13 Most Amazing Bridges in NEW YORK CITY

With so many islands making up the entire city of New York, does it come as a surprise to you that today we would have an endless supply of bridges throughout the city? It’s kinda hard to believe there was a time when New Yorkers struggled to get from island to island, when the only option for getting around was by boat.

My, how times have changed! And hats off to the engineers, city planners, and laborers who dedicate themselves to making life easier for us every day. We have so much to be grateful for.

Now with over 65 unique bridges throughout the city, it’s never an easy task narrowing them down to just a select few. But that’s exactly what I did. And those that made the cut were chosen for their history, their popularity, as well as their beauty.

Prepare to marvel at some awesome feats of engineering today because I am taking you on a tour of New York’s most famous bridges, where we’ll get to learn a little bit about each bridge and see just what it is that makes them so special.

So without further delay, here are the 13 most amazing bridges in New York City.

1- The BROOKLYN BRIDGE. I know what you’re thinking. The Brooklyn Bridge! Well, since it happens to be the most famous out of the entire New York bridge line up, we might as well just get it out of the way. Ok, so we all know that the New York City skyline is just incomplete without this iconic suspension bridge. However, did you know that the Brooklyn Bridge is also the world’s first suspension bridge to use stone towers together with steel crisscrossing cables? Prior to that, suspension bridges were always falling apart due to the common use of hemp or iron rope. Opened in 1883, this southernmost bridge spanning across the East River, connects DUMBO and downtown Brooklyn with Lower Manhattan. You can cross this two-level bridge by foot, car, and bicycle at no cost. What’s cool is that cyclists and pedestrians are privileged to the entire top level. For those visiting NYC, walking the Brooklyn Bridge is one of those experiences of a lifetime that you must definitely add to your bucket list. Now for those living in New York, if you haven’t walked this bridge yet, I’m really not sure what you’re waiting for? Some of the best views of the bridge with the Manhattan skyline are from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, as well as Brooklyn Bridge Park. On the Manhattan side, you can snap your pictures as a passenger on the FDR or from the piers at South Street Seaport. There’s so much more I can say about this historic landmark. But to preserve your time, as well as mine, I think I’ll leave the rest for a separate video.

2- The VERRAZZANO BRIDGE. Besides the ferry, this is the only other route New Yorkers have into Staten Island. Also know as the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge or just the Verrazano, it’s spans across the narrowest part of New York harbor from Bay Ridge Brooklyn to Staten Island. I’m not from Brooklyn, so you can imagine my reaction after seeing this monumental green/gray bridge for the first time while riding down Shore Road with a friend. It’s pretty much New York’s equivalent to the Golden Gate. But of course, you didn’t hear that from me. Opened in 1964, the Verrazzano is an all-steel suspension toll bridge accommodating cars, buses, and trucks on two levels. No bikers or pedestrians are allowed on this busy thoroughfare. So if you want to cross it by foot, be prepared to run because the only time pedestrians are allowed on this bridge is during the New York City Marathon and the Five Boro Bike Tour. Some of the most panoramic views of the Verrazzano Bridge can be seen from Shore Road, Shore Park, or the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn and Fort Wadsworth and South Beach on the Staten Island side.

H.L.I.T. – CC BY 2.0 – Wikimedia Commons

3- The HELL GATE BRIDGE. This is the notable steel arch bridge with the bad paint job. It’s also the same bridge that the Amtrak travels across when headed to Boston. Completed in 1917, the Hell Gate Bridge is a train-only bridge with two tracks currently being used by Amtrak and one track for freight. This faded red, somewhat pink and brown bridge can be found stretching itself across the top portion of the East River. The entire bridge complex consists of three individual bridges that take trains from Astoria Queens to Randall’s Island and into the South Bronx. However, most New Yorkers will consider the Hell Gate Bridge only as this one, the one spanning across the East River. The name might sound a bit grim, but don’t worry, you won’t be going through the gates of hell when you go across. It got its name due to its location above the Hell Gate channel, a part of the East River that was known to have deadly currents in the past. It may seem like a very unassuming bridge, but some very famous bridges were copied after the Hell Gate Bridge. They include the Tyne Bridge in England as well as the Sydney Harbor Bridge in Australia. If you want to get an up close and scenic view of this classic bridge you can visit Astoria Park or Randall’s Island where you get to walk right under it.

