Brooklyn: What to Do and How to Get There from Manhattan

Three East River bridges — the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg — plus the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel connect Manhattan and Brooklyn by road. Which one makes sense depends on where you’re starting, where you’re going and the hour.

• Brooklyn Bridge — the most direct line between Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn Heights or DUMBO, and the most cinematic. It can slow considerably at rush hour.
• Manhattan Bridge — often the practical choice for DUMBO and Downtown Brooklyn, with the classic view framed in its arches from Washington Street below.
• Williamsburg Bridge — the natural crossing from the Lower East Side to Williamsburg’s restaurants and hotels.
• Hugh L. Carey Tunnel — useful from the West Side and Battery Park City toward Red Hook and Carroll Gardens.

The return trip into Manhattan may pass into the congestion relief zone below 60th Street; applicable charges are reflected in your quote.

DUMBO sits between the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges, with converted warehouses, galleries and the restored carousel in the park. Brooklyn Bridge Park runs south along the waterfront through a series of piers — lawns, playgrounds and some of the best skyline views anywhere in the city.

Above the park, the Brooklyn Heights Promenade offers a quieter, elevated look at Lower Manhattan and the harbor, with leafy brownstone streets behind it. Further east, Park Slope is all brownstones, cafés and the edge of Prospect Park; it’s a lovely, slower-paced visit for families.

Williamsburg is the evening neighborhood: hotel rooftops, waterfront dining near Domino Park and a dense run of restaurants and bars. Streets are busy at night, so pickup points are agreed rather than improvised.

1. Late-morning pickup in Midtown and a crossing over the Brooklyn Bridge.
2. A walk along the Brooklyn Heights Promenade while your chauffeur repositions to DUMBO.
3. Photographs on Washington Street and lunch near the water.
4. A short drive to Williamsburg for an afternoon of shops and an early dinner.
5. An unhurried evening return to your hotel over the Williamsburg Bridge.

Every stop is your choice — the order above is simply one that flows well. Our private NYC tours page explains how chauffeured itineraries are planned around you.

Some DUMBO streets are cobbled and narrow, and parts of the waterfront are pedestrian-only; your chauffeur will drop you as close as the streets allow and suggest the nearest pickup corner. With children, a Luxury SUV gives room for strollers, and child seats may be requested — confirmed in your quote.