Inside Out Tours’ Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO Neighborhood Tour is a guided walking tour that begins in Lower Manhattan, where you’ll enjoy learning about the history of local landmarks like the Tweed Courthouse and the Manhattan Municipal Building. From there, it’s a pleasant walk across the Brooklyn Bridge into the DUMBO neighborhood, where you’ll hear all about what makes this trendy area such a popular destination today. The Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO Neighborhood Tour lasts two-and-a-half hours, during which you’ll cover approximately two miles on foot.
Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO Tour Background Information
The world-famous Brooklyn Bridge towers above the East River, connecting the boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan in style. An amazing engineering accomplishment when it was built in the second half of the nineteenth century, the Brooklyn Bridge is over a mile long (when you factor in the full expanse of the bridge’s various entrances and on-ramps), while its striking towers rise roughly 275 feet in the air. A true New York City landmark, the Brooklyn Bridge is a much-loved destination for visitors and locals alike—it’s a fabulous place to go for a bike ride, take a pleasant stroll, or just admire the nearly unbeatable views on display.
Some visitors find the seemingly cartoon-inspired name confusing, but we’ll fill you in: DUMBO is an acronym for the phrase “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass.” In fact, DUMBO has become one of Brooklyn’s more popular neighborhoods over the course of the past couple decades. Today it’s widely recognized for its numerous art galleries, vibrant indie shops, interesting food scene, and expansive waterfront parks, where you’ll encounter terrific views of the Manhattan skyline.
What to See on the Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO Neighborhood Tour
Your Inside Out Tours’ Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO Neighborhood Tour begins at 52 Chambers Street in the Civic Center neighborhood of Manhattan, directly in front of the Old New York County Courthouse—better known today simply as the Tweed Courthouse. Tweed Courthouse takes its name from the one-and-only William “Boss” Tweed, the legendary head of the infamous Tammany Hall political machine that largely ran New York City during the nineteenth century. As a member of the New York County Board of Supervisors, Boss Tweed was responsible for providing the funding to get the courthouse built—he did that, but it’s also well-established he embezzled millions from the project during the process.
From there your Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO Neighborhood Tour heads to the David N. Dinkins Manhattan Municipal Building—one of the largest structures devoted to government work found anywhere in the world—before making its way to the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. Here you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of New York City in multiple directions while learning all about the history of this marvelous feat of engineering. When the Brooklyn Bridge was completed in 1883, it was the largest suspension bridge on the planet, as well as the first to utilize steel wiring. The Brooklyn Bridge needed to be so large, in part, to accommodate the significant shipping boat traffic traveling along the East River, but the immense scale of the construction project made it a dangerous undertaking. Today, it’s one of the city’s most popular attractions.
Crossing over into Brooklyn, you’ll explore the ins and outs of the DUMBO neighborhood, renowned for its spectacular views, waterfront parks, and lively arts scene. Your Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO Neighborhood Tour will conclude in beautiful Brooklyn Bridge Park, where you can enjoy firsthand one of New York City’s newest public parks and its majestic views of the Manhattan skyline.
Between the months of March and September, the Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO Neighborhood Tour typically runs on Wednesdays and Saturdays, while during the fall and winter seasons it’s only offered on Saturdays. The English-language version of the tour usually departs at 11:00am, while a Spanish-language edition runs at 10:00am.
Tips for Taking the Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO Neighborhood Tour
- Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO Tour is included on several money saving tourist passes including the New York Pass, Go NY All-Inclusive Pass and NY Explorer Pass
- If it’s your intention to reserve a spot on the Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO Neighborhood Tour with an attraction pass, be sure and carefully follow all the booking instructions found on the Inside Out Tours official website. They have a very specific way they want you to go about procuring your tour reservations with an attraction pass, and if you accidentally buy another ticket, no exchanges or refunds will be granted.
- In order to meet up with your guide across the street from the Tweed Courthouse, just look for an individual holding a red flag emblazoned with the words “Inside Out Tours.” Make sure to arrive on time for your tour, because all Inside Out Tours excursions depart promptly on schedule. If you’re late, it will be very difficult to catch up with your group.
- A couple of the sites profiled during your Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO Neighborhood Tour are notable attractions you might want to explore more in depth on your own time. These include most prominently the Tweed Courthouse and the David N. Dinkins Manhattan Municipal Building. However, keep in mind that your Inside Out Tours experience doesn’t include admission to these sites.
- Please be advised that your Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO Neighborhood Tour will take place regardless of the weather—even if the forecast calls for rain. In the rare event of extreme weather conditions, Inside Out Tours may cancel the tour. In the odd chance this happens, you’ll be entitled to a full refund for the cost of your tour ticket.