With poems, movies, and songs written about and around it, Brooklyn Bridge has been one immortal and longstanding icon of the city of New York. Famed as the world’s first steel suspension bridge and also the world’s longest suspension bridge, the 1883-built Brooklyn Bridge stands tall at almost 1596 ft (486.5 m). The neo-Gothic architecture of the bridge bears the weight of the disasters which occurred during construction, but the bridge endured all to become a city emblem. Today, walking across the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the must-do things in New York City. It offers stunning views of the East River, the waterfront, and Manhattan. If you are visiting anytime soon here is a comprehensive guide to Brooklyn Bridge.
Things to do / highlights
Traversing the Brooklyn Bridge will take about an hour or more because you need time to stop for pictures and for simply admiring the gorgeous views from the bridge.
Catch the sunset
While views from the Brooklyn Bridge are great at all times of the day, it’s the sunrises and sunsets that are particularly gorgeous. During sunset, you can catch the last light fall on Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Statue of Liberty, and then watch the nightlife come alive!
Take a night walk
The Brooklyn Bridge is extremely safe to walk across at night as well. There are tons of tourists about as it is. Also, locals and commuters going back home from work use the bridge till around 11 pm (23:00) in the night. In fact, there are even night tours of the Brooklyn Bridge, and you’ll see groups of travellers milling around - so don’t worry!
Capture the vista
Both sides of the skyline are fantastically unique, so it entirely depends on which skyline you’d rather approach and click pictures of. On the Manhattan side, its the canyons and towers of Lower Manhattan that you’ll see. On the Brooklyn side, you’ll see the green-lined waterfront of Dumbo. No matter which way you cross, make sure you keep peeking upwards to snap fantastic pictures of the spiderwebbed cables in front of the arches.
Take self-guided tours
There are many companies offering self-guided tours of the Brooklyn Bridge, most of which begin on the Manhattan side at City Hall Park and end on the Brooklyn side. So, if you love walking around by yourself, indulge in a GPS-enabled self-guided audio tour of the Brooklyn Bridge walking along the pedestrian pathway on the right. The tour will take you an hour minimum, as you stop for pictures and view the gorgeous vistas from the Bridge.
What to eat
In Manhattan
Cowgirl Sea-Horse
Nestled in a corner almost directly under the Brooklyn Bridge, the fish-and-kitsch hangout is a great place to dig into some choice seafood and is great for a party and a date as well. Wednesday nights are trivia nights with USD 1 oysters. Some of the best options for bar food here include guacamole and sour cream, nachos with black beans, baby back ribs, and blackened fish tacos.
In Brooklyn
Front Street Pizza
Pizza in New York is a given, and a pizza slice is a must after crossing the Brooklyn Bridge. Front Street Pizza, a five-minute walk from the bridge, serves what is perhaps the best pizza this side of Brooklyn. This favourite locals hangout serves pizza by the slice, straight from a delectable-smelling wood-fired oven. Yum!
Travellers tips
Wear sensible shoes
Walking the Brooklyn Bridge requires walking-friendly shoes. Since the bridge is always crowded, the bridge-top benches are almost always never empty. So, there’s a chance you won’t get to sit down anywhere.
Stay in your walking lane
Pedestrians and cyclists share the elevated promenade, only a painted white line separates the two designated lanes. So, you need to be careful while walking on the bridge.
Keep plenty of time for walking
While it takes around half an hour to cross the bridge in a brisk walk, you need plenty of time to stop for views and pictures. Keep around an hour for the same.
Be prepared for the weather
The bridge is extra windy, rainy, cold, and hot in different seasons. Dress in extra layers during windy, cold, and wet days and bring an umbrella or a hat as well as water on sunny days.
Carry food and water
There are no provisions for food and water on the bridge, so make sure to carry your own. There aren’t any restrooms either, so plan your breaks accordingly.
How to get there
To enjoy the pleasure of The Brooklyn Bridge, you need to come walking to the area. It can be walked from both, the Manhattan side and the Brooklyn side.
From Manhattan
On the Manhattan side, the Brooklyn Bridge Promenade can be gotten to via 4, 5, and 6 lines near the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall subway station after crossing Centre Street.
From Brooklyn
On the Brooklyn side, the pedestrian stairs lie at Prospect Street and Washington Street at the northeastern corner of Cadman Plaza. One can enter the bridge by just walking straight onto it from Adams Street.
Brooklyn Bridge information
Brooklyn Bridge
Address: Tillary St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Official Website: Brooklyn Bridge
Department of Tourism: New York
NYC: Brooklyn Bridge and Dumbo District Walking Tour
Duration: 2.5 hour
History
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