Best way to get to Brooklyn from Manhattan

I will be going to NY April 20-21. Our first stop is going to be the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. We will then be spending a little time in brooklyn before heading back to the hotel to check in and get ready for dinner/theater.

What is the best way to travel? Grayline, subway, cab? I have never been on the subway and I am afraid of getting myself (and my nervous mother) lost.

I also considered taking the grayline tour but I think from other reviews that will just lead us to be frustrated.

Any thoughts or tips for the subway? From what I%26#39;ve researched, taking the 2 subway from Times square/42nd street is the way to go but it has about 10 stops before we get to BBG.

Best way to get to Brooklyn from Manhattan

If you%26#39;re going from Times Square to the Botanic Garden, then yes, take the 2 to Eastern Parkway, which stops right in front of the BBG. Here are more details:

http://www.bbg.org/vis2/directions.html

Be sure to read poster GreenWhiteBlue%26#39;s wonderful Idiot%26#39;s Guide to the Subway:

tripadvisor.com/鈥?444514

Best way to get to Brooklyn from Manhattan

Don%26#39;t be fearful, the subway is the best way to get around the city. And if you are unsure about anything, ask the nearest person on the street.... don%26#39;t wander around ';wondering'; what to do. There was a recent trip report of someone who walked for miles because the subway entrance they headed for was for the wrong direction. It would have been easier if they had just asked anyone on the street, who could have directed them to just cross to the other side of the street.

Grayline is not a good option for transportation. The subway is the best way to travel between Manhattan and Brooklyn. If you go to hopstop.com you will get step by step directions for walking to/from the subway station etc.

There are several different Grayline tours. The hop on/off tour can be time consuming. In order to see well, you must sit upstairs in the open air. If it%26#39;s not perfect weather, it can be uncomfortable. If you want to consider an overview tour, nypartyshuttle.com and kingofnyc.com are well regarded and even do a half day option.

In addition to the #2, you can also take the #3. Both stop at the station, which is called ';Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum';. The station is also very convenient for seeing the Brooklyn Museum , which is literally next door to the Garden. Disregard the station on the Franklin shuttle called Botanic Garden -- it should NOT be named that, as it is NOT at the garden!

After you finish there you might either hop back on the subway, or perhaps walk down Eastern Parkway, away from the Museum, past the Garden and the Library, to Grand Army Plaza, where you can admire the handsome arch and the ';To Brooklyn'; fountain. There is another stop for the 2 and 3 at Grand Army Plaza, on the side of the arch away from the Library.

Take the 2 or 3 back towards Manhattan to Clark Street, and Explore Brooklyn Heights, including the wonderful Promenade.

Thanks everyone. I think you have convinced me to use the subway. after the BBG, I would like to go to the DUMBO area and walk over the bridge towards Manhattan. will the 2 take us there?

I did look at hopstop and have started my itinerary.

thanks!!

Sweetshe - just to clarfiy, DUMBO is near the Manhattan Bridge, and Brooklyn Heights is near the Brooklyn Bridge. They are close together, but it%26#39;s not the breeziest to walk between the two. (There%26#39;s a highway and other large streets inbetween, etc. Two summers ago, we biked on Furman Street, and then zig-zagged around - really interesting and beautiful urban industrial landscapes, but I wouldn%26#39;t reco walking it.)

I%26#39;m guessing you want to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. If so, take the #2 or #3 train towards Manhattan to Clark Street.

If you want to go to DUMBO, you need to get the F train to York Street, or the A train to High Street.

Map of DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights, showing subways:

www.brooklynnow.com/waterfront/map.html

I don%26#39;t have a Brooklyn bus map in front of me, but I%26#39;m sure that%26#39;s a better way to get from the BBG area to DUMBO.

http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/busbkln.pdf

BOTH the # 2 AND the #3 will take you to Clark Street, which is the best station for Brooklyn Heights, and a good one for the Bridge.

Directions to things in Brooklyn Heights (including the entrance of the Bridge) can be found here:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k866178-鈥?/a>

From Times Square take the #2 or #3 train Downtown/Brooklyn. Get off at Eastern Parkway stop. Trip will take around 30minutes