Brooklyn Bridge: how the walk works and what its towers hide
The Brooklyn Bridge spans the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn. Walking across it is free and open around the clock. We have gathered facts about the bridge and will help you plan your walk without the crowds.
The bridge opened on May 24, 1883, and at the time it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. The main span reaches 486 meters, and the towers rise 84 meters above the water (as of 09/2026, Wikipedia).
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What to know before your walk
💡 In short:
- Entry, hours, and the best time to walk are covered in the route section below.
- Access and hours: 09/2026, verified on the official NYC DOT website; the same source reports about 103,000 cars and 29,000 pedestrians per day.
Plan your route in advance. On the Manhattan side, the entrance starts at City Hall; on the Brooklyn side, you exit at Cadman Plaza. Bring water: in summer, the open deck gets hot.
History: how the bridge was built
© Taken by Jeffrey Bary, uploaded by CPacker · CC BYPhoto: Taken by Jeffrey Bary, uploaded by CPacker, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia CommonsIn the mid-19th century, Brooklyn and Manhattan were connected only by ferry. The cities needed a direct route across the East River that could carry people, wagons, and freight. Engineer John Roebling proposed a suspension bridge design. The idea seemed risky, but the authorities agreed, since no crossing of that scale existed.
Construction began in 1869 and stretched over fourteen years (as of: HISTORY). John Roebling did not live to see the end: he injured his leg at a ferry landing and died of tetanus. His son, Washington Roebling, took over his father's work.
Washington worked in caissons underwater and damaged his health with decompression sickness. He could no longer go to the construction site and directed the work from home. His wife, Emily Roebling, then took over management. She traveled to the site, checked deliveries, and negotiated with contractors.
The bridge was completed in 1883, with Emily Roebling's involvement. The names of all three Roeblings are commemorated on the structure itself. When you walk across the deck, beneath you is a structure that took fourteen years to build.
The bridge opening in 1883
The opening ceremony took place on May 24, 1883. It was attended by US President Chester Arthur and New York Governor Grover Cleveland (as of: The New York Times). On the first day, more than 150,000 people walked across the bridge.
The public received the new structure warily. On May 30, 1883, a rumor spread through the crowd that the bridge was collapsing. A stampede followed, in which twelve people died (as of: Wikipedia). The tragedy undermined public trust in the new structure.
Showman Phineas Barnum helped restore calm. In May 1884, he walked twenty-one elephants across the bridge, including the famous Jumbo (as of: Snopes). The animals crossed safely, and doubts subsided. Today, tens of thousands of people cross the bridge every day, and you can join them any day.
The towers of the Brooklyn Bridge
Two granite towers in the Gothic style hold the main cables. All spans of the bridge converge on them. The tower masonry rises dozens of meters, and at the time of construction they were among the tallest structures in the city.
© SebastianBlumeArt · CC BY-SAPhoto: SebastianBlumeArt, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsHidden in the bridge's foundation is a piece of Cold War history. According to CNN, in 2006 workers found a sealed shelter in an anchorage on the Manhattan side: stockpiles of water, food, and medical supplies, some marked 1957 and 1962. The cache was prepared in case of a nuclear strike.
The towers also attract filmmakers. Scenes for "I Am Legend," "Cloverfield," and "Godzilla" were shot here. If you want to see the towers up close, walk to the middle of the bridge: from there you can see all the masonry.
Secrets and mysteries of the bridge
The bridge also has dark pages. The first person to jump from the bridge was swimming instructor Robert Odlum back in the 19th century. The jump proved fatal for him.
The bridge also has a working side. It remains an active structure and carries cars, pedestrians, and cyclists every day.
How to walk across the bridge: entry and hours
Walking across the bridge is free and open around the clock. The pedestrian walkway runs down the center, above the cars. Since 2021, the bike lane runs on the roadway.
Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
Entry | free |
Hours | around the clock |
Pedestrian walkway | center, above the cars |
Bike lane | on the roadway (since 2021) |
Subway (Manhattan) | Brooklyn Bridge / City Hall |
Subway (Brooklyn) | High Street |
The best time to walk: morning before nine or after sunset. On weekend afternoons, the walkway is crowded, and you move in a dense flow. A one-way walk takes about half an hour, and a full round trip is less than four kilometers.
Tours and tickets in New York
Guided tours, skip-the-line tickets and activities — most offers can be cancelled free of charge.
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Brooklyn Bridge on the map
The bridge is marked on all New York maps. The point on the map below will help you plan your route from your hotel or pier.
⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge?
Walking across is free. You only pay for a tour, bike rental, or transportation to the bridge. The entrance on the Manhattan side starts at City Hall; on the Brooklyn side, at Cadman Plaza.
How long does the walk across the bridge take?
One way takes about half an hour at a leisurely pace. With stops for photos and views, allow an hour. A full round trip combined with a walk along the waterfront will take two to three hours.
When is the best time to go to avoid crowds?
Weekday mornings are noticeably quieter: you can cross the bridge almost without stopping and calmly photograph the towers.
Can you ride a bicycle across the bridge?
Yes, since 2021 there is a separate bike lane on the roadway. Pedestrians are not allowed on it. Traffic is dense and fast, so if you are riding for the first time, choose early morning and stay to the right.
What was found inside the Brooklyn Bridge supports?
In 2006, workers found a sealed Cold War shelter in an anchorage on the Manhattan side, with water, food, and medical supplies. Some of the stockpiles date to 1957 and 1962. Today, access inside is closed, and you can only see the exterior masonry.
In short: what to book
The bottom line is simple: the Brooklyn Bridge is worth walking across at least once. Look at the towers, take your time, and leave room for photos.
- If you have one day in New York: go to the bridge early in the morning, before the crowds.
- If you are with children: take a short loop from Manhattan to the first tower and back.
- If you want context and stories: Brooklyn Bridge tours on GetYourGuide.
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.