Brooklyn Bridge

John Roebling, who designed the Brooklyn Bridge, died during its construction – his foot was crushed by a ferry and he died of tetanus in 1869, three years before the main construction began. His son Washington took over and then suffered decompression sickness working in the underwater caissons, leaving him partially paralysed for the rest of the construction period. He directed the final years of work from his apartment window with a telescope while his wife Emily relayed instructions to the engineering team. The bridge opened in 1883. John, Washington, and Emily Roebling are commemorated on a plaque at the Brooklyn tower – the right side to start from if you want to read the dedication before you cross.

The 1,595-foot main span was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it opened. Nearly 30,000 pedestrians and over 5,600 cyclists cross it daily now. The Gothic towers and web of steel cables are still among the most visually coherent structures in New York, and there are engineers who would argue that nothing built since quite matches it for elegance at this scale.

Walking the Bridge

The pedestrian walkway is elevated above the traffic lanes and free to use 24 hours. The crossing takes 20-25 minutes at a moderate pace; most people stop multiple times.

In 2026, the city is adding a new dedicated bike connection along Centre Street at the Manhattan entrance – separate lanes for bikes and pedestrians for the first time – ahead of the World Cup. Cyclists now use a designated bike lane on the lower level alongside traffic rather than the pedestrian upper deck. The pedestrian walkway is clearer for walking as a result.

Start from the Brooklyn side in DUMBO for the most dramatic approach – the bridge rises ahead of you and the Manhattan skyline builds as you walk. The Manhattan entrance is near City Hall on Centre Street and Park Row; the Brooklyn entrances are at Tillary Street/Adams Street (ramp) or Washington Street/Prospect Street (DUMBO stairs).

Morning light is best from the Brooklyn side; afternoon light is better from Manhattan. Sunset from the middle of the bridge, with Lower Manhattan lit and the East River below, remains the standard photograph and still earns the effort.

DUMBO

Directly below the Brooklyn approach: cobblestone streets, the visual framing of both bridges (Brooklyn and Manhattan), converted warehouse galleries and restaurants, and Jane’s Carousel – a 1922 carousel preserved inside a Jean Nouvel glass pavilion on the waterfront.

The most famous photograph in DUMBO is from Washington Street looking toward the Manhattan Bridge arch framing. The overlook from Brooklyn Bridge Park gives the better overall composition of the bridge against the skyline. The cobblestones are genuine Belgian block – impressive aesthetically, unpleasant to cycle on.

Brooklyn Bridge Park

The 85-acre waterfront park runs along Brooklyn’s East River shoreline and is free year-round. Piers have basketball, beach volleyball, picnic lawns, and unobstructed Manhattan views. Cycling is permitted only on the designated Greenway path, not on pier promenades. Summer film screenings on the lawn draw substantial crowds.

Eating Nearby

Juliana’s Pizza on Front Street does coal-fired, hand-tossed pizza that justifies the queue. River Cafe on Water Street serves American cuisine with Manhattan Bridge views since 1977 – expensive and occasion-appropriate. For casual food, the cafes and vendors along Water and Front Streets are more practical.

Where to Stay

1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge on Furman Street puts you directly on the waterfront with bridge views. The Williamsburg area north has a wider range of mid-range hotels and is 20 minutes from the bridge on foot or a short subway ride.