North Kolkata is the oldest part of the city. Characterised by 19th-century architecture, dilapidated buildings, overpopulated slums, crowded bazaars, and narrow alleyways, it includes areas such as Shyambazar, Hatibagan, Maniktala, Kankurgachi, Rajabazar, Shobhabazar, Shyampukur, Tala, Sonagachi, Kumortuli, Bagbazar, Jorabagan, Burrabazar, Jorasanko, Phoolbagan, Ultadanga, Chitpur, Pathuriaghata, Cossipore, Belgachia and Sinthee .

Central Kolkata hosts the central business district. It contains B. B. D. Bagh, formerly known as Dalhousie Square, and the Esplanade on its east; Strand Road is on its west.[14] The West Bengal Secretariat, General Post Office, Reserve Bank of India, High Court, Lalbazar Police Headquarters, and several other government and private offices are located there. Another business hub is the area south of Park Street, which comprises thoroughfares such as Chowringhee, Camac Street, Wood Street, Loudon Street, Shakespeare Sarani and A. J. C. Bose Road.[15] The Maidan is a large open field in the heart of the city that has been called the "lungs of Kolkata"[16] and accommodates sporting events and public meetings.[17] The Victoria Memorial and Kolkata Race Course are located at the southern end of the Maidan. Other important areas of Central Kolkata are Park Circus, Sealdah, College Street, Burrabazar, Bowbazar, Taltala, Janbazar, Entally, Chandni Chowk, Lalbazar, Chowringhee, Dharmatala, Rabindra Sadan, Tiretti Bazaar, Bow Barracks, Babughat, Princep Ghat and Hastings. Another important park is Millennium Park on Strand Road, beside the Hooghly River. Fort William, on the western part of the city (besides Maidan), houses the headquarters of the Eastern Command of the Indian Army

South Kolkata developed mainly after India gained independence in the year 1947. It includes upscale neighbourhoods such as Ballygunge, Alipore, New Alipore, Lansdowne, Bhawanipore, Kalighat, Gariahat, Charu Market, Chetla, Jodhpur Park, Lake Gardens, South City, Jadavpur, Dhakuria and Tollygunge.[19] Other developed areas of South Kolkata include Khidirpur, Ekbalpur, Taratala, Behala, Golf Green, Katju Nagar, Poddar Nagar, Bikramgarh, Bijoygarh, Regent Estate, Ranikuthi, Regent Park, Netaji Nagar, Bansdroni, Kudghat, Naktala, Garia, Raipur, Brahmapur, Baghajatin, Kalikapur, Kasba, Haltu, Nandi Bagan, Santoshpur, Garfa, Haridevpur, Sarsuna, Barisha, Parnasree Pally, Watgunge, Bartala, BNR Colony, Metiabruz, Rajabagan, Garden Reach and Badartala.