When George and I visited New York in 2018, we managed to get a great deal on our stay in the Pod Hotel, Brooklyn. Not only is it a fab hotel with a chill vibe (rooftop yoga anyone?) they also offered free bicycle hire!
So how could we resist plotting some of the top sites on a map and jumping on a couple of bikes for the day.
If the idea of cycling around Manhattan sounds terrifying to you then let me reassure you, I’m not a great cyclist and I hate cycling on roads. I once used a Boris Bike in London and nearly had a panic attack. The grid system and abundant cycle lanes are really helpful in New York. The straight roads mean you don’t have to keep stopping to check which way you’re going and if one road is super busy, you can use an alternative parallel street. The bike I borrowed was also too big for me, meaning I couldn’t easily put my feet on the ground when we stopped yet I still managed!
So if you’re interested here is our cycle route:
The great thing about this route is that all of the sights are outdoors so no need to lock up your bike anywhere. Plus you can do it all yourself, at your own pace, so no worries about keeping up with a tour group.
Don’t be fooled by the 1 hour 42 minutes that Google suggests, this took us all day as we stopped for a while at each spot and sometimes in between. We also spent a good chunk of time in Central Park too. Also, don’t forget to factor in your route back to wherever you’re staying.
Crossing the Williamsburg Bridge and heading south
I was initially quite panicked about crossing the bridge from Brooklyn into Manhattan but the cycle path is completely separate fro the cars so its no trouble at all.
Once in Manhattan, we cycled through Little Italy and China Town then into the financial district where we stopped to see the famous Charging Bull and Fearless Girl statues on Wall Street.
From there we cycled to the tip of Manhattan to the Battery, a park with views out towards the Statue of Liberty. You can also take ferries out to the statue from there too. We didn’t on this occasion but I have in the past. You do get a good view of the statue from the ferry but the view isn’t any better on the actual island so some people just take the ferry there and back without getting off.
Union Square & The Flatiron
Union Square is a lovely place to stop to catch your breath, especially if the flower market is on!
Next up is the Flatiron Building, famous for its triangular shape.
Times Square
If you have the time and energy, just before Times Square, take a short detour to visit the New York Public Library in Bryant Park and Grand Central Terminal. Only stop for these if you have a bike lock as you’ll want to go inside. We visited these on a different day.
Times Square feels like a must-visit when you go to New York but it really is just a square filled with adverts and chain restaurants and shops. Whilst you’re there though, you can get discounted tickets to selected broadway shows at the TKTS booth.
Central Park
Once you’ve reached Central Park it’s plain sailing from there! If you’ve got the energy, you could even do a full loop. Just don’t forget to factor in your time getting back to your hotel.
If you have a go at this DIY route or you want to suggests other places to stop along the way, leave a reply below and let me know!
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