rob zand – CC BY-SA 2.0 – Wikimedia Commons

4- The RFK BRIDGE. The official name now is the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, but i know there’s plenty of you old time New Yorkers that still call it the Triborough Bridge. This all-steel bridge is actually just steps away from the Hell Gate Bridge and you can walk from one to the other in less than five minutes. It’s called the Triborough Bridge because it links the boroughs of Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx via a complex of bridges, viaducts, and elevated expressways along the same lines as the Hell Gate Bridge. But quite simply, everyone just recognizes the Triborough Bridge as the gray/green suspension bridge spanning across the East River between Astoria and Randall’s Island. Completed in 1937, the complex accommodates cars, buses, and trucks for a nice sum, as well as bikes and pedestrians. You can catch spectacular views of the main bridge again from Astoria Park and Randall’s Island. But for a unique angle, you can also try the Astoria Boulevard subway platform.

5- The GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE. Ok now, let’s head on over to the other side of the city where we’ll find the great George Washington Bridge stretching across the Hudson to connect the Washington Heights section of Manhattan to Fort Lee, NJ. Also known as the GW Bridge, the G Dub, or the GWB, this toll bridge is one of the last bridges you’ll want to get stuck on. Prior to 2020, this all-steel suspension bridge was known as the world’s busiest bridge carrying over 105 million cars, buses, trucks, bikes, and pedestrians every year. The GWB is a part of the I-95 which spans the entire east coast from Miami to New England. So you can imagine what happens when it gets backed up. Opened in 1931, the George Washington Bridge has a lower and top deck from which you can see sweeping views of upper Manhattan, Queens, and the New Jersey Palisades. For picturesque views of this grey engineering landmark, there’s Fort Lee Park on the Jersey Side, a boat cruise on the Hudson, and really any park along the river in Washington Heights.

6- The HIGH BRIDGE. This bridge spanning across the Harlem River is New York City’s oldest bridge. Completed in 1848, it’s original design was that of an all-stone multi-arch bridge akin to that of a Roman aqueduct. Why? Because back in 1848, the Croton Aqueduct was a much need system which carried water from the Croton River down the Hudson Valley, and into the city. The bridge was built to conceal the massive pipe of the old Croton Aqueduct as it crossed the river. A promenade was later completed at the top of the bridge, turning it somewhat into the High Line of the 1800s. Five of the masonry arches that spanned the river were later replaced by the single steel arch that you see today, after impeding boat traffic for a number of years. When use of the aqueduct to deliver water to New York had ceased, the bridge fell to neglect and vandalism, and was closed by the 1960s. It didn’t open back up until 2015 after a much needed facelift. Today, the High Bridge still remains a pedestrian-only bridge where you can sit, stroll, or pedal across from Manhattan’s Washington Heights to the Bronx’s Highbridge neighborhood. Now I wouldn’t call it the most photogenic Bridge, but if you want to catch glimpses of the entire bridge, the best places are Highbridge Park in both the Bronx and Manhattan, the Major Deegan, the Harlem River Drive, as well as the Circle Line.

Beyond My Ken – CC BY-SA 4.0 – Wikimedia Commons

7- The QUEENSBORO BRIDGE. Alright, were back in Queens again. This time we’re looking at the Queensboro Bridge. Also known as the 59th Street Bridge, and now they got a new one, the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge. Yeah, whatever. It’s just the Queensboro Bridge to most of us. Anyway, completed in 1909, this steel cantilever bridge spans across the East River between Long Island City in Queens and the Upper East Side of Manhattan. It passes over Roosevelt Island with two of its channels actually sitting on the island. The Queensboro Bridge is the northernmost of a set of four toll-free bridges crossing the East River. The Brooklyn Bridge which I mentioned previously, is the southernmost. Don’t worry. We’ll get to the other two in a minute. Anyway, this two-level bridge accommodates cars, buses, trucks, bikes, and pedestrians. To get stunning views you can go up and down Vernon Boulevard. There’s also Queensbridge Park. You can ride the Roosevelt Island Tram, or even take a trip to Roosevelt Island. You can also can ride some of the East River ferries, or visit Sutton Place Park on the Manhattan side.

