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Walking Across the Brooklyn Bridge

Updated: January 8, 2024

This post aims to help you plan your walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.

We'll show you where to start, how to get here, when to go, and what else there is to do around the bridge.

As tour guides, we lead dozens of visitors across the bridge each day on our Brooklyn Bridge walk.

As locals, the bridge is a part of our daily life. Many of us walk across it to get to our tours.

In the video above, Katie, a tour guide with Free Tours by Foot, explains how to walk across the bridge.

We have used our experiences as tour guides to help craft this how-to guide.


Walking over the Brooklyn Bridge should be on every tourist's Bucket List of things to do in New York City.

Setting aside time on your trip is absolutely worth it! It's a significant part of the city's history and the views are spectacular!

The bridge is one of the very best locales for New York City photography. So grab your camera and let's start walking!


DOES IT COST ANYTHING TO CROSS THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE?

It is legal and free to cross the Brooklyn Bridge whether walking, biking, or driving.


HOW LONG IS THE BRIDGE?

The Brooklyn Bridge is 5,989 ft. long (or 1825 meters) from one end to the other, but the river span is 1,595 feet (486 meters).

The pedestrian pathway across the bridge is slightly over 1.1 miles, or 1.6 kilometers long.


HOW TO GET TO THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE?

That depends on whether you want to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan into Brooklyn or from Brooklyn to Manhattan.

Both are lovely, but you do have a pretty spectacular skyline view if you choose to walk from Brooklyn to Manhattan.

You could also walk from the Manhattan side halfway across the bridge and then come back. Either way, you can best get to the bridge via the subway.  

Be sure to consider our daily guided tour and our GPS-enabled audio tour of the Brooklyn Bridge.   

If you are new to NYC public transportation, then you might consider reading our two subway guides.

If you are considering a hop-on-hop-off bus service, all major companies have stops near both entrances.


Starting from the Manhattan Entrance

There are 2 entrances to the Brooklyn Bridge on the Manhattan side. The most commonly used is along Centre Street, across from City Hall Park.

Regardless of how you get here, we recommend using this Google Maps link for directions to the pedestrian walkway.

The picture and map below will help you find the pedestrian promenade. 

Map of the Entrance on the Manhattan Side 

Brooklyn Bridge Manhattan Entrance

Arriving by subway

  • Take the 4, 5, or 6  trains to Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall Stop or the J or Z trains to Chambers Street Stop.
  • The bridge will be right across the street from the subway station. The picture and map below will help you find the pedestrian walkway. 
  • You could also take the 2 or 3 train to Park Place, the N or R train to City Hall, or the A or C train to Fulton Street (circled in black on the map.)
  • The red arrow points to where you will be entering the pedestrian walkway.

 View of the Manhattan Entrance to Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge Entrance Manhattan 2

Park Row Underpass Entrance

This is the 2nd entrance on the Manhattan side.

Park Row bends off from City Hall Park and winds underneath the Brooklyn Bridge. And roughly 500 ft (150 meters) is another entrance.

This entrance could be more practical for those coming from South Street Seaport, Pier 15 and 17, or for those coming from the eastern parts of the Financial District.

This will likely save you 5-10 minutes coming from these areas. It is a staircase and there is no elevator.

Click here for directions to the Park Row Underpass entrance (map).


Walking from the Brooklyn Entrance 

There are 2 entrances on the Brooklyn side. You will likely be using the subway if you decide to start on the Brooklyn side.

Even if you are in Brooklyn and want to find your way to the Brooklyn Bridge, use this Google map for directions to the start of the walkway from your starting destination.

The Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Walkway and Bicycle Lanes begin at the intersection of Tillary Street and Boerum Place (also known as Brooklyn Bridge Boulevard).

Finding the entrance to the pedestrian walkway is easy, but the intersection is very busy and there is often road construction in the area, so be ready for that.

