Brooklyn for beginners
More and more visitors to New York are making a trek across the Hudson river to check out Brooklyn’s happening scene. Trendsetters head to Williamsburg for craft cocktails and vintage shopping, while families enjoy Brooklyn’s spacious parks, beaches and outdoor food markets.
Where to stay
Tourism in Brooklyn isn't as big an industry as it is over the river in Manhattan, so great hotel deals are easier to snag.
Williamsburg’s William Vale has NYC’s longest outdoor pool. The hotel offers impeccable service, spectacular views, and stunning rooms with private balconies and custom artwork. Another designer option in Williamsburg is Wythe. Formerly a barrel-and-cask factory, the hotel features impeccably styled rooms with floor-to-ceiling industrial windows and walls decked in local artworks.
What to do
Take a stroll in the park
Head off to Brooklyn Bridge Park for amazing views and running. There are walking paths around the piers, and you can do various sports from kayaking to football (a.k.a soccer) and bouldering.
Prospect Park is another great park in Brooklyn. Whether you're interested in baseball, birdwatching, skating or nature programs, there are thousands of ways to enjoy the park. They also have outdoor concerts in the summer.
Go shopping
Grand Street is one of Williamsburg’s two major commercial strips, full of cool restaurants, galleries and vintage stores. Bedford Avenue is the bustling heart of Williamsburg, lined with small local boutiques and trendy eateries. Brooklyn Flea is the borough’s largest flea market for vintage, design, antiques, collectables, and food. It is open every Saturday and Sunday.
See a show
Company XIV, Brooklyn features a mix of circus, opera, burlesque and lavish design and it has been wowing NYC audiences for over 14 years. According to visitors, its shows are simply incredible.
Spot the Moomins
In celebration of the Moomins’ 80th anniversary, the Brooklyn Public Library presents Tove Jansson and the Moomins: The Door Is Always Open, the first-ever U.S. exhibition dedicated to the iconic Finnish creator. Opening June 28 at Central Library, this free, immersive experience invites visitors of all ages into the whimsical world of Moominvalley, brought to life through original illustrations, multilingual books, rare artifacts, and vibrant installations. The exhibition also highlights Tove Jansson’s multifaceted legacy as a political cartoonist, novelist, queer pioneer, and international artist, featuring personal letters and rarely seen works like her illustrated edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Where to eat
The food scene in Brooklyn is amazing. The outdoor food market Smorgasburg in Prospect Park attracts thousands of people to Brooklyn each weekend to eat from dozens of local vendors. The New York Times dubbed Smorgasburg “The Woodstock of Eating.”
If you enjoy cocktails and oysters, there’s no better place than Maison Premiere. They offer a list of over thirty oyster varieties and the decor is inspired by the hotel lobbies and grand restaurants of New York, Paris, and New Orleans.
For BBQ, head to Hometown BBQ in Red Hook. Win Son East Williamsburg offers Taiwanese food with an American twist.
Also, Colonie on Atlantic Ave, Olmsted in Prospect Heights or June Wine Bar on Court St in Cobble Hill are great options.
Ready to Discover Brooklyn?
Brooklyn is more than just a borough — it’s a vibrant world of creativity, culture, and community waiting to be explored. Whether you’re strolling through sunlit parks, hunting for vintage treasures, savoring world-class food, or diving into art and history at the Moomin exhibition, Brooklyn offers unforgettable experiences for every traveler. So why not take that short trip across the river and see the magic for yourself? Pack your bags, and let Brooklyn surprise you!
Finnair flies to New York daily (with some exceptions in June and July).