How To Get To Brooklyn Bridge From Staten Island Ferry
If you are thinking about taking the Staten Island Ferry prior to your Brooklyn Bridge experience, you should have no issues combining the two.
The Staten Island Ferry terminal in Manhattan is located right near Battery Park by Whitehall Street . So, you can really refer to the Battery Park directions, which I will include below again:
Manhattan Entrance Directions: you can either take the 4/5 subway line from Bowling Green to Brooklyn Bridge City Hall or you can just walk your way there .
Brooklyn Entrance Directions: take the R train from Whitehall Street to Court Street or the 4/5 train from Bowling Green to Borough Hall.
How To Get To Brooklyn Bridge
Depending on where youre coming from and what end youre at, there are different routes to Brooklyn Bridge.
From the Brooklyn end, take the subway and stop at the following stations, then walk to the bridge:
- Borough Hall Station
- Jay Street or Metrotech Station
- Court Street Station
The Manhattan end is a short walk from Lower Manhattan. You can also take the subway to City Hall, Park Place, or Chamber Street.
Walking The Brooklyn Bridge: Views To Make Your Insta Smile
Along with the history and the vibe that comes with walking the Brooklyn Bridge, its also one of the most photogenic places in New York City.
As a result, no one is unhappy with pictures they take on the Brooklyn Bridge especially after finding the Brooklyn Bridge walking entrance.
IMO, there are five views that stand out as the best views from Brooklyn Bridge. But feel free to explore and find your own as well!
The Brooklyn Bridge itself Looking straight down the middle, this shot is ICONIC. Especially at sunrise or sunset, looking northwest towards Manhattan. Extra kudos if you can get a shot with no one else in it it!
The skyline of Lower Manhattan The New York City skyline is one of the most recognizable skylines in the world. These buildings were designed to be eye-catching, and whether you capture them during the day or at night when theyre all lit up, youll be happy!
The Brooklyn Bridge towers Theyre a New York City landmark for a reason! These towers are part of the citys history, and getting a picture of them with the Stars and Stripes flying high above is just chefs kiss perfect.
Manhattan Bridge Dont get me wrong, the Brooklyn Bridge is great, but Manhattan Bridge is worth looking at too! My favorite place for getting this shot is from the Brooklyn end of Brooklyn Bridge, looking across the Hudson River towards downtown Manhattan.
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What Are The Closest Stations To Brooklyn Bridge Park
The closest stations to Brooklyn Bridge Park are:
Bribery Con Men And Low
Funding wasnt approved for the Brooklyn Bridge design by John Roebling until bribery was involved. William Tweed, also known as Boss Tweed, bribed municipal council members with $65,000 so they could fund the project.
John went on to accumulate building materials. However, a contractor named J. Lloyd Haigh snuck low-quality wires in. Unfortunately, Washington Roebling only discovered the faulty materials after using them for the construction.
Extra security and safety measures were employed to mitigate the problem. The builders used more wires than required to make the bridge stronger.
But things didnt stop there. George C. Parker made money from the bridge. As a con man, he sold Brooklyn Bridge and other properties over and over again to several people until he was caught and arrested.
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Getting To The Bridge In Brooklyn
It’s slightly trickier to access the pedestrian entrances in Brooklyn, but you have two options. Again, use the to locate these entrances.
Tillary Street and Adams Street: Starting here with lengthen your walk, but it’s ideal if you are starting from Downtown Brooklyn, pushing a stroller, or have a disability that prevents you from climbing stairs. Nearby subway stops include:
- 2/3/4/5: Exit at Borough Hall.
- A/C/F: Exit at Jay Street – MetroTech.
- N/R: Exit at Court Street.
Washington Street Stairs: This is my favorite way enter the bridge in Brooklyn, but it’s a little hidden . When you get to the top of the stairs, make sure to watch out for fast-moving bicyclists. Then veer left to stay on the pedestrian side of the path. Nearby subways stops include:
- A/C/F: Exit at High Street – Brooklyn Bridge Station.
- : Exit at Clark Street. Not super close, but definitely walkable.
By the way, if you’re overwhelmed by NYC’s public transportation system, don’t freak out. Download a free transit app!
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.
- You can also use our self-guided tour of the Brooklyn Bridge.
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“.