 View of the Brooklyn Entrance to Brooklyn Bridge (walkway is in the middle of the car lanes)

Brooklyn Bridge Entrance Brooklyn Side Image

Depending on where you are coming from, there is a shorter alternative route, though there is a shortcut.


Arriving by Subway

You can get take these subways whose stops will be within walking distance of the entrance to the walkway leading to the bridge.

  • A, C, or F to Jay Street/MetroTech Station
  • N, R to Court Street Station
  • 2/3 or 4/5 to Borough Hall Station.

The red arrow points to where you will be entering the pedestrian walkway. The subway stations are circles in black.

Map of Brooklyn Entrance to Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn Subway to Brooklyn Bridge entrance

Washington Street and Prospect Street Underpass Entrance

Rather than beginning your walk at the above entrance, we recommend this shortcut to get onto the bridge faster and enjoy a more scenic route.

This entrance makes more sense to use if you are coming from Brooklyn Heights or DUMBO.

Brooklyn Bridge ShortCut From High Street

Take the A or C Train to the High Street Station. 

Exit the station at the High Street exit. Other exits will leave you in the wrong place.

When you exit, there will be a large park across the street, Cadman Plaza Park.

Safely cross the street, enter the park and there is a paved, curved walkway where you will see people coming and going in both directions.

Take this pathway through the park (it is safe except in the middle of the night.

The walkway will turn into Washington Street at the intersection of Cadman Plaza East and you will walk one block until you reach an underpass.

On the left side of the street, there is a set of stairs built into the bridge. You may not see them at first, but they are there! 

Use this Google Maps link for directions to the staircase entrance on Washington Street from your starting destination.

IMPORTANT NOTE: When you reach the top of the stairs, veer to the left into the pedestrian lane. Watch for bikes as you cross. 


THE BEST TIME TO CROSS THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE

Access to the Brooklyn Bridge is 24 hours per day and it is beautiful at any time of day, but sunset is particularly nice!

We ran a poll in our NYC Travel Tips Facebook group asking members what they thought was the best time to cross.

As you can see, slightly more than half chose sunset.

This way, you can take in the views of both Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Statue of Liberty while there is still light out and then watch as all the sights come to life with electric wonder. 

This goes for sunrise as well.

Be warned for whatever time of day you go, it can get chilly up there on the bridge.

Plan ahead and bring a jacket or sweater (in fall, winter, or spring) so that you can enjoy your walk!

In the summer, on a bright sunny day, be sure to put on sunscreen before walking over the bridge.

Be sure to check out our guide to New York City weather to help plan which pieces of clothing to bring.

It is also very safe to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge at night, as many tourists and locals use the bridge until about 11 pm (23:00) at night.

Walking the Brooklyn Bridge at night is one of the top free things to do at night in NYC.



HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO WALK OVER THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE?

New York commuters hurrying to work spend 25 minutes crossing the 1.3 miles (2.09 km) long bridge.

But they aren't taking pictures or admiring the panoramic view. 

So how much time should you give yourself as a newcomer to the Brooklyn Bridge?

There are a few factors that will affect how long your walk will be.

First, the bridge is a very popular tourist attraction. In the summer months, especially from midday through sunset, the bridge can be packed with tourists.

Add to that the many locals who walk to and from work over the bridge and it can a bit claustrophobic.

Approximately 30,000 pedestrians and 3,000 cyclists travel over the Brooklyn Bridge each day.

Second, the pedestrian walkway is somewhat narrow and you can only walk as fast as the flow of the crowd.

Brooklyn Bridge Promenade

If you want to walk faster, it is possible to pass people but be careful.

Below are estimated times based on the average walking pace of about 3.1 miles per hour (5 km/h) on an off-season day.

In the summer months, especially in the afternoons or sunset, add 10 minutes or more.  

30 minutes - Walking at a steady pace, stopping for just a few pictures.

35-45 minutes - Strolling casually, taking some pictures, and admiring the view.

45-60 minutes - Your walk can take this long under the following circumstances:

  • You choose to spend this time for a very slow walk, enjoy the views, take lots of photos and savor the moment (or you are using our audio tour).

