Viewing (and Walking) Brooklyn Bridge, and More in Brooklyn and Manhattan
 Looking toward Brooklyn
Note: the Brooklyn Bridge can be very crowded, especially in the busy season (as long as it's not off hours). If you only want to walk the bridge, here's my guidance on how to walk the bridge on your own.
Enjoy stunning views of the Manhattan and Brooklyn skyline; discover the adjacent waterfront neighborhoods; see the bridge in its many facets; Most tours of the Brooklyn Bridge focus on walking over the bridge. I can offer offering something different. Sure, we can and will walk over the bridge, ideally during non-prime hours. But I've concluded that too few people truly appreciate the views of the bridge, both from Brooklyn and Manhattan, given its status as a marvel and an icon. Part of that is because the best views in Manhattan, at least, are a good, and semi-complicated, walk from the bridge's starting point. Appreciating the views The complication, though, is not that big a deal. Whether we start or end in Manhattan or Brooklyn, there are fantastic views of the bridge from the adjoining neighborhoods. Even the more prosaic Manhattan Bridge looks better. Moreover, I can bring books, with photos and art works that show how much this icon has inspired artists and photographers. 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). For those new to Brooklyn, please note this tour focuses only on a small piece of Brooklyn. We can easily add a piece of the Brooklyn Heights & DUMBO tour. For a more extensive introduction, I recommend the Brooklyn 101 tour, with the bridge as an add-on. 
1883. Currier and Ives, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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 The Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridge at dawn, from Manhattan
Distance from Midtown Manhattan: 15-25 minutes by subway, depending on whether we start in Brooklyn or Manhattan.
Cost: see fees here Basic tour length: 2-2.5 hours (see fees) Starting place: Varies, depending on whether we start in Brooklyn or 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 for bathrooms/snacks; be careful to stay in your lane; avoid peak hours and crowds Highlights: History, architecture, waterfront views, parks Potential tour extensions with me: More of Lower Manhattan, more of DUMBO & Brooklyn Heights, 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, especially since we'll see the bridge from multiple angles. I'm grateful that I was asked to lead a tour at dawn in 2024, which forced me to get up early and take photos like the one above. |