8- The WHITESTONE BRIDGE. You’re probably thinking “Wait a minute. This looks just like the Verrazzano Bridge.” Well that’s because it was designed by the same guy. (Othmarr Ammann) Opened in 1939, this all-steel single-story bridge is used as an expressway mainly by folks in northern Queens and the Bronx. It spans along the East River’s northern shore allowing only cars, buses, and trucks to cross from Whitestone Queens to the Throgs Neck section of the Bronx for a modest fee. Gorgeous views of the Whitestone Bridge can be seen from Francis Lewis Park in Whitestone and Ferry Point Park as well as the golf course at Ferry Point.

9- The THROGS NECK BRIDGE. Speaking of the Whitestone Bridge, we can’t forget the Throgs Neck Bridge which was later completed in 1961. After all, these two steel gray suspension bridges are practically siblings. Another clean and simple design by the same engineer of multiple New York bridges, it can be found only a stones throw away from the Whitestone Bridge in the Bay Terrace section of Queens. Not only are no pedestrians allowed on this expressway, but buses too are excluded. Similar to the Whitestone, cars and trucks can make the stretch over the East River from Bay Terrace Queens to the Throgs Neck peninsula in the Bronx for a modest fee. The best views of this beautiful bridge are from the SUNY Maritime campus in the Bronx and from Little Bay Park in Queens.

10- The WILLIAMSBURG BRIDGE. This all-steel suspension bridge is another one of the city’s toll-free bridges that span the East River. Opened in 1903, the Williamsburg Bridge connects the Lower East Side of Manhattan to you’ll never guess what part of Brooklyn! Originally built to alleviate trolley traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge, today it accommodates foot and bike traffic, vehicle traffic, and three subway lines. And just like the Brooklyn Bridge, as a pedestrian, the upper deck is all yours. The best views of the entire Williamsburg Bridge can be seen from Brooklyn’s Domino Park, Manhattan’s East River Promenade, or on the NYC Ferry.

11- The KOSCUISZKO BRIDGE. There. I hope I said it correctly. Growing up, everyone always said kos-kiasko. But, according to the Polish community, we were wrong all along. It’s pronounced ko-shoosh-ko. So don’t get it twisted. Anyway, you know I had to include one of these super-cool futuristic bridges in this line up. I’m not an engineer, but I think it’s safe to say that this impressive new style of bridge is here to stay. They seem to be cropping up everywhere. Opened in 1939, the Koscuiszko Bridge which takes the BQE over the Newton Creek just got an update. Due to wear and tear, the original truss bridge connecting Maspeth, Queens to Greenpoint, Brooklyn, was replaced in 2017 and 2019 by a set of two brand new ultra-modern cable-stayed bridges. The new bridges come with bike paths, pedestrian walkways, and allows for all types vehicular traffic. The area around the Koscuiszko Bridge is a bit industrial. So sorry to have to disappoint you, but mostly likely you won’t be able to take panoramic snapshots of this most stunning bridge without getting clutter in the background.

jim.henderson – CC BY-SA 4.0 – Wikimedia Commons

12- The HENRY HUDSON BRIDGE. So I chose to include this bridge because it’s in a really cool spot, plus it’s got this majestic look to it as it swoops over the nearby Metro North station. The Henry Hudson Bridge is the wide steel arch toll-bridge that spans across the Spuyten Duyvil Creek as it connects the upper tip of Manhattan to the Bronx. Opened in 1936, it’s known to have one of the cheapest tolls in the city and has two levels for cars, bikes, and pedestrians. The best views of this magnificent bridge can be found at Inwood Hill Park, of course the Spuyten Duyvil Metro North station, or by kayaking the creek.

