Your trip to New York won’t be complete without a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. The bridge connects two of New York’s most well-known Boroughs—Manhattan and Brooklyn. No matter when you visit, you will be impressed by the gorgeous views of New York. The bridge is just a little over a mile long, so it is a great way to take a break from public transportation and explore the city by foot. The bridge offers a designated pedestrian walkway and the best part is that it’s free.
Starting your walk
First, you have to decide if you want to walk from Brooklyn to Manhattan or Manhattan to Brooklyn. Both ways are nice, but the view of the Manhattan Skyline when you walk from Brooklyn to Manhattan is one of the best panoramas you can get of the Manhattan, so I would recommend this way. You can access the bridge twenty-four hours a day; however, when you walk during the day you can see views far into the distance, which aren’t visible at night. During the summer season, I would recommend crossing the bridge in the early evening to avoid the afternoon sun. If you decide to go during the day in the summer, then make sure you bring plenty of water.
Viewing the Manhattan skyline
If you choose to walk from Brooklyn to Manhattan, you will see amazing views of the Manhattan skyline. In my opinion, it is one of the best views you can get of the city. From a distance, you will easily be able to pinpoint the famous skyscrapers of Manhattan, such as the Chrysler and Empire State buildings. Anytime of day the view is spectacular, but if you have the chance, I would recommend walking the bridge close to sunset. You will be able to take fantastic photos at that time.
Seeing other views along the way
As you walk across the bridge, you will also see more than just the Manhattan Skyline. Along the way, you can also see the Statue of Liberty in the distance, which is why I would recommend taking your walk during the day. You can also see other areas of New York City as well, such as the Financial Center. The East River flows underneath the bridge, which offers a beautiful backdrop for photos.
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Admire the architecture
The Brooklyn Bridge has been in use since 1883. The bridge is composed of steel cables and granite towers and is truly a beautiful architectural design. As you stroll, you should look up to admire the architecture of the bridge. Without a doubt, the bridge is one of the most well-known landmarks of New York City. It is also an ideal location for a film set. It has been featured in numerous Hollywood films before such as Enchanted, Sex and the City, and Spider-Man.
New York Tour Guide
Annie Leguennec
My name is Annie. I am a local Tour guide based in Philadelphia enjoying fully what the city has to offer with its deep history, street arts, murals, architecture, traditional food, black history, Farmer Markets, green space, a melting pot of neighborhoods and its great locals. I am looking for to welcome you and show you this incredible city where you will gain a better understanding of the city's rich heritage and its continuing legacy as the birthplace of the United States of America. Book my tour. Explore and learn about this unique city where you will walk on the footsteps of our America's founding Fathers. My tours are conducted in English, French and Italian.
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How and when to access the Brooklyn Bridge
The earlier you go to the bridge, the lesser people there will be. If you’d like to take photos of the bridge with less people around, then you should definitely go during the early morning hours. Any time of year is a good time to visit, but do bring a jacket with you. The winds can get a bit chilly in the area because you aren’t barricaded by the tall skyscrapers like you are in Manhattan or Brooklyn. To get to the bridge, you can of course take a taxi and tell them to drop you at the pedestrian entrance for the Brooklyn Bridge. But, for those of you interested in public transportation, you can enter from Manhattan or Brooklyn. To cover the entire walk (from either direction), you should allocate at least two hours of time so you can fully enjoy it and take as many pictures as you would like.
From Manhattan: The closest stop to get to the Brooklyn Bridge is called Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall. You can access this station from the subway 4,5,6, J, or Z. You can then access the bridge from across the subway station.
From Brooklyn: You can take the A or C subway to High Street/Brooklyn Bridge stop. Exit towards High Street. Once you are outside you must walk about 400 meters (¼ a mile), but there are plenty of signs that guide you in the right direction.
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