Brooklyn Bridge Bike Tour Preview

Welcome! This tour is intended for riders to go at their own pace. For the best experience, please enable location alerts. We have provided information for each stop along the route. Some of the stops are off of the bike path and we do recommend locking up your bikes before viewing them. This map is color coded, so you can choose your own adventure!

• The stops with black icons comprise the primary tour route. Each stop is a notable location in the Brooklyn Bridge area with a brief history and fun facts!
• The stops with red icons indicate locations from television and movies. See where iconic scenes with some of the biggest stars were filmed.
• The stops with green icons are notable for their beauty and photo appeal. Take a snapshot in this location and share with us on social media!
• The stops with orange icons indicate our top recommendations for food on and near the route.
• The stops with teal icons show where public restrooms are located nearby.

We are so happy you chose to ride with Unlimited Biking and hope you have a wonderful tour! If you have any questions, please call us at 212-749-4444.

Corner of Baxter and Bayard Street

Hall des Lumières is Manhattan’s largest permanent center for custom-designed immersive art experiences that exhibits entirely new, custom-curated experiences every ten to twelve months based on the work of different world-renowned artists and showcasing a diverse range of scholarly and cultural themes that appeal to a wide range of audiences. The immersive digital art center is located within the elaborate former teller hall and vault level of the historic, landmarked Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank at 49 Chambers Street opposite Manhattan’s City Hall Park, which Culturespaces carefully restored over three years ahead of its opening in September 2022. This exciting museum utilizes state-of-the-art technology to bring art to life! With two floors of multi-sensory exhibitions, this is a unique spot for incredible photos.

Enjoy 40% off Hall des Lumières' Flexpass with code BIKING

Nicknamed the Cathedral of Commerce, The Woolworth Building is one of the world’s first skyscrapers. When it was completed in 1913, it featured the world’s fastest elevators and held the title of world’s tallest building for nearly two decades until 1930, when it was overshadowed by 40 Wall Street, and then the Chrysler Building a year later. The building’s architect, Cass Gilbert (who also designed The United States Supreme Courthouse in Washington DC and New York’s Alexander Hamilton Custom House,) was inspired by London’s Westminster Palace and Paris’s Notre Dame.

He employed a Neo-gothic style, using 7,500 tons of terracotta to construct a 30-story base with a 30-story tower, complete with a vaulted lobby, gargoyle and animal carvings, and ornamental embellishments throughout.

Frank Winfield Woolworth (1852 - 1919) was the entrepreneur behind W. Woolworth Company, operating five-and-dime stores. He popularized selling merchandise and materials at low-prices and utilizing display cases in stores. At the time of his death, his corporation owned more than one thousand stores across the United States and he was an incredibly rich man.

The Woolworth Building boasts fifty-five floors and thirty-four elevators. Originally conceived as a building for commercial use, the structure has undergone several renovations. The Woolworth Building has been a National Historic Landmark since 1966, and a New York City designated landmark since 1983. The W. Woolworth Company retained ownership of the building until 1998, when it was sold to the Witkoff Group.

In 2012, the top thirty floors were sold to a developer and converted into residences (including a penthouse apartment listed at $110 million) while the bottom floors remained commercial. Notable tenants over the years include: Columbia Records, Nicola Tesla, the Kellex Corporation (which helped to create the atomic bomb,) Scientific American Magazine, Colt’s Manufacturing Company, Remington Arms, The Marconi Wireless Telegraph Corporation, and the Vera Institute of Justice.

The Woolworth Building has been notably featured in numerous Hollywood productions, including Ugly Betty, Kings and Queens, The Great Gatsby, and Cloverfield.

Joe's is a staple of New York pizza. Step in for a quick slice and enjoy the rest of your tour!

Pace University’s building at 41 Park Row is rife with world-changing history. Before it was built in 1889, this stretch of Park Row was known as Chatham Street, and was home to New York’s tobacco industry, Old Brick Church, the headquarters for Thomas Jefferson’s Democratic Republican Party, and an entertainment district featuring orchestras, theaters, and a boxing arena.

By the 19th century, it devolved into a bazaar-like pawn shop hub, synonymous with overcrowding and rampant poverty. According to Jacob Riis’s How the Other Half Lives, more than 9,000 homeless lived in the area. Adding to the chaos, racial tensions and an anti-immigrant sentiment plagued the neighborhood, culminating in 1863’s Draft Riots.

