Free self-guided walk · New York City

Lower Manhattan, from the Battery to the Brooklyn Bridge

A free self-guided walk from Battery Park past Bowling Green, Wall Street and Trinity Church to the 9/11 Memorial and City Hall, ending at the Brooklyn Bridge walkway.

Distance
3.1 km
Walking time
42 min
Allow
About 2.5 hours with stops
Stops
7

Open the route in Google MapsNew York City city guide

About this walk

Lower Manhattan is where New York began, and its old crooked streets still follow the Dutch town's layout. This walk runs from the harbour to the Brooklyn Bridge.

Keep going over the bridge to Brooklyn if you have the energy: the walk across is about 2 km.

  • Terrain: Flat and paved, step-free.
  • Best time: Weekend mornings, when the Financial District is quiet.

Route map

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Route and stop positions © OpenStreetMap contributors. North is up.

The stops

  1. Battery Park

    Start at the harbourside park with views of the Statue of Liberty; ferries for the statue leave from here.

  2. Bowling Green

    The city's oldest park, with the Charging Bull statue at its north end.

  3. Trinity Church

    A Gothic Revival church at the head of Wall Street; Alexander Hamilton is buried in its churchyard.

  4. Federal Hall

    On Wall Street, where George Washington took the oath as first president, facing the Stock Exchange.

  5. 9/11 Memorial

    The two memorial pools in the footprints of the Twin Towers.

  6. City Hall Park

    A park in front of City Hall.

  7. Brooklyn Bridge

    Finish at the start of the bridge walkway.

Tips

  • The memorial pools are free; the 9/11 Museum needs a ticket.
  • Statue of Liberty ferries should be booked only through the official seller, Statue City Cruises.
  • Stay in the pedestrian lane on the Brooklyn Bridge; the bike lane is separate.

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Sources and review date

This walk was last reviewed on 2026-10-28. Distance and walking time come from OpenStreetMap's walking router and don't include time at stops. Opening hours and access change; please check before you go.