Last Updated on November 27, 2023 by Natalia
Discover the best views of the Manhattan Bridge, an iconic landmark in New York City. There are great viewpoints of the bridge both in Brooklyn and Manhattan, each offering a unique perspective of this amazing structure. Any Manhattan Bridge view is impressive thanks to the brilliant architecture, and it’s even possible to get views of the Brooklyn Bridge at the same time! From bustling flea markets to waterfront parks, this guide covers the best Manhattan Bridge views from Brooklyn and Manhattan.
Hoping to see more of New York’s iconic bridges? Check out our guide to the best views of the Brooklyn Bridge!
Best views of the Manhattan Bridge
Dumbo Manhattan Bridge View
In the heart of Brooklyn lies the Dumbo neighbourhood, which is home to perhaps the most iconic Manhattan Bridge view. The waterfront side of Washington Street offers an amazing view of one of the bridge’s suspension towers, perfectly framed by the street’s buildings.
It’s a view of Manhattan Bridge unlike any other, and seeing a section of the bridge towering above you at the end of the street is a spectacular sight. In fact the neighbourhood takes its name from its location below the bridge, with DUMBO standing for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass.
The Dumbo viewpoint can get quite busy with tourists trying to get the perfect photo, and it’s something of an Instagram hotspot. If you want to avoid the crowds it’s best to visit in the early morning, as it’s then possible to get photos of the Manhattan Bridge without lots of other tourists in.
The easiest way to get to the famous Dumbo viewpoint is to take the subway – either the F train to York Street or an A or C train to High Street station. Both subway stations are less than a 10-minute walk to the viewpoint, with York Street being the closer of the two.
Find out everything you need to know before your visit with our guide to the Dumbo Manhattan Bridge view!
Pier 35
Situated on the Manhattan side of the East River, Pier 35 offers one of the best views of the Manhattan Bridge. From this spot you can admire the grandeur of the bridge in its entirety, as it stretches impressively across the river, connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn.
At its closest point, Pier 35 is situated just 250 metres from Manhattan Bridge, giving you a close-up view of this remarkable bridge. The pier’s waterfront location provides an unobstructed view of the Manhattan Bridge, and as you look past it you can enjoy views of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Lower Manhattan skyline.
A unique feature of Pier 35 is a set of swinging benches, and these swings are the perfect place to sit whilst enjoying the view. It’s a relaxing place to swing back and forth, and it’s hard to beat the breathtaking views of both the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, along with the city skyline.
On our visit the pier was relatively quiet and we didn’t have to wait long for one of the swings to become available, but as there are only a few benches you may need to wait a little while. If you visit in the early morning then it should be fairly quiet, and if you’re lucky you may even have this amazing view all to yourself!
Access to this wonderful Manhattan Bridge view is convenient thanks to the nearby East Broadway subway station. Simply take the F train to East Broadway station, from which it’s just a 5-10 minute walk to Pier 35.
This great spot is popular with both locals and tourists, and with such an incredible view of the Manhattan Bridge it’s easy to see why. It’s the perfect place to spend some time relaxing whilst soaking up one of the best views in New York City.
Domino Park
Situated in Brooklyn’s vibrant Williamsburg neighbourhood, the waterfront Domino Park offers a unique perspective of New York City’s famous bridges. While the primary view is of the nearby Williamsburg Bridge, in the distance you can also see both the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges.
Being able to see these three famous bridges in one sweeping glance is an opportunity not to be missed. Of course if you are looking for an up close view of either the Manhattan Bridge or Brooklyn Bridge, then this isn’t the spot for you – but the view of all three bridges together is special.
Wander along the park’s waterfront promenade, and enjoy views of the bridges and Manhattan itself as you walk. Even from afar, the Manhattan Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge are impressive to see – and you get a different perspective of Manhattan from here.
The park itself is a pleasant place to discover, and is home to green spaces, a water feature, several sports courts, and more. Besides the park you can also see the Domino Sugar Refinery – an impressive industrial building that was once the largest sugar refinery in the world.
If you’re coming by subway you will want to head to either Marcy Avenue station or Bedford Avenue station, both of which are around a 15-20 minute walk from Domino Park.
Brooklyn Flea Market
The Brooklyn Flea Market, located in the Dumbo Archway under Manhattan Bridge, offers an up-close view of the Brooklyn side of the bridge. Although the flea market is only open on weekends, the archway is accessible at any time if you want a different perspective of the bridge.
From either side of the archway, the view of the Manhattan Bridge is completely different to further away viewpoints. Being so close you can fully appreciate the architecture and size of the bridge from within its shadow.
On the weekends the archway hosts a vibrant flea market, where you can browse a range of unique goods including vintage clothes, records, jewellery, and more! The unique location of the market makes it a worthwhile spot to visit, as you can get a Manhattan Bridge view like no other.
To reach this viewpoint take the F train to York Street station, which is just a 5-minute walk away from the Dumbo Archway. Conveniently this Manhattan Bridge viewpoint is located just a couple of minutes walk from the famous Dumbo viewpoint featured earlier on our list – so it’s easy to visit both spots in one trip!
Click here to find out more about the Brooklyn Flea Market!
Housesitting
Housesitting in Brooklyn or New York offers a unique opportunity to get exclusive views of the Manhattan Bridge. Many local apartment buildings have rooftop areas with views of this iconic bridge, but of course these areas are restricted to residents only.
Fortunately, if you are able to housesit in Brooklyn or New York then you may have the chance to stay in one of these buildings and get exclusive views that normally only residents can enjoy. Housesitting means taking care of a homeowner’s pets, normally cats or dogs, in exchange for staying in their home free of charge.
It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement that helps reduce accommodation costs, which is extremely useful in expensive cities like New York. Of course you do need a bit of luck to stay in an apartment or building with a Manhattan Bridge view – but they do come up from time to time!
The best website to use for housesitting is Trusted Housesitters, with housesits available across the USA and worldwide. There is a small annual membership fee, but after this there are no additional charges and you can apply for any housesit you want!
Membership starts from as little as $129 USD per year, which in many cases is less than a single night’s accommodation in New York. This fee gives you the chance to get an authentic experience living in Brooklyn or New York, and if you’re lucky you may even get Manhattan Bridge views from your housesit.
Even if housesitting doesn’t work out for your trip to New York, it’s definitely a great way to save money on future travels whilst enabling you to live like a local and hang out with cute pets! Click here to find out more on the Trusted Housesitters website!
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