By the late 19th century, the area thrived as Newspaper Row. A few of the world’s first skyscrapers were built here, headquartering The New York Herald, The New York Tribune, The New York Sun, The New York World, and The New York Times, whose printing press at 41 Park Row was called “The finest commercial building in New York” by The Real Estate Record and Guide when it opened. The first appearance of the word “skyscraper” in a New York Times article referred to this landmark building. At its peak, Newspaper Row printed 250,000 newspaper copies daily.

When The New York Times moved uptown to Long Acre Square (later Times Square) in 1903, 41 Park Row housed 38 other tenants in the newspaper industry, and then by 1951, was purchased by Pace University, who turned its offices into classrooms and the basement into a gymnasium.

Established in 1906, this private university started with a class of thirteen men and women studying accountancy and business under the Pace brothers, Homer St. Clair and Charles Ashford. Originally, the classes were held in the New York Tribune Building (since demolished) and across various YMCAs. The permanent fixtures of the university were bought and erected throughout the early to mid-twentieth century.

Pace University has expanded to include several graduate and undergraduate schools, including the Lubin School of Business, School of Education, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, and the Lienhard School of Nursing, among others. On September 11th, 2001, Pace University (four blocks from Ground Zero) lost four students and more than forty alumni. Pace was utilized as a triage center on September 11th.

Notable alumni include: Dora the Explorer voice actress Kathleen Herles, CBS CEO Joseph Ianniello, entrepreneur Joy Mangano, Olympic fencer Tim Morehouse, TV personality Rachael Ray, and Unlimited Biking tour guide, Chuck Krieger.

South Street Seaport’s role as a center of maritime trade helped New York become the global commercial powerhouse it is today. By the early 1800s, it was the busiest port in the country. By the early 1900s, it was the busiest port in the world.

This designated historic district has been in use since 1625 when the Dutch West India Company founded an outpost and the first pier in the area appeared. With the influx of the first settlers, the area was quickly developed. One of the first and busiest streets in the area was today's Pearl Street, so named for a variety of coastal pearl shells. As a port, the area saw rice and indigo from Charleston, South Carolina’s plantations. England occupied the port from 1776 to 1783, during the American Revolutionary War. In 1784, the trading ship named the Empress of China began importing teas, porcelain, and other goods, marking the beginning of American trade relations with China.

After a large fire in 1835 destroyed approximately 17 blocks of the area, many buildings burned to the ground, but the port was operational again by the 1840s. One of the largest companies in the South Street Seaport was the Fulton Fish Market, opened in 1822, and at its peak in the early 1900s, was responsible for 25% of the seafood sold in America. The Tin Building, opened in 1907, is one of two remaining structures from the market and is officially a landmark.

In 1967, Peter and Norma Stanford founded the South Street Seaport Museum, which continues to operate today, containing over 55,000 historic records. In 2005, the Fulton Fish Market moved to the Bronx, and despite severe damage from Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the Tin Building was raised and relocated in 2018.

Today, the Seaport serves as a tourist attraction, drawing in millions of visitors with its charming cobblestone streets, renovated 19th century sailing ships and mercantile buildings, along with a smattering of boutiques, theaters, restaurants, bars, and art installations. In 2018, ESPN opened a 17,000 square foot radio and television studio at Pier 17, which also hosts outdoor concerts and large-scale events. In 2022, the Tin Building was converted into a high-end food hall, serving up culinary masterpieces by the likes of David Chang and Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

The Seaport is featured in the films: Pickup on South Street (1953), Annie Hall (1977), Working Girl (1988), Godzilla (1998), Gangs of New York (2002), and I Am Legend (2007).

It’s impossible to overstate the importance of the Brooklyn Bridge. One of New York’s most instantly-recognizable landmarks, it’s a true emblem of The Gilded Age, a beloved landmark whose consistent presence in songs, books, poems, paintings, and movies has kept it at the forefront of American iconography throughout the past two centuries. With its majestic Gothic towers and intricate tapestry of steel suspension wires, the bridge is considered one of the three wonders of 19th century engineering, along with London’s Crystal Palace and Paris’s Eiffel Tower.

The bridge’s principal designer, John Roebling, was inspired by large scale engineering feats like the Suez Canal and Intercontinental Railroad. When it opened on May 24, 1883, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. It has a span of 1,595 and a half feet (486.3m) and the deck is 127 feet (38.7 m).

