Can you walk the Williamsburg Bridge?

Yes — and you should!

Strolling the Williamsburg Bridge Walk is one of my favorite NYC experiences, especially with so much to do along the way — which you’ll see in my included Brooklyn itinerary.

You’ll also learn about some of my favorite Lower East Side experiences.

A quick overview:

This NYC walk goes from the Lower East Side (Manhattan) to Williamsburg (Brooklyn) via the Williamsburg Bridge.

No subway or car is required, allowing you to really feel the beat of the city.

Pro tip:

This walk is incredible in any season, though if visiting in chillier months make sure you know what to wear in NYC in winter to stay warm while looking stylish.

Psst, don’t forget to pin this post for later:

Now, while I do take plenty of guests across the Brooklyn Bridge on my private NYC photo tours, I’m partial to the Williamsburg Bridge as it’s less crowded and more edgy with lots of graffiti and steel.

Honestly, it’s one of the best walks in NYC and a great way to spend a day.

Hey, New York locals and visitors! Don’t miss taking my Private Photo Journey, including a custom itinerary and professional photos of your group to keep. Plus, you get to hang out with me, so pretty much a win-win 🙂

Williamsburg Bridge Walk + Guide To Brooklyn [Video]

Before you read any further…

Check out my walk over the Williamsburg Bridge in the video above!

You’ll learn how to do this scenic stroll over the East River, and will also snag additional suggestions beyond this blog post for your Brooklyn itinerary, as well.

Bonus:

The video ends with a look at my favorite NYC rooftop bar. You’ll immediately see why I love it so much.

The Lower East Side

The Lower East Side — where the Williamsburg Bridge walk begins — is known for many things, particularly its rich immigrant history.

During the 19th century and into the 20th, the neighborhood was full of tenement buildings crammed with immigrant families in poor conditions.

The Tenement Museum, a living museum with costumed interpreters, allows you to explore this.

One population that was prominent in the neighborhood during this time was Jewish immigrants, many of whom came to America to experience the American dream of freedom and gold to escape persecution and anti-semitism in places like Russia and Germany.

For this reason, I highly recommend taking in some Jewish culture at places like;

Katz’s Delicatessen: Open since 1888, this place is NOT overrated. It has an old school cafeteria feel and you’ll be given samples as you wait for your massive pastrami sandwich, hands down the best in the city. That’s not an opinion; that’s fact.

Yonah Schimmel’s Knish Bakery: Not far from Katz’s is this historic 1910 knish spot, a small and simple venue offering delicious knishes made from scratch (not the frozen variety!). Along with the traditional potato stuffed dough, they showcase other varieties like spinach and cherry. Yum!

Kossar’s Bialys: The USA’s oldest bialy factory, open since 1936. A bialy is like a bagel with no hole — instead it had a depressed center typically with onions and/or poppy seeds — and it’s baked instead of boiled and baked.

The Pickle Guys: In the early 1900’s Essex Street was filled to the brim with pickle places. Today The Pickle Guys boast being the only one. They showcase giant barrels full of pickled pineapple, mango, sweet peppers, cherry peppers, mangoes, horseradish, capers, watermelon, celery, baby carrots and more!

There are also hipster bites worth noshing on, my favorite of which is Pop Karma. Here you’ll find organic kernel popcorn with a slew of interesting all-natural toppings — with everything made in-house. I love the White Truffle Cheddar.

Order a bag to go so you have something to nibble while you walk across the Williamsburg Bridge into Brooklyn.

Now, the Williamsburg Bridge opened in 1903, completely changing the demographics of its namesake Brooklyn neighborhood.

Many called it the “Jews Bridge” due to all the Jewish immigrants that walked over the bridge from their tenements in the Lower East Side to settle in Williamsburg. In fact, after this bridge opened Williamsburg became the most densely populated place in the USA.

By 1917 the block between South 2nd and South 3rd had over 5,000 people!

It’s not surprising that air conditioning was invented in the neighborhood around this time.

Williamsburg, Brooklyn Itinerary

The opening of the bridge truly influenced the makeup of Williamsburg.

What was once a wealthy area where “robber barons” like Cornelius Vanderbilt, Charles Pratt, and Charles Pfizer had waterfront mansions and factories started becoming blue collar.

Today, walking around Williamsburg — which you should definitely explore when visiting NYC — it’s hard to imagine a time of struggle, as it’s very much gentrified.

