If you are lucky enough to have the snowy winter weather during a visit to New York City, I would highly recommend heading to the Brooklyn Bridge.
Visiting the Brooklyn Bridge in winter and walking the bridge covered in snow, is a one of a kind experience to take part of.
This guide will go over what walking the Brooklyn Bridge in winter is all about, and show plenty of photos all along the way.
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1) Brooklyn Bridge in Winter Overview
The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the most iconic bridges in the world, so no wonder it is on most people’s New York City itinerary. Whether it is walking across this beautiful bridge or enjoying the view from the riverside, there are many ways to go about a visit.
If you are heading to NYC in the winter months, from December to February/early March, there is a chance you will get to enjoy a snowfall. Snowfall is dependent year to year, but for the last few years in NYC, there have been 3-4 snow days.
So, while the Brooklyn Bridge can be visited at any time during the winter, having the chance to walk across in the snow is something that few get to take part. When the Brooklyn Bridge and its surroundings are covered with snow, it really makes for a whole new type of experience for visitors.
There are a few helpful Brooklyn Bridge travel guides that I have put together on the site. These will give you a better understanding on how to go about a visit in general (whether you are visiting in the winter or any other season).
Brooklyn Bridge Walk: learn more about the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and all the highlights you will get to see along the way.
Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Entrances: there are 4 main entrances to the Brooklyn Bridge walkway (2 on the Brooklyn side and 2 on the Manhattan side). Learn more about where to find each of these entrances for a visit.
How to Get to the Brooklyn Bridge: there are many ways to get yourself to the entranceways. This guide will go over the best transportation options to get you to the bridge itself.
Brooklyn Bridge Facts: the bridge has a long enthralling history. Learn more about some fascinating facts about the bridge and how it came to be.
If you are interested in enjoying the bridge during sunrise or sunset, feel free to take a look at the Brooklyn Bridge sunrise and Brooklyn Bridge sunset guides.
2) Brooklyn Bridge Snow Tips
Here are just a few tips and things to know when heading across the Brooklyn Bridge during a winter snow:
Weather: The bridge is high up in elevation over the East River. This means it can get quite windy on a day to day basis. During the winter and even more so during a snowstorm, it can get very cold on the bridge.
Outerwear: Be sure to come prepared with the appropriate attire if you are planning to visit during the winter. Layers, hat, gloves, and boots, will be essential during your time outside.
Watch Your Step: When the walkway gets wet due to the snow, it can be slippery. Be sure to have some sturdy shoes/boots on and watch your step as you go across.
Snow Removal: Once it starts snowing more heavily, you will find a small snow removal vehicle clearing the pathway. This should help clear the path but just be aware of these small vehicles making their way across.
Timing: If it is snowing I would recommend heading over earlier on in the day before the snow becomes slushier and makes the walk a bit less enjoyable. During my time walking the bridge, the snow was already coming down throughout the night and I went over around 8:00AM.
Photography: A waterproof backpack is not a bad idea for those photographers out there. This will help you protect your camera and lenses during the time you are not taking photos.
Views: More likely than not during a snowstorm, the NYC skyline will barely be seen from the bridge due to the low cloud cover and snow. Due to this, the best snow photos of the bridge in my opinion would be those underneath the cable wires (as seen below).
Itinerary: Visit the Brooklyn Bridge in winter as part of a longer New York City 4 Day Itinerary
3) Winter & Snow Photos
Before talking through some of the other great photo spot opportunities of the Brooklyn Bridge in winter, I did want to add in some of my favorite snow photos.
Holiday Season Visit? If you are visiting during the holiday time, be sure to dine at one of the Christmas holiday themed restaurants in NYC
4) Brooklyn Bridge Park
Before or after your walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, be sure to spend some time down in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
The park makes its way along the East River in the Dumbo and Brooklyn Heights neighborhoods (also home to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade).
From the park, you can get some great winter shots of the Brooklyn Bridge. This will be a whole different type of experience vs. going on the bridge itself.
The photos you see below are all taken between John Street Park in the north and Emily Warren Roebling Plaza in the south (just under the bridge).
5) Manhattan Bridge
Lastly, some of the best views of the Brooklyn Bridge in winter can be seen from the Manhattan Bridge. This bridge sits just north of the Brooklyn Bridge and offers some of the best views you can ask for.
While it can be long, cold day walking the Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge Park, and Manhattan Bridge, it is really quite an experience to take part of.
If you have any questions or comments about the Brooklyn Bridge in winter or snow, feel free to add them in below.
Also, don’t forget to check out some of the other New York itineraries and guides up on the site.
Have fun out there and safe travels!
