Visiting the Manhattan Bridge View Spot in Dumbo

If you are looking for some helpful information about the iconic Dumbo Manhattan Bridge view spot, then you have come to the right place. This guide will go over how to visit this photo location and list out some helpful tips and tricks on when to visit, including how to avoid the crowds.

So, whether you are looking for the photo spot address, how to get there, or anything else about the Manhattan Bridge picture spot, read on to learn all you need to know for a visit.

* Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you make a purchase through the links provided, at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting the work I put into TripTins!

1) What is the Dumbo Manhattan Bridge View

Located along Washington Street in the Dumbo neighborhood of Brooklyn is the Manhattan Bridge view point. Here you will find one of the best view points of the Manhattan Bridge that NYC has to offer.

If you were wondering what Dumbo even means, it is an acronym that stands for “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass”. This is the neighborhood area where you will be capturing your photos.

With the tree lined cobble stone streets, and the red brick buildings on either side of you, taking some photos here is a must.

Not only do you have the Manhattan Bridge aligned perfectly with the street, but you also have the Empire State Building peeking out directly beneath it.

Due to this photo spot’s popularity as one of the top things to do in NYC, it can get a bit hectic here during the day. I will also touch on some helpful tips to avoid the crowds and how to best capture your pictures.

NYC Itinerary: Visit the Dumbo Manhattan Bridge View as part of a longer New York City 4 day itinerary that takes you throughout the city

Note that this famous photo location is not of the Brooklyn Bridge. While there are several spots to get pictures of the Brooklyn Bridge, such as from Brooklyn Bridge Park, this Dumbo photo spot is of the Manhattan Bridge.

2) Where is the Dumbo Picture Spot

If you are simply looking for the Dumbo photo spot address, then all you need to do in make your way to Washington Street in Dumbo.

Washington Street extends all the way from Prospect Street (south) to Plymouth Street (north). However, most of the pictures you see are between Plymouth Street and York Street (with the majority of those between Plymouth and Water).

Once past York Street and towards Prospect Street, you are getting a bit too far away from taking photos. Later on in the guide I will show pictures from each one of these streets.

Tip: there is an entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge pedestrian pathway from the corner of Washington Street and Prospect Street. This is a great option if you would like to talk a stroll over the Brooklyn Bridge after.

Below is a screenshot of the area to give you a better idea of where to go depending on how close or far away you want to take your pictures from.

3) How to Get to the Dumbo NYC Picture Location

Now that you have a better idea of where the photo spot is, you now need to get yourself there. New York City offers a ton of transportation options that can get you to the Dumbo NYC picture location.

In the vicinity of Dumbo there are at least 5 different subway stations, with the first two closest to Washington Street.

• York Street | F Train
• High Street | A & C Train
• Clark Street | 2 & 3 Train
• Court Street | N, R & W Train
• Borough Hall | 4 & 5 ; 2 & 3 Train

Ferry

There are two ferry terminals at Brooklyn Bridge Park -> the DUMBO/Fulton Ferry Terminal and the Pier 6 Ferry Terminal.

These are great options for you if coming from Manhattan or even other parts of Brooklyn and Queens. There are two routes that include these stops:

East River Ferry: Wall Street Pier 11, DUMBO/Fulton Ferry, North Williamsburg, East 34^th Street, Hunters Point South. There are also stops at South Williamsburg and Greenpoint but they may be temporarily closed.

South Brooklyn Ferry: Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, Red Hook, Atlantic Avenue Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 6, Wall Street Pier 11, DUMBO/Fulton Ferry, Corlears Hook

Be sure to take a look at the latest NYC ferry schedules for up to date information.

Walk

If coming from nearby parts of Brooklyn, walking over to Washington Street can be an option for you. This will all depend on how much walking you are trying to do.

If coming from Manhattan, you have two main options here: a walk over the Manhattan Bridge or the Brooklyn Bridge.

Manhattan Bridge: the Manhattan Bridge Walk entrance point in Manhattan is at the corner of Bowery and Canal Street. Once there you can get onto the pedestrian pathway and make your way along the bridge as you take in some beautiful views of the river, Brooklyn Bridge and skyline.

Brooklyn Bridge: the Brooklyn Bridge Walk entrance point in Manhattan is located on the east side of City Hall Park on Park Row. Once there, the pedestrian path is impossible to miss as you experience one of the most iconic bridges in the world.

Citi Bike

Another option to get there without public transportation is to utilize the NYC Citi Bike system. You will find Citi Bike docking stations all around the city.

One ride is just $4.49 and a day pass is $19. You will find several docking stations located around the Dumbo neighborhood.

Uber/Taxi

Your last main option here is to simply grab a yellow taxi or Uber ride to get you to Washington Street.

The cost and time will all depend on where you are coming from, but this will be the most convenient option (although not always the fastest!).

4) Where to Stay in New York

There are so many different neighborhoods to choose from when visiting NYC. Below are some articles to help you make the best choice for your trip.

Looking for the top hotels & neighborhoods in NYC? Check out some helpful accommodation resources when it comes to picking the best spot for you!

