brooklyn brewery tour new york

5 of the Best Brooklyn Brewery & Beer Tours

The craft beer revolution is alive and well, particularly in the capital of cool that is Brooklyn, New York. Beer tours are therefore extremely popular in this part of the Big Apple. With well over a dozen breweries ranging from small-batch microbreweries to globally recognized producers like Brooklyn Brewery, this is a great place to take a brewery tour. Williamsburg is naturally the focal point for most tours given its proximity to Manhattan, but there are plenty of other great options sprinkled around the borough.

Brooklyn beer tours are increasingly common and often incorporate other city sights or gastronomic pleasures into the itinerary. However, choosing the right one for you from the broad array out there can be time consuming and research intensive, which is why we have compiled this handy list of our favorite five Brooklyn brewery and beer tours for you. These have been selected after considering important aspects of any tour including the value for money, itinerary, previous guest reviews and, of course in this case, amount of free beer thrown into the mix!

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This Local Brewery Tour Service Does All the Planning for You

With such a lively local craft beer scene, perhaps the only surprising thing about City Brew Tours coming to Brooklyn is that it’s only just happened.

The company has been offering local brewery tours via passenger van in a number of East coast cities including Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C., and its origin, Burlington, VT, for the last ten years. As of this month, New York has joined the lineup . While the company has their sights set on other boroughs, for the time being, the tours are focused exclusively on Brooklyn.

While the draw of a designated driver might be stronger for drinking tours in cities with less public transit, it’s certainly a more relaxing way to traverse the borough. The tour also comes with the perk of an expert tour guide sharing facts about the history of brewing in New York and the world at large, while taking guests behind the scenes of three Brooklyn beer spots per trip. Currently the company has partnered with Five Boroughs Brewing , Interboro Spirits & Ales , Circa Brewing Co. , Wartega Brewing Co. , Strong Rope Brewery , and Brooklyn Brewery , as well as Kings Beer Hall for the chance to sample beers from a number local breweries at once. Partnerships with other breweries are in talks, as well, but the current selections were chosen for their group-friendly spaces and tourable brewings areas, and in some cases, their food offerings as well.

City Brew Tours’ offerings are a great way for visitors to get acquainted with Brooklyn’s beer scene, but even local beer geeks (aspiring or expert) can appreciate the lessons on how beer’s made, not to mention the chance to sample up to 15 different brews. The $115 ticket price includes a lesson on beer-and-food pairing as well, complete with lunch or dinner, depending on whether it’s a daytime or evening tour.

With so many breweries in Brooklyn’s beer scene, City Brew Tours’ three-stop trips are essentially an introduction and a fun way to learn while visiting breweries in neighborhoods one might not normally trek to. But visitors are likely to find that three stops in four hours is a perfect cap—for drinking and learning. The other reason for CBT’s total brewery partner listing being relatively conservative at the moment comes from the company’s desire to offer genuine expertise and an in-depth, well-thought-out experience.

“We want to be considered the beer experts in every city we work in,” Isaac Bell, VP of Business Development (and tour guide) says. “We want to have a relationship with the breweries.”

Read more about the tours and book yours here .

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THE BEST Brooklyn Beer Tastings & Brewery Tours

Beer tastings & tours in brooklyn.

• Cultural Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• Beer Tastings & Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Underground Brooklyn Walking Brewery Tour

2. Half-Day Beer Brewery and Pizza Bike Tour of Brooklyn

3. Brooklyn Pizza and Breweries Tour with a Local: Private & Personalized

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The Brooklyn Beer & Sightseeing Tour

Experience Brooklyn and Its Breweries

Quick Details

• Clock Time: 11:30 am
• Hour Glass Duration: 4 Hours

Taste the beer and see the sights of Brooklyn, New York!

Have you been meaning to explore Brooklyn? Come see what all the fuss is about on this guided sightseeing tour that also takes you to three craft breweries!  See the hip, trendy, old, quaint, and historic places that define today’s Brooklyn, as you  ride through Brooklyn Heights, Williamsburg, Downtown Brooklyn and much more! Along the way, enjoy a wide variety of craft beer tastings at  Brooklyn Brewery ,  Circa Brewing Company , and  Randolph Brewery Dumbo!  Beer tastings, luxury transportation and a licensed NYC tour guide  (who is also a beer expert) are included. There are opportunities to purchase food. Have a question about  The Brooklyn Beer & Sightseeing Tour?  Call or text us!  646-552-4718 .

