New York Like a Native
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Brooklyn Bridge plus DUMBO and/or Brooklyn Heights or Lower Manhattan

Brooklyn tour: Brooklyn Heights neighborhood, Middagh Street, 1820s houses19th century charm in Brooklyn Heights
Disclaimer: the Brooklyn Bridge can be very crowded, especially in the busy season (as long as it's not off hours). It may not be "worth it" to have a tour guide with you, especially if you're a large group.

Enjoy stunning views of the Manhattan and Brooklyn skyline; discover the adjacent waterfront neighborhoods in Brooklyn.


Most tours of the Brooklyn Bridge start in Manhattan and end in Brooklyn. I can and do lead such tours, starting at various points in Lower Manhattan (like Wall Street or City Hall Park), then proceeding to DUMBO, Fulton Ferry, and Brooklyn Heights. 

However, as a Brooklyn-centric tour guide, I also recommend doing the opposite: start on the Brooklyn side. After all, starting in Brooklyn means you get a much better, longer look at the Manhattan skyline.

We can start with a good walk through downtown Brooklyn and Brooklyn Heights, the city’s first landmarked neighborhood. Or we can start instead in DUMBO, which is closer to the bridge, and gives us a look at Brooklyn Bridge Park and Fulton Ferry. Or we can do both.

As we walk over the bridge, we get great views of the harbor and a chance to learn the bridge’s complicated, glorious history, the innovations behind it, and the family that oversaw it (and died/suffered during construction). Today, the Brooklyn Bridge remains a marvel and an icon, albeit one that requires ongoing repair.

(Alternative to save time: skip the bridge; take the ferry.)

We can end just over the bridge at City Hall Park, where there are many subway options, or we (or you) can walk around Lower Manhattan, including to Wall Street/Financial District, and ultimately to Ground Zero. 

For those new to Brooklyn, please note this tour focuses only on a small piece of Brooklyn, with the bridge plus part of the Brooklyn Heights & DUMBO tour. For a more extensive introduction, I recommend the Brooklyn 101 tour, with the bridge as an add-on.

Distance from Midtown Manhattan: 20-25 minutes by subway

Basic tour length: 2-2.5 hours (see fees)

Starting place: Varies, possibly Borough Hall, Brooklyn. 
(Or do the route  " backwards" and start in Manhattan)

Ending place: Varies, possibly City Hall, Manhattan. (Or if we start in Manhattan, we end in Brooklyn.)

Reminders: the bridge can be windy and cool/cold; plan ahead for bathrooms/snacks; be careful to stay in your lane; avoid peak hours and crowds

Alternative: Skip the bridge, take the NYC Ferry from Fulton Ferry in Brooklyn to Pier 11 in Lower Manhattan

Highlights: History, architecture, waterfront views, parks

Before tour: Visit the Transit Museum in Brooklyn

After tour: If in Manhattan, near the City Hall subway station.

Potential tour extensions with me: Brooklyn 101, Atlantic Avenue


Why I like leading this tour: The bridge is always majestic, and the two skylines tell stories. Sure, you can walk the bridge on your own, but you'll get more with a guide.
Contact me
New York Like A Native: Energetic, eclectic tours of Brooklyn & beyond. Experienced guide. Personal service.
  • Home
    • Brooklyn 101 tour >
      • Brooklyn 202 tour
  • Brooklyn tours
    • North & west of Prospect Park >
      • Fort Greene & Clinton Hill tour
      • DUMBO, Fulton Ferry, Brooklyn Heights tour
      • Park Slope tour
      • Brooklyn Bridge (and more) tour
      • Atlantic Avenue & Downtown Brooklyn
      • Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens tour
      • Red Hook tour
    • Williamsburg & north Brooklyn >
      • Williamsburg tour
      • Greenpoint tour
      • Bushwick and East Williamsburg tour
    • Central Brooklyn >
      • Bedford-Stuyvesant tour
      • Crown Heights tour
      • (Not Just) Victorian Flatbush tour
      • Green-Wood Cemetery tour
    • Coney Island and southern Brooklyn >
      • Coney Island Webinar, Virtual Tour, & Resources
      • Coney Island (& Brighton Beach) tour
      • Sunset Park tour
      • Bensonhurst tour
      • Bay Ridge tour
    • Jewish, food, and Xmas lights tours >
      • Jewish Neighborhood Tours
      • Food, dessert, ice cream tours
      • Dyker Heights Christmas Lights tour
    • Moving to Brooklyn/layover tours >
      • Moving to/Studying in/Retiring in Brooklyn
      • Airport/Cruise/Layover tours in Brooklyn
    • Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park/Barclays Center
  • Beyond Brooklyn
    • Jackson Heights tour
    • Lower East Side tour
    • Long Island City tour
    • Ridgewood tour
    • Sunnyside & LIC East
  • About your guide
  • Fees/Schedule/FAQ
    • Fees for private tours
    • Schedule
    • FAQ
    • Vehicle and custom tours
    • Tours for classes
    • Resources on Brooklyn
    • How to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge
  • Contact me/Book
  • Blog