As local guides living in New York City, my colleagues and I love the option of using the NYC Ferry (formerly the East River Ferry) to travel around.
The ferry service is a wonderful alternative to the subway since the views are a lot nicer and, in some cases, it's faster!
Plus, at just $4.50 per ticket, it's the cheapest boat ride in NYC besides the free Staten Island Ferry.
This post covers the NYC Ferry, ticket costs, schedules, the routes and what you can do at stops along each route.
Our local tour guides who live in the neighborhoods serviced by the ferry contributed suggestions of the best things to do at each of the stops, should you choose to hop off and explore the area.
From most of the routes, you can see the Freedom Tower, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Empire State Building and so much more of the city skyline.
One way to combine your NYC sightseeing with a ferry ride for stunning views is to take our Brooklyn Bridge, DUMBO and East River Ferry tour which includes a ferry ticket.
Keep in mind that the NYC Ferry is not a hop-on, hop-off ferry service.
If you get off the ferry to look around the area, you will need to buy a new ticket to get on another ferry.
If you are curious about hop-on, hop-off ferries, read our post on which New York boat tour or cruise is best.
- NYC Ferry Map + Routes
- How to Buy Tickets
- Other Ferry Routes
- Self-Guided Tour using the NYC Ferry
- Boat Rides and Cruises in NYC
- 28 Great Views of NYC
EAST RIVER ROUTE
This route is great for visitors who want to get fantastic views in a short amount of time.
From start to finish the ride is 43 minutes with great views all around. All for just $4.50!
SCHEDULE
Monday-Friday
- From Wall St./Pier 11- first departure at 6:24 am. Last departure 8:40 pm.
- From Hunters Point South - first departure at 6:32 am. Last departure 8:48 pm.
- See the ferry schedule for exact times.
Weekends
- From Wall St. - first departure at 8:04 am then every 50 minutes. Last departure 9:37 pm.
- From Hunters Point South - first departure 8:04 am, then approximately every 30 minutes. The last departure is 9:58 pm.
- See the ferry schedule for exact times.
NOTE: While plenty of tourists ride this ferry for the experience, it is primarily a commuter ferry. We recommend that you avoid "rush hours" (8 am-10 am) and (4 pm-6 pm) - or be prepared for crowds.
See the full schedule here.
THINGS TO DO AT EACH STOP
Wall Street/Pier 11
- Take a tour of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.
- Explore Lower Manhattan on your own or with us on one of our many Lower Manhattan tours.
- Go to the top of One World Observatory (Freedom Tower).
- Take a Wall Street tour since you will disembark there.
- Visit the South Street Seaport with stunning waterfront views.
- See the Charging Bull of Wall Street, Federal Hall, and the Stock Exchange.
DUMBO
- Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge as the pedestrian path entrance is in DUMBO.
- Discover this cool neighborhood! Join us on our DUMBO, Brooklyn Bridge and East River Ferry tour which includes a ferry ticket
- Visit the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, just a short walk from the ferry landing.
- Consider taking our pay-what-you-like DUMBO walking tour.
South Williamsburg
- Hang out in Domino Park with great views of the city.
- Walk along Broadway (Brooklyn has one too!) and stop at a cafe.
- Spend a special night out dining at Peter Luger's Steak House.
North Williamsburg
- Visit Marsha P. Johnson Park and North 5th Street Pier both with amazing views of the Manhattan skyline.
- Hang out on Bedford Avenue for great restaurants and bars.
- Love Street Art? We have a Williamsburg Street Art Tour that begins just 10 minutes away from the ferry.
- You can also take the L train to Bushwick and check out our Bushwick Street Art tour.
Greenpoint
- Check out the relaxing Transmitter Park right near the ferry landing. It’s a prime spot for unsurpassed panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline.
- Eat some of the best pizza in New York City at Paulie Gee's, consistently voted one of the top 10 pizzerias in NYC.
East 34th Street
At the East 34th Street ferry terminal, there is a free shuttle bus that stops near Midtown sights that are likely on your NYC bucket list.
