Top Things To Do In Brooklyn

Often overshadowed by the iconic Manhattan landmarks, it’s time that Brooklyn gets its day in the sun. Often cited as the first place to have something cool to do, Brooklyn takes food, fashion, and music trends very seriously. As the borough starts to grow, more and more tourists are making their way across the river to check out the Brooklyn scene. If you are heading to New York City, set aside a day to make your pilgrimage through Brooklyn’s top attractions.

Strangely enough, one of the best reasons to visit Brooklyn is its iconic view of the Manhattan skyline. Walk through the Brooklyn Promenade or party on a rooftop in Williamsburg for picturesque views over the river.

Some of the best things to do in Brooklyn include:

  • Stroll across the historic Brooklyn Bridge
  • A band of circus performers and acrobats put on incredible shows at the House of Yes
  • Take a breather at Prospect Park
  • Go on a 3.5-mile horseback tour hosted by Kensington Stables
  • Hop in a canoe and explore the famous Gowns Canal

Events in BrooklynView All

"Top Drawer" - Tuesday, Jun 20, 2023 / 7:00pm
"Top Drawer" - Tuesday, Jun 20, 2023 / 7:00pm
158 West 72nd Street, New York9.0 mi
$20 $15
25% discount_off
Tuesday, Jun 20, 2023 / 7:00pm - General Admission
✇ Movie Tickets at Skyline Drive-In NYC
✇ Movie Tickets at Skyline Drive-In NYC
1 Oak Street, Brooklyn5.4 mi
4.8
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54 ratings
$42.98 $38
12% discount_off
Drive-In Movie Admission for One Car for Up to 7 People
General Admission for One to Brooklyn Wine Fest (Up to 44% Off)
General Admission for One to Brooklyn Wine Fest
141 Flushing Avenue, Brooklyn3.5 mi
4.4
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3,404 ratings
$70 $39
44% discount_off
6/17/23: One General Admission Ticket to Brooklyn Wine Fest from 1:00p.m. - 4:30p.m
Adult or Double Fun Night for One or Two People at Area 53 (Up to 14% Off)
Adult or Double Fun Night for One or Two People at Area 53
616 Scholes Street, Brooklyn4.5 mi
4.8
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686 ratings
$49 $42.10
14% discount_off
Tuesdays: Adult Night Ticket with live DJ for One Person
Movie, Small Popcorn, and Optional Choice of Beer or Wine for One at Stuart Cinema And Cafe (Up to 11% Off)
Up to 11% Off Movie and Popcorn at Stuart Cinema And Cafe
79 West Street, Brooklyn5.5 mi
5.0
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11 ratings
$20 $18
10% discount_off
Movie and Small Popcorn for One
10 Actors' Boot Camp Sessions for One, Two, or Four at Sweet2theSoul (Up to 40% Off)
Up to 40% Off Actors' Boot Camp Sessions at Sweet2theSoul
367 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn4.3 mi
3.0
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2 ratings
$499 $325
35% discount_off
10 Actors' Boot Camp Sessions for One
Hot Summer Nights with TLC, Shaggy, En Vogue and Sean Kingston on June 10 at 7 p.m.
TLC, Shaggy, En Vogue and Sean Kingston - Up to 43% Off
116 Garden State Parkway, Holmdel
$35.30 $20
43% discount_off
Hot Summer Nights with TLC, Shaggy, En Vogue and Sean Kingston at PNC Bank Arts Center on June 10, 2023
1,000+ bought
Captivating Moments: Discover the World of Photography at Fotografiska New York
General Admission or Admission+Drink at Fotografiska
281 Park Avenue South at 22nd St., New York6.5 mi
4.7
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961 ratings
$30 $26
13% discount_off
General Admission Ticket
3-Hour Hoboken or 3.5-4 Hour Perth Amboy Dinner Cruise from Cornucopia Cruise Lines (Up to 50% Off)
Up to 50% Off Dinner Cruise from Cornucopia Cruise Lines
401 Riverview Dr., Perth Amboy20.2 mi
4.3
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5,237 ratings
$129.95 $64.98
50% discount_off
Online Booking Required, Limited Availability: Three-Hour Hoboken Dinner Cruise for One; Valid Mon to Thur

Brooklyn has quite a storied history. There was a time in New York history when the absolute wealthiest residents settled down outside of the city in Brooklyn. The remnants remain in the old-school brownstones that line some the Brooklyn’s most popular areas and streets.