Neighborhood Overview: Best Places to Stay in NYC
Best Skyline Views: NYC Hotels with a View
Times Square: Top Times Square Hotels with a View
Theater District: Hotels in Broadway Theater District
Central Park: Best Hotels with Central Park Views
Tribeca: Best Tribeca Hotels
SoHo: Where to Stay in SoHo
Greenwich Village: Top Greenwich Village Hotels
Brooklyn Bridge: Hotels with Brooklyn Bridge Views
Best Panoramas: Hotels in NYC with Floor to Ceiling Windows

5) Dumbo Photo Spot Locations

There are three main street blocks to captures your photos on Washington Street -> these are between the streets of:

• Plymouth and Water
• Water and Front
• Front and York

Below are some photos of each block to give you a better idea of what the angles and views are like so you can best decide:

Plymouth and Water Street

For photos up close to the bridge, go to Washington Street between Water Street and Plymouth Street. This block will give you the closest photos of the bridge.

However, you may miss out on the street itself if you get too close to the water. Below are a couple of photos from the middle of the block:

Water and Front Street

For photos a bit further away from the bridge, go to Washington Street between Water Street and Front Street. This will give you a wider view of the building lined streets.

Below are three photos of the views. The first one is at the corner of Water Street, and then the next two are moving farther away.

Front and York Street

Once past Front Street, Washington Street begins to head up a hill towards York Street. If you are there early enough there are fewer cars driving around ruining the view.

You should be able to get some nice shots of the bridge, cobble stoned streets, and tree lined sidewalks all in one view.

Be careful though, as you get further up Washington Street towards York, the Empire State Building may be obstructed.

In all instances, be aware of vehicle traffic on Washington Street and cars turning onto the street from side streets. The further away you are from the bridge, the more cars you are bound to come across.

6) How to Avoid the Crowds

If you are looking to get that perfect photo, odds are you are going to have a tough time doing so at most times of the day.

This is one of the most visited photo spots in all of NYC, with hundreds of thousands of people trying to get the same type of photo.

In my experience, there is only one real option to avoid the crowds here during the day – to visit at sunrise or soon after. Not only will you find few if any people during that time, but you will also avoid most of the car traffic in the area.

Since Washington Street is open to vehicles, you will find that cars make their way on the street throughout the day.

By visiting earlier, you can avoid both the foot and car traffic. Visiting during the week instead of the weekend is another way to avoid at least some of the crowd.

All the photos in the article are taken within the hour after sunrise on a summer weekend.

Another option is to visit late at night. This will give you a different type of photo though as you will of course be in the dark. However, it can be a nice to have the NYC skyline and Manhattan Bridge lit up under the night sky.

Below is a picture I took of the street later on that same day of my morning shoot. Note how many people and cars are lined up all along the street:

7) What To Do in Dumbo

While the Dumbo photo spot is a top place to visit, there is so much more nearby that is worth experiencing. Here is a list of some of the other top things to do in and near Dumbo.

If you have some extra time, you can even take the ferry across to Governors Island!

Brooklyn Bridge Park

Just on the other side of Plymouth Street you will find the 1+ mile long Brooklyn Bridge Park. The park is filled with so much to do during a visit. There are smaller parks, piers, walkways, views, restaurants, and much more.

Some of the main highlights (going north to south) include:

• John Street Park: great views of the Manhattan & Brooklyn Bridges
• Main Street Park: large lawn area with views of the Brooklyn Bridge & skyline
• Pebble Beach: small beach with sitting area (best for sunset)
• Jane’s Carousel and Empire Fulton Ferry: carousel and lawn area
• Emily Warren Roebling Plaza: open plaza under the Brooklyn Bridge
• Pier 1: lawn area & beautiful views
• Pier 2: several sport fields & courts
• Pier 3: mostly a lawn area for relaxing
• Pier 4: small beach & kayaking launch point
• Pier 5: soccer fields
• Pier 6: lawn area & volleyball courts

Timeout Market Rooftop

One of the top food options in Dumbo is Timeout Market. The market itself is full of various food vendors, meaning you can pick and choose from a whole array of cuisines. The main dining areas are shared, so everyone in the family can grab what they want and still sit together.

Another highlight at Timeout Market is the rooftop, where you can enjoy an elevated view over the park, river, bridges, and skyline.

Walk Around Dumbo

After visiting the view spot, feel free to continue to stroll around and enjoy the Dumbo neighborhood. The streets are just welcoming to walk through as you pass by shops, restaurants, and plenty of views along the way.

While not as perfectly aligned as the Manhattan Bridge photo spot, I did enjoy capturing the below photo, which aligns the Brooklyn Bridge with the streets of Dumbo.

Squibb Park Bridge

If you are walking through Brooklyn Bridge Park, you will come across a pedestrian bridge connecting the the area just nearby Pier 1 with the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood.

This is the famous Squibb Park Bridge, which offers some great photogenic views of downtown Manhattan.

Feel free to walk up and back down the bridge just for the photos!

Brooklyn Heights Promenade

After enjoying a walk along the Squibb Park Bridge, you can then continue to walk southbound until you reach the Brooklyn Heights promenade.

Unlike Brooklyn Bridge Park, which is right along the river, the promenade is set back inland and elevated. So, you will really get some fantastic views of the NYC skyline and Brooklyn Bridge from here.

It is a short and scenic walkway that is sure to offer many more photo spots along the way.

Sharing is caring!