{"id":13615,"date":"2013-08-19T08:21:21","date_gmt":"2013-08-19T12:21:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/?p=13615"},"modified":"2013-08-19T08:27:18","modified_gmt":"2013-08-19T12:27:18","slug":"top-5-bridges-new-york","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/2013\/08\/19\/top-5-bridges-new-york\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 5 Bridges in New York City"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>One of the best ways to first see the magnificent skyline of Manhattan is from the window of a yellow taxicab as it crosses the Brooklyn Bridge. It\u2019s remarkable to see how many bridges connect the island of Manhattan to other New York City boroughs. It is said there are over two thousand bridges in the city of New York alone, so you\u2019re bound to see at least some of these while you\u2019re visiting. In this article we\u2019ll introduce you to some of the most famous and beautiful bridges of New York, and tell you something about the history and background of these bridges. We\u2019ll also give you some practical visiting tips on these must-see bridges.<\/p>\n<p>So without further ado: here are our <strong>top 5 bridges in New York City<\/strong>!<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maps.google.fr\/maps\/ms?msa=0&amp;msid=208857790003288562267.0004e24612a7546433ef1&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;t=m&amp;ll=40.75662,-73.966827&amp;spn=0.416101,0.802002&amp;z=10&amp;output=embed\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" width=\"585\" height=\"400\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>1. Brooklyn Bridge<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"img aligncenter size-full wp-image-13621\" style='width:585px;'>\n\t<img src=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/brooklyn-bridge-skyline-manhattan-new-york-nyc.jpg\" alt=\"View of the Brooklyn Bridge and Lower Manhattan\" width=\"585\" height=\"398\" \/>\n\t<div>The Brooklyn Bridge with the Lower Manhattan skyline <\/div>\n<\/div>The <strong>Brooklyn Bridge<\/strong> is probably the most famous bridge of New York City, and also one of its most popular landmarks. The Brooklyn Bridge was built in 1883, and was the first bridge to provide passage across the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan, back when Brooklyn was still an independent city. The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspending bridges in the US. At the time of its unveiling it was also the longest suspension bridge in the world. In fact, it was so long that people doubted its strength. In order to prove the bridge was safe, a circus promoter led a herd of 21 elephants across the Brooklyn Bridge!<\/p>\n<p>Nowadays, the Brooklyn Bridge is perceived as one of the great engineering accomplishments of the 19th century. Its beautiful brick towers and Gothic arches have been the subjects of many photographs and have even featured in such movies as The Avengers, The Dark Knight Rises and I Am Legend.<\/p>\n<p>While in New York, be sure to pay a visit to the Brooklyn Bridge. The best way to experience it is to take the subway to York Station (the F line) in Brooklyn. From here you can easily walk to the Brooklyn Bridge\u2019s pedestrian walkway and stroll toward Manhattan for the best views. Be sure to bring a camera or smartphone, as you\u2019ll want to take pictures of the magnificent Manhattan skyline (especially stunning just before sunset), the Hudson River, the Statue of Liberty and of course the Brooklyn Bridge itself. When you walk up to the bridge\u2019s arches you\u2019ll have a great photo op of the web-like pattern of the bridge\u2019s many steel cables. You can also bring a love lock to attach to the bridge like many lovers have done before. Do watch out for the cyclists though: the pedestrian path and bicycle path are only marked by a white line, so be sure not to stray onto the wrong lane.<\/p>\n<p>To see what it\u2019s like to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, have a look at our <a title=\"Video Tour DUMBO\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/2011\/06\/16\/video-tour-dumbo-in-brooklyn-new-york-part-1\/\">video tour of DUMBO<\/a>. DUMBO is the Brooklyn neighborhood that is located right between the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>2. Manhattan Bridge<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"img aligncenter size-full wp-image-13617\" style='width:585px;'>\n\t<img src=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/manhattan-bridge-new-york-nyc.jpg\" alt=\"Picture of the Manhattan Bridge taken from DUMBO, Brooklyn\" width=\"585\" height=\"391\" \/>\n\t<div>The Manhattan Bridge seen from DUMBO in Brooklyn<\/div>\n<\/div>The <strong>Manhattan Bridge<\/strong> is a somewhat more modern suspension bridge, as it was constructed in 1909. It was the last of the three bridges built over the lower East River, the second one being the Williamsburg Bridge. The Manhattan entrance to the Manhattan Bridge lies in Chinatown, and is marked by a magnificent triumphal arch and colonnade. On the Brooklyn end, the Manhattan Bridge ends in the popular neighborhood DUMBO, which is an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass.<\/p>\n<p>The Manhattan Bridge features a separate pedestrian walkway as well as a bikeway, making it convenient to walk or cycle across the bridge. You\u2019ll get a great view of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline from here, and you can also see the Statue of Liberty in the distance. However, unlike the Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge includes subway tracks. This means that crossing the bridge on foot or by bike can be rather noisy. You can also choose to cross the bridge by taking any of the following four subway lines: B, D, N or Q. If you take the B or Q train towards Manhattan, you\u2019ll also get a chance to see the art installation called Masstransiscope, created by Bill Brand, in the abandoned Myrtle Avenue Station. You can see the zoetrope on the right side of the train just after leaving Dekalb Station.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>3. Verrazano-Narrows Bridge\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"img aligncenter size-full wp-image-13619\" style='width:585px;'>\n\t<img src=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/verrazano-narrows-bridge-brooklyn-staten-island-new-york-nyc.jpg\" alt=\"Image of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York City\" width=\"585\" height=\"437\" \/>\n\t<div>Verrazano-Narrows Bridge connects Brooklyn to Staten Island in New York City<\/div>\n<\/div>The <strong>Verrazano-Narrows Bridge<\/strong> is the only bridge on our list that doesn\u2019t connect to Manhattan. The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge connects the Fort Hamilton neighborhood in Brooklyn to the New York borough Staten Island, and is known for being the starting point of the New York Marathon. The bridge was named after Giovanni da Verrazzano, the first European to enter the New York Harbor, and after the Narrows, the body of water that the bridge spans. The New York Harbor and Upper Bay lie north of the Narrows, and the Lower Bay and North Atlantic Ocean lie to the south.<\/p>\n<p>The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge was opened in 1964, and an upper level was added in 1969 making it a double-decked suspension bridge. The bridge\u2019s central span is 4,260 feet (1,298 meters) long, meaning it\u2019s even longer than the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. In fact, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge has the longest bridge span in the Americas! Unfortunately, the bridge doesn\u2019t have a pedestrian or bike path (yet). You can enjoy the views from the bridge from a car or you can take a bus across the bridge (the S53, S79 or S93). There are also several express buses from Manhattan that cross this bridge.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>4. Queensboro Bridge<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"img aligncenter size-full wp-image-13618\" style='width:585px;'>\n\t<img src=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/queensboro-bridge-queens-roosevelt-island-tram-new-york-nyc.jpg\" alt=\"Picture of the Queensboro Bridge and Roosevelt Island Tramway\" width=\"585\" height=\"390\" \/>\n\t<div>The Roosevelt Island Tramway and Queensboro Bridge<\/div>\n<\/div>The <strong>Queensboro Bridge<\/strong> is the last bridge on this list that crosses the East River. It is located further to the north than the previous three bridges, and it connects the Upper East Side of Manhattan to Long Island City in Queens. It also passes over Roosevelt Island. The official name of the bridge is the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, but it\u2019s also called the 59th Street Bridge because of its starting point on the Manhattan side.<\/p>\n<p>The cantilever bridge was built in 1909, and features several roadways, a pedestrian path, and a bike path. Furthermore, there\u2019s an aerial tramway that runs along the north side of the bridge and carries passengers from Manhattan to Roosevelt Island. Perhaps you will recognize it from the 2002 movie Spider-Man, as the tramway played a big part in the film\u2019s climax. The Roosevelt Island Tramway is popular among tourists, and a great way to take a trip to Roosevelt Island. Both from the tramway and the island you\u2019ll get a magnificent view of the Midtown Manhattan skyline.