When many visitors think of New York City landmarks, one of the first things that comes to mind is the Brooklyn Bridge. Millions of people walk the Brooklyn Bridge each year, making it one of the most popular locations in the city. What makes the bridge so accessible to pedestrians is an elevated walkway which allows pedestrians to remain safe from traffic and offers incredible views of both Manhattan and Brooklyn.
The bridge’s popularity also means that it can be extremely crowded in good weather and during peak times, such as weekends. If possible, try to visit the Brooklyn Bridge early in the day on weekdays (or late in the evening, as you can admire the city lights from the bridge). Make sure you wear comfortable walking shoes – the pedestrian path over the Brooklyn Bridge is over 1.1 miles long (about 1.8 kilometers).
The pedestrian walkway is fairly narrow, with one side reserved for cyclists. Be careful not to accidentally step in front of a cyclist, as they fly by at a rapid pace!
If you look northward from the bridge, you can catch glimpses of the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building in the distance.
Looking south, there is the city’s financial district and the Southside Seaport. (You may catch a glimpse of the masts of one of the historic ships moored at the South Street Seaport Museum.)
As you walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, you will have a good view of another iconic New York City bridge as well – the Manhattan Bridge.
Some visitors attach locks to the bridge to commemorate their love, but New York City’s Department of Transportation discourages this practice and regularly cuts the locks off the bridge. (The locks can do damage to the bridge, and, if someone drops a lock, it can fall onto the lanes of traffic below.)
How do you get to the Brooklyn Bridge? If coming from Manhattan, there are several subway lines that will bring you close to the entrance to the pedestrian walkway over the bridge. Take the R train to the City Hall station, the 4, 5, or 6 trains to the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall Station, the J, Z, A, or C trains to the Chambers Street stations, or the 2 or 3 trains to Park Place. If starting from the Brooklyn side, take the A or C trains to High Street or the F train to York Street.
Beautiful pics! I’ve lived in NY my whole life and finally walked across the bridge last year..also went up the empire state building which I had never done before. Fun to play tourist once in a while!
Coincidentally Elisa Ruland also did a piece on walking the Brooklyn Bridge this week. I’m including it in my Monday walks. She referred to the area as Dumbo but I can’t remember what the initials stand for. And they say an elephant never forgets! 🙂 🙂
I will have to check out Elisa’s post! The area of Brooklyn known as Dumbo stands for “Down under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass” – the Manhattan Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge are located very close to each other on the Brooklyn side, and visitors walk through Dumbo if they go between the York Street subway station and the Brooklyn Bridge.
Elisa did explain, I think, but I have a sieve for a memory 🙂
Oh, we did so love walking across the bridge day and night. I’m glad that you finally got round to doing it too. Great photos!
Thanks, Marion! I think the weather was a lot warmer on the day that I walked it!
I love crossing the bridge. So touristy but such a pretty walk, the perfect length. It’s amazing how there are still so many locks on the bridge even though they remove them so frequently!
Great pics! Yeah I agree with not having those locks on the bridge. Not only they damage the bridge but the bridge will look kinda ugly when there are too many locks.
One of my favorite bridges! Thanks so much for the follow!!
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