Do You Have to Cross a Bridge to Reach Manhattan?

No. While bridges are the most visible connections, Manhattan is also accessible via tunnels and ferries.

Major Crossings

Bridges (Free except where noted)

• Brooklyn Bridge – Pedestrian/bike/vehicle icon from DUMBO/Chinatown.
• Manhattan Bridge – Subway (B/D/N/Q) + vehicles from Flatbush.
• Williamsburg Bridge – Subway (J/M/Z) + vehicles from Williamsburg.
• Queensboro (Ed Koch) Bridge – Subway (N/Q/W) + vehicles from Long Island City.
• Robert F. Kennedy (Triborough) Bridge – Tolled; connects Manhattan, Bronx, Queens.
• George Washington Bridge – Tolled; upper/lower decks from Fort Lee, NJ.

Tunnels (All Tolled)

• Lincoln Tunnel – Three tubes from Weehawken, NJ to 39th St (midtown).
• Holland Tunnel – Two tubes from Jersey City to Canal St (downtown).
• Queens–Midtown Tunnel – From Long Island City to 36th St.
• Hugh L. Carey (Brooklyn–Battery) Tunnel – From Brooklyn to Battery Park.

Ferries (Pedestrian/Bike Only)

• NYC Ferry, NY Waterway, Seastreak routes from NJ, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx.
• Staten Island Ferry (free) from Whitehall Terminal.

So whether you drive, train, walk, or boat—there's a way in without ever touching a bridge deck.