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There are hundreds of guides to New York, which give you plenty of tips for navigating the city. They also tell you how to get to an iconic crossing with maybe a special fact but rarely more than that.
I love Brooklyn Bridge! There is something really special about it and I believe deserves its own guide, so here it is.
You can approach the bridge from the Manhattan or Brooklyn side. It’s completely free! The crossing is set up to have cars & cyclists on the lower part and foot traffic suspended above.
To access the footpath on the Manhattan side you have two options: One, start at the beginning which is by City Hall. The closest subway stations are City Hall and Chambers Street. It’s where most tourists access the boardwalk so you will encounter a few stalls selling souvenirs. It is completely legal to buy items here and, in my opinion, they offer some of the best prices in the area.
The second option is a staircase cutting out the first part of the climb if you are coming up from the Seaport District. It’s located under the arches on Park Road.
Warning. This shortcut is extremely dirty and I do not recommend using it late at night! Please be safe when travelling, the slight detour to the City Hall entrance will only take a few extra minutes. I do hear rumours that it is going to get a repaint soon, fingers are crossed!
Moving the cycle lane down is a recent development after the City realised there wasn’t enough space for people and bikes on the suspended part. They got lots of complaints about both parties getting in each other’s way. I spotted some disappointed tourists when they realised they could not cross the iconic wooden slates on their bikes so keep that in mind when planning your itinerary!
To get on the Brooklyn side, you are also presented with two options; the first is steps on Washington Street that leads straight up to the bridge from DUMBO. This is usually how tourists access the walkway so although it’s not clearly marked, follow the people and you should find it! The staircase is well light, shorter and a lot safer than its counterpart on the other side.
The second option is to walk up via Tillary Street which is quite the detour. However, if you are coming from Downtown Brooklyn, this is the option for you. The nearest subway stations are High Street and York Street for the staircase entrance and Court Street, Borough Hall and Jay Street MetroTech for the longer walk.
Being an iconic part of New York and more precisely the skyline, it is never empty!
However, after many tried and failed attempts, I have managed to list the times where you are most likely to get your “I’m alone on Brooklyn Bridge” photo.
The Manhattan bank hosts a number of things to see! The below are all 15 minutes walking distance from the entrance to the bridge.
You won’t be disappointed on the Brooklyn side either. Dumbo with its stunning river views, and the famous carousel is a couple of minutes away from the entrance. The area has plenty of restaurants, galleries, shops and a Time Out Food market. You can even walk along the promenade on the upper or lower level to get some great shots of the bridge with the skyline in the background.
Many tour boats will take you under the bridge with a running commentary of facts. If you have the time and budget, I do recommend this, however, it isn’t the only option.
Both the Manhattan and Brooklyn side have piers meaning you can hop on an NYC ferry! The Manhattan dock is called Pier 11/Wall Street and the Brooklyn side is called Dumbo.
You can either grab a ferry from Dumbo to Manhattan and although you won’t go under, the 7-minute ride will give you some amazing photo opportunities.
If you want to actually go beneath it, then grab any ferry north, all of them have to go under the bridge. You’ll even go under the Manhattan Bridge too!
The easiest way to buy tickets for the ferry is to download their app. Just remember, do not activate the ticket until you can see the boat in case of delays!
Brooklyn isn’t a bridge too far!
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