The once factory-lined waterfront now showcases luxury high rises and beautifully manicured parks, though you’ll still see the abandoned and crumbling Domino Sugar Factory dotting the skyline in decay.

Not surprisingly, the factory’s lawn features an organic farm called North Brooklyn Farms, which is a nice place to enjoy the weather outside and take donation-only yoga classes on Tuesday nights.

While I do feel Williamsburg has gone too far with how much it’s progressed, I’ll admit that as a New Yorker with a bit of disposable income I do enjoy the restaurants, bars, boutiques, and thrift shops.

Plus, you can absolutely enjoy the local offerings on a budget.

And if you’re looking to spend an afternoon wandering, it’s one of the best places to walk in Brooklyn, especially as it’s easy to make fun discoveries without a plan.

Now while many stores in this neighborhood are pricey, one gem for those who don’t have $100+ to blow on a shirt:

Vintage Monk Thrift Shop.

I regularly buy jeans and hats from there for $5 each.

My favorite Williamsburg experiences (though note some are seasonal):

Bedford Cheese Shop: Here you’ll find a stinky heaven of farmstead cheese and local artisanal products. This and Dépanneur are my favorite places for exploring Brooklyn culinary creativity.

Tiki Sunday’s at Output (summer): This is the least fratty club in NYC. Come as you are, have drinks that are only slightly overpriced and dance on the roof to their amazing some system. On Tiki Sunday’s it’s free to get in before 4pm with RSVP.

The Ides Rooftop at the Wythe Hotel: This rooftop has great views and a very chill vibe.

Westlight at the William Vale Hotel: This Brooklyn rooftop pairs craft cocktails with a true 360-degree view of NYC. This is one of my favorite rooftop bars in New York. If you’re walking the Williamsburg Bridge into Brooklyn, end the day with a spicy mezcal cocktail paired with a gorgeous vista here.

Brooklyn Barge: Technically in Greenpoint, this waterfront park, boat bar, and hangout is massive and offers superb views of Manhattan. One of the best “boat experiences” in NYC, and it’s big enough that you’ll never have an issue getting in.

Baked In Brooklyn: you’ll pay a studio fee of $9. Then you can purchase your pottery to paint and have them bake. You can also bring wine and make a day of it.

The Bagel Store: The quirkiest eatery in Williamsburg! They’re known for their rainbow-colored bagels, but they also have wacky cream cheese’s in flavors like honey, peanut butter, and bacon, as well as offbeat treats like the “Cragel,” a croissant-bagel.

Hotel Delmano: The best cocktail bar in Brooklyn. Worth the price tag and skipping dinner for (though you’ll want something in your stomach as they’re boozy).

This Manhattan to Brooklyn walk is one of the best things to do in NYC in spring, though honestly, you can’t go wrong enjoying this experience any season of the year.

Have you done the Williamsburg Bridge walk?

Anything you’d add to the above Brooklyn itinerary?

Recommended Hotels I advise starting with a search on AirBnB (click here for $40 off your first AirBnB booking). In terms of hostels and hotels in NYC: Hostelling International . They offer everything from free comedy nights and local tours to a movie and game room.

. They offer everything from free comedy nights and local tours to a movie and game room. Pod 39 Hotel. Budget-friendly hotel offering a fun play room, amazing Mexican restaurant and THE BEST aerial views of NYC on their rooftop.

Budget-friendly hotel offering a fun play room, amazing Mexican restaurant and THE BEST aerial views of NYC on their rooftop. Broadway Hotel. This hotel and hostel uptown near Columbia University is one of the more budget-friendly options in NYC.

This hotel and hostel uptown near Columbia University is one of the more budget-friendly options in NYC. NoMo SoHo Hotel. This SoHo splurge is worth every penny if you love being immersed in creativity and modern design. Their entrance is also one of the most Instagram-worthy spots in NYC!

This SoHo splurge is worth every penny if you love being immersed in creativity and modern design. Their entrance is also one of the most Instagram-worthy spots in NYC! Kimpton Muse. I’m a big Kimpton fan, and their Times Square property is themed to inspire your stay with free yoga amenities and bike rentals, in-room spa treatments, and beautiful artwork and quotes in each room.

I’m a big Kimpton fan, and their Times Square property is themed to inspire your stay with free yoga amenities and bike rentals, in-room spa treatments, and beautiful artwork and quotes in each room. Click here to browse more NYC properties.

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