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Entrance #: Tillary Street & Brooklyn Bridge Blvd
If you are coming from the Downtown Brooklyn / Brooklyn Heights area, then you will most likely want to use the main entrance at the intersection of Tillary Street and Brooklyn Bridge Blvd .
At this intersection you will find the pedestrian pathway starting point in the middle of the street built between the car lanes . You simply need to head across the crosswalks and onto the pathway from here.
If you enter from here, note that the first 10+ minutes of your walk will essentially just be like walking on a sidewalk . The pathway then takes a slight curve, where it meets the second entrance, and the Brooklyn Bridge comes into full view.
How Long Does It Take To Walk Over Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge pedestrian walkway is around 1.1 miles long.
You could walk right over Brooklyn Bridge in 30 minutes if its quiet and you dont stop for photographs. But realistically, plan for at least 1 full hour.
It usually takes us around 1 hour 30 minutes with stops to enjoy the views and take photographs.
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How To Get To Brooklyn Bridge From Battery Park
Battery Park is located right on the southern tip of Manhattan. This makes it pretty close to the Manhattan entrance of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Manhattan Entrance Directions: you can either take the 4/5 subway line from Bowling Green to Brooklyn Bridge City Hall or you can just walk your way there .
Brooklyn Entrance Directions: take the R train from Whitehall Street to Court Street or the 4/5 train from Bowling Green to Borough Hall.
The First Person To Cross
Emily Roebling took the first ride over Brooklyn bridge before its grand opening on May 24, 1883. While riding a carriage, she carried a rooster on her lap to signify victory in completing the construction 14 years after it commenced.
After her, more than 150,000 people crossed in less than 24 hours. Today, an average of 150,000 vehicles, 30,000 pedestrians, and 3,000 cyclists cross the bridge daily.
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Should You Walk From Brooklyn Or Manhattan
So the biggest question everyone asks, is: Should I walk from the Manhattan side or the Brooklyn side? I recommend both. They are very different experiences, so yes, I suggest walking across and then back. You dont have to do both at the same time. You can mix these up if you like and even do them at different times. You can ride the subway from Brooklyn to Manhattan, walk across the bridge into Brooklyn, and vice versa.
If youre feeling ambitious, walking across the Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan early in the day gives you plenty of time to explore and spend time in neighborhoods like Dumbo and Brooklyn Heights. Then you can plan to walk back over the bridge into the city after dark. Walking either direction affords breathtaking views, but coming from Brooklyn into Manhattan at night is quite the thrill! For a unique experience, try this guided bicycle touraround the bridge to learn more about the magnificent structure.
Entrance And Walking Time
Several entrances lead to the Brooklyn Bridge from the Manhattan and the Brooklyn side. One can walk the bridge from any direction but walking from the Brooklyn side to the Manhattan side offers the best views of the New York City Skyline and Manhattan.
The main access to the bridge from the Brooklyn side is from Tillary Street. From the Manhattan side, visitors can access the bridge from Center street near City Hall Park. While accessing the bridge pedestrian walkway from both sides, visitors should be wary of many of the vendors at the entrances. While some are there to sell useful things, others are there to scam unsuspecting tourists. Of course, one can purchase some food if one is hungry but other items that are usually offered by the vendors may lead to a scam.
It takes between 30 minutes and an hour to completely walk the bridge. This is dependent on the pace and activity one engages in. Obviously, one might have to stop occasionally to take pictures. This coupled with the crowd can make the walk a little slower.
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Best Times To Visit Brooklyn Bridge + Tips
Brooklyn Bridge is a very popular tourist attraction and can get very busy during the summer months and school holidays.
Not to be confused with the Manhattan Bridge which is famously photographed from Dumbo.
If you want to avoid the crowds it is best to go early in the day or late in the evening.
It is beautiful to walk over at any time of day but sunrise and sunset are extra special.
One of the most popular ways to see the bridge is via the NYC: 1-Hour Cruise Around Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island.
If youre more of a adrenaline junky then the New York City: Manhattan Helicopter Tour is a huge bucket list tick!
Take something warm to wear as there can sometimes be a chilly wind blowing across the bridge.
There is also no shade on the bridge when its hot, so remember the sunscreen.
You can always walk half-way and then turn back if you feel the walk across and back is too much. You will still get all the incredible views!
How To Get To The Brooklyn Bridge Rom Manhattan
On the Manhattan side, the pedestrian entrance to the bridge is right across the street from City Hall Park, along Centre Street. This is easily within walking distance from the Financial District and Chinatown.
