Williamsburg, Brooklyn

One subway stop from Manhattan, Williamsburg is a mecca for young creatives--an influential hub of current indie rock, hipsters, and the local art community. Stroll on a continuous 3.2 km (2 mi) string of waterfront esplanades or cycle along Bedford Avenue. This Brooklyn neighborhood, once characterized by manufacturing, was rezoned for residential use and has been gentrified over the last couple of years. A melting pot of ethnic groups--including African Americans, Hasidic Jews, Italians, Poles, Puerto Ricans, and Dominicans--the area has attracted artists, musicians, and the urban underground since the 1970s. It's brims with art galleries, artisan shops, boutiques, gourmet restaurants, indie theater spaces, and late night music, dance, and performance events. To visit Williamsburg and get the most from your holiday in Brooklyn, create itinerary details personal to you using our Brooklyn travel route planning tool.