TIPS WHEN TRAVELING WITH KIDS: 

To keep your child engaged and energized, we recommend that at the Manhattan-side tower, you stop for a few minutes.

Around this tower where the walkway widens, there are a series of engraved plaques that detail the construction of the bridge step-by-step.

Some kids (and adults!) find these instructive plaques interesting.

This is also a good time to take a break from walking and take pictures.

At the Brooklyn-side tower, more plaques identify the sights you can see along the Manhattan skyline.


TOURS OF THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE

There are many ways to tour the Brooklyn Bridge, particularly with us.

However, you won't be able to ride over the bridge on a bus tour, as all buses and coaches are banned. In other words, you have two options: walking and bike tours.

There are more options than what you'll find listed below, but this list will serve you well.  


If you are considering the purchase of a New York Pass or the Explorer Pass, then you will be entitled to a free walking tour of the bridge.  

Read our post to determine if a discount tourist pass is for you.



GUIDED WALKING TOURS

Free Tours by Foot 

First, we offer an anytime, GPS-enabled audio walking tour (in both English and Spanish versions).

We also offer two guided Brooklyn Bridge tours along with one self-guided option.

Each trek will take between 2-3 hours to complete, giving you plenty of time to cross over and learn all about this important landmark.

Our walking tours are pay-what-you-wish, meaning that you get to decide what your experience was worth.

This is a great way to save money while discovering New York City on vacation.

Our amazing guests have seen fit to give us an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars on TripAdvisor.  

We also have a guide "Things to Do in Brooklyn". 


OTHER TOUR COMPANIES

Brooklyn Bridge Sightseeing 

This company offers a variety of tours across the Brooklyn Bridge.

Although you won't be able to name your own price, you can save 20% on tickets by using the promo code FTBF.

Their walking tour runs for approximately 2 hours and covers a variety of subjects related to the history of New York.

While on this trip, you'll learn about sites such as Battery Park, the World Trade Center, Chinatown, and Little Italy. 

  • Ticket Prices: $19 for Adults | $15 for Children (with the promo code FTBF)
  • Daily @9 am
  • Duration: 2 hours
  • Save 20% with promo code FTBF
  • Tour for free with New York Pass/Explorer Pass.

With an overall rating of 4 ½ out of 5 stars on TripAdvisor, it's clear that most reviewers are very happy with this service.

There are a few negative reviews, but they don't indicate any serious problems with Brooklyn Bridge Sightseeing. 


Inside Out Tours 

This company offers a Brooklyn Bridge tour that is very similar to our pay-what-you-like tour but without a stop in Brooklyn Heights and 1 hour shorter in duration.

If you can't manage to reserve a spot on our trip across the bridge, this is an excellent alternative.

At the end of this journey, you'll have the opportunity to explore Dumbo, one of the most interesting neighborhoods in Brooklyn.

This trek is provided in both English and Spanish.

Reviews on both TripAdvisor and Get Your Guide are very impressive, with most customers giving Inside Out Tours either a 4-star or 5-star rating (read some of the reviews). 


GUIDED BIKE TOURS

Brooklyn Bridge Sightseeing 

In addition to their walking tours, this company also provides bike tours across the Brooklyn Bridge.

While riding on a Cannondale bicycle, you'll enjoy wonderful views of the entire New York Harbor.

Stops will be made to give you a chance to take some breathtaking photos.

Travel from Manhattan's southern tip to Brooklyn Heights and back while learning all about the history of this modern marvel.

This trip will take approximately 2 hours to complete.

  • Ticket Prices: $36 for Adults | $32 for Children (with the promo code FTBF)
  • Daily @9 am and 4 pm
  • 2 hours
  • More information or to book.
  • Save 20% with the promo code FTBF

New York Pass/Explorer Pass holders can also save money on these tours

Brooklyn Bridge Sightseeing currently enjoys a 4 ½ star rating on TripAdvisor.

