Having blessed the world with the 1993 Robert De Niro classic A Bronx Tale, pop sensation Jennifer Lopez, and the New York Yankees baseball team, the Bronx is a New York borough we have a lot to be thankful for. In terms of being a tourist destination, may first-time visitors will favor Manhattan over the Bronx, but there’s loads to see and do in this historic region perfect for those seeking that authentic New York experience. Knowing where to start can be a challenge, so we’ve compiled a list of activities and things to do across ten of our favorite Bronx neighborhoods, taking the hard work out of trip planning! From forest bathing in Pelham Bay to New York’s ‘real’ Little Italy on Arthur Avenue, you’re guaranteed to find landmarks, culture, food and friendly people jam-packed within the 42 square mile borough.
| Concourse
Kicking things off with one of the most happening Bronx neighborhoods; Concourse. Made up of East Concourse, Concourse Village and West Concourse, the area is brimming with restaurants, sports bars, shops, and several green spaces including Franz Sigel Park, Joyce Kilmer Park, and Mullaly Park. Concourse is also home to the Bronx County Courthouse and the Bronx Museum of the Arts, plus the beloved Yankee Stadium. With a seating capacity of 47,309 and a $1.5 billion price tag, the Yankee Stadium is one of the most expensive ever built and is well worth a visit. Outside of baseball season you can catch concerts, soccer games, Christian prayer services, and plenty more!
| Mott Haven
Heading south along the Harlem River we reach Mott Haven, a historic neighborhood with a vibrant Puerto Rican community, and home to Latin music legend Johnny Pacheco (who happened to coin the term ‘salsa’!). The industrialized streets along the East River boast many music venues, studios, and clubs, plus the iconic Port Morris Distillery, a pitorro distillery blending traditional Puerta Rican ‘moonshine rum’ since 2010. If you’ve never tried this speciality spirit before then booking a tour and tasting should be top of your Mott Haven to-do list, we guarantee you won’t be disappointed!
| Hunts Point
The Hunts Point neighborhood in the Bronx is a small peninsula in the south of the borough that’s home to, wait for it, the Largest Food Distribution Center in the World. That’s right, Hunts Point is famous for its food and drink industry, with Krasdale Foods, Anheuser-Busch, and Baldor Specialty Foods amongst the many companies that call the neighborhood home. Get a slice of the action by visiting one of Hunts Point’s many fresh food markets, choosing from the New Fulton Fish Market, New York City Terminal Produce Market and the famous 113 acre Hunts Point Produce Market on Edgewater Road. Grab a bargain on fresh food and experience some true Bronx neighborhood culture!
| Little Italy
Often touted as New York’s best kept secret, Arthur Avenue in the Bronx is what locals like to call the real Little Italy, populated by Italian immigrants who came to work at the nearby zoo and botanical gardens. Although less than 2km in length, Arthur Avenue and the surrounding neighborhood is full of traditional bakeries, authentic delicatessens, pizzerias, meat markets, cafes, and several restaurants that are over 100 years old. One of these restaurants is Mario’s, an award-winning Italian establishment serving made-to-order food using the freshest ingredients. Choosing somewhere to eat in Little Italy can be a challenge, but Mario’s tops our list!
| Woodlawn Heights
At the very north of the Bronx, on the border with Yonkers, is Woodlawn Heights, an Irish-American neighborhood dubbed New York’s ‘Little Ireland’. Known for its Irish bars and scenic riverside walkways, Woodlawn is a cosy residential area surrounded by Van Cortlandt Park and Woodlawn Cemetery. Designated a National Historic Landmark by the US Government in 2011, Woodlawn Cemetery prides itself on being “more than just a cemetery”, with over 310,000 names including Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, Miles Davis, Herman Melville, and many more buried on site. For fans of impressive architecture and sculpture, a visit to Woodlawn Cemetery is a must!
| Pelham Bay
Home to the only public beach in the Bronx, Orchard Beach, Pelham Bay is an oasis of a neighborhood. Its namesake, Pelham Bay Park, is 2,765 acres of green space scattered with historic landmarks such as Gray Mare, Glover’s Rock, and the Elizabeth Ortiz Memorial, a beautiful place for wildlife spotting and reading up on Bronx history. Local tourism company Bronx Historical Tours offer a particularly unique sightseeing experience; the Bronx Forest Bathing Tour. Adapted from the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, or nature therapy, the tour leads guests on a journey through the park to escape the city, connect with the surrounding trees and plant life, and appreciate the meditative nature of the landscape around you. A wonderfully different Bronx outdoor activity!
| Fordham
When searching for things to do in the Bronx, the New York Botanical Garden is almost guaranteed to appear first. Located just to the east of the Fordham Heights and Fordham Manor neighborhoods, and nestled alongside Fordham University, the 100+ hectares of rainforest displays, tree species, landscaped gardens and native flowers attract hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. A trip to the Bronx wouldn’t be complete without wiling away a day at the Botanical Garden, with plenty of fun learning activities for kids, and fascinating conservation projects, talks, and exhibitions to keep everyone entertained. A fantastic experience for tourists and locals alike!
| Belmont
Speaking of top Bronx attractions, head over the East Fordham Road and against the eastern border of the Belmont neighborhood you’ll find one of the largest zoos in the United States; the Bronx Zoo. Opened in 1899, millions of people visit every year to marvel at the 6000 animals from 700 species, cutting edge conservation work, and award-winning exhibitions. The Bronx Zoo is the first of its kind to establish an in-house animal hospital, and provides a safe haven for endangered animals across the globe. We’d recommend a full day for the Bronx Zoo as there’s so much to see, making it our top pick for family outings in Belmont!
| City Island
With a land area of 1.02 square kilometers, City Island is one of the smallest neighborhoods in the Bronx. Part of the Pelham Islands, City Island is located east of the Bronx mainland, connected by one road through Pelham Bay Park. The neighborhood has a distinct seaside feel with plenty of seafood restaurants, yacht clubs, scenic harbors and wetlands to enjoy, plus the Touring Kayak Club which offers kayak rentals and clinics on the Long Island Sound. Established in 1927, the club is run by water sport enthusiasts who love to share their passion for kayaking. A great afternoon activity for working up an appetite, then letting loose in one of the many City Island restaurants!
| Parkchester
Designed and built by the MetLife Insurance Company in 1942, Parkchester is a planned community neighborhood north of the Cross Bronx Expressway. The area was intended for young families and therefore has plenty of green spaces, restaurants, transport links, and the beautiful Fountain at Metropolitan Oval at its center. As with any new town or city, we strongly believe the best way to explore like a local is to join a food tour, such as the Parkchester and Beyond tasting tour with NoshWalks. As well as sampling local cuisines like Bangladeshi and Mexican, you’ll also learn about the neighborhood history, architecture, notable residents, and admire the hundreds of miniature terracotta sculptures dotted around the community. Food tours are our favorite sightseeing experiences, so don’t miss out on this unique Bronx gourmet excursion!
| Thanks for reading!
If you’re planning a trip to New York, then hopefully we’ve convinced you to add the Bronx to your travel itinerary. As well as fascinating history and architecture, the borough also boasts beaches, parks, an unmatched food scene, and a unique culture that you won’t find in neighboring Manhattan. If it’s a family day out, once-in-a-lifetime vacation, or an exciting experience gift you’re after, you’ll find all this and more in the Bronx!
