The iconic landmark and famous Gothic-style architecture of the historical Brooklyn Bridge connects Manhattan and Brooklyn, the two boroughs of NYC, across the East River. It is the first steel suspension bridge structure in the world and a famous cultural landmark portraying the incredible views of the NYC skyline crossing the water. It’s been filmed in famous movies, portrayed in art collections, and a part of popular poetry and hit songs. The bridge walk is one of the most popular activities and great things to do in New York for first-timers and new visitors.
Locals and travelers would love to explore the bridge using a vehicle or through a walking tour at sunrise or sunset. It’s fun to enjoy the bridge walk while exploring the city skyline and waterfront views from Manhattan to Brooklyn or from Brooklyn to Manhattan. It’s a popular tourist attraction and they can find the best things to do near Brooklyn bridge for fun activities.
In this guide, you will learn how long the Brooklyn bridge is and what are the best ways to walk the bridge. The Brooklyn Bridge has remarkable significance all over the world, and walking across the iconic symbol while getting panoramic views of the NYC skyline is an exciting journey and a worthwhile visit for tourists and travelers.
The Facts about the Iconic Landmark and How Long Is the Brooklyn Bridge Walk
Here are a few facts about the Brooklyn Bridge. It is a historical architecture and steel suspension bridge crossing the East River and connects Brooklyn to Manhattan boroughs of NYC. It was under construction for fourteen years and, at last, completed in 1883 as a Gothic Revival architecture and the world’s largest suspension bridge of that period.
Let’s see how long is the Brooklyn bridge in miles. The Brooklyn bridge is one hundred and twelve miles long, but it takes more distance for a walking tour. If you are a pedestrian and consider how long is the Brooklyn Bridge walk, it will be two kilometers to cross the bridge and probably four kilometers to take a complete round trip across the bridge. Exploring the bridge views and the morning bridge walk are the most stunning things to do in New York.
How to Explore the Brooklyn Bridge and the Best Ways for the Bridge Walks
Walking through the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the coolest things to do in Brooklyn. Locals and visitors enjoy a morning bridge walk at sunrise and an evening walk at sunset to enjoy the incredible scenic views and get Instagram-worthy clicks of the Manhattan skyline.
To enjoy the best walks in Brooklyn, take a stroll at the bridge and explore the neighborhoods of Dumbo and Brooklyn Heights near the bridge on the Brooklyn side. You can also make a round trip and go to the starting way or go to explore the neighborhood of Manhattan after crossing the bridge.
What is the best time for a walk on the Brooklyn Bridge?
There’s no time restriction to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and anyone can stroll anytime. However, a walking tour in the afternoon makes you feel hot and sweaty in summer. In winter, it can be too cold at night if you are going for a stroll at the bridge in the chilling winter season. You must wear winter coats and boots to avoid the freezing breeze on the bridge.
But usually, in all seasons, the best time for a bridge walk is the sunrise in the morning and the sunset in the evening on the Brooklyn Bridge. You can enjoy the unforgettable moments of your life and get stunning clicks at the bridge for the scenic views of sunrise or sunset behind the Manhattan skyline. It’s one of the best free things to do in Brooklyn for tourists and travelers in NYC.
1. Walk through the Brooklyn Bridge at the Sunrise in the Morning
Take a stroll in the early morning and enjoy the bridge walk with a cool and fresh breeze. Enjoy the remarkable scene of sunrise when the NYC skyline gradually enlightened through the sunbeams and spread vibrant colors around there. It’s the most stunning natural scene and memorable moments that are more attractive than a luxurious life in NYC.
2. Walk through the Brooklyn Bridge at the Sunset in the Evening
Walking through the Brooklyn Bridge in the evenings is another incredible activity to enjoy the sunset scene at the Manhattan skyline from the bridge. When the sun goes down behind the skyline and the skyscrapers start to illuminate and portray a scenic view of city landscapes. You can get fascinating clicks of the sunset scene and the Manhattan skyline. However, it's not calm and peaceful like early morning and in the evenings, there is busy traffic, and it may be crowded, but this time you can have more fun and enjoy the incredible scenic views from the bridge.