If youre coming via subway, your best options are:
- 4/5/6 Trains to Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall
- J/Z Trains to Chambers Street
- N/R/W Trains to City Hall
- 2/3 Trains to Park Place
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How To Walk The Brooklyn Bridge From Dumbo
Dumbo is essentially where the Brooklyn entrances of the bridge are located. You can spend time enjoying Brooklyn Bridge Park before making your way onto the bridge itself.
Manhattan Entrance Directions: you can take the A/C train from High Street to Fulton Street or do a multi subway option. This option would entail taking the F train from York Street to Delancey/Essex Street and then transferring to the J train and getting off at Chambers Street.
Brooklyn Entrance Directions: if you are coming from Dumbo, odds are you can just walk the 5-10 minutes to either of the Brooklyn Bridge entrances on the Brooklyn side.
Where To Park To Walk The Brooklyn Bridge
There is also the possibility that you will be driving your own car/rental car to get to the Brooklyn Bridge. In that case, you will want get as close as possible to those entrances mentioned above.
The cheapest option will be finding street parking around those particular areas. However, parking can be hard to come by in NYC, especially around the Brooklyn Bridge.
Your next best bet is to simply park your car at a garage. While this will be more expensive, it will be a bit more hassle free as you dont need to search for parking.
Here are a few options in both boroughs:
Manhattan Parking
LAZ Parking: 304 Pearl St, New York, NY 10038Quik Park Nassau LLC: 150 Nassau St, New York, NY 10038Icon Parking: 243 Pearl St, New York, NY 10038
Brooklyn Parking
Icon Parking: 111 Lawrence St, Brooklyn, NY 11201Sands Parking LLC: 66 Sands St, Brooklyn, NY 11201SP+ Parking: 200 Cadman Plaza W, Brooklyn, NY 11201
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The Two Entrances To The Pedestrian Walkway:
From Brooklyn, use the Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Walkway.
This begins at the intersection of Tillary Street and Boerum Place or access the pedestrian walkway via the staircase located in the underpass on Washington Street/Cadman Plaza East and Prospect Street.
From Manhattan, use the entrance at Park Row and Centre Street, across from City Hall Park.
For those short on time, or that prefer everything to be organised for them, there are some awesome tours on Get Your Guide available to book in advance.
Some Of The Sights You’ll See To The North:
- Midtown – Look north in Manhattan and you’re eye will creep up to Midtown … more skyscrapers!
- Brooklyn – On the Brooklyn side of the East River, you’ll be gazing over neighborhoods stretching from DUMBO to Williamsburg.
- Manhattan Bridge – Look north on the East River … the next bridge you’ll see is the Manhattan Bridge. You can walk over this one, too, and it’s much less crowded.
- Williamsburg Bridge – See if you can spot this bridge in the distance … it’s the next one be beyond the Manhattan Bridge. This is another bridge you can walk over.
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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.
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.
Brooklyn Bridge Walk Via Manhattan
Enjoy this 2.4-mile out-and-back trail near New York City, New York. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 47 min to complete. This is a very popular area for running and walking, so you’ll likely encounter other people while exploring. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.
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A Brooklyn Bridge Walking Experience
Now that you have all the necessary background information, lets dive into what a Brooklyn Bridge walking experience is all about. I will go about the walk starting at the Brooklyn Bridge Blvd / Tillary Street entrance as that would be my recommended route here.
After getting off the subway or coming from a nearby spot in Brooklyn, you will first make the walk to the Brooklyn Bridge Blvd / Tillary Street intersection. Once at the intersection, cross the street to the middle divider, where the pedestrian walkway begins.
You will begin the official walk from here as you head northbound on the walkway. For the first portion, you will be on ground level with cars on either side of you, and a portion of the nearby Manhattan bridge in view out in the distance.
The pathway will then soon curve to the left, when you will then begin to see the Brooklyn Bridge itself with the Manhattan skyline right behind it.
From here it is a straight shot right towards the heart of the bridge, as the walkway begins to gain a bit of elevation and the walkway goes above the main street level. The walkway itself will turn from the concrete pavement to the wooden plank walkway as you are now on the official bridge portion of the walk.
Depending where you are on the bridge, you will see that your views will be slightly different. In some spots you will be surrounded by the suspension cables, where in other spots, the walkway may feel a bit more open.