Brooklyn Heights Promenade is an elevated pedestrian walkway in Brooklyn Heights, running above the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. Its 1,826-foot path gives you broad views across the East River to Lower Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty. Benches face the water and skyline, so you can pause for photos or watch the city lights come on. The promenade also borders historic Brooklyn Heights, where town houses and mansions line the neighborhood streets. Come for a short walk, or pair the views with a stroll through the surrounding area.
Views across the East River
The promenade runs along the western edge of Brooklyn Heights, raised above the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. From the walkway, you can look across the East River toward Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge. The Statue of Liberty is also visible across the harbor. Benches face the water, giving you places to sit with the skyline in view or take a break between photos.
The perspective changes as you walk. The Manhattan skyline fills the view, with the Brooklyn Bridge and harbor landmarks in the same panorama. After sunset, lights from downtown Manhattan stand out across the river. If you want to photograph the city, dusk and evening bring the illuminated skyline into view; during the day, a clear sky can make the buildings easier to pick out.
A walkway built above the expressway
Also known as the Esplanade, the Brooklyn Heights Promenade is a 1,826-foot-long pedestrian platform. It opened in 1950 and was built as a sound barrier for nearby homes against traffic from the expressway below. The highway remains part of the experience: you may hear its traffic while walking, even as the elevated path looks out over the river and city.
The promenade is part of the Brooklyn Heights Historic Preservation District. Historic town houses and mansions stand along the neighborhood side of the walkway, contrasting with the modern skyline across the water. The path connects a public viewpoint with streets known for their older residential architecture.
Making a walk of it
You can treat the promenade as a short outing of its own, stopping at the benches to watch the river and city, or make it part of a longer walk through Brooklyn Heights. The neighborhood’s residential streets offer a change of scene from the open views at the water’s edge. Brooklyn Bridge Park lies below the promenade, adding another nearby place to explore along the waterfront.
The path is exposed to the weather. A winter visit can mean fewer people on the walkway, but the riverside breeze can feel cold, so dress warmly. In summer heat, carry water. For a different view of the skyline, arrive around sunset and stay after dark, when Manhattan’s buildings are lit across the river.
Häufige Fragen
Is Brooklyn Heights Promenade free?
Yes. The promenade is a public walkway and is free to visit.
What can you see from Brooklyn Heights Promenade?
The view includes Lower Manhattan, the East River and the Brooklyn Bridge. You can also see the Statue of Liberty across the harbor.
When is the best time to visit?
Go around sunset for views of the changing light, and stay after dark to see Manhattan’s buildings illuminated.
