Brooklyn: Tours and Guided Visits

Brooklyn is an expansive borough in New York City that has a long and storied past. The vibe is lively and multicultural, where a pool of local artists and food connoisseurs ensure its artistic and culinary scene is as good as if not better than its uptown neighbor, Manhattan.

On a guided tour in Brooklyn, you can explore the borough’s hidden gems and well-known haunts, including Coney Island, Brooklyn Bridge, and Prospect park, and visit fascinating historic venues. Go with a healthy dose of curiosity, and you’re bound to be entertained for hours.

You will find below all you need to know about Brooklyn tours, one of the best options for sightseeing tours in New York City.

Where is Brooklyn located?

You’ll find Brooklyn at the western end of Long Island in New York City. This Bohemian borough shares a land border with Queens and is home to an array of ethnic enclaves.

Arriving in Brooklyn from anywhere in New York City via public transportation is easy. As a reference, it’s around a 45-minute subway journey from central Manhattan.

Once you’re there, the best way to explore Brooklyn is with an expert guide who will show you hidden gems that only the locals know about and teach you about the borough’s diverse cultures.

What will I see and do in Brooklyn?

Brooklyn is brimming with creativity that has community at its heart. As such, the culture here is enchanting and welcoming, enabling visitors to dive straight into the energetic pulse of this artistic and culinary hub.

Here are the highlights that you should make sure to see and do on your trip:

Brooklyn Street Art

A street art tour of Brooklyn wouldn’t be complete without marveling at the vibrant splashes of color on its urban buildings on every corner. Famous homegrown street artists including Jean-Michel Basquait and Swoon have used Brooklyn’s streets as their canvases over the years and the result is a kaleidoscopic, living outdoor art gallery that is just waiting to be explored.

Food in Brooklyn

If you’re a foodie, you’ll be in seventh heaven with all the culinary options on offer in Brooklyn. If this is your first time in the Big Apple, then sinking your teeth into the city’s famed hot dogs or bagels is obligatory. There is, however, more to Brooklyn than the New Yorker culinary classics.

The cuisine here is varied, reflecting the multicultural essence of its locals. On a number of food tours in Brooklyn, you can experience a taste of the borough’s diverse flavors, from snacking on kielbasa and pierogis – a type of sausage and filled dumplings – in the Polish enclave to tasty sweet treats and Neopolitan pizza, there’s a culinary treat for everyone here.

Brooklyn Museum

If you’re looking for a dose of inspiration on your trip, then the Brooklyn museum is for you. This encyclopedic museum is one of New York’s leading cultural institutions, filled with over 1.5 million objects and playing host to thought-provoking temporary exhibitions on an array of topics including European and contemporary art, as well as progressive modern issues.

What are the best tours to visit Brooklyn?

There are a number of different tours available in Brooklyn according to the type of excursion you decide to take. Food lovers and culture vultures will enjoy delving into the ethnically diverse food and culture scene, while history buffs will love learning all about Brooklyn’s dramatic past.

Brooklyn Bridge and Dumbo guided walking tour

On this 2-5 hour informative walking tour, your knowledgeable guide will teach you all about Brooklyn’s diverse communities and how this borough became New York’s most populous district. As you learn about Brooklyn’s fascinating history, you’ll visit some of the most prominent landmarks in Lower Manhattan, as well as the Dumbo neighborhood – one of Brooklyn’s trendiest destinations.

Made in Brooklyn neighborhood tour

This award-winning tour offers a perfect introduction to Brooklyn. You can expect to discover the borough’s thriving culture scene by meeting artists and creatives who call this hipster district home. This is a small group trip so that you can have an intimate and personal experience while exploring Brooklyn.

During your excursion, you’ll visit local factories, artists’ studios, and beautiful boutiques and stores – perfect for bringing a souvenir back home.

Guided food and culture bus tour

See a side of Brooklyn only locals know about on this guided food and culture bus tour. As you sample delicious, multicultural delicacies from around the world, your expert guide will tell you tales about the history and evolution of the borough’s culinary culture. You’ll spend most of your tour in New Williamsburg – a lesser-known neighborhood packed with flavor, diverse populations, and captivating sights.

Brooklyn Bridge bike tour

No tour is complete without a visit to the Brooklyn Bridge. On this guided bike tour, you’ll see Brooklyn from a new perspective as you explore the diverse, historical neighborhoods of Brooklyn and Manhattan. You’ll cover 12 miles of terrain as you ride peacefully along Brooklyn’s waterfront sites and downtown Manhattan where you can admire Battery Park, South street seaport, and Wall Street, among others.

Helicopter tour of Brooklyn

New York is renowned for its breathtaking skyline and its many iconic landmarks such as Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, and Brooklyn Bridge to name a few. On a helicopter tour of Brooklyn, you’ll be able to gawp at all of these famous sights from a wholly different perspective in what promises to be a truly memorable experience.

How much do Brooklyn tours cost?

The Brooklyn Bridge and Dumbo tours cost around US$25 per person and includes a 2.5 walking tour and a bilingual guide who can cater to English and Spanish-speaking visitors.

Made in Brooklyn neighborhood tours are priced at around US$50 per person and come with a professional, local sightseeing guide.

Guided food and culture bus tours cost around US$140 per person for a half-day tour, and a native expert guide and food tasting is provided.

The Brooklyn Bridge bike tours are around US$50 per person for a two-hour tour and includes a professional English and Dutch-speaking guide, a comfortable hybrid bike and helmet, and refreshments.

Where is the meeting point for Brooklyn tours?

The meeting point of Brooklyn tours and guided visits vary depending on which part of the borough your tour covers. The majority of tours start at a central meeting point, most notably the World Trade Center.

Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Bridge bike tour starts at Unlimited Biking on Park Row, whereas the Food and culture bus tour starts at the corner of Carmine Street and 6th Avenue. Given that the start point of tours varies, it’s best to check the specific tour you have booked beforehand.

When is the best time to visit Brooklyn?

The best time of the year to visit Brooklyn is in the fall, during the months of May, August, and October when the weather is pleasant and fantastic for sightseeing – the autumnal leaves make for beautiful photo opportunities.

However, winter when residents decorate their homes with a magical display of Christmas lights is also worth experiencing.

Travel tips

• Make sure to wear comfortable footwear for strolling around Brooklyn’s streets
• Wrap up in warm layers if you choose to take a tour during the cooler months
• You’ll want to bring a camera so you can snap away to your heart's content at the bundles of photo opportunities on your tour