Notes:  Unlike our other tours, this tour starts and ends in Dumbo, Brooklyn, conveniently accessible by ferry, subway, a quick cab or walk over the Brooklyn Bridge. Detailed directions provided upon booking. The tour includes about 10 minutes of walking.

• Travel in style and comfort in a luxury minibus or Mercedes Sprinter.
• Drink a wide variety of craft beer brewed in Brooklyn.
• See historic brownstones, street art, spectacular views (and maybe even a few hipsters.)
• Opportunities to purchase food at Circa Brewing Company and Randolph Brewery Dumbo.
• Enjoy entertaining stories and learn valuable information from an experienced and licensed New York City Tour Guide who is also a beer expert.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Chevron down What time does the tour start?

The Brooklyn Beer & Sightseeing Tour  leaves the meeting point promptly at 11:30 am. Please arrive 15 minutes early for check-in.

• Chevron down What should I do if I’m running late?

If you think you’ll be late or are having trouble finding the meeting spot, please call  (646) 552-4718 .

• Chevron down What if I have to cancel?

If you need to cancel for any reason (even last minute), we will happily convert your tickets into gift certificates for later use. If you prefer a refund, a 25% fee applies.

• Chevron down Do I have to be 21 to take the tour?

Yes. Please bring a valid ID even if it’s obvious you’re over 21.

• Chevron down Can I leave the tour early?

Yes, all stops on  The Brooklyn Beer & Sightseeing Tour  are subway accessible.

Top Rated NYC Tour With More Than 10,000 Served!

Great beer, fun beer knowledge, awesome people. Seth is one of the best tour guides. The Saison at Spuyten Duyvel was a favorite. Also really liked Singlecut. I'm not normally a fan of IPA's, but theirs was really good!

We had the best time with Seth as our tour guide! So many cool spots and amazing beers. Definitely add this to your NYC visit!!!

Visited McSorley's, Brooklyn Brewery (where we had great BBQ delivered) and ended at Fifth Hammer. It was a very diverse group ranging from non-beer drinkers to craft beer aficionados and there was something for everyone. Highly recommended !!

Seth was incredibly knowledgeable, not only about the beers, but about the history of NYC in general and it was an awesome learning experience! I highly recommend this tour if you are looking to see the city and enjoy some amazing beers!! Cheers and thank you Seth!

This is our second time and would recommend it to anyone if they are looking for a fun day and some beer. Nick was so informative and made it an awesome day. He also suggested place to go once the tour was over. He was very personable with everyone. YOU NEED TO GO ON THE TOUR!!!

Great tour lots of good info, beer, and fun-guided. Great way to see the city in an air conditioned coach and visit places you wouldn’t ordinarily see. Had a blast! Perfect for friends or family, locals, or tourists.

Related Beer Tours

• Most Popular!
• Hour Glass 4.5 Hours
• Clock 11 am

The Signature Tour

The Signature Tour is The New York Beer and Brewery Tour’s flagship craft beer tasting experience. Learn about beer and NYC’s rich brewing history.  This tour includes a wide variety of beer tastings, snacks and chauffeured transportation.

• Hour Glass 3 Hours

The Express Tour

This guided public beer and brewery tour includes beer tastings, brewery access, luxury transportation, and snacks along the way.

• Hour Glass Varies
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Private Beer Tours

Celebrate your special event with us!  The New York Beer and Brewery Tour  is great for birthdays, bachelor/bachelorette parties, corporate outings or any group looking for a fun and relaxing day out in New York City!

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New York Brewery Tours and Tastings

Craft beers are enormously popular in New York City, home to several breweries, some even offer free tours!

You can also take one of the many fun, informative brewery and craft beer tours out there.

Below we list some of the best brewery tours in NYC!

TIP : Some New York City discount tourist passes include brewery tours and pub crawls. Take a look to see if one of these passes is right for you.

Free Tour At Brooklyn Brewery

Brooklyn Brewery (see video above) has been in operation since 1988. Today their beers are sold in 31 states (plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico) and in 32 different countries!

The brewery offers both year-round varieties as well as seasonal specials.

