You want to visit New York and you wonder where to stay in queens, what are the dangerous neighborhoods to avoid? Let's find out together Queens, one of New York neighborhoods much less famous than Manhattan but worth the detour.
Located east of Manhattan on Long Island, Queens is the largest of New York City's five boroughs. Cosmopolitan, avant-garde, culturally and gastronomically rich, this district is very interesting.
But even if they are less dangerous than in Brooklyn or in the Bronx (see the dangerous neighborhoods in New York), there are some dangerous neighborhoods to avoid in Queens.
To help you choose a safe and nice neighborhood, I'm going to tell you which neighborhoods to avoid, which ones to visit and the best areas to stay in Queens. You can spot them with a Google map of the main neighborhoods in Queens.
Queens neighborhoods in New York
Located north of Brooklyn, queens is separated from Manhattan by the East River. It is made up of 6 main areas:
- Long Island City
- Jackson heights
- Flushing North
- Forest Park
- Jamaica
- The Rockaways (part only)
These areas are themselves made up of many neighborhoods, all of which have their own identity.
Queens neighborhood map
To help you identify the areas to avoid which we will discuss below, here is a map of the neighborhoods of Queens in New York:
Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in Queens
South Jamaica
This area is one of the New York's most dangerous neighborhoods. The crime rate is very high although it is decreasing from year to year. This is the only district in Queens where you absolutely should not go, let alone look for a hotel or AIRBNB.
Willets Point
Willets Point is not an area recommended for tourists. This area of Queens was once called the Iron Triangle. This area was an abandoned district of New York known to be noisy, dirty, with hangars, dilapidated factories, car wrecks, tires. But in recent years, the municipality has demolished many blocks and the neighborhood is undergoing complete transformation.
The Rockaways
You may be tempted by this area, particularly to enjoy Rockaway Beach. But this neighborhood has changed a lot over the last 5 years. It is now one of the dangerous neighborhoods of Queens.
Ozone park
This neighborhood is located in the southwest part of Queens in New York. Less dangerous than the districts mentioned above, it should nevertheless be avoided for a tourist stay.
Safest neighborhoods in Queens
One thing you should know is that Queens is statistically much safer than most areas in the Bronx or Brooklyn. Indeed, apart from the 4 neighborhoods mentioned above, all other neighborhoods in Queens are relatively safe.
Here is the list of neighborhoods in Queens with the lowest crime rates:
- Auburndale
- Middle village
- Forest Hills
- Laurelton
- Kew Gardens
- Woodside
- Queens village
- Woodhaven-Richmond Hill
- Springfield gardens
- Sunnyside
Which neighborhood to stay in Queens?
Long Island City (LIC)
Once an industrial area, LIC is now a new artistic hotbed in New York City. The tallest skyscrapers in Queens are also located in LIC. Hotels are springing up like mushrooms and tourism is developing at high speed!
Many museums can be found in Long Island City:
- the famous Isamu Noguchi Sculpture Museum,
- the Museum of African Arts,
- the Sculpture Center,
- the Museum of the Moving Image,
- the Socrates Sculpture Park, overlooking the East River,
- LE Fisher Landau Center, presenting a private collection of contemporary art.
LIC is a city in Queens that offers a nice range of good hotels cheaper than in Manhattan but a little further from must-see sites to visit. But for those who have a little time, staying in this neighborhood can be a good compromise that combines neighborhood safety and tourism in New York.
Where to choose a hotel in Queens?
Here is a very good hotel well located in a safe area of Long Island City in Queens: LIC Hotel
This modern hotel is quiet, well equipped and very close to Downtown Manhattan by subway.
Indeed, it is located at 150 m from the Metro station with direct line to Manhattan. In addition, it has a beautiful terrace where the view is breathtaking.
Practical: a small grocery store near this hotel will allow you to make a little yum yum and save you a restaurant!
Flushing North East
It's a second Chinatown! Indeed, this district is home to the largest Asian community in New York with a large Chinese, Taiwanese, Korean and Indian population.
Flushing North East is a district of Queens renowned for its restaurants, grocery stores and Asian stores but also for'unisphere. This 300-ton steel sphere is the largest in the world, and was used as a setting for the film “Men In Black”. You can also stroll through the Queens Botanical Garden or visit the Queens Museum of Art.
This is a good option if you are looking for a hotel close to La Guardia airport (see hotels Comfort Inn At LaGuardia Airport ou LaGuardia Plaza Hotel).
If you have a very small budget, I suggest you discover my selection of 3 cheapest hotels in relation to their situation:
Cheap hotels New York - my selection of 3 good deals
How to visit Queens?
If you want visit New York with a complete and interesting discovery of a district of New York (Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn…) I recommend that you book a guided tour on hellotickets.
Indeed, this booking platform offers several tours in French or in other languages to discover the most emblematic and touristic places of New York.
And the must is their helicopter flight over New York !
