Hotels Near The Brooklyn Bridge
- See our list of 25 Best Cheap Hotels in New York City which includes some affordable and nice hotels in downtown Brooklyn within walking distance to the 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.
- TripAdvisor Hotels Near the Brooklyn Bridge – another option is to see TA’s list of hotels within 1 mile of the Brooklyn Bridge. You could filter this list by pricing or rating.
Top 10 Tips For Walking Across The Brooklyn Bridge
TripSavvy / Winifred Lao
Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge has become one of the top tourist activities for visitors to New York City. But as with any major tourist attraction, there are tips for a Brooklyn Bridge walk. If you want to look like a local check out these ten tips to enjoy the trip.
Watch Out For The Bike Lane
Youd think the two lanes on the bridge would be for people walking in either direction. Oh no, one lane is for everyone on foot, and the other is for the bikers. Another reason to get there early? To avoid getting plowed down by bikers who thought biking across one of the busiest pedestrian bridges was a good idea.
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Which Bridge Should You Cross
- If you have the time to walk both bridges, you should. Time it so that you cross the Brooklyn Bridge earlier in the day. It would have been better on a sunny Saturday if Id started with the Brooklyn Bridge and then done the Manhattan Bridge.
- If you dont have the time to do both, and you can choose a less popular time a weekday early morning, for example Id suggest the Brooklyn Bridge. It is prettier and has bigger views.
- If you cant do both and you only have, for example, a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, stay away from the Brooklyn Bridge. Enjoy the relative peace of the Manhattan Bridge and save the other for another time.
- Both of the bridges appear to have wheelchair access. However, Id highly recommend the Manhattan Bridge over the Brooklyn Bridge for wheelchair users. A wheelchair could fit on the Brooklyn Bridge, but even at less busy times youll have people posing for selfies, for example, completely unaware that theyre blocking the path. Then add the bicycles trying to get by, and its a mess. If pedestrians have to step aside for your wheelchair and arent paying attention, they could get hit by the bicycles. Be aware that both bridges pedestrian pathways have a significant slope at either end.
The Brooklyn Bridge
How Much To Walk Across Brooklyn Bridge
HI can someone help.
We have a few hours free tomorroe before we fly back to the UK. We haven’t had chance to do brooklyn bridge yet and was wondering if it was worth fitting it in and how long it takes to get across and back! I also read somewhere about getting tickets? How much is it to walk over? It doesn’t matter either way but just wondering if it’s worth fitting it in?! Thanks
Get the A or C subway to High Street to walk from Brooklyn to Manhattan. Walking across the bridge itself is free, make sure you are in the correct lane and move aside if you want to stop for pictures etc.
From memory it took us about an hour-an hour and a half to do the walk including frequently stopping for pictures
Perhaps take the F Line to York Street station, walk to the excellent Brooklyn Roasting Company shop for coffee on Jay Street, then walk down to the park for the iconic view across to Manhattan. Then make your way to the Bridge and cross back to Manhattan. Enjoy your last day.
If you’re pressed for time, High Street is the closest subway .
The bridge is about a mile across. On the Manhattan side, the 4/5/6/J/Z trains are right at the end of the walkway the R train is just on the other side of City Hall .
I’d say an hour is a pretty safe estimate of the time from High St, an hour and a half from York St . Plus whatever train time you need to get to/from your hotel.
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Walk Across The Brooklyn Bridge
Vehicle friendly : Bicycles can be driven through the central bridge. There are separate divided lanes for bicycles and pedestrians.
Entry fee : It’s completely free for all and is 24/7 open for pedestrians and vehicles.Plenty of benches across the whole pedestrian path to stop & rest.
Planning a Trip? Ask Your Question
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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Begin In Manhattan Before Sunset
If you have time and dont mind walking double the distance, we highly recommend you walk from Manhattan to Brooklyn before and during sunset.
Check sunset times for NYC and start walking across the bridge around 1 hour before sunset time.
For example, sunset is 7.00pm so you begin walking from near City Hall subway station in Manhattan at 6.00pm. That way you can walk past the Lower Manhattan skyline by 6.30pm.
As you continue walking towards Brooklyn, turn around often to see skyscrapers like Empire State Building and Top of the Rock in Midtown backed by stunning colors in the sky. You will be able to see a tiny silhouette in the distance to the left of Manhattan, that is the Statue of Liberty.
Stay on the bridge around two-thirds of the way to Brooklyn as the sun disappears over the horizon or behind Manhattan. Photographers note that stunning pinks and purples often light up the sky in the 30 minutes or so after sunset.