They have two tour options: a free hourly tour on Sundays (no tastings) or a paid weeknight Small Batch Tour to go in-depth with their experts (tastings included).

The Brooklyn Brewery is located in Williamsburg at 79 N. 11th Street ( map ). 

Free Brewery Tour

Fre tours are every Sunday at 1 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm, 4 pm, 5 pm, and 6 pm.

The free tour is shorter than their weeknight paid tours, but long enough to take a look inside their brewhouse and learn about brewing and the company's history.

Note that the free tour does not include a beer tasting.

Tours are no more than 20 people. Tours are first come-first served. 

For the 1 pm tour, plan on getting there around noon.

A maximum of two tickets will be given out per person, so don’t plan on picking up tickets for a big group of friends!

Small Batch Tour

This paid (but very affordable) 45-minute tour includes a guided tasting of three beers from a rotating selection of limited-release, experimental beers.

You will also learn more about beer and the brewing process as you tour the brewhouse and packaging hall.

You also get to keep your Brooklyn Brewery-branded glass!

• Monday to Thursday at 4:15 pm and 6 pm
• Fridays at 3 pm, 4 pm, and 6 pm
• Cost: $26 per person
• Book here .

Good to know:

• Guests must be over 21 or accompanied by a parent or legal guardian
• Guests over the age of 10 require a ticket for entry. Instead of beer, guests that are underage (and accompanied by a parent or legal guardian) will be served a non-alcoholic craft soda.
• Please do not wear open-toe or high-heeled footwear This is a working brewery; hot or potentially harmful liquid may flow on the floor. 

Why not pair your visit to the Brooklyn Brewery with our pay-what-you-wish Williamsburg Street Art Tour ?

Underground Brooklyn Brew Tour

This 3 ½ hour tour takes you to three top breweries in some of the city’s hippest neighborhoods.

Your expert beer guide will talk about the beer-making process and the New York City craft beer industry.

This tour is limited to 16 people giving you more opportunity to ask questions as well as talk to other people on the tour for an all-around fun time!

• Thursdays and Fridays at 3:45 pm
• Saturdays at 12:00 pm and 5:15 pm
• Sundays at 12:00 pm
• Up to 12 craft beer samples
• VIP access to some of Brooklyn's best breweries
• A beer-themed snack
• MetroCard for the subway

Brewing in Queens Walking Tour

Your expert beer guide on this all-inclusive 3-hour craft beer walking tour will take you to some of the best breweries in New York City. 

You’ll taste 12 different local beers while you discover the revitalized borough of Queens.

• When:  Saturdays at 11:45 am and 5:00 pm; Sundays at 11:45 pm
• Cost: $70 per person. This includes all tastings and a snack.

Beer Tasting Bike Tour of Queens and Brooklyn

This 6 hour, 20+ mile bike tour will have you cycling to some of the best craft breweries in Brooklyn and Queens.

In between your brewery stops, you’ll be biking and also learning about New York City history.

The tour includes stops at Brooklyn Brewery, Transmitter, 5th Hammer, Braven Brewery, KCBC, Bridge and Tunnel and Other Half. 

At a lunch stop at Braven Brewery,  you’ll enjoy a menu created especially for you by chef Tori Valdes.

You’ll be provided with new lightweight hybrid bike from Specialized and Cannondale and a helmet, a bottle of water, and a string backpack for any purchases you make along the way.

• When: Sundays from April through October.
• Cost: $70 per person includes beer samples, lunch, a bottle of water and use of a bike and helmet.

Greenwich Village Pizza, Beer, and History Tour

Your guide on this 2 ½ hour beer and pizza tour takes you to some of the beer joints and pizza shops in Greenwich Village.

You’ll dine, drink and learn some history along the way. The tour is capped at 8 people which means you’ll get to know everyone in your group and have a memorable time.

• When: Fridays and Saturdays at 3:00 pm.
• Cost: $69 includes three pizza samplings and two beer tastings. 

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About The Author

Stephen Pickhardt

North america, united kingdom & ireland, middle east & india, asia & oceania.

Create Space

We teamed up with The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative to support grassroots activists fighting for LGBTQ+ rights around the world.

WELCOME TO BROOKLYN

Our namesake borough runs on the creative energy of the many communities it contains. We brew to support these vibrant people, in our neighborhood and around the world.