Reviews for their bike tour are especially positive, with most guests showing a lot of admiration for their incredible tour guides. 


New York Tourist Passes 

Purchasers of the New York Pass and Explorer or Go Passes are also entitled to a free bike tour of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Read our post to determine if a discount tourist pass is for you.


AUDIO TOUR AND THINGS TO SEE (SELF-GUIDED TOUR)

This is a self-guided tour of a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and begins at City Hall Park, on the Manhattan side of the bridge, and ends on the Brooklyn side of the Bridge.

We also have an anytime GPS-enabled audio tour of the bridge, that starts from either the Manhattan or Brooklyn side (you're choice) and is more extensive than the written version below. 

Here is an audio sample.

Estimated time to finish tour: 1-2 hours, depending on how much of a photographer you are.

Total Distance across the bridge: 1 mile (1.6 km)

This is an interactive map. To enlarge it, click on the small box in the upper right-hand corner.


(Point A) - Tour Starting Point  

Click here for directions to the starting point from anywhere in the city.

Municipal Building

Manhattan Municipal Building (1914)  

This beaux-arts beauty was the last and possibly the most glorious example of NYC's part in the City Beautiful Movement.  

Designed to meet the increased administrative, which had grown into five boroughs in 1898 following the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge, this 40-story building is today one of the largest government buildings in the world.

See that shiny statute up at the top?  

She is called Civic Fame: 20 feet tall, copper-skinned, and hollow, she stands barefoot, wearing a flowing dress and laureled crown to represent glory.

She holds a five-pointed crown to represent the five boroughs of NYC in her left hand.

Be sure to also get a look at her and the building beneath her feet when you are on the bridge.


Frank Gerhy Building Brooklyn Bridge

Frank Gehry's 'New York' 

This is 'starchitect" Frank Gehry's first skyscraper.

This is one of the tallest residential buildings in the world, containing just about 900 units, all for rent, which is very unusual for a high rise in NYC.  

This gleaming 76-story tower, "clad in a rumpled stainless-steel skin”, according to a review in the NY Times was the tallest residential structure in the Western Hemisphere, when it opened in February 2011.

The tower stands on a six-story public elementary school.  

Be sure to check out our Midtown, Central Park, and Harlem tours where you can get a look at some more captivating architecture.


Old New York Times Building

Old New York Times Building

Before moving to Longacre Square (soon to be renamed Times Square), the New York Times, A.K.A. the Old Gray Lady, was headquartered here in this building on News Paper Row. The paper was here from 1889-1903.   

At 13 stories, this Romanesque Revival building now houses classrooms for Pace University.  

Out front is a statue of American founding father Benjamin Franklin, himself an owner of a printing press, a fitting statue for Newspaper Row.


The Potter Building 

Had the finest fireproofing technology of the time, featuring cast-iron columns and thick brick walls.  

Its terra-cotta ornamentation at the top inspired Mr. Orlando B. Potter to start his own terra-cotta company on Long Island.

This old classic was converted into an apartment building in 1979-81.

Okay, now it’s time to hit the bridge.  The first few minutes will bring you through a rather uninspiring set of buildings.

 After a couple of minutes on the walkway, you should reach a section where there are vehicle access roads allowing cars and trucks to enter or exit the Brooklyn Bridge from underneath.


(Point B)Woolworth Building

In the image below, the Woolworth Building is a white, wedding cake-style skyscraper.

Woolworth Building from Brooklyn Bridge

Seen frequently in movies, it was the tallest building in the world from 1913-1929.

This neo-gothic building was a central figure in the great skyscraper race of the first few decades of the 20th Century and was called the "Cathedral of Commerce."

It had an observation deck until 1941 and high-speed elevators, which were state-of-the-art at the time. 

It was sold by the Woolworth Company in 1998 for $155 million.  

Read our blog post on the Woolworth Building and learn how you can visit its impressive gold-leafed vaulted ceilings in its lobby.