- Visit the Empire State Building.
- Take our pay-what-you-wish walking tour of Grand Central or explore it on your own!
- See the lights of Times Square.
- Join us on our pay-what-you-like Midtown Manhattan Tour.
- Take a self-guided tour of Rockefeller Center.
- Visit the United Nations.
Hunters Point South
- Head to Transmitter Brewing, a micro-brewery known for its unusual craft beers. If you like to imbibe, see our other posts:
HOW TO BUY TICKETS
There are two ticket types available: a one-way ticket and a 30-day pass typically meant for commuter use.
You cannot use your subway MetroCard. You must buy a ferry ticket. Also, there are no free transfers to subways or buses from the ferries.
There are two ways to buy tickets.
You can either purchase your tickets at the ferry landing ticket machines using a credit card, debit card, or cash.
The other option is to purchase your tickets through their website or the NYC ferry app and then redeem your ticket by showing your phone when you board the ferry.
Ticket Prices as of 2025
- Adult One-way Pass $4.50
- Senior Citizens, aged 65 and older, Persons with disabilities, current participants in the Fair Fares $1.35
- Children: up to two children under the height of 44 inches ride free when accompanied by an adult.
- Bicycle ticket $1.00 one-way
- 10 Trip Pass $29.00
One-way tickets include free transfers within the NYC Ferry system for up to 120 minutes once you start your one-way trip. You cannot transfer if you purchase a round-trip ticket.
For additional information about tickets, click here.
TIP: Some NYC subway apps have begun including the ferry in suggested routes. For more information, see our post listing the best NYC subway apps.
South Brooklyn Route
For this route, check out our guide to things to do in Brooklyn.
THINGS TO DO AT EACH STOP
Corlears Hook Park
- Take a Lower East Side Food Tour.
- Visit the Tenement Museum.
- Eat at Katz's Delicatessen.
- Explore Chinatown or take a Chinatown Food Tour.
Wall Street/Pier 11 (see above) and DUMBO (see above)
Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 6
- From the ferry landing, it is a 13-minute walk to the start of our pay-what-you-like Brooklyn Heights Walking Tour.
- The ferry landing is next to the phenomenal Brooklyn Bridge Park. It is one of the best places to bring kids in NY who can ride the historic Jane's Carousel.
- You can also visit the famed Brooklyn Heights Promenade for breathtaking views. It also has a great view at night, and it’s free. In fact, it’s one of the top free things to do at night in NYC.
Red Hook
- This waterfront enclave was a historically industrial neighborhood but underwent major transformation since the late 1990s.
- It is now an art and culture destination with a fun restaurant and bar scene.
- You can get an amazing view of the Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan from Valentino Pier.
Governors Island
- This small island in the middle of the harbor is a playground for both kids and grown-ups. Read our post on things to do on Governors Island.
- There is a separate seasonal route between Governors Island and Pier 11.
Brooklyn Army Terminal/Sunset Park
- Sunset Park is NYC's second-largest Chinatown. Try any number of the great Chinese restaurants and the ferry ride will have been worth it.
- TIP: If you haven't visited the oldest Chinatown in New York City, join us for our pay-what-you-like Chinatown Food Tour.
- You can also hike over to Green-wood Cemetery, one of the most beautiful green spaces in the city located on a hill from which you can see all the way to the Statue of Liberty.
Bay Ridge
- Definitely for commuters only. You may want to hop off the ferry at one of the earlier stops as Bay Ridge is very residential and a far subway ride back to the city.
Staten Island/St. George Route
Midtown West/W. 39th Street
At the ferry landing, there is a free shuttle bus that stops near popular Midtown Manhattan sights (see above).
- Walk 8 minutes to Hudson Yards and Edge Observatory for amazing views of NYC.
- Visit the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, just a 7-minute walk from the ferry landing.
- Go to the High Line which is just a 15-minute walk away. Check out our pay-what-you-like High Line tours!
Battery Park City
- Walk just 10 minutes to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum and One World Observatory (Freedom Tower).