We believe that great beverage should be delicious, unpretentious, structured, and support the communities where they are enjoyed

Brooklyn Lager

Brooklyn Pilsner

Defender IPA

Special Effects Hoppy Lager

Special Effects IPA

The Stonewall Inn IPA

Bel Air Sour

Create Space

We teamed up with The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative to support grassroots activists fighting for LGBTQ+ rights around the world.

WELCOME TO BROOKLYN

Our namesake borough runs on the creative energy of the many communities it contains. We brew to support these vibrant people, in our neighborhood and around the world.

We believe that great beverage should be delicious, unpretentious, structured, and support the communities where they are enjoyed

Brooklyn Lager

Brooklyn Pilsner

Defender IPA

Special Effects Hoppy Lager

Special Effects IPA

The Stonewall Inn IPA

Bel Air Sour

• Underground Brooklyn Brew Tour
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• Corporate Outing Brew Tours
• Conventions & Conferences
• Private Tour Inquiry
• Gift Certificates
• Monthly Beer Box
• 18th Ward Brewing
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• EBBS Brewing Co.
• Five Boroughs Brewing
• Focal Point Beer Co.
• Rockaway Brewing Co.
• Strong Rope Brewery
• Wild East Brewing Co
• Brew Tour Transportation
• Our NYC Beer Guides
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My wife and I were visiting from out of town and looking for something fun to do and we lucked out as we came across City Brew Tours who just happened to start running tours in NY that weekend.

We went on an awesome brew tour and visited 3 great breweries including Five Boroughs, Circa, and Interboro all located in Brooklyn. It was cool way to experience the flavor of the area. Each spot was unique but we tasted awesome beers at each location.

The tour also included some great Pizza at Circa. We were led by a beer guide who was very funny and kept us entertained throughout, but was also an expert who educated us about the brewing process which was really interesting.

Overall, the all inclusive experience was a tremendous value and well worth the cost. I can't wait to do it again when we get back in NY or one of the other cities in which they operate!

This tour was awesome! A great value for the amount of beer and it included a great selection of different breweries. I particularly loved 5 boroughs and Circa. The pizza was amazing at Circa! This was a really great way to see the different neighborhoods of Brooklyn. Our guide was super funny, like a comedian! I need tour guides to be entertaining and he certainly was. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Do it!

What a fun night we had!!! The 4 of us in the past 2 1/2 weeks traveled from ports in Spain, Portugal and Canada prior to spending time in NYC. Our husbands were very disappointed in their quest to find “good beer.” Well, we finally found it! Isaac and Tim chose 3 excellent breweries in Brooklyn for us to tour and taste the beer. The whole evening was great and the beer we tasted was excellent. We would love to take this tour again on our next visit to NYC.

This tour was amazing. Our tour guide, Isaac, was extremely knowledgeable and in the breweries we went to and in the process of brewing beer. The tour was extremely easy and convenient. We were picked up and dropped off at the same location. We went to three breweries (5 Borough, Circa, Interboro) and didn't feel rushed at any off them. Issac allowed for us to take our time to really enjoy the space, the people, and especially the beers at each of these amazing Brooklyn breweries.

NYC Brooklyn's Best Beer Tour

About the tour

Weekday tours, weekend tours, other nyc brew tours, brewing in queens walking tour, private tours available, recommended by.

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New York is not just the epicenter for culture and the arts; it has also emerged as a hotspot for craft beer enthusiasts. Offering a diverse range of innovative and artisanal beers, the craft breweries of New York provide unique experiences for locals and visitors alike. Here are some of the best craft breweries that you must visit when in the Empire State.

Other Half Brewing Co., Brooklyn – Known for its hazy, juicy IPAs, Other Half has become a Brooklyn staple since its inception in 2014. Their taproom serves as a hip hangout spot where aficionados gather to sample some of their rare and experimental brews.

Threes Brewing, Brooklyn – Threes Brewing offers a laid-back atmosphere combined with a wide array of beers, including lagers, saisons, and IPAs. They are praised not only for their flavorful beverages but also for hosting community events that bring people together over good beer.

Grimm Artisanal Ales, Brooklyn – With a focus on limited-edition batches, Grimm Artisanal Ales produces eclectic beers that push boundaries. The tasting room showcases their imaginative approach to brewing and is an oasis for those who enjoy daring flavors.

