Discover New York from the Manhattan Bridge
For stunning views of New York, head to the Manhattan Bridge. Join us on this walking tour!
What’s the best view of New York?
- For sweeping views over New York, cross the Brooklyn Bridge. Walk it in the morning heading from Brooklyn toward Manhattan, with the sun behind you and perfect light on the skyline. If you love this view—and you will—you’ll also want to see the Manhattan Bridge.
- From the Manhattan Bridge, you can see the Brooklyn Bridge in the foreground and the Financial District skyline beyond. The view rivals what you’d see from a helicopter, since the bridge deck sits slightly higher than the Brooklyn Bridge’s.
- One thing to know: the pedestrian walkway runs at the same level as the subway tracks, so the bridge is much noisier than the Brooklyn Bridge, and you can only photograph from one side. Protective barriers line the walkway, but they won’t stop you from getting your camera lens through the mesh. You’ll get stunning shots either way.
When should you walk these bridges?
- Like the Brooklyn Bridge, walk the Manhattan Bridge in the morning. You can start from Chinatown and cross toward Manhattan, then continue over the Brooklyn Bridge down to City Hall. This creates a natural loop.
- The full route is just over 5 km (3.1 mi), and Google estimates about 1 hour of walking time. Add photo stops and time to take in the skyline, and you’ll easily spend a full morning here.
- Here’s a map to help you navigate:
