Grab an $8 tuna melt panini from Peas and Pickles at 55 Washington Street in the Dumbo neighbourhood, then gawp at the Brooklyn Bridge from underneath. Make it a morning of Manhattan views, strolling along the ever-expanding Brooklyn Bridge Park, then coming back along the Brooklyn Heights Promenade. Reward yourself with a $10 double burger at Shake Shack (www.shakeshack.com) on Old Fulton Street. Take the subway ($4) towards the huge and gloriously wild Prospect Park. After a thorough exploration, finish at the equally sprawling Brooklyn Museum of Art (www.brooklynmuseum.org, $20). Take the subway back towards beards-and-plaid central Williamsburg for an evening of world class people watching. Enjoy a $14 shredded pork with chilli pepper from modern Asian joint Red Bowl (www.redbowlchinesebk.com ) on the way. Sleep cheap in a dorm at the B Hotel and Hostel (www.westwayhostel.com, $48).

TOTAL: $104

TAKE IT EASY

Dig into an enormous $15 omelette for breakfast at Lodge (www.lodgenyc.com) in Williamsburg. Then hop on the subway ($4) towards the departure point for A Slice Of Brooklyn's four-and-a-half hour tour (www.asliceofbrooklyn.com, $100) around Brooklyn's best old school pizzerias. There's plenty of slice sampling on the way, as well as insights into the borough's industrial and cultural heritage. The tour finishes at classic amusement park getaway Coney Island, where the rickety old Cyclone rollercoaster (www.lunaparknyc.com, $11) has been a Brooklyn staple since 1927. Get the subway back to downtown Brooklyn ($4), then experiment with the spicy bouillabaisse at colourful French meets Mexican bistro Jolie Cantina (www.joliecantina.com, $30). Stay at the Nu Hotel (www.nuhotelbrooklyn.com, $185) downtown, where local artists have been let loose on the rooms.

TOTAL: $349

SPLASH OUT

After the $19 baked eggs and butter beans at country chic Marlow and Sons (www.marlowandsons.com) in Williamsburg, join Levy's Unique New York (www.levysuniqueny.com, $375) for a seriously in-the-know private tour around Brooklyn's best street art. Chill out over roasted duck pot pie at relaxed neighbourhood café Five Leaves (www.fiveleavesny.com, $19), then go bowling at the gigantic Brooklyn Bowl (www.brooklynbowl.com). It's inside a former ironworks, DJs spin tunes at the weekends, and two hours' lane plus shoe hire costs $257. Cab it towards the Brooklyn Bridge (about $40 return) in time for sunset over Manhattan. While there, feast on the six course tasting menu at the romantic, riverside and dress-uppy River Café (www.therivercafe.com, $188). Finally rest your head in a Manhattan view king room at the Wythe (www.wythehotel.com, $715), a converted warehouse with serious wow factor.

TOTAL: $1613

The writer was a guest of NYCgo.com and the Nu Hotel.