3. Take a Stroll on the Bridge at Night
Travelers usually like to cross the bridge at night but bridge walk at night is another great experience. The morning walk and evening walk are different, and the night stroll at the Brooklyn Bridge is incredible. The night stroll vibes are exciting and energetic from morning or evening walks. You will feel significant sunbeams and stunning colors in the morning, different scenes and colors in the evening and remarkable sensations at night. It’s one of the most fascinating things to do in Brooklyn at night to take a stroll at the bridge. However, the traffic is not heavier like evenings on the bridge, and you can experience the cool sensations and enjoy the panoramic views of New York City.
What are the Attractions at the Brooklyn Bridge for Visitors
Everyone knows that they can explore the incredible NYC skyline scenic views while crossing the Brooklyn Bridge. It’s the most famous tourist attraction and great things to do in Brooklyn. Did you know the bridge itself has great things to explore, as its Gothic Revival architecture is the historical landmark of NYC?
If you are going from Manhattan, you can walk through the concrete ramp towards the wooden walkway for pedestrians. You can peep down from this height and enjoy the closer looks of the skyline scenic views. However, some people might have trouble with heights, and they may not enjoy the view over there. There is a midway between the two towers of the bridge. It is the point where pedestrians can enjoy the waterfront scenes and iconic skyline views more clearly and get some snapshots.
You can get scenic views of Governor Island, New York Harbor, and the Statue of Lady Liberty from the south of the bridge. The Midtown Manhattan Skyline, Manhattan Bridge, Empire Estate Tower, and Chrysler Tower are on the north side of the bridge.
1. Fun and Exciting Things to Do at the Brooklyn Bridge Public Park
Visitors and locals can rest and relax under the bridge at the lush green public park. Brooklyn Bridge Park is a calm and peaceful spot for picnics, enjoying the fresh breeze and the waterfront scene vistas of the Manhattan skyline, Brooklyn Heights, and the Dumbo. If you have kids and a family, then you must visit the waterfront park under the bridge, as it’s one of the best fun things to do in Brooklyn with kids and family.
It is the most stunning attraction, where you can stay all day, rest and relax in the lavish green waterfront space. The park hosts various seasonal activities, festivals, and cultural events like free movie nights and summer stage musical concerts in the summer season.
Visitors can travel via water taxi or ferry instead of the subway. They can catch a water ferry from the Fulton Ferry point or at the bridge park and enjoy water waves while crossing the East River.
2. Considerations about the Iconic Brooklyn Bridge
- On the first day, when the opening ceremony was held at the bridge, one hundred and fifty thousand pedestrians walked over, and twenty thousand vehicles crossed the bridge. The pedestrians turned back on the walkway to complete the round at the great iconic landmark of New York City.
- The bridge is about 1.3 miles crossing the East River and the pedestrian will walk for twenty minutes on the walkway to cross over the bridge. However, it may be thirty to thirty-five minutes if they walk slowly and stop at the bridge to take snapshots or explore the sightseeing.
- The walkway was divided with a white line towards the center of the path. One side of the line was for pedestrians and the other side was for bike rides. It was dangerous for pedestrians to cross the line because some bike riders encountered the pedestrians at unusual speeds and struck over there. Due to these panic incidents, the biker’s lane was dedicated near the car lane on the bridge, down the pedestrian walkways.
3. Tips for Pedestrians to Walk Over the Brooklyn Bridge
Here are a few tips for pedestrians to enjoy the bridge walk and share your memorable moments with the world;
- Pedestrians who walk over the bridge in summer, on a sunny day, should wear sunscreen lotion or cream with summer hats to protect their face and hands from sunbeams. Summer hats can make a shade on your face, so your face can’t be exposed to the sun rays directly, and sunscreen can save you from sunburn or rashes on your face and hands.
- Visitors should be dressed according to the weather conditions. Whether it’s a cold or hot atmosphere, you will reach a height and be directly exposed to the weather. In winter, you must wear leather or winter boots, gloves, and winter coats. In summer, you can wear light fabric, shorts, and T-shirts to avoid sweaty and humid weather. In the fall season, you can wear jeans and T-shirts or a denim jacket in the evenings. In the spring, you can wear cotton shirts with trousers or skirts with tops, and sneakers are fine for walking over the bridge.
- The visitors can keep a water bottle or any foodstuff in their backpacks or handbags so they can be hydrated during the long walking journey across the bridge. There are no food stalls or water bottles to purchase at the bridge and you must reach down the bridge to buy anything. So, it’s wise to keep your water bottles in your backpacks.
