Walking Across the Brooklyn Bridge: Essential Tips

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge has become one of the top tourist activities for visitors to New York City. However, as with any major tourist attraction, there are tips for a Brooklyn Bridge walk. If you want to look like a local, check out these ten tips to enjoy the trip.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Walking Across the Brooklyn Bridge

1. Do plan to spend at least an hour in each direction, so there’s time to stop and look. The Brooklyn Bridge has a few spots where you can read historic plaques. You can also take a guided walking tour of the Brooklyn Bridge. There are many informative tours that focus on different aspects of the bridge’s history. If you want to impress your friends, have these facts about the Brooklyn Bridge handy.
2. Do bring your street smarts: Go during daylight hours, or any evening when there are lots of other pedestrians. Although there is a strong police presence on the bridge, it isn’t wise to travel across the bridge in the middle of the night or at off times. In the warmer months, the bridge has more pedestrians than in the winter. However, if you find the bridge to be desolate, you should consider walking across it at a time when it’s a bit safer.
3. Do wear comfortable shoes and not high heels. The planks of wood may catch small heels, but it’s also a rather lengthy and often windy walk across the bridge, and you don’t want to focus on your feet but rather the architecture of this historic bridge and the captivating views of Manhattan and Brooklyn as you stroll across.
4. Do realize that it’s a 1.3-mile walk, perhaps longer than you (or your children) expected. If you have kids in tow, you might want to walk across a small portion of the bridge and return to lower Manhattan or Dumbo. If you do brave the 1.3-mile walk, bring snacks and stop to take pictures. Allowing your child to use your phone for their own photos or purchasing a disposable camera might be enough incentive for them to make it across the bridge. Moreover, if you have a stroller, be patient as you weave through the foot traffic.
5. Do take a moment to get a photograph of the Manhattan skyline. This might seem obvious, but be sure to stop and capture the stunning views.
6. Do stay in the pedestrian lane. If you get close to the bike lane, expect cyclists to shout at you to keep out. The cyclists go pretty fast, so it’s best to avoid their path.
7. Do pay attention to all traffic. Watch for cyclists who might be riding in the pedestrian lane and for people stopping to take photos.
8. Don’t expect to find bathrooms, food vendors, or water available on the Brooklyn Bridge. There are no amenities on the bridge, so be prepared.
9. Don’t climb the Brooklyn Bridge. DON’T! This is extremely dangerous and utterly foolish.
10. Don’t walk across the Brooklyn Bridge in inclement weather. The bridge gets very windy, so unless you are prepared for the wind and complete exposure to rain and snow, plan your visit for nice weather.
11. Don’t forget to take pictures. If you have a selfie stick, please be mindful of others while capturing your memories.

Once you cross the bridge into Brooklyn, you will be blocks from the chic shopping in Dumbo. Try to schedule time to explore this once industrial neighborhood that’s home to galleries, trendy restaurants, and cafes, as well as a gorgeous waterfront park.