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One Day in Brooklyn Itinerary (Planned by a Local, With a Map)
👉 Jump to: Where to Stay | One Day in Brooklyn | Map | Tips | Get Printable Version
Brooklyn: A borough known for diversity, cuisine, attractions, and giving us legendary talent from Jay-Z and Jerry Seinfeld to Mel Brooks and Rita Hayworth.
Brooklyn is worth a full day trip and more, and as a New Yorker, I’ll break down exactly how you should spend the day. So, wear a good pair of walking shoes, have an appetite for local cuisine, and get ready to see a mix of notable and lesser-known attractions.
Spending more time in the city? Check out my complete 5-day New York City itinerary.
Where to Stay if You Only Have One Day in Brooklyn
🖨️ Get a printable version of this itinerary
For a 1 day visit to New York City, these are my top picks for where to stay:
- 💵 Budget –The Box House Hotel
- 🛏️ Mid-Range – Henry Norman Hotel
- 💎 Luxury – 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge New York
- 🎒 For Young Travelers – Penny Williamsburg
- 👪 For Families – New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge
- 🏙️ Lower Manhattan Option – The Frederick Hotel Tribeca
For more, check out my full guide to where to stay in New York City.
One Day Brooklyn Itinerary
7:30/8:00 AM – Grab Coffee and Walk The Brooklyn Bridge
One of the best things to do in New York City is to walk the Brooklyn Bridge, and it’s how you should begin the day.
Set your alarm early, because seeing the Brooklyn Bridge during golden hour at sunrise is a must. If you’re traveling during winter, the morning is preferable to avoid the frigid temperatures near the water at sunset.
Depending on where you begin, I’ll give you two spots to grab a drink and a quick bite. If you’re staying in Lower Manhattan, get a coffee and croissant at Variety Coffee Roasters on Nassau Street, near the entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall. If you’re in Brooklyn, the Red Coffee Stand in Dumbo has an Instagrammable backdrop on Front Street.
Eat light and get a to-go order. I have a solid breakfast planned in Brooklyn Heights once you’ve taken your Brooklyn Bridge photos and seen the sunrise!
Note: I know for some people getting up as early as 7:30 AM on vacation is just not happening. As long as you make it to the Brooklyn Bridge by 9:30 AM, you’ll still benefit from a picturesque, sunny skyline. Plus, far fewer crowds.
You should expect to spend about an hour to an hour and a half on the Brooklyn Bridge. If you want some extra exercise, rent a Citi Bike (download the Lyft app to find bike stations) and use the designated lanes to take in views of the East River and the skylines of Brooklyn and Manhattan.
Once you’ve arrived at the Brooklyn end of the bridge, you’ll be in Dumbo. Now, in my opinion, you don’t need to spend much time here. The one activity worth doing is taking the famed photo on Washington Street with the Manhattan Bridge in the background. I’ll give the location its flowers for its beauty and clean, cobblestone streets!
Once you exit the bridge, you’re a 10-minute walk to Brooklyn Heights. If you take a pit stop in Dumbo, you’ll be about a 20-minute walk. By this time, you’ll be starving with a dash of euphoria from catching the sunrise.
10:00 AM – Grab Breakfast in Brooklyn Heights
The best place for breakfast in Brooklyn Heights is Clark’s, an old-school diner with a full menu and quality cooking that makes the food feel far too good to be a diner. The French toast and pancakes are fluffy and delicious, and the eggs Benedict is one of the most popular items on the menu.
I’m picking Clark’s due to the sheer volume of food choices, with something for even the pickiest eaters in your party. Plus, the prices are reasonable for the area. Expect to wait in line to get a seat, especially on weekends. It moves quickly!
After breakfast, you can take a quick stroll across the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, an incredible vantage point for the Statue of Liberty, Lower Manhattan, and Governors Island.
If you feel you’ve had enough sightseeing on the Brooklyn Bridge, feel free to skip this. However, strolling the streets of Brooklyn Heights to burn off breakfast is well worth it to admire the architecture. The homes are a variety of old and refurbished brownstones, converted carriage houses, and a mix of Greek and Gothic revival styles.
11:30 AM/12:00 PM – Head to Williamsburg After Breakfast
Once you’ve had enough to eat and you’re ready to continue getting your steps in, it’s time to head to Williamsburg.
Now, you can take the subway, but it’s a bit of a long ride from Brooklyn Heights. I always recommend taking the subway, especially if you’re traveling on a budget. However, this is one instance where an Uber or taxi can get you there in under 20 minutes. If the weather permits, a Citi Bike can get you there in about 20-25 minutes.