One World Trade Center - The Freedom Tower

Towering over the Woolworth Building is New York City's (and North America's) largest skyscraper.

Standing at 1,776 ft. (541 meters), it is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.  

The height was chosen to honor the year of American Independence (1776), hence the original name, the Freedom Tower. 

It is now open and you can go to the top of it for amazing views. See our post on getting tickets to Freedom Tower Observatory Tickets and Tours.

Now, continue walking toward the Manhattan tower until you reach the point where the great cables that are suspended from the tower reach the promenade that you are walking on.  


The Cables

In front of you are the four main cables holding up the bridge platforms. Attached to this thin rope was a piece of 8 gauge wire.

Each of the four cables is made up of 6,289 wires, each thinner in diameter than a human hair.

If these thin wires were attached end to end would measure more than 3,500 miles (5600 km).

Did you know that the Brooklyn Bridge was built with defective wire?

At one point, a politically connected man named Haight was given the contract to supply the wire.

Haight went ahead and supplied bad wire. By the time it was determined that poor-quality wire had been used, it was too late to replace it.

Fortunately, since the bridge had originally been intended to be six times stronger than necessary, it was decided that even if it was now only four times stronger, that that would be sufficient.  

The bridge is standing the test of time.

Manhattan Bridge from Brooklyn Bridge

(Point C) - Alfred E. Smith Houses & FDR Drive

As you approach the Manhattan tower, the housing complex to your left, with the red arrow in the image above (12 buildings, housing almost 6000 people) is named after four-time New York Gov. Al Smith.

Smith served as governor of New York from 1919-1920 and 1923-1929 and was the first Catholic ever to win a presidential nomination.  

You’ll also notice a highway (yellow arrow) running up and down the Manhattan waterfront. This is the Franklin D. Roosevelt E. River Drive, better known as the FDR Drive.

It was designed by Robert Moses, the city's planning commissioner during the first half of the 20th century, and is a little over  9 1/2 miles long, it covers the entire length of Manhattan along the East River.


Manhattan Bridge (Green Arrow)

The Manhattan Bridge, like the Brooklyn Bridge, is a suspension bridge. It connects lower Manhattan, near Chinatown, with downtown Brooklyn.

The main span is 1470 feet (448 m) and the suspension cables are 3, 224 ft. (983 m) long.

The total length is 6855 feet or 2089 m. The bridge opened in 1909 and it's the first suspension bridge to employ ‘deflection theory’.  

The bridge was off-limits to pedestrians for 40 years, until the summer of 2001 when the pedestrian walkway was re-opened.

The entrance on the Manhattan side features a rather impressive arch and colonnade.

The designers of the bridge also built the main New York Public Library, at 5th and 42nd St.  

The Manhattan Bridge was featured in many films, including  Once Upon a Time in America and King Kong (2005). The bridge carries subways, cars, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

Now look to your right (south).


40 Wall Street - Trump Building

You now have a clear view of Lower Manhattan's Financial District. The red arrow is pointing to the Trump Building at 40 Wall Street.  

Finanical District from the Brooklyn Bridge

The height of the great skyscraper race featured this 927 ft (283 m) skyscraper in competition with the Chrysler Building for the title of the world’s tallest building.  

At the time, in 1930, the Woolworth Building was the tallest.

You can get a good look at this building, the one with the green top, on the right as you make your way toward the Manhattan tower.  

The Chrysler Building can be seen as you move past the Manhattan Tower.

For just a few days, 40 Wall Street was the tallest building in the world before the Chrysler Building and its spire exceeded it.

We love taking our guests and stopping right here to take a look over at the magnificent skyline.

Continue walking toward the Manhattan Tower. As you get closer, look closely toward the top and you will see an engraving of the date 1875, the year this tower was completed.


(Point D) Manhattan Tower

Brooklyn Bridge Manhattan Tower

Once you have arrived at the Manhattan tower you will want to spend some time up here.

