What's the best way to do this? Should I start in Brooklyn and walk to Manhattan, or start in Manhattan and go halfway out and back?

Where can I get on and off the bridge and what are the closest subway stops at each end?

Is it an easy walk, including subway stops?

Also, if I start at Brooklyn, is the Brooklyn Heights Promenade a good add on, or will it be redundant? Would the Promenade require a different subway station?

Start in Brookkyn so you get the great views of the skyline as you walk to Manhattan

There are signs from the subway station to the bridge.

It is an easy walk

There are a number of subway stations on the Brooklyn side near the Heights and Bridge. We could make the best recommendation if we knew from where you were coming.

Once I walked into Brooklyn as a memorial to those walkers we saw on the news making an exodus on 9/11 and the year of the blackout.

Now I walk into the city to enjoy the skyline.

ellenem, I will be coming from mid-town manhattan, so I'll have easy access to several subway lines.

Two good posts for you to read
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=34656726


http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=34657518

Somewhere there's also a thread on walking from Grimaldi's (pizza) to the Brooklyn Bridge, but I can't find it.

There is a thread called "Directions to Grimaldi's Pizza and the ice cream shop in Brooklyn" that has some good information on it with directions. The OP is Amanda.

I don't want to hijack, but would someone mind posting instructions for using the subway for my brother? He will be staying at the Eastgate at 39th between 2nd & 3rd. He wants to take his family from the hotel to Brooklyn via subway (that's where we need the instructions!), go to jacques torres, etc. and walk back across the bridge. I haven't used the subways that much and don't mind messing around with it myself, but the last thing I want to do is send him off on the wrong train!

Thanks in advance

Margo, have them go to Grand Central Terminal and take either the 4 (Express) or 5 train DOWNTOWN to Fulton St. (still in Manhattan). There they switch to the A or C train (to 'Brooklyn) for 1 stop to High St. in Brooklyn. Here's some walking directions

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g6...yn.Bridge.html

Thank you McLaurie, this is perfect and exactly what they need!

bill, really truly virtually every train that goes to Brooklyn has a stop not far from the Brooklyn Bridge. Where are you staying? East side? West side?

The closest stop is the High St station of the A or C that mclaurie mentions, but many NYers would avoid taking the time to change trains if they could and walk a block or two further.

For instance rather than change at Fulton as mclaurie suggests, I'd stay on th 4 or 5 to Borough Hall and walk across the small park to the bridge. The 2 or 3 at Clark St is not far, nor is the r train at Court St.