If you take the subway, the best train line is the 2 or 3 line from Clark Street, and transfer to the L train at 6th Avenue. The train will take you directly to Lorimer Street in the heart of Williamsburg in about 35-40 minutes.
👉 Pro Tip: If you’re departing from Dumbo and plan on skipping Brooklyn Heights, you can take a ferry directly to North Williamsburg or Greenpoint. The ferry departs every hour and costs $4.50 one-way. The city skyline on the East River is breathtaking, especially when the weather is warm.
1:00 PM – The Brooklyn Brewery & Vintage Shops
Now that you’ve made it to Williamsburg, you have a few different options on how to spend the afternoon.
If you’re in Williamsburg on a Saturday or Sunday, The Brooklyn Brewery opens at noon and is worth seeing for its combination of history, size, and ambiance. You’ll often find incredible street art and murals around the area, an homage to a neighborhood that is historically diverse and an ever-evolving cultural scene.
The brewery has paused tours, but you can enjoy tastings at the microbrewery. It’s conveniently located across from The William Vale, a top hotel option in Williamsburg.
Just next door to the brewery, Brooklyn Bowl is a high-end bowling alley and music venue all in one. If you’re traveling with a group and craving an activity, I highly recommend checking it out.
Once you leave the brewery or bowling alley, McCarren Park is a five-minute walk away. It’s one of the best public parks in Brooklyn. With 35 acres of green space, a soccer field, multi-use courts, and a playground, it’s full of locals and always busy. McCarren Parkhouse is open year-round for food, drinks, and coffee. If you’re traveling during the winter, you’ll appreciate the heated enclosure!
My personal favorite thing to do in Williamsburg is to explore the vintage shopping scene and look for unique finds. Brooklyn Woke Vintage on Bedford Avenue has everything from music records and stickers to old toys.
Artists & Fleas Market, located on N 7th Street, is a massive warehouse featuring multiple vendors selling clothing, crafts, and toiletries, open on Saturdays and Sundays. Not too far of a walk on N 5th St, Awoke Vintage Brooklyn sells quality clothes at mixed prices.
👉 Pro Tip: The City Reliquary Museum on Metropolitan Avenue is a unique spot to view old New York City artifacts in Williamsburg.
5:00 PM – Have Dinner & Take a Break from Walking
After a few hours of walking around Williamsburg, you’ll build up an appetite. Williamsburg is an incredible food haven with an abundance of options, including some of NYC’s best restaurants.
For a one-of-a-kind fine dining experience, check out Aska on S 5th Street, a few minutes’ walk from the Williamsburg Bridge. The two-Michelin-starred restaurant features unique Nordic dishes and multi-course pairings.
Brooklyn is famous for good pizza. The two best spots in Williamsburg are L’Industrie for a classic slice and Roberta’s, located on Grand Street right next to Domino Park, offering views of the East River. I recommend Roberta’s when the weather is warm to appreciate the outdoors.
If you’re looking for a more laid-back atmosphere or need space for a large group, Radegast Hall & Biergarten offers German bratwurst, schnitzel, and appetizers paired with a solid draft beer selection. The venue often features live music on weekends. I’ve gone with a large group, and loved the atmosphere.
7:00 PM – Head to Greenpoint for Waterfront Views & Try Polish Dessert
Greenpoint is a more laid-back neighborhood next to Williamsburg, and well worth squeezing in a quick trip on your one-day excursion.
It’s possible to walk in about 45 minutes, but jumping in an Uber or taking the G line from either the Metropolitan Avenue or Lorimer Street subway station is more preferable if you’re tired. This is a long day of walking!
WNYC Transmitter Park is my favorite park in Brooklyn and a must-see in Greenpoint. Far more peaceful and usually less crowded, it’s a great spot to find some available grass, catch the sunset, and walk the boardwalk to see the city skyline on the East River.
The Greenpoint neighborhood has a calming effect, making it the ideal place to end the day and enjoy the diverse mix of 19th-century rowhouses and industrial warehouses. The cobblestone streets on the way to WNYC Transmitter Park complement the surrounding buildings.
If you can manage to skip dessert after dinner in Williamsburg, Greenpoint has incredible Polish/Slavic bakeries serving an array of delicious treats. Syrena Bakery, Old Poland Bakery, and Cafe Riviera Greenpoint are the best dessert spots in the neighborhood. My advice is to grab a pastry to go and head to the park just in time for dusk. Be sure to check closing times in advance.
