Brooklyn’s beauty isn’t just in its skyline views or the smell of fresh bagels in the morning — it’s in the stories etched into its brownstones, street corners and waterfronts.
Whether you’re a lifelong New Yorker or a first-time visitor, one of the best ways to experience the borough’s rich tapestry of history, art, food and culture is on foot. Walking tours offer a unique, immersive lens into what makes Brooklyn tick — and each neighborhood has a tale to tell.
Here are seven Brooklyn walking tours that will help you see the borough through a different lens.
1. The Brooklyn Heights Promenade And Historic District Tour
Step back into the 1800s as you stroll through cobblestone streets lined with Federal-style and Victorian Gothic homes. Many companies offer tours that dive deep into Brooklyn’s role in American history and offers jaw-dropping views of Manhattan from the Promenade.
2. Bushwick Street Art Tour
Consider this a crash course in contemporary expression. Bushwick’s walls are world-famous canvases, and the ever-changing murals makes this neighborhood a living gallery.
3. The Black History Walking Tour of Weeksville
Explore one of America’s first free Black communities through the preserved homes and stories of Weeksville. Start at the Weeksville Heritage Center to get a layered look at Brooklyn’s African-American heritage and resilience.
4. Dumbo Waterfront And Industrial Past Tour
DUMBO may be a hub for shopping and hip offices today, but there are guided tours that explains the area's industrial roots. Learn how the area transformed from factories and ferry docks to one of Brooklyn’s trendiest neighborhoods.
5. Williamsburg Food And Culture Tour
Sample pierogies, tacos and vegan doughnuts while learning about Williamsburg’s evolution from a Hasidic and Italian enclave to a hipster haven. You will not remain hungry while learning about the area's rich culinary history!
6. Green-Wood Cemetery Historic Tour
This isn’t your average cemetery visit. The final resting place of figures like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Leonard Bernstein, Green-Wood’s rolling hills, mausoleums and Civil War monuments make for a hauntingly beautiful walk through Brooklyn’s past.
7. Coney Island Boardwalk And History Tour
From the history of amusement parks to the legacy of Nathan’s, the beachfront tours dives into the quirky, nostalgic spirit of Coney Island, complete with ocean views and a side of carnival lore.
Brooklyn is more than just a borough; it's a mosaic of micro-neighborhoods, each with its own flavor and rhythm. These walking tours offer a window into Brooklyn’s layered identity.
