Save up to $995 on all Oct-Dec guaranteed trips.
Trip destinations

NYC’s Most Beautiful Bridges

| © Sean Pavone / Shutterstock
Sean Scarisbrick

Bridges are so much more than a means to get from place A to place B. New York features a number of bridges that are perfect for pedestrians looking to experience beautiful architecture and engineering. Whether designated primarily for traffic or pedestrians, the following bridges are all strikingly beautiful.

View All Trips

Brooklyn Bridge

Bridge

Walking through the Brooklyn Bridge
© Nata S / Shutterstock
The Brooklyn Bridge is a suspension bridge that spans the East River, connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn. Construction started in 1869 under the design of John Augustus Roebling, who injured his foot on site and died afterward from a tetanus infection. His son, Washington Roebling, succeeded his father, but when affected by decompression sickness, Washington’s wife, Emily Warren Roebling, served as a go-between for her husband and the workers. The bridge opened on May 24, 1883. It is a neo-Gothic icon, with stone towers and pointed archways. The bridge became a National Historic Landmark in 1964. Pedestrians rejoice because easy access allows beautiful views of New York, the East River, and the bridge itself.

Manhattan Bridge

Designed by Leon Moisseiff, the Manhattan Bridge opened on December 31, 1909. It is a suspension bridge that crosses the East River and connects lower Manhattan with downtown Brooklyn. To celebrate the beauty of the city, the Manhattan Bridge Archway was completed in 1915; it was declared a landmark in 1975. Pedestrians can walk on the lower level of the bridge, and there is a beautiful view of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Manhattan Bridge, New York, NY, USA

Manhattan Bridge

High Bridge

Bridge, Park

The High Bridge was originally an aqueduct that opened in 1848, and this Aqueduct Bridge was constructed as a stone arch bridge. It crossed the Harlem River and connected Manhattan and the Bronx. The bridge was dramatically changed in 1928 when five stone arches were demolished and replaced by a steel arch. This accounts for the unique look of the bridge today, which has stone arches on the Bronx side and a steel arch on the Manhattan side. The bridge stopped shuttling water in 1949, and it was shut down for restoration in the 1970s. It reopened in 2015 as a pedestrian walkway.

Bayonne Bridge

Designed by Othmar Ammann and Cass Gilbert, the Bayonne Bridge opened on November 15, 1931. It stretches across the Kill Van Kull and connects Staten Island to Bayonne, New Jersey. In 1981, the bridge was deemed a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. Its design is unique: it looks like a parabola, but it’s actually made up of 40 different linear segments. The pedestrian walkway is currently under reconstruction, but it is scheduled to reopen in 2017.

Bayonne Bridge, Staten Island, NY, USA +1 855 265 5482

Bayonne Bridge at dusk. The Bayonne Bridge, is the 5th longest steel arch bridge in the world

Hell Gate Bridge

Bridge

Hell Gate Bridge and Triboro Bridge at night, in Astoria, Queens, New York
© Felix Lipov / Shutterstock
Painted a deep red, the Hell Gate Bridge draws the eye with its smooth arch between two sturdy towers. The engineering precision behind the bridge is noteworthy: the bridge needed to be adjusted only half of an inch after the final piece was set. Construction was overseen by Gustav Lindenthal, and it opened in 1917. The bridge spans the Hell Gate between Astoria and Randalls Island.

Bow Bridge

Bridge, Park

Bow Bridge, Central Park in Manhattan, New York City
© Winston Tan / Shutterstock
The Bow Bridge is the longest bridge in Central Park, linking the Ramble to Cherry Hill by crossing the Lake. The bridge was designed by Jacob Wrey Mould and Calvert Vaux, and it was completed in 1862. In 2008, craftsmen recreated eight urns that had existed on the original bridge and disappeared in the 1920s; these urns are now flanking the bridge’s walkway. The bridge is a low, span arch that is decorated with volutes and arabesques.

Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge

Bridge, Museum

Officially renamed for former New York City mayor Ed Koch in 2011, the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge connects Long Island City to Manhattan, crossing the East River and Roosevelt Island. The bridge opened on March 30, 1909, and it was originally known as the Blackwell’s Island Bridge. In 2009, the bridge was celebrated as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. Walk across the bridge and check out the amazing architectural work above you.

Gapstow Bridge

Bridge, Park

Central Park gapstow Bridge with city skyline in background
© Eileen_10 / Shutterstock
The Gapstow Bridge stretches across the Pond at 59th Street. Originally, the bridge at the site was designed by Jacob Wrey Mould in 1874, but it was replaced because it was worn down. The current model was designed by Howard and Caudwell in 1896, and it is an intricate conglomerate of stone. Stand at the center of the bridge and experience a breathtaking view of the city, including the Plaza Hotel, the park, the Victorian Gardens and the ice rink.
culture trip left arrow
culture trip brand logo

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

women sitting on iceberg

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

culture trip logo letter c
group posing for picture on iceberg
group posing for picture on iceberg

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points
culture trip brand logo
culture trip right arrow

See Our Culture Trips
landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.