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New York City - Which Borough?
With the wide availability of cheap flights to New York at the moment, there's never been a better time to hit the Big Apple. But what most travellers don't realise is that there's more to NYC than just Manhattan ñ so rather than spend five days tooling around Times Square, why not do a day in each borough? Here's a brief guide to what you can find in New York City's five diverse boroughs.
Staten Island
An island in the New York Harbour nearly as large as Manhattan itself, Staten Island is primarily residential in character, home to a large number of Italian-Americans. As such, Staten Island can lay claim to being the home of some of the most authentic Italian restaurants in NYC. Unfortunately, the island is the only borough not serviced by the cityís famous subway system, making car rental almost necessary to travel across the island.
Manhattan
For many travellers, the island of Manhattan is all they see of NYC, what with it being home to Central Park, the Empire State Building and Times Square. And there's good reason: Broadway shows, the art galleries and gigs of trendy neighbourhoods Greenwich Village and SoHo, make it very easy to plan an entire week without stepping off the island. Sure, it might be one of the most interesting boroughs in New York, but don't let that stop you from exploring the rest of the city.
Brooklyn
The most populous of the five boroughs, Brooklyn has a strong sense of identity that predates its unification with New York City in 1898, something some Brooklynites still refer to as 'the Great Mistake'. Brooklyn's where you'll find Coney Island, itself home to The Cyclone ñ the world's oldest wooden rollercoaster. It's also home to the hipster neighbourhood of Williamsburg, where you'll find all manner of art galleries and trendy eateries.
The Bronx
Home to Yankee Stadium and the birthplace of hip-hop music, the Bronx is a vibrant borough with a number of hills that give it a distinct San Francisco vibe. Unique to the 'big bad' Bronx is City Island, something of a curio in NYC is a small fishing village reminiscent of New England seaside towns, with plenty of excellent seafood. Though crime, as with the rest of New York, has been significantly reduced since the 1990s, it's still a problem in certain areas, such as the South Bronx, so remember to plan your journey ahead of time and stay safe.
Queens
Given that it contains both JFK and LaGuardia airports, many travellers find themselves travelling through Queens without even knowing it. It's is the largest of the five boroughs, and one of the most ethnically diverse. If you like your sports, there's plenty to do here during the summer, with the borough holding the US Open at Flushing Meadows, while also being the home to New York Yankees rivals the New York Mets.
Information provided by Travelzoo
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