Industrial Arts Brewing Company, Garnerville – Positioned in an old pre-Civil War era factory complex, Industrial Arts Brewing Co. emphasizes both tradition and innovation in their craft practice. Their flagship Wrench IPA showcases their prowess in producing balanced and drinkable brews.

SingleCut Beersmiths, Queens – In Astoria, Queens, SingleCut Beersmiths has earned its reputation through rock-and-roll-inspired beers. The brewery is well-known for its tuneful approach to naming beers and pumping live music events to accentuate the drinking vibe.

Genesee Brewery, Rochester – As one of the oldest operating breweries in the United States since 1878, Genesee Brewery has recently expanded into small-batch crafting with their Brew House series. Their heritage and commitment to quality make them an essential stop on any beer tour.

Suarez Family Brewery, Hudson Valley – Specializing in Pilsners, lagers, and farmhouse ales, Suarez Family Brewery excels at brewing crisp and nuanced beers that are perfect for a relaxed afternoon sipping session.

Ithaca Beer Co., Ithaca – Situated in the heart of the Finger Lakes region is Ithaca Beer Co., known for its Flower Power IPA. Surrounded by beautiful natural scenery, visitors can enjoy a diverse lineup of brews that capture the essence of upstate New York.

Livingston Manor’s Catskill Brewery, Catskills – Deeply connected to its environment, Catskill Brewery takes pride in producing clean and sustainable beers. From hoppy ales to seasonal offerings made with local ingredients, this brewery reflects the purity and simplicity of its surroundings.

Peekskill Brewery, Peekskill – Overlooking the Hudson River is Peekskill Brewery where quality beer-making takes precedence. With an emphasis on Belgian-inspired ales and innovative American styles, they help pave New York’s way forward in the craft beer movement.

New York’s craft brewing scene is dynamic and ever-expanding. Each brewerybrings something special to the table — from the creativity in their brewing processes to their commitment to community building. For beer lovers exploring New York State or even the locals looking for new flavors, these breweries are vibrant components of New York’s spirited beverage landscape.

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A local’s travel guide to New York City: what to eat, see and do in three days

Top destinations in New York include a ferry ride, shopping for watches in Chinatown and a Brighton Beach bender

I first came to New York City by accident, after a miscommunication with my father led me to believe my (long-deceased) mother had been desperate to visit the city before she died.

Years later I found out that my mum had actually wanted to go to Paris. But I still had a great time in New York, and ended up moving here a couple of years later.

On that first trip I did all the main tourist things which, owing to the miscommunication, I had thought my mother had wanted to do: I went up big buildings, looked at big buildings, drank in bars beneath big buildings.

It was great and everything, but there’s much, much more to do here – especially if you like eating, riding about by subway and ferry, and bargaining for knockoff luxury goods.

Day 1: Boating and brownstones

A lot of people have heard of the Staten Island ferry , and for good reason. It’s free to travel on the big orange boats between the southern tip of Manhattan and Staten Island. The route goes right past the Statue of Liberty, and offers amazing views of lower Manhattan.

As a boat lover, I’d also recommend taking the NYC ferry . It has a flat fare of $4 and operates up and down the East River, passing under bridges and allowing riders to snoop at waterside buildings.

If you’re starting in Manhattan (which you probably are), take the southbound ferry from East 34th Street to the Brooklyn neighborhood of Dumbo, which stands for “down under the Manhattan Bridge overpass”. It’s here where everyone with an Instagram account gets their shots of both the Manhattan Bridge and the (older, better-known) Brooklyn Bridge. Plenty of people will visit this area then turn their back on Brooklyn, but I’d recommend sticking around New York City’s most populous and, depending whom you speak to, trendiest borough.

Pop by Jane’s Carousel , an exquisitely restored 1922 ride which is plonked between the bridges, and then walk south through Brooklyn Bridge Park. You’ll go past several piers – once working docks now transformed into leafy picnic and sport areas. There are magnificent views across to Manhattan. It’s a nice spot to propose to a partner, as my little brother did last year. If you don’t want to do that, but do like to play soccer or basketball or roller-skate, you’re in luck.

