The Brooklyn Bridge, walked in the right direction
The Brooklyn Bridge walkway is free, open around the clock and the best value sight in New York. It is also narrow, shared with commuter cyclists and at its worst in the middle of a sunny afternoon.
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An engineered landmark you can walk across
The bridge is a working piece of infrastructure as well as a landmark: pedestrians, cyclists and traffic share it, and the walkway sits above the roadway. That is part of what makes the crossing feel like the city rather than a postcard.
Walk from Manhattan to Brooklyn at sunrise or in the golden hour, then turn around and look back at Lower Manhattan from the Brooklyn side. That view is the payoff, and it is better from Brooklyn Bridge Park than from the bridge itself.
Go before 8am to avoid the crush. The wooden planks are slippery when wet, the bike lane is actively enforced and no vendors are allowed on the walkway. Allow an hour and a half if you want photographs and a stop in DUMBO.
Three reasons to walk it rather than photograph it from the shore
The best free view in the city, a natural link between two halves of a day, and sunrise light.
The best free view in the city
The walk gives you the harbour, the Statue of Liberty in the distance and the Lower Manhattan skyline, all for nothing.
It links two good halves of a day
Start in Lower Manhattan, finish in DUMBO or Brooklyn Heights, and continue into Brooklyn Bridge Park or along the waterfront.
Sunrise is worth the alarm
At first light the walkway is nearly empty and the light on the stone towers is the reason photographers come. It is the calmest hour of the day.
How to walk the bridge
There is no ticket and no booking. The planning is about direction, timing and which side of the walkway you stand on.
- Choose your direction. Manhattan to Brooklyn at sunrise gives the light; Brooklyn to Manhattan in the evening puts the skyline ahead of you.
- Start from Centre Street and Park Row in Manhattan, or Adams Street and Tillary Street in Brooklyn. Both are a short walk from a subway station.
- Stay in the pedestrian lane and keep right. The bike lane is separated, actively enforced and dangerous to wander into.
- Walk to the Brooklyn side and continue into Brooklyn Bridge Park or DUMBO rather than turning straight around.
- Check access before you go. The walkway can be closed for maintenance or events, so check the official site for current access on the day.
A free walk, managed by the parks department
There is no ticket for the Brooklyn Bridge walkway. The official NYC Parks page covers Brooklyn Bridge Park at the Brooklyn end, the waterfront and access information for the bridge area.
Check park accessOfficial NYC Parks site. The bridge walk is free; check for closures before a sunrise start.
What most visitors get wrong
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01
Go before 8am
The walkway is busiest from mid-morning. Before 8am it is quiet enough to stop and look without blocking anyone behind you.
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02
Mind the bike lane
The bike lane is not decorative. Cyclists cross at speed and the lane is enforced, so stay on the pedestrian side even for a photograph.
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03
Do not stop in the middle
The bridge is a thoroughfare. Step to the side for photographs; the views are just as good from the edges and you will not be in the way.
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04
Wet planks are slippery
The wooden deck becomes slick in rain or frost. Wear shoes with grip and take the slopes at each end slowly.
Nearby and worth your time
Brooklyn
DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights and the waterfront parks make the natural continuation.
A Sunday in Brooklyn
A full day from Brooklyn Heights to Prospect Park, starting with the bridge.
Free things to do in NYC
The bridge walk is one of a dozen free sights worth a morning.
Questions people ask
How long does the Brooklyn Bridge walk take?
Thirty to forty minutes each way at an easy pace, and about an hour and a half if you want photographs and a short detour into DUMBO. The full crossing is about 1.3 miles.
Which direction should I walk the bridge?
Manhattan to Brooklyn at sunrise gives the best light, and the view back at Lower Manhattan from the Brooklyn side is the reward. Brooklyn to Manhattan in the evening puts the skyline ahead of you the whole way.
Can you walk the Brooklyn Bridge at night?
The walkway is open around the clock, and a night crossing is one of the best times to see the cables and the skyline. Check the official site for current access and any maintenance closures before a late walk.
Is the Brooklyn Bridge free to walk?
Yes. There is no ticket and no charge for the pedestrian walkway. It is a public bridge and part of the commute for thousands of people each day.
Where do I start the walk?
In Manhattan, the approach is at Centre Street and Park Row near City Hall. In Brooklyn, start at Adams Street or Tillary Street near Cadman Plaza. Both ends are a short walk from a subway station.