Brooklyn Bridge Park
Brooklyn Bridge Park is one of the best Brooklyn photography spots.
Brooklyn Bridge Park spans 85 acres along a 1.3-mile waterfront from Atlantic Avenue to Jay Street, running from Columbia Heights to the Manhattan Bridge in DUMBO. The 1883 bridge—a National Historic Landmark since 1964—frames One World Trade Center and the Lower Manhattan skyline, accessible from Emily Warren Roebling Plaza beneath it.
Brooklyn Bridge and Empire Fulton Ferry Park
The Brooklyn Bridge stretches 1825 meters end to end with a 486-meter river span and has held National Historic Landmark status since 1964, having been completed in 1883. Directly below on the Brooklyn side, the Empire Fulton Ferry section of Brooklyn Bridge Park occupies land where the first ferry landing opened in 1642. The park itself was a working shipping port and storage area until roughly twenty to twenty-five years ago, with the first portions opening in 2010 and additional sections added over the following decade, giving photographers multiple shoreline vantage points for framing the bridge against Lower Manhattan.
Best Photo Spots
Six photo spots across Brooklyn Bridge Park's waterfront beaches, promenades, plazas, and a pedestrian bridge.
Pebble Beach
Photographs of This Location
Phased Development of Brooklyn Bridge Park
Brooklyn Bridge Park was developed in several phases beginning in 2008, with its first section, Pier 1, opening in March 2010. The park sits beneath the Brooklyn Bridge, which features two 278-foot tall neo-Gothic stone towers. Construction concluded in December 2021 with the dedication of Emily Roebling Plaza under the bridge, completing the entire park.
Common Questions
The park is open 7 days a week from 6AM to 1AM.
Entry to Brooklyn Bridge Park is free.
The Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Walkway is located at Washington Street and Prospect Street, at the northeast corner of Cadman Plaza, or can be reached from Adams Street.
Brooklyn Bridge Park Design and Composition
The park's design incorporates reclaimed granite alongside benches built from milled long-leaf yellow pine, with much of the stone salvaged from the reconstruction of the Roosevelt Island Bridge. Spread across a series of piers, the grounds include recreational facilities, gardens, playgrounds, greenways, and grassy areas. Jane's Carousel, a historic attraction within Brooklyn Bridge Park, provides a distinct subject against this varied landscape. The combination of salvaged materials, planted gardens, and recreational structures offers multiple compositional options.
Practical Information
The park is served by several bus, subway, and ferry routes.; Old Fulton and Furman St, Brooklyn, NY 11201; Governors Island ferry at Pier 6
Parking is provided as one of the access options for the park.
6AM - 1AM; sunrise–sunset; 8AM–11PM (seasonal)
Free; $150; Entry to the park is free of charge (the page lists no admission fee).
The Brooklyn Bridge Park photography permit covers the entire park rather than a specific pier.; Parking is not allowed on the Loop Road between Pier 5 and Pier 6, which is a drop-off space only.; A permit is required for certain activities and is available through the park's Get a Permit page.
Photowalk
Walk the Brooklyn Bridge Park Photo Trail
2 routes through the same vantage points, from a quick loop to a full afternoon.
Pier 1 in Brooklyn Bridge Park offers a wide lawn with the Manhattan skyline directly across the water and the Brooklyn Bridge to the north.
Session Tips
- Cross the bridge very early to avoid the heavy daytime crowds and traffic, which can last until approximately 11 PM.
- If construction obstructs the Pebble Beach view, head up the stairs and left on the pathway to a little overlook with shrubs that block obstructions on the left of the frame.
- To avoid crowds in your pictures at the Brooklyn Bridge, set your alarm early and shoot at sunrise.
- Following curiosity down pathways to either side of the main Brooklyn Bridge Park Greenway leads to tucked-away spots like benches and splash pads.
- To enter the southern end of Brooklyn Bridge Park, use the address 360 Furman Street and exit on the west side of the building.
When to Shoot
Best Time to Photograph
10:27 AM - 10:54 AM
10:54 AM - 11:54 AM
9:34 PM - 10:34 PM
10:34 PM - 11:01 PM
Best Season
365 days/year
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 07:17 | 16:53 | 9h 35m |
| Feb | 06:49 | 17:30 | 10h 41m |
| Mar | 07:07 | 19:02 | 11h 55m |
| Apr | 06:17 | 19:35 | 13h 18m |
| May | 05:38 | 20:06 | 14h 27m |
| Jun | 05:24 | 20:28 | 15h 4m |
| Jul | 05:37 | 20:25 | 14h 48m |
| Aug | 06:06 | 19:53 | 13h 47m |
| Sep | 06:36 | 19:04 | 12h 28m |
| Oct | 07:07 | 18:15 | 11h 8m |
| Nov | 06:42 | 16:37 | 9h 55m |
| Dec | 07:12 | 16:29 | 9h 16m |
What to Expect During Your Session
Sunrise at Pebble Beach offers nearly empty conditions and glowy light on the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline, with a small overlook reached by stairs and a left pathway turn that bypasses any construction blocking the main view. Walking across the bridge takes about 30 minutes at a steady pace or 45 to 60 minutes with photo stops, and crossing early avoids the heavy daytime crowds that can persist until approximately 11 PM. Public transportation, biking, or walking is preferable due to the park's very limited parking, while sunset remains the best window for the strongest skyline light.
Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge takes about 30 minutes at a steady pace.
Crossing the bridge while stopping for photos takes 45 to 60 minutes.
The Expert-led Explorations: Birds walk runs from 10:00 am to 11:30 am and meets at the Pier 1 Pavilion.
Getting There
Access & Transit
- Wheelchair access
- The Brooklyn Bridge offers a step-free entrance and is accessible for wheelchair users via Centre Street on the Manhattan side and Tillary or Adams Street on the Brooklyn side.
- Parking
- Parking near Brooklyn Bridge Park is very limited.
- Public transit
- Lines 4, 5, 6; NYC Ferry to Pier 1 and Pier 6; NYC public ferry and Governors Island Ferry at Pier 6
- Walking distance
- 400 metres
- Bike friendly
- Bikes are only allowed on the main path (Brooklyn Bridge Park Greenway), making it possible to bike one direction on a CitiBike and walk the other.