13- The MANHATTAN BRIDGE. Only a few blocks north of the Brooklyn Bridge is another toll-free suspension bridge. This two-level bridge spanning the lower East River and connecting Manhattan’s Chinatown with Brooklyn’s DUMBO has become a social media sensation as of late. However, many still don’t know the name of this fancy blue bridge, as it has always sat in the shadows of the Brooklyn Bridge. Well, it’s name is the Manhattan Bridge, and not only is it the most ornate out of all of New York’s bridges, but it’s got a triumphant grand entrance to match on the Manhattan side. Even more memorable is the way it uniquely frames a miniature Empire State Building that can be seen from afar through one of its portals. The Manhattan Bridge was completed in 1909, as a relief to the overcrowding on the Brooklyn and Williamsburg bridges and is the last of the four toll-free bridges that span the East River. It accommodates all kinds of traffic from pedestrians, to bikers, vehicles, and multiple subway lines. Though a tad gritty, the walk across will get you panoramic views of New York’s skyline, the harbor, and close ups of the neighboring bridges. The best views of the Manhattan Bridge can be found while walking the Brooklyn Bridge, while enjoying Brooklyn Bridge Park, while driving on the FDR, and of course at this famous site in DUMBO.

And that’s it for the 13 most amazing bridges in New York City.

So, do you think I got all the good ones. Are there some other outstanding bridges that I left out? Perhaps I should do a part two to this series. You tell me if that’s sounds like a plan to you.

Anyway, if there’s anything else you’d like to say about this topic, feel free to respectfully share it with us in the comments below.

Furthermore, if you got any value out of this post, be sure to like, subscribe if you’d like to learn more about New York City, our favorite city – one list at a time.

With that said, I’d like to thank you for joining me today, and we’ll see each other next time.

