The City derives its personality from the five boroughs, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. When people think of New York City, Manhattan is often the first place they picture. It’s no wonder: the borough is home to big-name attractions, such as Central Park, the Empire State Building, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the bright lights of Times Square, and Broadway. The Bronx is known as the home of the New York Yankees, the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Garden, not to mention as the birthplace of hip-hop. Brooklyn offers attractions for every type of traveler. Head for Williamsburg, where you can hear live music every night and shop for vintage threads. Traveling with kids? Prospect Park and the stroller-filled sidewalks of Park Slope beckon, as does the area’s restaurant scene. And since the best things in life are free, consider a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge or along the scenic Brooklyn Heights promenade.

With adventurous art, international cuisine, gorgeous parks and world-class sporting events, Queens features attractions to satisfy nearly every taste. View inventive art at MoMA PS1 and Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City, and take in the stunning flora at the Queens Botanical Garden. Visitors shouldn’t miss the opportunity to explore Staten Island, renowned for its museums, historic landmarks, beaches and parkland—including the City’s largest forest preserve in the Staten Island Greenbelt. Reach the City’s southernmost borough on a free ride aboard the Staten Island Ferry.