Originally called the East River Bridge or the New York and Brooklyn Bridge, it was officially named the Brooklyn Bridge in 1915. The Brooklyn Bridge is a hybrid cable-stayed/suspension bridge and was the first structure that crossed the East River. It connects Manhattan and Brooklyn, making transportation more accessible than it was previously. The bridge has been maintained over the years through periodic renovations.

Construction of the Bridge was characterized by historical triumphs and plagued by unexpected tragedies. It took about thirteen years and involved an estimated 2,500 workers, with the average being about 260 workers ctive each day. Construction involved building two caissons which were pumped with compressed air as workers dug sediment until the caissons sunk to the bottom of the East River. The work was grueling and many of the men working experienced decompression sickness. In July of 1869, a few months after construction began, John Roebling died from tetanus after his foot was crushed by an arriving ferry at the worksite. He left his 32-year old son, Washington to take over as chief engineer. Washington Roebling himself, experienced paralyzing injuries from decompression sickness, and became bedridden in his Brooklyn Heights apartment. As Roebling could not supervise in person, his wife Emily oversaw the day-to-day operations. She was well-versed in the appropriate mathematics and construction techniques and served as middle person between her husband and the onsite engineers. For eleven years of the project, she functioned as the chief engineer, supervising the construction and managing the project.

Next, the towers were constructed and the cables were set. J. Lloyd Haigh won the contract to provide the crucible steel. As the main cables went up, the footbridge was opened to the public for a brief period of time. In 1878, one of the wires slipped and killed two people while injuring three others. An investigation found that Haigh had used inferior wires in the cables. Only five of the eighty rings or wire met quality standards. As it was too late to replace the cables, 150 extra wires were added to each cable at Haigh’s personal expense.

After a few more delays, the bridge was opened for use in 1883 and thousands of people and several ships attended the opening ceremonies. As Washington Roebling was unable to attend due to his ongoing health issues, Emily Roebling was the first person to officially cross the completed bridge. In 1884, Jumbo the elephant from P.T Barnum’s circus led a parade of 21 elephants across the bridge to promote the circus and demonstrate the bridge’s stability. The Brooklyn Bridge was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964 and a New York City landmark in 1967. As a tourist attraction, couples often inscribe their initials into locks and lock them to the bridge. However, this practice is illegal and can cause the tourists to be fined. The Department of Transportation spends approximately $100,000 a year removing these locks.

In 2021, the Emily Warren Roebling Plaza was dedicated in her honor. This is a public plaza on two acres below the Brooklyn Bridge. Later that year, the Department of Transportation closed off the inner car lane with protective barriers to create a bike path. Cyclists are no longer permitted on the upper pedestrian lane.

Currently, the bridge sees an average of 116,000 vehicles, 30,000 pedestrians, and 3,000 cyclists each day. Many of those who cross it remember its appearance in a multitude of movies, including Enchanted, John Wick, Kate and Leopold, Sex and the City, Sophie’s Choice, and I am Legend.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Restroom

What do John Gotti, El Chapo, The Shoe Bomber, and Donald Trump all have in common? Some of their most infamous trials have been held at The Theodore Roosevelt United States Courthouse.

Originally constructed in 1963 as a 6-story building, the courthouse was too small to accommodate the needs of the court. From 1999 to 2006, the building underwent major renovations, increasing to 15-stories that contain 16 courtrooms and 9 magistrate courtrooms. It was named after Theodore Rosevelt in September of 2008 after then-president George W Bush signed Senator Chuck Schumer’s proposed legislation into law.

Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) was the twenty-sixth president of the United States and a lifelong New Yorker, born on East 20th Street in Manhattan. At age 42, he is still the youngest incoming president in American history. Originally sworn in as Vice President, Roosevelt assumed the presidency after President McKinley was assassinated in 1901. Roosevelt is perhaps best known for his establishment of several new national parks and his preservation work. He also spearheaded construction of the Panama Canal.

The Theodore Roosevelt United States Courthouse is the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. This federal district court has jurisdiction over five counties in New York: Nassau, Suffolk, Kings (Brooklyn), Queens, and Richmond (Staten Island). The court hears civil and criminal litigation on behalf of the United States.

In addition to the courthouse, the name Roosevelt is ubiquitous throughout the five boroughs. FDR Drive and Roosevelt Avenue are major thoroughfares in the city. Roosevelt Island is the largest landmass in the East River. Numerous parks, schools, hotels, and hospitals are named for the former president.

