Going for a Brooklyn Bridge Walk is a must-do for anyone who is visiting New York. An icon of the city, the Brooklyn Bridge connects Lower Manhattan to Brooklyn and is a great experience for tourists and native New Yorkers alike.
On the Brooklyn Bridge walk, you can not only take in the sights of the city but also get to experience a piece of everyday New York life.
Brooklyn Bridge Walk: Get to Know The History of the Bridge
To start off, let’s get a bit of an appreciation of what makes the Brooklyn Bridge so special and why it is so close to the hearts of any New Yorkers.
Before there was the Brooklyn Bridge, the main way to get across from Manhattan to Brooklyn was by taking a ferry.
That was the case until John A. Roebling came along and decided that he could engineer something to span the East River. He decided to do this using steel cables and create a suspension bridge. This was new technology at that time.
Construction began in 1869 but unfortunately, John Roebling didn’t manage to see through the completion of the project. When he died, the mantle of building the bridge fell on to his son, Washington Roebling.
However, Washington fell ill as a result of the construction of the bridge, getting the bends and resulting in him being confined to his Brooklyn apartment. The task of constructing the bridge then fell on to Washington’s wife, Emily, who finally did complete the bridge.
The Brooklyn Bridge was completed in 1883, opening in May of that year. It was the longest suspension bridge in the world at that time.
Today, the bridge has six lanes of traffic and you will find packed with cars and vehicles busily making their way between Manhattan and New York.
Pedestrians have their own walkway on the Brooklyn Bridge, elevated above the drum of traffic below.
How Long is the Brooklyn Bridge Walk?
The length of the Brooklyn Bridge walk is just slightly more than a mile long. It measures 6,016 feet or 1,834 meters.
The East River is shorter than Brooklyn Bridge. That’s because there are sections of the bridge that span over land on both side.
How Long does it Take to Cross the Brooklyn Bridge on Foot?
If you are planning just to walk briskly over the Brooklyn Bridge, you can reasonably expect to do it in around half-an-hour.
However, if you plan to stop to take pictures of the sights from the bridge, you may well end up spending up to an hour on the bridge. So, the trip will very much also depend on how often you stop to admire the view. Our advice to give yourself ample time so that you can completely enjoy the experience.
Here’s a tip. It can get pretty windy, especially in the middle of the bridge. So be prepared and dress appropriately for the weather and season.
How to Get to the Brooklyn Bridge Walk
The Brooklyn Bridge can either be accessed from the Manhattan side or from the Brooklyn side.
There is a dedicated pedestrian zone that allows those who are doing the Brooklyn Bridge walk to be placed above the constant traffic below. You can follow along the footsteps of countless others who have also walked across the Brooklyn Bridge.
The walkway is split into two lanes – one for those who are walking from Manhattan and another for those who are walking from Brooklyn.
There is also a separate bike lane and cyclists are not supposed to be permitted to ride on the pedestrian walkway.
From the Manhattan Side
If you are approaching it from the Manhattan side, the entrance for those walking to the bridge is along Centre Street, across from the northeast corner of City Hill Park.
The closest subway stations to this approach to the Brooklyn Bridge are
- 4, 5, or 6 trains to Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall station
- J or Z train to Chambers Street station
- N, R or W trains at City Hall
- 2 or 3 trains to Park Place
When you reach the Brooklyn side of the Brooklyn Bridge, you will be in trendy DUMBO neighborhood which is worth checking out. You can also pay a visit to the Brooklyn Bridge Park for some wonderful pictures of Lower Manhattan.
From the Brooklyn Side
For those who planning to cross the bridge starting off from Brooklyn, there are two entrances to the Brooklyn Bridge.
The junction of Tillary Street and Boerum Place is where you will find one of the access points to the bridge. This is the main entrance on the Brooklyn side of the bridge.
The second access point is via the underpass on Washington Street. This is around two blocks from Front Street. You can take a set of stairs that will connect directly to the walkway of the bridge.
If you are taking a subway to the Brooklyn side of the Brooklyn Bridge, take the:
- A or C subway to the High Street-Brooklyn Bridge Station and then, from the station, take a right on Pearl Street, then take a left on Prospect Street to the underpass entrance on Washington Street.
- 2 or 3 trains to Clark Street or Borough Hall Station
- F train to York Street
Return Journey
While you can walk back across the Brooklyn Bridge or take the the subway back to where you started from, one of the best ways to get back from Brooklyn to Manhattan or Manhattan to Brooklyn is by NYC Ferry.
Take the NYC Ferry from Fulton Ferry landing on Lower Manhattan back to Brooklyn Bridge Park, and vice versa.
From Manhattan, you can take the ferry from here back to Brooklyn.
From the Brooklyn side, you can find the ferry here.
Here’s a little tip. While you will enjoy the Brooklyn Bridge walk starting from either the Manhattan or Brooklyn side, if you are only planning to walk one way, start from the Brooklyn Bridge side for some stunning views of the Manhattan as you make your way across the bridge.
When to Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge
Taking a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge is a very popular experience and you will find huge crowds at most times of the day. The throngs of crowds throughout the day can make it difficult if you want to take that perfect picture to capture the moment.
Personally, our favorite time to take a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge is early in the morning. There are fewer people on the bridge. This means that you get to enjoy the experience without the crowds.
If you really want to beat the crowds come before 7 am in the morning or after sundown. You will usually have the views to yourself then.
The Brooklyn Bridge is open 24 hours a day and so it is up to you if you can make it for that early call. If you do, you will be rewarded for making the effort.
What to Do after Walking the Brooklyn Bridge
Manhattan Side
When you get off the bridge on the Manhattan side, you will find yourself at New York’s City Hall and City Hall Park in Lower Manhattan.
From here, it is a couple of blocks north to reach Chinatown where you can try out the various cuisines and dishes like dim sum or even do some shopping in Chinatown.
If you head towards the Financial District, there is the the iconic Charging Bull at Bowling Green, or make your way over to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, or pay a visit to the Freedom Tower.
Brooklyn Side
When you arrive off the Brooklyn Bridge into Brooklyn, you will find yourself in hip and trendy DUMBO, which is a great neighborhood to explore.
There are shopping and dining places. One of which the Time Out Market food hall. This is an upscale dining destination that is situated in a 19th century warehouse near Brooklyn Bridge.
You can also head over to Brooklyn Bridge Park, known for its fantastic views of Lower Manhattan and the restored Jane’s Carousel.
Or head over to Washington Street, one of the most popular photo spots in New York City, where you can capture a photo of yourself framed by buildings with the Manhattan Bridge and the Empire State Building in the background.
What You can See from the Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge provides a great spot to take in the views of Lower Manhattan and Governors Island from above the East River.
Some of the sights that you should keep a look out for include the One World Trade Center, Statue of Liberty, South Street Seaport and Empire State Building.
There are observation points under the support towers where you will find brass panorama histories of the waterfront.
Experience the Brooklyn Bridge on Foot
By taking a leisurely walk across the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, you will have an experience that merges historical significance with breathtaking urban panoramas.
It is fair to say that as you walk along the bridge’s majestic expanse, you’ll find yourself enveloped in a tangible sense of history, as this marvel of engineering has connected the two major boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn.
The bridge is a wonderful spot for you to take in unparalleled stunning views of both the Brooklyn and Manhattan skylines. The Brooklyn Bridge walk also offers a chance to take a break from the city’s hustle and to soak in the architectural sights and beauty of New York City.
A Brooklyn Bridge walk is not just a mere stroll; it’s an experience that will be one of the highlights of your time in New York City.