<\/p>\n<p>Would you like to live on Roosevelt Island? Take a look at this <a title=\"New York Room For Rent, 3 Bedroom apartment for a roommate in Roosevelt Island, Upper East Side (NY-11544)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/new-york-apartment\/roommate-share\/11544\">room for rent in a 3-bedroom apartment on Roosevelt Island<\/a>. This roommate share is perfect if you\u2019re coming to New York for school, an internship, or on business. By living here you\u2019ll be able to take the aerial tramway every day! If you\u2019re looking for an apartment for a shorter period or holiday, check out our <a title=\"New York Vacation Rentals\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/new-york-apartment\/vacation\">vacation rental apartments in New York City<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>5. George Washington Bridge<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"img aligncenter size-full wp-image-13616\" style='width:585px;'>\n\t<img src=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/george-washington-bridge-new-jersey-manhattan-new-york-nyc.jpg\" alt=\"Image of the George Washington Bridge at nighttime\" width=\"585\" height=\"400\" \/>\n\t<div>The George Washington Bridge lights up at nighttime<\/div>\n<\/div>The last bridge of our top 5 is located on the west side of Manhattan, and connects New York City to New Jersey: The <strong>George Washington Bridge<\/strong>. This suspension bridge crosses the Hudson River, and has a total length of 4,760 feet (1,450 meters). It starts at the Washington Heights neighborhood in Upper Manhattan and ends in the New Jersey borough of Fort Lee. The George Washington Bridge was opened in 1931. The elegant suspension bridge has room for 14 lanes, and also features a separate bike and pedestrian walk. From the bridge\u2019s high pedestrian walk you\u2019ll witness amazing views of Manhattan, New Jersey and the Hudson River.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Bonus Bridges: Bow Bridge in Central Park and the Williamsburg Bridge\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"img aligncenter size-full wp-image-13620\" style='width:584px;'>\n\t<img src=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/bow-bridge-central-park-manhattan-new-york-nyc.jpg\" alt=\"Picture of Central Park\u2019s Bow Bridge \" width=\"584\" height=\"348\" \/>\n\t<div>The beautiful Bow Bridge in Central Park<\/div>\n<\/div>We felt like we couldn\u2019t possibly end the list without at least giving Bow Bridge in Central Park and Williamsburg Bridge over the East River an honorable mention.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Bow Bridge<\/strong> is a beautiful cast iron bridge built in 1862, which features an intricate design with beautiful decorations. The walkway of the bridge was constructed of ipe wood and turns a gorgeous shade of red when it gets wet. Bow Bridge has been featured in many films, such as Manhattan, The Way We Were and Keeping the Faith. It\u2019s also a very popular proposal spot among couples to propose. You can find Bow Bridge west of the Loeb Central Park Boathouse just beside The Lake.<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>Williamsburg Bridge<\/strong> is the second suspension bridge that was built over the Lower East River. It is located somewhat further to the northeast from the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge, and connects the Lower East Side of Manhattan to the fashionable Williamsburg neighborhood in Brooklyn. Built in 1903, the total length of the industrial looking bridge is 7,308 feet (2,227 meters). Because of its length it is best to cross this bridge is by bike. If you go by bike you\u2019ll also get a great look at all the graffiti that\u2019s still visible on the bridge. Of course there\u2019s also a magnificent view of both Manhattan and Brooklyn.<\/p>\n<p>That concludes our list of the top 5 bridges in New York City. What\u2019s your favorite bridge in New York?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of the best ways to first see the magnificent skyline of Manhattan is from the window of a yellow taxicab as it crosses the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[17],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13615"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13615"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13615\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13681,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13615\/revisions\/13681"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13615"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13615"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13615"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}