Take note of the tablets, the earlier one dedicated to John Augustus Roebling and his son Washington Roebling and the later one, placed there during the 1948-54 reconstruction.

The granite towers, the first parts of the bridge to be constructed, Rise 276 feet above the East River.

When these towers were completed, only Trinity Church’s spire stood taller.  

Beneath the towers, at the bottom of the East River, are gigantic bottomless wooden boxes called caissons, which were sunk into the river bed and inflated with compressed air.  

Once the caissons were sunk, the men working on the bridge would enter the caissons and dig for bedrock.

During this phase of construction, many men, including Washington Roebling, became very ill with what is called ‘the bends’ or caisson’s disease. 

Read more about Caisson's disease here.  


South Street Seaport

To your right (south) you'll see the historic South Street Seaport.  

In 1625, the Dutch West India Company opened its first port here.  

Later, from 1797 to the mid-1800s, the 'Port of NY' was the largest maritime trade area in the country.

Things to See at South Street Seaport

Many buildings in this area were burned down during the great fire of 1835 but were rebuilt in the 1850s.  

The Seaport stopped functioning in the 1930s, was converted into a museum in 1967, and upgraded into a 'festival marketplace’ in 1982.

It was severely damaged during Superstorm Sandy in October 2012 and the renovation process continues.

To see a guide to the new South Street Seaport and the fun things you can do there, see our post, South Street Seaport in New York City | A Self-Guided Tour.

Now continue toward the Brooklyn Tower.  Stop about halfway between the two towers.  


(Point E) - Vehicle Roadway

Below is a six-lane highway.

The roadway, which is 135 feet (41 m) above the average tide-water level, permitting vessels weighing under 1,000 tons to cross the bridge under it, was completed.

The elevated roadway, just as John Roebling had envisioned, was finished not long after that.

The designated bike lane was added in the early 1970s and is said to be one of the first dedicated bike lanes in the country.

Elevated trains and trolley cars stopped running in the 1940s. The roadway was widened to accommodate more automobiles during the 1948-1954 reconstruction.


The East River

The East River below you (it's a tidal strait) runs for 16 miles (26 km) between Brooklyn and Manhattan, under the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg Bridges and it has an average depth of about 30 feet (9 m).

Governor's Island from Brooklyn Bridge

It is the strait that links the Harlem River, the Long Island Sound, and the New York Harbor.

The part of the strait that separates Manhattan from Brooklyn was one of the most central and significant channels in the world during the first 300 years of New York City's history.

Due to hundreds of years of industrialization, this river is still not safe to swim. However, as of mid-2007, it’s safer than it is been in over 30 years.


Governors Island

Off to your right (south) lies a small island in the New York Harbor (see red arrow).

The Dutch West India Company hired the English explorer, Henry Hudson, to find a route to China.

Instead, he wound up on what was called ‘Nut Island.’ Thus, began the history of New Netherlands.

For more information on Governor's Island and how to get there, read our blog post by clicking here


Steve Brodie

People always want to know if anyone has ever jumped off the bridge.

The answer is yes, unfortunately. It's said that every 15 days someone jumps to their death from the Brooklyn Bridge.

Perhaps the most well-known jump is a jump that never happened.

Steve Brodie (December 25, 1861 – January 31, 1901) born in New York City was reported to have jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge and survived on July 23, 1886.

This was big news and helped Brodie's acting career and his saloon business.

It was later discovered that he staged the jump to gain publicity. Well, it worked!  Brodie's legend lived on after his death.  

Many films were made which referenced him, including On the Bowery(1933), in which George Raft played Brodie.  

"Brodie"— became a popular slang term as in to "do a Brodie"— meaning take a chance or a  great risk,  the language, meaning to take a great risk.

Now continue walking toward the Brooklyn tower until you reach the point where the cables emerge once again from under the pedestrian walkway.  