When Cadman Plaza Park was constructed in 1935, its visitors had unobstructed views of both Brooklyn and New York City Halls across the East River. Still scenic these days, it’s a popular spot for dog walkers, sunbathers, soccer games, and anyone seeking a slice of green space amid the hustle and bustle of Downtown Brooklyn.

The Park is located between Brooklyn Heights and Downtown Brooklyn and was named after Reverend Doctor Samuel Parkes Cadman (1864 - 1936). Cadman was a pastor at different Brooklyn Methodist churches. In 1923, he became a pioneer for the radio broadcasting of his sermons, reaching millions of people and becoming the first ‘radio pastor.’ He was outspoken against Hitler, his Nazi regime, and anti-semitism in general. In addition to his condemnation of anti-semitism, he also spoke out against anti-Catholicism, the Ku Klux Klan, and racism. He was a founder of what is today known as the National Conference for Community and Justice. In 1928, he was appointed chairman of the National Committee for Chinese Famine Relief to assist nine million Chinese facing starvation.

A highlight of the park is the Brooklyn War Memorial, sculpted by Charles Keck. It features two figures representing Victory and Family and a memorial wall between them. It was dedicated in 1951 to commemorate World War II.

The inscription on the Brooklyn War Memorial reads: “This memorial is dedicated to the heroic men and women of the borough of Brooklyn who fought for liberty in the second world war 1941–1945 and especially to those who suffered and died may their sacrifice inspire future generations and lead to universal peace”

Cadman Plaza Park also features a memorial to William Jay Gaynor. Designed by Adolph Alexander Weinman and cast in 1926, the bronze bust with a granite base commemorates the 94th Mayor of New York City. William Jay Gaynor (1849-1913) was a great proponent of the New York City Subway system, tax reformer, and was outspoken against unjust police practices.

Gaynor was shot in the throat in 1910 and remains the only New York City mayor to be hit by a bullet in an assassination attempt. The moment of the shot was caught on camera and is considered one of the most highly praised photos in photojournalism history. He recovered, but the bullet remained in his throat until his death three years later of a heart attack.

When The St. George hotel was built in 1885, it was the largest hotel in New York and one of the largest in the world. Created by Union Navy Captain and stockbroker William Tumbridge and designed by architect Emery Roth, the extravagant building featured a grand ballroom, an olympic-sized saltwater pool, and 2,632 guest rooms.

A popular celebrity hangout throughout the years, the hotel has hosted a slew of star-studded guests, including F. Scott Fitzgerald, Truman Capote, Duke Ellington, Tennessee Williams, Katharine Hepburn, Frank Sinatra, and presidents Roosevelt, Truman, and Kennedy. Not only was the grand ballroom prominently featured in The Godfather, it was used as a recording studio for Columbia Records, yielding famous recordings of Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture, Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.

During times of war, particularly World War II and the Korean War, the hotel lodged soldiers and their families before they were deployed. Because of this, many families saw their loved ones for the last time at the Hotel St. George. But when Brooklyn-based army and navy stations closed in the 40s and 50s, these lodges were no longer necessary. Occupancy rates fell in the 1960s and 70s. In 1992, the Hotel St. George received a contract with the New York City government to house homeless individuals struggling with HIV or AIDS, the elderly, disaster victims, and emigres.

On August 26th, 1995 a fire broke out in the hotel in the early hours of the morning. Because of the hotel’s unusual interior structure, firefighters had a difficult time navigating the scene. After approximately three hours and the work of more than 700 firefighters, the fire was under control, but spot fires lasted for many days in the hotel and surrounding area. The fire was started by a man attempting to steal copper piping from the interior of the building. His torch struck combustible material, causing a blaze.

Though the Hotel St. George sustained damage in the large fire, it ultimately survived. Today, the hotel is part of Educational Housing Services, serving as dorms for NYC university students. The building is utilized by students from New York University, Pace University, St. Francis College, and others.

A crucial stop on The Underground Railroad and a prominent hub of anti-slavery activities in the 1850s, Plymouth Church continues to operate these days as a premier center for worship and social activism.

Founded in 1847 and built between 1849-50 with a design by Joseph C. Wells, the historic Plymouth Church has been a National Landmark since 1966. Plymouth was the third Congregationalist Church in Brooklyn, meaning the church practiced autonomous self-governance and preached Protestant beliefs.

