Address
Brooklyn Bridge,
New York, NY 10038,
United States
Support
Phone: 311 (non-emergency services)
Phone: 718-222-9939 (Brooklyn Bridge Park)
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About Brooklyn Bridge
One of the most mesmerizing and well known sights of the New York skyline is the Brooklyn Bridge. Spanning a whopping 1595.5 feet across the East River, the Brooklyn Bridge connects the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. The cable suspension bridge designed by German engineer John Augustus Roebling, is sometimes called the 8th wonder of the world because of the audacity of the engineering involved. Over a 135 years old, the Brooklyn Bridge combines practicality with breathtaking beauty. Used by over 150,000 vehicles and pedestrians every single day, for some it is a means of commuting to work and for the others a scenic route which affords a breath-taking view of Brooklyn, Manhattan and the iconic Statue of Liberty.
Designed in a Neo-Gothic architectural style, the Brooklyn Bridge is the world’s first Steel-Wire Cable Bridge. It remained the world’s longest Bridge for 20 years until the construction of Williamsburg Bridge, with a length of 7,308 feet. Built at a whopping cost of $15 million, with around 600 construction workers, the Bridge stands suspended by 4 steel suspension cables, and 21,000 steel wires of high tensile strength. The towers anchoring the bridge is made of limestone and granite, and held together by cement mortar, and has been one of the greatest man-made structures in the United States.
The Brooklyn Bridge has 6-lanes for cars only. It is free for visitors to walk-by-foot or drive across the Brooklyn Bridge, and it gives a spectacular skyline view of the New York City, during the day and night. There are pedestrian lanes for visitors, and the best time of the day, to visit is during the sunset, for a panoramic view of the city skyline. The Statue of Liberty is also visible from the Brooklyn Bridge, and is safe for commuters to use the Bridge, as the traffic and people, are on the go, up until 11:00pm.
Entrance to the Bridge from Manhattan is at Park Row and Center Street, opposite the City Hall Park and to the East of City Hall. If you want to enter from Brooklyn side, entrance is at Cadman Plaza and at the meeting of Boerum Place and Tillary Street.
The Brooklyn Bridge is wheelchair accessible. Pedestrians can access the Bridge without any ticket. Most tourists, however, prefer taking the guided walking tours which start at $ 35. There are also bicycle lanes which allow you to cruise along the bridge, stopping for breathtaking sights. There are multiple bike rental companies which provide bikes and the services of a guide starting from $ 32. They are located near the entrance to the Bridge on both sides for easy access.
While there are no restaurants on the Bridge, you will find a variety of eateries on either side of the Bridge serving cuisines from around the world. Be sure to carry drinking water as the long walk could leave you drained. How long your walk across Brooklyn Bridge takes is entirely up to you. While one could finish the walk in around 20 minutes, the visuals are so beautiful that you would want to pause at various spots and take in the sights. For information or queries on timings, tickets, map, or others, browse the official website of the City of New York or reach their support via phone.