Popular attractions near Brooklyn include:

  • Walk the fruit streets of Brooklyn Heights
  • Journey through Fort Tilden for a deep tour of Brooklyn culture
  • The Brooklyn Superhero Supply Store is a one-stop shop for all of your comic book needs
  • Visit Buzz-o-Rama, the last slot car racing arcade in Brooklyn
  • Skip the farmers market and find food on Wildman Steve Brill’s foraging tours

Looking for the best Brooklyn neighborhoods to explore? The best-maintained streets are in Historic Brooklyn Heights, but a stroll through Boerum Hill or Park Slope will provide plenty of photo ops for tourists and locals alike. There are almost too many fun things to do in Brooklyn today to choose.

Fun things to do in Brooklyn today include:

  • Go on a Brooklyn Waterfront Bike Tour
  • Eat BBQ with Austin, TX roots at Briskettown
  • Take a Momofuku Milk Bar baking class
  • Enjoy vegan comfort food at Modern Love Brooklyn
  • Greenpoint Terminal Gallery offers an engaging mix of shows by emerging artists

Brooklyn’s live music scene is part of what makes the neighborhood’s nightlife so appealing. That’s just the beginning — Brooklyn has bars, pubs, and dance clubs fit for any occasion. Many of them are open until at least 4am.

Things to do in Brooklyn at night include:

  • Watch a hoops game at Barclays Center
  • North Brooklyn’s premier electronic and dance music venue, Output, offers a low-key experience
  • Buy a ticket to a concert at Brooklyn Steel
  • Catch live music at Baby’s All Right in Williamsburg
  • Check out the showtimes at Alamo Drafthouse

Brooklyn is one of the best places in New York City to make memorable childhood memories. Before your little ones aren’t so little anymore, seek out Brooklyn’s finest playthings and playgrounds.

Things to do with kids in Brooklyn include:

  • The newly renovated Luna Park features tall roller coasters, including the century-old Cyclone
  • Let the little ones explore all there is to offer at Brooklyn Children’s Museum
  • Run around the Pier 6 Playground in Brooklyn Bridge Park
  • Ride the subway of yesteryear with the New York Transit Museum
  • Try the Brooklyn Blackout Cake, offered at many Brooklyn bakeries around the borough

Dodge the sun and enjoy a self-guided tour of Brooklyn’s many museums. New York Transit Museum, The Brooklyn Museum, MoCADA, and Brooklyn Historical Society are just a few of the dozens of Brooklyn museums that rival Manhattan’s finest art collections.

For more Brooklyn things to do indoors, try the following:

  • Light-up signs grace the storefront of the Lite Brite Neon Studio
  • Visit Gowanus Batcave, an abandoned power station being turned into an arts center
  • Hunt for vintage clothes at Brooklyn Flea Fort Greene
  • Drop into a hip hop-inspired yoga class at Y7
  • Cinephiles will enjoy the no-frills Spectacle Theater

Whether you want to soak up the sun or work up a sweat, Brooklyn has many memorable ways to explore the outdoors.

Active things to see in Brooklyn include:

  • See Kingsland Wildflowers, a thriving meadow spanning a rooftop of one of Brooklyn’s most heavily industrialized neighborhoods
  • Rock climb up Brooklyn Boulders
  • Meet the wildlife at Prospect Park Zoo
  • Family camping at Floyd Bennet Field is one of Brooklyn’s best secrets
  • Brooklyn’s Marine Park Golf Course is an 18-hole Championship Course open year-round