After you hit Pier 6, where there’s a pleasant, if expensive, rooftop pizza restaurant called Fornino , walk up Atlantic Avenue for some shopping and coffee at Goose Barnacle , an independent clothing store with a hidden bar in the back. The owner, Dave Alperin, a fourth-generation Brooklynite, is very friendly and knowledgable about the area and can give you tips about everything from where to buy the best sandwich ( Lillo Cucina Italiana – try the Mamma Roma) to the location of a semi-secret basement speakeasy ( Le Boudoir ) nearby.

From there I’d take a bus or cab to Fort Greene, a very pretty neighborhood whose townhouses are the sort of Brooklyn thing you see in the movies, and grab dinner at Olea . If you make it before 6.30pm, there’s a great happy hour.

Day 2: Rude T-shirts and not-quite Rolexes

Manhattan’s Soho neighborhood has all the posh shops, so if you have money, or like looking through windows at expensive clothes and bags, walk east along Prince Street from West Broadway. There are nice buildings to look at around here too – the newly constructed towers that abound in the city are largely absent in this neighborhood. Stop in at Fanelli Cafe , a neighborhood stalwart that has been around since 1847, for a coffee or some food, then head south along Broadway to Chinatown.

There are lots of great dim sum places, including Golden Unicorn , whose large fancy dining hall is located on the second floor of a marble-esque building. From there I’d take a walk along Canal Street, dipping into sidestreets for cheap souvenirs – snow globes, little statues and that sort of thing – and bizarre T-shirts (many of which are very rude).

Chinatown also does a roaring trade in imitation watches and handbags. So if, like me, you will not and cannot spend $30,000 on a watch but have about $100 to spare, you can get (to my eye) a fairly good imitation. The food markets along Canal Street also sell real nice timepieces – they even work – if you fancy sticking it to big watch. You’ll find plenty of “designer” bags too.

Hopefully you’re hungry again, because Great N Y Noodletown is, per its name, great – especially the roast pig on rice.

From there I’d head farther south and stop in at Whiskey Tavern , the friendliest bar I’ve ever been to in my life (and I’ve been to a lot of bars). They print out personalized welcome signs that they will stick to your table or behind the bar, which sounds a bit naff – but isn’t. The real reason to come is to chat to locals and regulars. It’s also one of the closest bars to city hall, which means there’s a regular stream of “Just Married” couples doing shots of whiskey and eating chicken wings.

If you’ve still got energy, and like singing or shouting, go to Up Stairs , a karaoke bar tucked behind a nondescript doorway on Canal Street. Drinks are cheap, and it gets packed with revelers.

Day 3: Seaside shenanigans

If, like me, you’re a fan of once-glamorous seaside attractions that are now in a state of faded glory, then take the F train to Coney Island. People seem to overlook the fact that the city is surrounded by water, and while Coney Island isn’t the nicest beach for bathing (for that, try Fort Tilden or Jacob Riis Park), there’s loads to do.

Kick things off by watching a Brooklyn Cyclones game. The Cyclones are a feeder team to the New York Mets. They play at Maimonides Park, tickets are usually dirt cheap and easy to get, and you’ll be able to enjoy a nice view of the Atlantic Ocean. If you want a snazzy memento, buy a beer in a foot-long plastic baseball bat. Sometimes they let the crowd “run the bases” after the game, which is a lot of fun, especially if you’ve had more than one of the baseball bat beers.

After the exhilaration of taking in second-tier baseball, walk east towards the Cyclone , one of the oldest and, as far as I can tell, rickety-est rollercoasters in the US. The wooden ride – described as “pretty extreme” by Coaster Critic – will celebrate its 100th birthday in 2027, and it sounds and looks its age. Buyer beware.

Once you’ve stumbled off the ride, go for a settling drink at Ruby’s , the oldest bar on the boardwalk. You can take in the black-and-white shots of Coney Island in its 1930s glory, and if you’re feeling brave, buy a cardboard box full of clams.

Every Friday night from late June to September there is a fireworks show on the beach, which draws a large crowd. You could take it in while eating borscht and sipping coffee or vodka at Tatiana’s , a Russian restaurant-cum-nightclub a 10-minute walk along the boardwalk from the Cyclone.

Side note: you don’t need to wait until summer to visit. I went a day after it had snowed, and it was brilliant.

Question time

How many days do you need to visit new york city.

Three would be fine. If you want to take in all the Instagram favorite destinations, then maybe four.

