all other narcotics, is prohibited. Note that driving a vehicle under the influence of cannabis/marijuana or alcohol is a serious offense in New York, resulting in fines, possible jail time, and deportation (for foreign visitors).
New York City is on Eastern Standard Time (Greenwich mean time minus four hours during daylight saving time, from about mid-March into early November, and minus five hours the rest of the year). EST is three hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time (California and the West Coast).
If you’d like to explore the rest of the state, visit iloveny.com, the official website for New York State tourism.
Δ
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Morbi nunc leo, aliquet quis pellentesque nec, rutrum eu massa. Etiam at lectus facilisis, auctor justo quis, cursus est. Cras blandit ac urna nec finibus.
