Brooklyn Bridge Tours

The Brooklyn Bridge opened in 1883 as the first steel-wire suspension bridge in the world, and for two decades it was the longest, its twin neo-Gothic granite towers rising higher than almost anything on the skyline around them. Today its raised promenade is a free public walkway, open every hour of every day, carrying tens of thousands of walkers and cyclists between Lower Manhattan and DUMBO. Whether you want the Roebling story told in person on a guided walk or simply the best way to cross it on your own, here is what to know before you go.

History

Designed by John A. Roebling and completed by his son Washington and daughter-in-law Emily after John’s death and Washington’s caisson illness, the bridge took thirteen years to build and cost more than twenty lives. It opened on 24 May 1883; days later a crush on the promenade killed twelve, and in 1884 P. T. Barnum led 21 elephants across to prove it sound. Our history of the Brooklyn Bridge tells the full story.

Planning your visit

Walking across is free and takes about 30 to 45 minutes one way; most guided tours run two to three hours with time in DUMBO. Start on the Manhattan side near City Hall and finish among the food halls and lawns of Brooklyn Bridge Park. Our visiting guide covers hours, subways, the bike lane and accessibility.

Facts & figures

The main span runs 1,595.5 feet, the towers stand about 276 feet tall, and the four main cables were each spun in place from thousands of steel wires. For the record it once held and the best things nearby, see our facts and figures and things to do around the bridge.