Finish the walk and take the staircase leading down to Washington Street.
Hotels Near The Bridge
If you want stay near the bridge, you’ll find plenty of options. The New York Marriott Brooklyn Bridge is located a couple blocks from Brooklyn’s Tillary Street entrance. In Manhattan, The Beekman is a beautiful, upscale hotel located near the bridge.
On our last NYC trip, we stayed at the Hotel Indigo Lower East Side in Manhattan. While not located right by the bridge, it’s close, reasonably priced, hip, and the neighborhood can’t be beat!
We’ve also stayed at the Hotel Indigo Brooklyn, which is located within walking distance of the Tillary Street entrance to the bridge. If you’ll be spending a lot of time in Brooklyn, this hotel would be an excellent option.
For tons of other choices, make sure to compare and contrast hotels and rates on TripAdvisor … the reviews are so helpful!
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The Best Time To Cross Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge can be visited all year round. As it is one of the most visited attractions in New York, it is often crowded, especially in summer months between May and September.
The most popular time to visit is during sunset and sunrise, but we were walking across the bridge in the afternoon, and there were still quite many tourists and locals.
For the best photo opportunity, head to Brooklyn Bridge during sunset, but we found the views of Manhattan beautiful even during broad daylight. There is something magical about exploring New York after dark, and visiting the bridge in the evening is not a bad idea at all.
The bridge is absolutely safe even after dark because many travelers and locals are still around, but always, as usual, watch out for pickpockets and speeding cyclists.
Walking The Brooklyn Bridge: What To Know Before You Go
Walking the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the best and most popular tourist activities in NYC!
Add it to your bucket list, then check out this Brooklyn Bridge guide … it covers everything you need to know to plan an amazing walk.
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
From world-renowned museums to one-of-a-kind landmarks , there is no shortage of amazing things to do in New York.
Even if you lived in NYC your whole life, you’d be hard pressed to see it all. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun attempting to check all those sights off your bucket list!
And there’s one activity that’s at the top of almost every New York bucket list … walking the Brooklyn Bridge.
Whether you’re visiting the city or you live there, walking across this iconic bridge is one of the best things to do in NYC. It’s fun, free, and the perfect way to enjoy breathtaking skyline and river views!
A view of the Brooklyn Bridge, taken from the Manhattan Bridge .
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Where Do You Enter The Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Walkway begins at the intersection of Tillary Street and Boerum Place and is the entrance one sees from a car when crossing the Brooklyn Bridge. The second way to get onto the walkway is to access it via the underpass on Washington Street, about two blocks from Front Street in Brooklyn.
Need Help Planning Your Visit To New York City
NYC is a vacation planning beast and it can be overwhelming trying to get every aspect right. Trust us, we know!
After living in New York City and exploring non-stop for 3 months, we created a comprehensive NYC travel guidebook & itineraries that will answer every question you have about where to stay, what to do, where to eat and how to get around the city.
We hope this NYC guide inspires you to walk and photograph the world famous Brooklyn Bridge at Night!
Have you been to New York City? Did the Brooklyn Bridge live up to your expectations?
Please let us know if you have any questions or need any help planning your visit.
Happy Travels,
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Tuesday 13th of April 2021
Agreed, one of the best tips and must do – walking the Brooklyn bridge at sunset. I NY, this blog and info on the city!
Wednesday 14th of April 2021
Thank you so much for your kind words Mariana! Walking Brooklyn Bridge at sunset has to be up there with the very best free things to do in NYC.
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Check Out A Fancy Waterfront Restaurant
Where: 1 Water StreetNow is probably not the time to splurge on an expensive meal at one of the fanciest restaurants in New York City but I recommend taking a quick look at this Michelin-starred restaurant tucked under the Brooklyn Bridge.
Famous for its carefully curated wine list, outstanding classic American cuisine, and spectacular city views, The River Café appears again and again on lists of the best special occasion and romantic restaurants. Their white linen tablecloths, live piano music, and strict dress code are even further evidence that this is not a restaurant you can pop into and grab a bite when youre in the middle of a Dumbo walking itinerary.
However, a walk down the cobblestone garden path to get a glimpse of this fancy waterfront restaurant is worth a slight detour, even if youre not dining there. File it away for later when you have a special occasion to celebrate. Prix-fixe three course dinner: $180 per person. Reservations available Wednesday-Sunday from 5:30-10:30 p.m.
How To Get To The Brooklyn Bridge From Brooklyn
Coming from Brooklyn, the entrance can be found at the southern edge of Cadman Plaza, along Tillary Street. Theres not many significant sites nearby, just a collection of government buildings. But theres plenty of street signs to point you in the right direction.
And if youre taking the subway:
- 2/3 Trains to Clark Street or Borough Hall
- A/C Trains to High Street-Brooklyn Bridge
- F Train to York Street
You can also visit with a guided tour. Our bus tour covers the Brooklyn Bridge plus more in Brooklyn as well as sights in Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan. And the best part is that you get to see the real New York with a local!
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Brooklyn Bridge Walking Map
Below is a helpful Google Map, showing all the important points to note in order to take part of a Brooklyn Bridge walk. It includes the two entrances on the Brooklyn side, the two entrances on the Manhattan side, as well as some of the main nearby subway stations to get you to/from there .
You can make the walk across the bridge in either direction, HOWEVER, the recommended way would be to start on the Brooklyn side and walk to Manhattan. This way you get the Manhattan skyline in the background during the duration of the walk.
Remember even if starting in Manhattan, you can still walk to Brooklyn and then turn around and come back the same way you came. This way you get to see the bridge from both directions. There is no wrong way to experience the bridge!
History Of The Brooklyn Bridge
Did you know that Brooklyn and Manhattan were once separate cities? While residents could take a ferry back and forth between the two, it wasnt until a project for building a bridge began that the boroughs would be connected.
The bridge was designed by John Augustus Roebling, but during the process of construction, he suffered an injury and subsequently died. After that, his son took over building the bridge, but there were a lot of other issues that were to arise before it could be used.
Later, Washington Roebling eventually became ill and his wife, Emily had to take over. Workers also developed caisson disease, which is caused when individuals leave a compressed atmosphere to a normal one. Over 100 people died from this disease and other injuries.
Finally, in 1883 on May 24, Emily Warren Roebling was the first person to walk across the bridge to much fanfare. During the opening event, over 150,000 people walked across the bridge including president Chester A. Arthur and the mayor of New York City, Franklin Edson. When there were concerns about whether the bridge would collapse, P.T. Barnum led 21 elephants across in 1884.
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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!
Best Things To Do Near The Brooklyn Bridge
As you can imagine, there are a huge amount of things to do near Brooklyn Bridge. I mean, youre in New York City its not exactly a place where people are bored!
Wanna learn some more? We got museums and monuments. Feel like shopping? Some of the hippest neighborhoods are right around the corner.
Time for a bite to eat? Its dealers choice for cafes and restaurants, baby!
Whichever way you want to spend the rest of your day, New York City is the gift that keeps on giving. The only really difficult decision is which side to explore first!
On the Manhattan side:
Arrive at this end after walking the Brooklyn Bridge, and youll be on the doorstep of Chinatown and Little Italy, which each offer amazing food options guaranteed to have your mouth watering!
If you walk just to the north of these neighborhoods youll enter Soho and will have access to some of the most fashionable stores and boutiques in the world!
For more education and history, head to the western waterfront and youll be in the Tribeca and Financial District, where you can visit the One World Trade Center and the National September 11 Memorial Museum.
Head south on Broadway and you can find the Charging Bull one of New York Citys most iconic statues. Keep going and youll enter The Battery, a park with a sensational view of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty!
On the Brooklyn side:
Grab a latte and enjoy some of the local cafes and eateries and really soak up the vibe !
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Stroll On The Brooklyn Heights Promenade
Where: Montague Street and Pierrepont PlaceTo get to the promenade, youll head away from the waterfront and up, toward the raised pedestrian platform of the Brooklyn Heights Promenade.
You can reach the promenade via a couple of different routes. We walked to Pier 5 in Brooklyn Bridge Park, then made a left and walked up Joralemon Street, a lovely cobblestone street lined with townhomes, creating a quintessential Brooklyn scene. From Joralemon Street, take a left on Hicks Street and then another left on Remsen Street, which takes you to the promenade entrance.
Next to walking the Brooklyn Bridge, a stroll on the Brooklyn Heights Promenade is my favorite thing to do on this walking itinerary. The raised platform makes it so there are views in every directionmy neck actually got tired from swiveling back and forth! Along with the Brooklyn Bridge, East River, and Manhattan skyline, youll see the gorgeous homes and gardens that line the promenade. There are also plenty of benches if you just want to sit and take it all in.
The Brooklyn Heights Promenade is relatively short: its 1,826 feet long , which comes out just 0.4 miles . It ends at Squibb Park, where stairs lead back down to Brooklyn Bridge Park.