Plymouth’s first pastor was the abolitionist leader Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887), whose sister Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote the anti-slavery novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852). Born in Litchfield, Connecticut, Henry Ward Beacher attended Amherst College, then in 1837 began work as a minister in Indianapolis and Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Beginning his pastoral duties at Plymouth in 1847, he was praised for his use of humor and dialectic language in his lectures. Beecher’s lectures emphasized God’s love above all else rather than human sin; he publicly doubted the existence of Hell. He developed an interest in social reform, supporting the abolitionist movement, women’s suffrage, temperance, and he praised Darwin’s work, stating that evolution was not incompatible with scripture.

Though he was always antislavery, his views were initially more moderate than other abolitionists of the time. A personal turning point for Beecher came in October 1848 when he learned of two escaped young female slaves who had been recaptured; their father had been offered the chance to ransom them from captivity, and appealed to Beecher to help raise funds. Beecher held a mock slave auction to raise over two thousand dollars to secure the girls' freedom. On June 1, 1856, he held another mock slave auction seeking enough contributions to purchase the freedom of a young woman named Sarah.

He was outspoken against the Compromise of 1850, which banned slavery in California and Washington D.C. but strengthened the Fugitive Slave Act, which created a process for returning escaped enslaved people to their enslavement. Beecher objected to the last provision in particular, arguing that it was a Christian's duty to feed and shelter escaped slaves. Slavery and liberty were fundamentally incompatible, Beecher argued. Beecher raised money to send aid and weapons to abolitionists in the American South, where he was a much-hated figure. During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln sent Beecher to Europe to advocate for the Union and against slavery.

Beecher was widely believed to be an adulterer, Beecher’s friend Theodore Tilton filed charges for his alleged affair with Theodore’s wife, Elizabeth. The resulting trial was one of the most widely publicized of the century as Beecher was regarded as the most famous preacher in the nation. The trial ended in a hung jury and Tilton’s excommunication from Plymouth Church.

Plymouth Church was a stop on the Underground Railroad, sheltering enslaved people in the tunnel-like basement before they escaped to Canada. Beecher’s most famous mock slave child was for a 9 year old girl called ‘Pinky.’ He passed around the collection plate to his congregation of about 3000 people and raised $900 plus a gold ring. He placed the ring on Pinky’s finger and announced he had wed her to freedom. At seventy-six years old, Pinky - named Mrs. Rose Ward Hunt - returned to Plyouth as a well-educated woman and returned the ring.

In February of 1860, eight months before he was elected president, Abraham Lincoln was paid a $200 fee to give a lecture at Plymouth Church. He attended and participated in church services on February 26th, but because of high demand, his now-famous anti-slavery speech was moved to Cooper Union, where admission cost 25 cents.

Other famous lecturers at Plymouth Church include: Mark Twain, Charles Dickens, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Martin Luther King Jr., and Hillary Clinton. The church displays a 40-pound piece of Plymouth Rock, the landing site of the Mayflower Pilgrims. In its history, Plymouth Church has hosted numerous ministers, notably including Sharon Blackburn who became the Church’s first female minister in 1991.

This is a great out-of-the-way Mediterranean restaurant for a quick bite or a sit-down dinner. Our recommendation is the falafel combo!

Cher won an Oscar for her starring performance in Moonstruck (1987). Her character, Loretta, lives in Brooklyn right by the Brooklyn Heights Promenade.

Public restroom in McLaughlin Park

The Time Out Market is a great place to try various cuisine, but it also serves as a wonderful photo spot. Head up to the roof to get a shot with the Manhattan skyline in the background.

Inside Time Out Market

This location at Washington Street and Water Street is now famous for the beautiful Instagram photo opportunities it affords. However, long before social media, the spot was famous for the Sergio Leone film Once Upon a Time in America (1984). The crime film stars Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Jennifer Connelly.

Boasting unparalleled skyline vistas, Jane’s Carousel is the Crown Jewel of Brooklyn Bridge Park and quite possibly the most scenic carousel in the world. Constructed in 1922 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, the merry-go-round is a classic three row machine with 48 exquisitely carved horses and two chariots that have been attributed to John Zalar and Frank Carretta. For years, the carousel was housed at Idora Park in Youngstown, Ohio until a fire broke out and the merry-go-round was put up for auction.

