Arrive On The Water Or Underground
The NYC Ferry helps you get to the Brooklyn Bridge, especially on a sunny day. The South Brooklyn route, which goes from Wall Street in Manhattan to DUMBO and beyond in Brooklyn, is convenient for visitors wanting to walk the bridge from the Brooklyn side. The East River route departs from East 34th Street in Manhattan and goes down the Brooklyn side of the river with several stops. For both routes, the closest stop for access to the bridge on the Brooklyn side is DUMBO. Tickets cost $2.75 as of summer 2017 and are available at machines at each landing, via the NYC Ferry app and on board.
The subway is the easiest, fastest and cheapest way to get around New York. Grab a map and a MetroCard, and you can zoom underneath the citys notorious traffic. MetroCards are available to purchase at kiosks at most subway stations. Options include pay-per-ride at $2.75 each as well as unlimited rides for a seven- or 30-day period. There’s a $1 fee for the card itself.
How To Walk The Brooklyn Bridge From Manhattan And Brooklyn
Since 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge has been one of NYCs most popular landmarks. Spanning across the East River, the opening of the bridge revolutionized travel between boroughs and turned the Brooklyn waterfront into the citys next place-to-be.
All these years later, you cant leave New York without having walked across. Understandably, this can be intimidating for some people. Because you cant just go halfway and turn around. No, in this New Yorkers opinion, you havent walked the bridge until youve gone fully from end to end.
In this post, Ill tell you all about what its like to cross the Brooklyn Bridge by foot how to get there, what to expect and what you should know before going.
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!
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 so that you can enjoy your walk!
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 there are many tourists and commuters using the bridge until about 11 pm at night.
In fact, walking the Brooklyn Bridge at night is one of the top free things to do at night in NYC.
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Walking From Brooklyn Side
If you are going to walk across the bridge from the Brooklyn side, then its possible that you arrived at the destination using a subway.
Notice that you can use google maps to get you to the right place where you will start the walk.
Remember, the Brooklyn pedestrian walk and bicycle lane start from Hillary and Adams Street.
Reaching this pedestrian walkway can be easy, but the intersection is surprisingly bustling, and you will always have construction going on at every time.
Will you use the subway?
When youre going to Broadway through the Brooklyn side, you will have to use the subway. The secret is, therefore, to know the subway to use.
N, R goes to court street station.
A, C of will connect you to Jay Street.
2/3 or 4/5 will mostly get you to the borough hall station.
The easiest way to go about it is to check the Brooklyn bridge map for ideas on how to reach the pedestrian walk.
Where To Enter The Bridge
You will notice that it has pedestrian stars for you to go across the bridge. To find it go through Washington street, prospect street, northeast of the Cadman Plaza.
If you, however, went in through Adams Street, then you will go in quickly.
If you are coming from Manhattan Street, you should cross the center street, close to the Brooklyn bridge.
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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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Walking Across The Manhattan Bridge
Before even entering the bridges pedestrian path, I stopped briefly at the Mahayana Temple Buddhist Association, a moment of peace in the frenzy of Lower Manhattan. Youll find it on the left as you face the bridge, before the big Bridge Arch and Colonnade that spans the entrance to the bridge.
Inside the Mahayana Buddhist temple
Walking across the Manhattan Bridge was a pleasant experience on a Saturday morning, except when subway trains passed. The video below gives you an idea of how loud they are. What it cant show is that the whole structure shakes when they pass.
It made me a bit nervous at first, but I got used to it.When a subway car was not passing, the noise subsided considerably to the usualdull roar of New York City and the whoosh of the cars zipping by to my left andon the upper roadway.
I had the path practically to myself, only encountering an occasional jogger or walker, as you can see in the last frames of the video. This bridge seems to be off the tourist radar.
a view into Chinatown
The first part of the bridge is sloped upwards, of course, and rises above the city streets of Chinatown. It gives an unusual view, so that architectural elements youd normally have trouble seeing are much nearer by.
Notice the sculptural details above and between the top windows.The southern tip of Manhattan, with part of the Brooklyn Bridge visible in front. The tallest building is One World Trade Center.
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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.
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.
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Biking The Brooklyn Bridge
Another great option for crossing the Brooklyn Bridge is by bike. Just be aware that sadly as of September 2021, cyclists have now been relegated to their own lane on the lower deck and the views arent as good.
I say sadly simply because if you are cycling it is now significantly more difficult though not impossible to stop and admire the view, let alone snap a few photos.
On the other hand, its definitely a better system for everyone as tourists had a tendency to absentmindedly wander in front of an oncoming cyclist while admiring the bridge.
And if youre visiting the city and dont own your own bike, you can easily rent one from CitiBike, or take a bike tour to get the most out of your crossing.
Trust me, CitiBike is easy to use as you can rent a bike for the day and pick up or drop off at one of their hundreds docking stations around the city including many not far from the Brooklyn Bridge.
Its also pretty cheap too since CitiBike day passes start at $15.00 per day or $3.99 per ride.