THUMBNAIL IMAGE: MTA – CC BY 2.0 – Wikimedia Commons

VIDEO IMAGE ATTRIBUTIONS

“New York City” by Jörg Schubert– CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“Ambrose at South Street Seaport 03” by Joe Mabel– CC BY-SA 2.0 – Flickr
“2011-06-03 vet 033” by Violette79– CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“Verrazano-Narrows Bridge” by MTA – CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“New York City Marathon 2014” by MTA – CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“StatenIsland-9” by ajay_suresh– CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“South Beach – looking towards Verranzano Narrows Bridge” by Kathleen Conklin– CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“hells-gate-2” by Dan DeLuca– CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“Hell Gate Bridge” by Jules Antonio– CC BY-SA 2.0 – Flickr
“Triborough Bridge + Hell Gate Bridge” by Jason Eppink – CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“RFK Triborough Hell Gate” by TheTurducken– CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“Approach to Hell Gate Bridge” by Fletcher – CC BY 4.0 – Wikimedia Commons
“Hell Gate Bridge (84462)p” by Rhododendrites – CC BY-SA 4.0 – Wikimedia Commons
“DSC_5062” by David Brooks – CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“DSC_5051” by David Brooks – CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“Tyne Bridge” by Bob Castle – CC BY-SA 3.0 – Wikimedia Commons
“Hell Gate Bridge cricket” by rob zand – CC 2.0 – Wikimedia Commons
“Hells-gate-soccer-field” by Dan DeLuca– CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“Triborough Bridge” by Marcin Wichary – CC BY 2.0 – Wikimedia Commons
“Triborough and Hell Gate Bridges” by Thomas Lillis IV– CC BY-ND 2.0 – Flickr
“Randalls and Wards Islands” by Roy Googin – CC BY-SA 4.0 – Wikimedia Commons
“Robert F Kennedy Bridge” by Tony Hisgett – CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“New York City Garbage Train” by Sam LaRussa – CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“RFK Hell Gate” by TheTurducken – CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“Interstate 278 – New York” by Doug Kerr– CC BY-SA 2.0 – Flickr
“RFK Triborough Hell Gate” by TheTurducken – CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“New Field” by Tom Paliswiat – CC BY-SA 3.0 – Wikimedia Commons
“Triboro Bridge” by Eden, Janine and Jim – CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“George Washington Bridge” by Álvaro Reguly– CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“George Washington Bridge” by Shinya Suzuki– CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“Fort Lee Historic Park 03 – Cannon and George Washington Bridge” by Jllm06 – CC BY-SA 4.0 – Wikimedia Commons
“2015 Little Red Lighthouse annual tour (13) with George Washington Bridge” by Beyond My Ken – CC BY-SA 4.0 – Wikimedia Commons
“High Bridge re-opening bridge from Manhattan side north” by Beyond My Ken – CC BY-SA 4.0 – Wikimedia Commons
“High Bridge 20160917-jag9889” by Jag9889 – CC BY-SA 4.0 – Wikimedia Commons
“Circle Line, New York.” by Roland Turner – CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“High Bridge Bridge” by Allison Meier– CC BY-SA 2.0 – Flickr
“Ship Under High Bridge” by Bill Smith– CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“Untrodden path…” by Rich Mitchell– CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“High Bridge looking east” by RoySmith – CC BY-SA 4.0 – Wikimedia Commons
“High Bridge” by H.L.I.T.– CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“High Bridge” by The Turducken – CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“Circle Line, New York.” by Roland Turner – CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“Queensbridge Park Path” by Buglord – CC BY-SA 4.0 – Wikimedia Commons
“Whitestone Bridge” by rival – CC BY-SA 2.0 – Flickr
“ferry-point-park-and-whitestone-bridge” by DanDeLuca -CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“BWB Pat Cashin 2008 019” by Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York – CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“Interstate 678 – New York” by Doug Kerr -CC BY-SA 2.0 – Flickr
“Whitestone Bridge from Clason Point Park” by RoySmith – CC BY-SA 4.0 – Wikimedia Commons
“Bronx–Whitestone Bridge” by Nick Amoscato – CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“Throggs Neck Bridge, NYC – 2001” by Bob Weineger – CC BY 2.0 – Wikimedia Commons
“Throgs Neck Bridge td (2019-05-25)” by Tdorante10 – CC BY-SA 4.0 – Wikimedia Commons
“Park near the Whitestone Bridge in NY” by Jen Novotny – CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“ferry_point_park_2” by Dan DeLuca – CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“Throgs Neck top” by Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York – CC BY 2.0 – Wikimedia Commons
“B&T_3294” by Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York – CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“Empirestate” by Globalsecurity – CC BY 2.0 – Wikimedia Commons
“Throgs Neck Bridge” by LunchboxLarry – CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“Domino Park” by Shania Suzuki -CC BY-ND 2.0 – Flickr
“East River Promenade” by Eden, Janine and Jim – CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“Kosciusko Bridge illuminated at night” by Edom31 – CC BY-SA 4.0 – Wikimedia Commons
“Erasmus Bridge…again! (9399803761)” by Luke Price – CC BY 2.0 – Wikimedia Commons
“Koscuiuszko walkway & cables jeh” by Jim.henderson – CC BY-SA 4.0 – Wikimedia Commons
“_MG_3838” by Mike Sinko – CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“Manhattan is an Island – Henry Hudson Bridge” by ChristiNYCa – CC BY 2.0 – Wikimedia Commons
“Spuyten Duyvil Creek” by BriYYZ – CC BY-SA 2.0 – Flickr
“Spuyten Duyvil Station” by Adam Moss – CC BY-SA 2.0 – Flickr
“Crossing the Harlem River” by Gary Miotla – CC BY 3.0 – Wikimedia Commons
“Harlem River and Henry Hudson Bridge from Inwood Hill Park” by Beyond My Ken – CC BY-SA 4.0 – Wikimedia Commons
“Henry Hudson Bridge” by Jessica Spengler– CC BY 2.0 – Flickr
“Manhattan Bridge 2007” by Dav5nyc – CC BY-SA 3.0 – Wikimedia Commons
“Manhattan Bridge Arch – panoramio” by Pablo Costa Tirado – CC BY-SA 3.0 – Wikimedia Commons
“Subway on Manhattan Bridge 2 vc” by Steven Pisano – CC BY 2.0 – Wikimedia Commons