What’s the most-visited attraction? Is it worth it?

Times Square. And not really. But it’s near enough to other attractions that if you’re heading to a Broadway show then you might as well walk through it.

When is the best time to visit?

The peak of summer can be boiling hot, and winter can be freezing cold. May through early July and September through October are usually a safe bet.

How expensive is it?

New York City is expensive. If you’re staying in Manhattan you’d be (very) lucky to get a hotel room for about $200 a night – but bear in mind that there will usually be hefty taxes on top of that. A bog standard coffee will cost you about $5, a pint anywhere from $6 to $10. The subway fare recently went up: it’s $2.90 a ride now.

Adam Gabbatt is a writer for the Guardian and is originally from the north of England. He has lived in New York City for 13 years and now says “trash” instead of “rubbish” and “sidewalk” instead of “pavement” and his family hates him for it

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From raucous street parties in Brooklyn to a somber, costumed rally in Central Park, New Yorkers celebrate the festive Jewish holiday of Purim

( New York Jewish Week ) — A man in a Batman costume, his face concealed by a mask, held a milk carton bearing the face of Ariel Bibas, a 4-year-old Israeli held hostage in Gaza by Hamas. 

Around him were hundreds of other demonstrators in black or yellow eye coverings, Batman masks and capes, many holding Israeli flags aloft.

The crowd gathered in Central Park on Sunday to mark a Purim in the shadow of the Oct. 7 attack and war in Gaza. Many people wore Batman get-ups to honor Ariel, who loved the superhero and used to run around his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz wearing the costume, seeking to “save” his neighbors.

The gathering was the latest in a weekly Sunday march through the park to demand the hostages’ release. It is organized by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum advocacy group, which estimated that 500 people attended. 

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“This is a very sad Purim for the Jewish people around the world,” Omer Lubaton Granot, the group’s lead organizer in New York City, said in a statement on Sunday. “Ariel won’t dress up in his  Batman costume as he dreamed. Instead, Jews around the world will do so to remind the world that there is a 4 year old boy who is stuck in a dark pit.”

At the rally in Central Park, some attendees cried while listening to speakers describe the family’s ordeal. Others carried signs showing the Bibas family, before they were abducted and separated, wearing matching Batman outfits to humor their son. 

The gathering was one of several ways that advocates for the more than 130 hostages held by Hamas linked the Purim season to their cause. On a fast day ahead of the holiday, tens of thousands of Jews worldwide collectively recited the Shema prayer on behalf of the hostages alongside a ceremony broadcast from Jerusalem’s Western Wall. Activists in Israel delivered the food baskets given as gifts on the holiday , called mishloach manot, to Israeli lawmakers in order to spur negotiations for a hostage release.

On the day itself, revelers around the world dressed up in costumes referencing the hostages — including the yellow ribbons and hostage posters that have become symbols of the global campaign for their release. The Israel-Hamas war, which is approaching the six-month mark, transformed the usually whimsical holiday in other ways this year as well — from new takes on the conflict retold in the Purim story to adjustments in Israel for soldiers returning to the front. 

Purim in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, March 24, 2024. (Luke Tress)

Meanwhile, in the Hasidic neighborhoods of Brooklyn, the holiday retained its festive atmosphere.

In Williamsburg, home of the Satmar movement, young men in colorful, matching outfits danced on sidewalks next to tour buses that blared loud joyful Jewish music from speakers mounted on the vehicles’ roofs. Children in inflatable costumes tailed their parents on crosswalks and non-Jewish neighborhood residents stopped to take pictures.

In Crown Heights, the home base of the Chabad movement, costumed children collected dollar bills from their parents and passersby to donate to charity, another practice associated with Purim. There were astronauts, cowboys, farmers, Harry Potters and pirates. A father dressed as a beekeeper shepherded his three children dressed as bees down a sidewalk and a passenger in a parked car handed out cups of beer, shouting “L’chayim!”

The war was still present in those neighborhoods as well, though. Some children dressed as Israeli paratroopers, with red berets mounted on their shoulders, and as the festivities wound down, some revelers stopped at restaurants that had the faces of the hostages plastered on the windows. 

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Purim in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, March 24, 2024. (Luke Tress)

A Purim rally demanding the release of Hamas hostages in Central Park, March 24, 2024. (Luke Tress)

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