8:30 PM/9:00 PM – Enjoy Brooklyn Nightlife
If you’re not ready to call it a night, Brooklyn’s nightlife is arguably (or not) better than Manhattan’s. You’ll find underrated spots, large venues, dive bars, and cocktail bars on every corner. Now, you can stay in Greenpoint if you’re craving a more low-key atmosphere, but Williamsburg offers more variety.
If you’re more inclined to stay in Greenpoint, Hide & Seek converts from an artsy cafe during the day to a cocktail bar at night. Open until midnight, the lounge often features live DJs and impressive cocktails, with the interiors’ unique aesthetic making it a local favorite.
Threes Brewing has a humble, cozy vibe and is a great location for craft beers. If you want to stay out later, Twins Lounge is open until 3 AM, attracting younger crowds in a bar that looks like a living room from the 1980s.
If you make the trek to Williamsburg, I recommend starting at Night of Joy for rooftop seating, particularly during the spring and summer. The interior is chic, and the cocktails are well-made.
If you’re in the mood to dance, Baby’s All Right is my top choice for live music and indie rock bands. Bembe is a tiny, cash-only lounge primarily playing a mix of Afrobeats, salsa, and reggaeton. Right next to the Brooklyn Bridge, be prepared for very little space since it’s a popular spot on weekends. Mad Radio NYC recently opened on Whyte Avenue, a famous Colombian venue known for house music.
One of the most unique spots in Williamsburg is The Caribbean Social Club (Toñitas). The last remaining social club in Williamsburg, the Puerto Rican bar is world-famous, cash-only, and offers free food late at night. The bar has drawn in famous artists like Bad Bunny, Madonna, Maluma, and J Balvin. You never know who will walk in on a random night!
After enjoying the nightlife, you’ll have concluded your Brooklyn excursion with a pair of sore feet. Get a cab back to your hotel, and feel accomplished for packing so much into one day!
1 Day in Brooklyn – Itinerary Map
Brooklyn 1 Day Itinerary Planning Tips
Tip #1 – Bring an Umbrella
No matter when you decide to visit New York City, an umbrella should be on your packing list. We experience all four seasons, and New York City is classified as having a sub-tropical climate. Bring an umbrella to avoid being overcharged when you’re caught in the rain. The shops know you’ll be desperate, and umbrellas are overpriced.
Tip #2 – Pick One Extra Brooklyn Neighborhood To Visit
My itinerary focused on Brooklyn Heights, Greenpoint, and Williamsburg, but Brooklyn has more incredible neighborhoods worth visiting. If you want to adjust this guide to include an extra stop, feel free to do so. Bushwick has a trendy art scene with great nightlife, and neighborhoods like Red Hook and Cobble Hill are well-suited to families.
Tip #3 – Pick and Book Attractions Before Your Trip
Since you only have one day, you’ll need to plan and book reservations in advance. Tourist attractions aren’t as close to one another as in Manhattan, so keep that in mind and always have a few backup options for activities.
For example, the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens are deeper into Brooklyn, with less to do in the neighborhood outside of visiting the gardens.
Tip #4 – Check Out a Brooklyn Museum
I mentioned that Williamsburg isn’t well known for museums, but there are notable spots in other Brooklyn neighborhoods.
The Brooklyn Museum, located in Prospect Heights, is comparable to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan, and the Brooklyn Children’s Museum in Crown Heights is the gold standard for families with young kids. If you want to include a museum, feel free to re-adjust this guide for an early afternoon trip.
📚 Related Reading: Museums in NYC
Tip #5 – Spend Time Wandering With A Goal Of Doing Nothing
One of my best NYC travel tips is to wander around and admire the surroundings. The architecture, atmosphere, parks, and winding streets are worth taking in. It’s much more difficult to do this in Manhattan due to traffic and congestion, so take advantage of the slower pace Brooklyn offers.
Tip #6 – Book Reservations in Advance
This tip goes hand in hand with planning any NYC itinerary. Call ahead to book restaurant reservations, check opening/closing times online, and have tickets to top attractions paid for before your trip date. In a city like New York, anything worth seeing will sell out quickly.
Tip #7 – Spend the Day in Brooklyn on a Saturday or Sunday
Make sure to visit Brooklyn on a Saturday or Sunday if you only have one day! At the very least, avoid spending the day in Brooklyn on Monday or Tuesday. Some restaurants and attractions may be closed earlier in the week, and you don’t want fewer options putting a damper on your trip.
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Thanks for reading my guide to spending the day in Brooklyn! If you have any questions, feel free to ask me in the comments below. New York City is a magical place to visit, and Brooklyn is growing in popularity by the day.
If you plan on spending more time in the city, you might also like my one-day guides to Manhattan and Queens!
