Dog-Friendly Attractions in New York City

The pedestrian-and-bike upper deck of the Brooklyn Bridge is fully open to leashed dogs and is one of the most photographed urban dog walks in the world. The bridge is 1.8 km across with separated walking and biking lanes (separation was completed in 2021), and the Manhattan-to-Brooklyn direction gives the best skyline views. Allow 45 minutes one-way at a relaxed pace.

The free 25-minute ferry between Whitehall (Manhattan) and St. George (Staten Island) passes the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, with the best free views in NYC. Leashed dogs ride free at all hours. The outdoor decks have plenty of space to stand with a dog and the round trip is a perfect 50-minute activity if the weather is fair.

A 2.3 km elevated linear park built on a former freight rail viaduct, opened in stages from 2009. Leashed dogs are welcome the full length of the park and there are designated water bowls at the 16th and 23rd Street access points. The park can be very crowded midday on weekends; a relaxed walk requires either early morning or off-season weekdays.