(Point F)

Statue of Liberty from the Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge Park

For many years the site of commerce, shipping, an entry point for immigrants, and then a center for artists and activists, there are now signs dotted throughout Brooklyn Bridge Park that provide details of this compelling history.

Currently, the park hosts many free events including music and movies, and is filled with local fauna, concessions including the Brooklyn Ice-Cream Factory, public restrooms, a ferry terminal, as well as some eye-popping views of Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge.

TIP: For a list of locations where you can fantastic views of the New York Skyline, click here.


Brooklyn Heights Promenade

World-famous for its views of the Manhattan skyline, the promenade is the ideal place for doing just that - promenading.

View of Manhattan from Brooklyn Promendade

One of the most romantic spots in the city, it’s been the destination for thousands of dates, anniversaries, and marriage proposals.

The Brooklyn Heights Promenade opened in 1950 and has appeared in countless photos, television shows, and movies, most notably Annie Hall and Moonstruck.  

You could continue your walk with our self-guided Brooklyn Heights tour.


DUMBO Art Galleries

Once a thriving manufacturing and industrial district, economic change sapped the area of its economic strength, leaving large and vacant factory lofts that became attractive to artists starved for decent workspaces, who were also just starving in general.

DUMBO

The name ‘Dumbo’ stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass and was conceived in 1978 by resident artists as a way to make the area sound unattractive to prospective buyers.

It didn’t work, and today the area is awash with technology companies, luxury residences, top eateries, and designer boutiques.

There are also over twenty galleries dotted around the place, with highlights including Farmani Gallery, A.I.R Gallery, Smack Mellon, and the Dumbo Arts Center.


NEARBY ATTRACTIONS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BRIDGE

On the Manhattan side:

You have Lower Manhattan, with a wealth of history to be explored. St. Paul’s Chapel, City Hall, Wall Street, and much more are within walking distance of the Brooklyn Bridge. 

Try one of our free Lower Manhattan walking tours! You can follow up your tour with a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.


On the Brooklyn Side

You can explore the beautiful Brooklyn Bridge Park, stroll along the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, and grab a pizza from either the famous Grimaldi Pizzeria or its equally delicious competition Juliana.

If you want to combine your walk across the bridge with a Brooklyn Tour, check out our Brooklyn Heights Tour or our 3-hour Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Heights, and DUMBO Tour

See our calendar for dates/times of the tours.

There is also an East River Ferry to get back to Manhattan that is the same price as a subway ride and much more pleasant! See our detailed post on the East River Ferry.

Be sure to read our definitive guide "Things to Do in NYC"!


Some FAQs and Fun Facts about the Brooklyn Bridge

  • Look for the large collection of “love locks” near the Manhattan Tower of the bridge.  Couples leave padlocks on the bridge and throw the keys into the river as a show of everlasting love.  Bring a lock and someone you love to the Brooklyn Bridge!  Be warned though, the Department of Transportation has been known to cut the locks off from time to time.
  • On the Brooklyn Tower, there is a plaque dedicated to Emily Warren Roebling.  When all of the men in her family fell victim to the bridge, she stepped up and got the job done!
  • One of the bridge’s anchorages on the Manhattan side is on the site of the former Osgood House.  The house, which was located at 1 Cherry Street, served as the first Presidential Mansion of the United States.  George Washington lived there in 1789 and 1790.

Hotels Near The Brooklyn Bridge

  • Marriott at Brooklyn Bridge - this hotel is located just a block from the Brooklyn entrance to the Bridge as well as several subway lines for easy access to Manhattan. This hotel has an above-average rating on TripAdvisor.

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About The Author

Stephen Pickhardt

Stephen is the CEO of Free Tours by Foot and has overseen the transformation of a local walking tour company into a global tour community and traveler’s advice platform. He has personally led thousands of group tours in the US and Europe, and is an expert in trip planning and sightseeing, with a focus on budget travelers. Stephen has been published and featured in dozens of publications including The Wall Street Journal, BBC, Yahoo, Washington.org, and more.
Updated: January 8th, 2024
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