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Travel bucket list idea:

Walk or cycle the Brooklyn Bridge

  • New York, United States of America (USA)

Last updated: 07 April, 2024

One of the most unique and beautiful bridges in the world – though surprisingly unsung outside New York. Designed by German immigrant and noted bridge-builder John Roebling and completed in 1883, it charms with elegant arches and artful cables.

With a raised wooden pedestrian and cycleway separated from vehicle traffic, it makes for a scenic stroll to Brooklyn across the East River, while looking back at spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline.

You can cycle across too – make it part of a longer route around Manhattan’s southern tip and along the Hudson River.

While you're there

Grimaldi’s (1 Front Street) is often voted New York’s best pizzeria. Gorgeous whole pizzas to eat in. Boasts ‘no credit cards, no reservations, no slices’. Go off-peak for shorter queues.

Alternatively (or both!), pick up an ice cream from the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory shack right on the waterfront at Old Fulton Street.

Logistics

Price: Free
Minimum age: 0
Age suitable: 4+
When: All year around
Duration: 90 minutes

Getting there & doing it

The bridge pathway begins on Manhattan side at Center Street and Park Row, next to City Hall, New York’s city council building in Lower Manhattan. The walk takes about half an hour; if that’s too much, you can easily get a taxi or water cab back.

Take a rest stop over the bridge by visiting Brooklyn Park, with sublime views of Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty.

When to do it

Late afternoon as the sun is preparing to set and offers gorgeous light – and you can reward yourself with dinner in Brooklyn and a view of the Manhattan skyline by night.

It’s spectacular year-round, unless it’s snowy or raining, but at its best in the spring and autumn when the light is golden. Sunny weekend afternoons mean huge crowds, almost to the point of jostling and clashing with cyclists.

Who to go with: organised tours

6

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

  • New York City

Enjoy an engaging ride from Manhattan to Brooklyn on this guided bike tour. Pedal across the iconic Brooklyn Bridge and explore this famed borough's cultural hubs and exciting neighborhoods, admiring the architecture and learning some history along the way.

Price $67

Min age 4

Rating 4.85 / 5 [120 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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  • New York City

Come explore lower Manhattan on two wheels! Cycle around Manhattan’s southern tip, climb uphill into the City Hall area, then up onto the Brooklyn Bridge itself. This will be a steady climb of about 15 minutes, stopping at the Brooklyn-side tower of the bridge for photos. You’ll be about 160 feet (about 50 meters) up. We have bikes for everyone, including children's bikes, adult bikes for varying heights and eBikes (16+).

Price $60

Min age 1

Rating 4.75 / 5 [92 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Website >
  • New York City

Capture the legendary beauty of NYC’s Brooklyn Bridge and the iconic Manhattan skyline on a 1.5-hour photography tour. Join an expert photographer on a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, ensuring you get the best views and learning basic photography skills — and how to hone what you already know —as you go. Bring your digital camera to shoot stunning Brooklyn Bridge souvenir images. Appropriate for all skill levels.

Price $100

Min age 10

Rating 4.96 / 5 [27 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Website >
  • New York City

Explore the world-famous Brooklyn Bridge on this guided, 2.5-hour walking tour from Manhattan to the trendy DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn. Known as the 8th Wonder of the World, the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest in the United States, connecting the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River. Learn about it’s history, dating back to 1869, from a local guide. Enjoy a leisurely stroll into DUMBO , known for its high-end boutiques, delicious desserts, pizza shops, art galleries, and scenic waterfront views. This tour is approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. Time of the tour can depend on conditions on the bridge and quickly the group moves.

Price $185

Min age 0

Rating 4.95 / 5 [22 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Website >