One of the biggest challenges when booking a trip to New York is working out which is the best borough to stay in. New York is comprised of 5 boroughs in total; Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens and The Bronx, each of them has their own unique identity and cultural impact. Much of your choice will be dictated by price, some boroughs being pricier than others, as well as working out which is closest to see some of the New York attractions which you have on your list. To help you make the choice a little easier, here are some of the best and worst bits of each of the 5 boroughs.

Manhattan

The Best – 

The best feature of Manhattan is that it is essentially the center of New York, close to all of the main and most iconic attractions, the TV sets, the famous streets and the New York lifestyle which people usually have in their minds, is encapsulated here.

The Worst –

The downside of Manhattan is that it is one of the most expensive of the 5 boroughs so staying here may be something of a challenge if you are traveling on a budget. The only other negative about this place is that those who are from Manhattan, generally look down on the other 4 boroughs.

Brooklyn

The Best – 

The best part about Brooklyn is the sheer level of diversity which you can find here. Whether you are looking for quirky bars, weird and wonderful markets, international meetups or the very best pizza slice in the city, you can find it all here. Brooklyn is by far one of the coolest boroughs out there.

The Worst – 

Again, prices in Brooklyn are incredibly high, almost as high as Manhattan, and this could impact your overall vacation price. Other than the price, there is not much negativity about Brooklyn.

Queens

The Best – 

Queens is the most culturally diverse borough in all of New York, in fact half of  the population here is made up of immigrants from all over the world. This diversity has turned Queens into one of the best places for cuisine, where you can enjoy food from Lebanon, Vietnam, Greece and Venezuela, all in the space of just a couple of blocks.

The Worst –

The negatives about Queens are its location and its size. Getting around Queens takes forever because it is just so big. For those of you looking to hit the most popular sites in New York, traveling will take up a huge chunk of your day.

Staten Island

The Best –

Many people enjoy Staten Island because it is like living in the suburbs, whilst still being pretty well connected to the main events of NYC. Here you will find some nice beaches, some great views and a more relaxed way of life than any of the other boroughs.

The Worst –

The worst thing about Staten Island is also the best thing, it can sometimes just be too quiet, and too far from the action. The Staten Island ferry which takes you to Manhattan is frequent and runs 24 hours a day, despite this however, you can start to feel very disconnected.

The Bronx

The Best – 

The Bronx is much more relaxed than the rest of New York, offering huge open spaces, nice parks, and some beautiful beaches. The Bronx is a good budget option if you are heading to NYC, and there are some beautiful views from here.

The Worst – 

The worst aspect of The Bronx is the poor infrastructure which it has regarding transport. Getting to and from Manhattan is easy enough, but if you want to go elsewhere, you may find yourself spending much more time and money than is really necessary.

Which of the New York boroughs is your favorite? Let us know in the comments.