Real estate developer David Walentas and former Estee Lauder art director Jane Walentis bought the carousel in 1984 for $385,000. The plan was to house the carousel at one of David Walentas’ waterfront developments, but plans were canceled. After renovation, it was renamed Jane’s Carousel and revealed in 2006 to the public. Jane Walentas wanted the structure to have a permanent spot in Brooklyn Bridge Park, so she paid half a million dollars for a Jean Nouvel plexiglass pavilion to house it. It was officially opened at its new home in 2011. In 2012, Jane’s Carousel suffered minor damage due to Hurricane Sandy, but was reopened a few months later.

These days, it continues to be a popular destination for local families and a beloved fixture of the Brooklyn Skyline.

Check out this Italian restaraunt with gorgeous views of the Manhattan skyline and tasty hand-made pasta. This is the perfect stop for an upscale dining experience. Our recommendation is the kale pesto fusilli.

This naturally occuring beach is a gorgeous stop for a photo opportunity. Get a shot in front of the Brooklyn Bridge to round out your tour!

Are you looking for a stunning view of the Statue of Liberty? This park and pier is beautiful in its own right, but this is the best spot in Brooklyn to see the iconic statue.

This gorgeous botanical garden offers a lovely stroll and dozens of opportunities for beautiful photos. Take your time in the road garden or visit the other gardens nearby!

Julia Roberts' character in Eat Pray Love (2010) lives in this adorable carriage house in Cobble Hill.

Though primarily shot in Los Angeles, this show takes place at the fictional Brooklyn NYPD Precinct 99. The exterior shown on the show is actually of the 78th NYPD Precinct.

Spike Lee's iconic 1989 film follows a pizza delivery man named Mookie in his Brooklyn neighborhood. The entirety of the film was shot on Stuyvesant Avenue.

Spider-Man's love interest, MJ, works at Peter Pan Donut and Pastry Shop. Both characters are Brooklyn natives.

Nearing completion in 1909, The Brooklyn Union Standard described the Manhattan Bridge as “of greater capacity than either the Williamsburg or Brooklyn bridges, yet lighter and more artistic.” Featured in movies such as The Dark Knight Rises, Anger Management, Once Upon a Time in America, Ghostbusters, and Eat, Pray, Love, The Manhattan Bridge connects Manhattan’s Chinatown to Downtown Brooklyn, and is known for its architectural embellishments, ornate entrance arch, and colonnade. Whether traversed by bike, foot, car, or the BDNQ subway lines, visitors will notice sweeping views, cool graffiti, and considerably less crowds than its neighboring bridges.

The Manhattan Bridge was built between 1901 and 1909 with a design by Leon Moisseiff and construction by The Phoenix Bridge Company. Moisseiff utilized the innovative deflection method formulated by structural engineer Josef Melan. This new method for suspension bridge construction has served as the model for many record breaking bridges built in the years following.

The bridge was named the Manhattan Bridge in 1902 despite opposition from journalists who believed the name was meaningless. After the Brooklyn and Williamsburg Bridges, the Manhattan Bridge was the third to cross the East River, connecting Brooklyn and Manhattan. Built with 30,000 tons of steel and $22 million, three workers died while constructing the caissons on the Brooklyn side. The bridge’s construction continued, but a loose cable injured two people in 1908. To celebrate the completion of the bridge in 1909, 100 Brooklyn citizens crossed the bridge. The Manhattan Bridge officially opened on the last day of 1909, but a fire shortly after damaged its structure.

Over the years, the Manhattan Bridge has been renovated, repaired, and restored through hundreds of millions of state and city dollars. The Manhattan Bridge features seven vehicle lanes, four subway tracks, a walkway, and a bike path.

TIP: If you stand at the intersection of Water Street and Washington Street in Dumbo Brooklyn, you can take a gorgeous photo of the Manhattan Bridge. If you line the shot up correctly, you will be able to see the Empire State Building in the background between the legs of the bridge.

Hop Lee offers wonderful Cantonese-style food in the center of Chinatown. This is a great spot for solo travelers and large groups who like to share! Our recommendation is the Beef Chow Fun.

Manhattan’s Chinatown is a melting pot of colors, cultures, and traditions. What started as a humble refuge for immigrants fleeing persecution from the West Coast has become the most densely populated Chinese enclave in the western hemisphere. A vibrant blend of old and new, it’s where you’ll find open-air markets, karaoke bars, performance spaces, art galleries, museums, luxury high-rises, 80-year-old restaurants, and trendy boutiques standing side by side. Despite rapid gentrification, 80% of the thousands of businesses that operate in Chinatown continue to serve the local community.