- The bridge walkway is narrow and made of solid wood. It’s durable enough and not hard to walk. But it’s a long walk, and you must wear comfortable sneakers or shoes instead of long heels and hard soles.
4. Bike Rides Over the Brooklyn Bridge
Bike riders can enjoy the bike rides over the Brooklyn Bridge safely as there’s a biker’s dedicated lane like a car lane and pedestrian walkway. However, the walkways are the best spot to explore sightseeing and get stunning clicks from the top of the bridge at the fantastic height. If you are scared of heights, then you might not enjoy the sightseeing from the top of the bridge, and you can use the car lane or the bike lane to cross over the bridge.
To enjoy a bike ride it’s not necessary to purchase a bike, but you can rent a bike near the bridge or also use a Citi Bike for minimum rent. You can buy the pass for multiple bike rides from the Citi Bike Rides. However, you need to be careful that you need to return the bike within the given time, or you will be charged a penalty charge for extra minutes.
5. Precautions for Pedestrians During Walk Over the Brooklyn Bridge
A walking tour on the Brooklyn Bridge is a great fun and free activity for sightseeing in New York City. It’s one of the most interesting things to do in Brooklyn this weekend and a pleasure for locals and tourists to explore the scenic views while walking over the bridge. But they need to be well aware of a few precautions to avoid any worse incidents and inconvenience on the bridge.
- Pedestrians and bikers often make some mistakes and could be charged with penalties. Do not litter at the corners of the bridge, and keep in mind the phrase, “Leave only footprints and take only good memories.” It means to keep respecting the rules and laws for public places and be safe.
- Couples and young people used to hang the padlocks on the bridge fence at the sides of the pavement. It’s illegal, and it can cause damage to the structure of the bridge. You will charge a penalty amount for this action, so avoid these illegal activities on the bridge.
- It’s the most popular tourist attraction all over the world and is always busy with local travelers and tourists. They tend to get stunning clicks and make video shots to share on social media pages. However, they must be careful to arrive early in the morning or late at night for photography.
- If they need to get there in the evenings and busy times, then they must get to a corner or a side to get the clicks. It’s one of the weirdest things to do to go against the law in the city and create a mess in the busy places in NYC. It’s not wise to stand in the middle of the pavement or the bike lanes to get the clicks. It can be dangerous, and you can have an accident or can be charged a penalty for blocking the busy traffic on the bridge.
- It's illegal to write any slang or phrases, add stickers or posters, or create any street art on the bridge walls. No one has the right to leave any other mark on the historical landmark of New York City. However, you can take photos and save unforgettable memories in this iconic architecture of NYC.
7. Fun and Activities Near the Bridge
The locals used to cross the bridge every day, and the tourists and visitors needed some space to enjoy and explore the city. When you reach the bridge, you can find various interesting activities to enjoy with friends and family. Whether you are heading to the Manhattan side or the Brooklyn side, you can find the best things to do with kids near the Brooklyn Bridge.
8. The Famous Pizzeria Front Street Pizza in Dumbo, Brooklyn
Travelers heading to the Brooklyn side down the bridge will reach the Dumbo, the most popular famous neighborhood in Brooklyn. Here, you can find everything you need in NYC if you are hungry and want to have some cheesy pizza slices and drinks. Visit the Front Street Pizzeria, a great spot to have the best pizza in Brooklyn. They also serve taco slices, buffalo chicken slices, and various gluten-free options on the menu. Taste the delicious pizza slices at the Dumbo down the bridge in Brooklyn.
9. Enjoy the Morning Coffee at Usagi in Dumbo, Brooklyn
If you are walking over the bridge in the morning, then go down to the Dumbo and have a freshly brewed coffee with pastry at Usagi Café and Bakery. It’s a Japanese café that serves tasty treats, morning coffee, pastry, and breakfast. It’s one of the best coffee shops in Brooklyn near the Brooklyn bridge on the Brooklyn side.
Conclusion:
Walking over the Brooklyn Bridge is a long journey, but it is not hard to cross over the bridge. Pedestrians and travelers can enjoy the walking tour more than a bike ride or a car ride if they follow the rules and take precautions. The pedestrian pavement is higher than vehicles and bike lanes. So, they can explore the closer looks for sightseeing and get clear photos from the top of the bridge.