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.
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How Long Does It Take To Cross The Brooklyn Bridge
Well, technically speaking the average person can walk a mile in 15-20 minutes. But thats assuming you arent stopped by pedestrian traffic, and dont want to take your time and enjoy the views or take lots of milady self-indulgent selfies!
Realistically, youre more likely to spend about an hour crossing the bridge. Although, depending on how many times you stop or how many photos you want to take, you could definitely spend up to 90 minutes or even 2 hours! if youre super into primo photo ops.
So You May Ask Whats All The Hype About This Bridge Anyhow
Spanning the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge was the worlds first steel-wire suspension bridge. It was called a daring act of engineering by The New York Times in 1983, 100 years after it was finally completed
More than 150,000 people and 1,800 vehicles crossed the Brooklyn Bridge on the day it opened. At that time, the bridge was the only land passage between Brooklyn and Manhattan. Today, tens of thousands of people, vehicles, and bikes travel over the bridge every single day.
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One World Trade Center
Towering over the Woolworth Building is New York City’s largest skyscraper.
Standing at 1,776 ft. , it is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.
The height was chosen to honor the year of American Independence , 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.
Budget Central Park West Hostel
Located in New York Citys Upper West Side, this hostel is a block from the 86th street underground station and 2 blocks from Central Park. It offers Wi-Fi and staff-organized events.
A shared kitchen, café area, and spacious lounge with a flat-screen TV are part of the facilities at the FIT Hotel. Lockers are also provided in the dormitory rooms and luggage storage is available.
The front desk of this New York City hostel is open 24 hours a day. It features daily housekeeping and free linens.
Times Square is only 10 minutes via underground journey.
For more places to stay in New York, you can check the latest prices on Booking.com.
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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 Adams Street .
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
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
What Not To To Do When Crossing The Bridge
As I mentioned in the beginning, walking the Brooklyn Bridge can be really fun, yet it can also be super annoying.
Here are a few things to avoid doing that will make the walk more pleasant for everyone … including yourself!
- Do not place padlocks on the bridge. There’s a trend to hang padlocks on bridges these days , but it’s just a bad idea. First of all, it’s illegal, and you could be fined. That may be unlikely to happen, but padlocks can also cause structural damage , they create extra maintenance costs for already strained city budgets, and they can be dangerous to traffic below.
- Do not litter. Have you ever heard that saying “Take only memories, leave only footprints”?
- Do not deface the bridge. This includes adding stickers, writing your initials, or adding any other graffiti to the bridge. There’s no reason to leave your mark on this historic bridge … take a photo instead.
- Do not block traffic while taking photos. Be mindful of what’s going on around you, and get over so people can walk around you. Want to get that amazing photo in the middle of the bridge? Go early OR have lots of patience and wait until there’s an opening with no one coming in either direction.
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To The South Of The Bridge You’ll See:
- Lower Manhattan – If you’re facing south, lower Manhattan will be to your right. It’s hard to miss with all its towering skycrapers, including the distinctive Woolworth Building and One World Trade Center.
- Brooklyn – Facing South on the bridge, look to the left for sweeping views from Brooklyn Heights to Red Hook.
- East River – You’re standing over it, and you’ll have views of the river looking both north and south.
- Governors Island – Do you spot an island where the East River meets the New York harbor? That’s Governors Island, a decommissioned military base that’s now an awesome park.
- Staten Island / New Jersey – Behind Governors Island, you’ll see Staten Island and New Jersey in the distance.
- The Statue of Liberty – She may be tiny, but she’s there! Look for her below the tip of Manhattan.
Directions For Walking Across The Brooklyn Bridge
The first thing to decide is, which direction do you want to travel? Manhattan to Brooklyn, or Brooklyn to Manhattan? I guess it depends on what you want to do afterwards!
While both will give you great views of the city, it is generally understood that starting in Brooklyn and heading towards the Manhattan skyline will give you a better overall view.
But, either way, the best way to get to Brooklyn Bridge is to take the subway.
If youre coming from the Brooklyn side, your nearest subway station is High St Station, where the A and C trains stop.
Make sure to take the High St exit in order to end up in the right place! From there, head into Cadman Plaza Park in front of you, follow the path around to the left towards the underpass on Washington St and take the stairs up onto the bridge.
On the Manhattan side, take the 4, 5 or 6 train to the Brooklyn Bridge City Hall stop, or the J or Z train to the Chambers St stop.
Once there, the entrance to Brooklyn Bridge is very easy to find: its directly opposite City Hall Park, and the bridge itself is visible in the distance.
For a longer walk, you can also take the Brooklyn Bridge Walkway, which starts either in Brooklyn at the junction of Tillary St and Brooklyn Bridge Blvd or at the Living Memorial Grove on Park Way in Manhattan.
Bear in mind that this is a significantly longer route, especially if you start in Brooklyn because youll be walking for almost a half mile before you get to the actual bridge!
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