As the Hudson, East, and Harlem Rivers carve their way through the urban jungle of New York City, the myriad bridges arching over these waterways are impossible to ignore. With over 700 bridges, New York City is a veritable atlas of architectural marvels, each with its own story and unique design. Embarking on a tour of the city’s iconic bridges offers a picturesque journey through New York’s rich history and stunning engineering feats. This guide highlights five must-see bridges that are quintessential to the New York experience.
You can see two of these icon New York Bridges from our most popular NYC city cruise!
Good to know: Since January 2025, NYC’s congestion pricing program adds a variable toll for most vehicles driving into Manhattan below 60th Street — this includes the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, Queensboro Bridge, and all three tunnels below. Rates are adjusted periodically, so check the MTA’s current toll page before you drive.
Table of Contents
George Washington Bridge
Location: Connects Manhattan to Fort Lee, New Jersey across the Hudson River.
History: Opened in 1931, this double-decked suspension bridge was once the longest in the world. It’s famous for its massive steel towers and intricate suspension cables.
Length: main span ~3,500 ft, total ~4,760 ft
Best Viewing Spot: Fort Washington Park provides a stunning southern view.
Visibility on BCT Tour: Not visible.
Walkability: Yes, pedestrians can enjoy walking across the bridge’s upper level.
Fun Fact: The bridge lights up with over 150 lights, making it a breathtaking sight at night.
Brooklyn Bridge
Location: Connects Manhattan to Brooklyn across the East River.
History: Completed in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. It was a groundbreaking feat of engineering at its time and has become an iconic New York landmark.
Length: main span 1,595.5 ft, total 6,016 ft
Best Viewing Spot: Brooklyn Bridge Park offers the best views and photo opportunities.
Visibility on BCT Tour: Yes, it’s a prominent feature.
Walkability: Yes, it features a wide pedestrian walkway above the vehicle lanes.
Fun Fact: The bridge’s construction took 14 years and it was initially known as the New York and Brooklyn Bridge.
Want to see it from the water instead? Our Freedom Liberty Tour passes right by the Brooklyn Bridge for a completely different vantage point.
Manhattan Bridge
Location: Runs parallel to the Brooklyn Bridge, connecting Lower Manhattan with Downtown Brooklyn.
History: Opened in 1909, this suspension bridge was designed to alleviate traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge, featuring four vehicle lanes, four subway tracks, a pedestrian walkway, and a bike path.
Length: main span 1,480 ft, total 6,855 ft
Best Viewing Spot: The best views are from the DUMBO neighborhood in Brooklyn.
Visibility on BCT Tour: Yes, where you get an exclusive view of crossing under this iconic structure.
Walkability: Yes, there is a separate pedestrian pathway and a bike lane.
Fun Fact: It’s the only bridge of the three major East River bridges that carries vehicles, subway cars, bikers, and pedestrians.
Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge
Location: Connects the boroughs of Brooklyn and Staten Island at the Narrows.
History: When it opened in 1964, it was the world’s longest suspension bridge. It’s named after the Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano.
Length: main span 4,260 ft, total 13,700 ft
Best Viewing Spot: Shore Road Park in Brooklyn provides excellent views.
Visibility on BCT Tour: Not visible.
Walkability: No, it’s not open to pedestrians.
Fun Fact: The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge is so large that its towers are 1 5/8 inches farther apart at their tops than at their bases, due to the curvature of the Earth.
Queensboro Bridge
Location: Connects the Upper East Side of Manhattan to Long Island City in Queens.
History: Opened in 1909, this cantilever bridge is also known as the 59th Street Bridge.
Length: main span 3,725 ft, total 7,449 ft
Best Viewing Spot: The bridge provides stunning views from Roosevelt Island.
Visibility on BCT Tour: Not visible.
Walkability: Yes, it includes a separate pedestrian lane.
Fun Fact: The bridge is featured in the Simon and Garfunkel song, “The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy).”
Bonus: New York Tunnels
Lincoln Tunnel
Location: Connects Midtown Manhattan to Weehawken, New Jersey.
Construction: Opened in 1937, built under the Hudson River to relieve traffic congestion on the bridges.
Details: It runs approximately 1.5 miles with a water depth overhead reaching about 97 feet.
Length: 8,216 feet.
Toll: Yes, tolls are collected entering New York.
Holland Tunnel
Location: Links Lower Manhattan to Jersey City, New Jersey.
Construction: Completed in 1927, it was the first mechanically ventilated underwater tunnel.
Details: The tunnel runs about 1.6 miles with the lowest point about 93 feet below sea level.
Length: 8,558 feet.
Toll: Yes, tolls are collected entering New York.
Hugh L. Carey Tunnel
Location: Connects Lower Manhattan to Red Hook, Brooklyn.
Construction: Opened in 1950, originally known as the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel.
Details: It is North America’s longest continuous underwater vehicular tunnel.
Length: 9,117 feet.
Toll: Yes, tolls are collected entering Manhattan.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bridges are in New York City?
New York City has more than 700 bridges maintained by the Department of Transportation, connecting its five boroughs across the Hudson, East, and Harlem Rivers. This guide covers five of the most iconic: the George Washington Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, and Queensboro Bridge.
Which NYC bridges can you walk across?
Of the bridges in this guide, the George Washington Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, and Queensboro Bridge all have pedestrian walkways open to the public. The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge is the exception. It’s open to vehicles only and does not allow pedestrians.
What is the oldest bridge in New York City?
Among the bridges featured in this guide, the Brooklyn Bridge is the oldest, completed in 1883, and it remains one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. New York City’s oldest bridge overall is the High Bridge, an 1848 aqueduct bridge in upper Manhattan.
Can you see NYC bridges from a boat tour?
Yes. Big City Tourism’s Freedom Liberty Tour passes directly by the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge, offering a water-level view of both. The George Washington Bridge, Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, and Queensboro Bridge are not visible from the cruise route.