The first Chinese immigrant credited with moving to Chinatown was a Cantonese business man named Ah Ken, who arrived around 1858 and started a cigar shop on Park Row. While many Chinese citizens immigrated to California in the 1850s during the Gold Rush, the individuals who came to New York stayed in boarding houses in present-day Chinatown and formed a monopoly in the cigar trade.

During the Long Depression of the 1870s, Americans were fighting for employment which led to increased racial discrimination against Chinese immigrants. This was particularly true in California, leading many Chinese immigrants to seek out new employment on the East Coast, establishing restaurants and laundries. At the time of the Chinese Exclusion enactment in 1882, there were an estimated 2,000 Chinese residents living in New York. This number increased over the next eighteen years to about 7,200, but only about 140 of those Chinese immigrants were women.

The Chinese Exclusion Act was in effect from 1882 until its repeal in 1943. The act was born of racism and xenophobia as well as economic anxieties, given that the Chinese immigrant population was willing to accept lower wages. In response to the rampant anti-Chinese sentiment, street gangs and associations called ‘tongs’ formed in Chinatown to assist the Chinese population with loans, housing, and protection from harassment. The tongs worked to maintain control of their separate spheres, leading to organized crime and gang warfare.

After the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 permitted more Asian immigration, Chinatown expanded with Canonese-speaking immigrants from Hong Kong and Guangdong, China. The 1970s and 80s were a difficult time for Chinese immigrant women who were often garment workers and walked in pairs or groups to protect each other. Though crime was a city-wide concern during the mid to late-twentieth century, it steadily declined in Chinatown as well as in other areas of New York. Today, the crime rate is lower in Chinatown than in the city as a whole.

By the 90s, Chinese immigrants moved to or settled in areas outside of Manhattan, including Chinatowns in Queens, Long Island, Brooklyn, and New Jersey. Today, the New York metropolitan area’s Chinese community has an estimated population close to 900,000 - making it the highest concentration of Chinese people outside of Asia. Over the last two decades, the Chinese and Chinese American populations have decreased in Manhattan’s Chinatown due to business decline from the September 11th attacks in 2001 and gentrification. Landlords and real estate developers who want to build new structures and increase rent have worked to evict long term residents from the area.

Despite a dramatic uptick of racism during the Covid-19 pandemic, the area is still thriving as America’s most emblematic Chinese community. Some of the best restaurants in Chinatown include: Shanghai 21, Wo Hop, Mei Lai Wah, and Bo Ky. Films that take place in or feature Chinatown include: King of New York (1990), Devil’s Advocate (1997), Gangs of New York (2002), Saving Face (2004), and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014).

This Italian restaurant in the heart of Little Italy is a great spot for upscale dining at reasonable prices. Our recommendation is the Pollo al Marsala.

NYC's oldest deli was made famous in When Harry Met Sally (1989). The Jewish deli, which calls itself 'no-frills' lives up to the hype! This is the perfect spot for a casual lunch or breakfast, but keep in mind they get quite busy! Our recommendation is their famous pastrami sandwich.

This surf and turf restaurant is the perfect spot for couples and friends looking to have a fine dining experience. We recommend the Garlic and Marrow Crusted Filet and the Spicy Tuna Sushi Roll.

The iconic Charging Bull statue in the Financial District has long been associated with Wall Street becoming a symbol for the highs and lows of the financial system while receiving praise and criticism. Snap a photo with the famous bull.

This iconic Episcopal church is an exciting and imposing structure for your Instagram feed. Visit Alexander Hamilton's final resting place and pay your respects.

Inside the Oculus

Snap a photo with the tallest building in New York City! For an additional cost, you can head up to the observation deck for a truly breathtaking picture.

Right next to Hester Street playground

This historic building serves as Ghostbuster HQ in Ghostbusters (1984), Ghostbusters II (1989), and Ghostbusters (2019)

This pink dream of a building was specially created for photo enthusiasts. The ice cream-themed museum encourages you to make art out of your social media posts.

Like most shows, Friends was primarily shot on a sound stage. However, you can see the exterior of the building made famous by Monica, Phoebe, Rachel, Chandler, and Joey. Ross briefly lived in a building nearby.

Visit the exterior of Carrie Bradshaw's Manhattan apartment. The sex columnist has some of her most exciting, heartbreaking, and hilarious times in this apartment.

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