- See Lower Manhattan on your own or with us on one of our many Lower Manhattan tours.
- Explore the area with our guide to things to do in Battery Park.
Staten Island/St. George Landing
Before buying a ferry ticket to this stop, read our post on taking the amazing free Staten Island Ferry!
We also list some things you can do on Staten Island when you are there!
Astoria Route
THINGS TO DO AT EACH STOP
Wall Street/Pier 11 (see above)
Brooklyn Navy Yard
- The Brooklyn Navy Yard was an active navy yard from 1801 to 1966 building well-known US battleships. It is now the site of an industrial complex with offices and a few restaurants.
- Visit the Bldg 92 Museum which has three exhibition floors showcasing the past, present, and future of the Navy Yard.
- Beat the lines for one of NYC's best bagels at the outpost of the Russ & Daughters.
- Walk to DUMBO (see above) in ten minutes.
East 34th Street (see above)
Long Island City
- Go to MoMA P.S. 1, a branch of the Museum of Modern Art.
- See sculpture for free at Socrates Sculpture Park, an outdoor museum with waterfront views of Manhattan, or the Noguchi Museum, with works by sculptor Isamu Noguchi.
- TIP: Check out our extensive list of free museums in NYC.
- Go kayaking! The Long Island City Boathouse offers free kayaking in the East River during the summer!
Roosevelt Island
- This small island is located on the East River accessed by an aerial tram that is a thrilling 3-minute ride with spectacular views.
- We highly recommend you take this tram ride if you have the time. Then use our self-guided tour to explore the island.
Astoria
- Check out NYC's largest outdoor beer garden at Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden
- Go to the Museum of the Moving Image. For cinema lovers, this preeminent history museum will not disappoint.
- No visit to Astoria is complete without eating some Greek food. Find recommendations here.
East 90th Street
- This ferry dock is in the Upper East Side, a mainly residential area. There are a few things to do nearby and destinations you can get to via crosstown bus.
- Head to Central Park and The Metropolitan Museum of Art on 5th Avenue via the crosstown bus on E. 86th Street.
- Take a tour of Gracie Mansion, the historic house of New York City's mayors since 1942.
- Visit the lovely Carl Schurz Park and walk along the East River.
Rockaway Route
THINGS TO DO AT EACH STOP
Rockaway Walk 5 minutes to Rockaway Beach, one of the nicest and most popular beaches in New York City.
Wall Street/Pier 11 (see above)
Sunset Park (see above)
Coney Island Route
There is a route between Coney Island and Pier 11 at Wall Street in progress. Follow our post on Coney Island for the latest news on this route.
WHAT DOES REDDIT SAY?
While our local guides had a lot of great things to say about the NYC Ferry, it's good to see what other perspectives are out there.
New Yorkers are quite active on Reddit so I looked to see what they had to say.
Here a Reddit user asks if the ferry can serve as a substitute for a sightseeing cruise since it is cheaper. They also want to know which ferry offers a close-up view of the Statue of Liberty.
Most replies said that if the goal was to see Lady Liberty close up, taking the free Staten Island Ferry instead of a sightseeing cruise would be fine.
This Reddit agrees about the Staten Island Ferry but adds that the NYC Ferry's route from Wall Street to East 34th Street also has a nice view of more of Manhattan than just Lower Manhattan which is what the Staten Island Ferry provides.
Still, the reply does point out that it is not the same as a tour.
Another commenter said that the only thing one misses by taking a ferry over a sightseeing cruise is the commentary pointing out the buildings, but the views are the same.
Reddit wouldn't be Reddit if there wasn't some disagreement in threads!
Whereas the previous comment said to skip a boat tour, this below commenter enjoyed the Circle Line sightseeing cruise and thought it was worth the cost.
In the end, you have to assess your goals. Is the only thing you care about getting close to the Statue of Liberty and briefly enjoying views of Lower Manhattan like you can by taking a ferry?
Or do you want to see more of Manhattan and other parts of NYC with informative and entertaining commentary as you would on a sightseeing cruise?
Whichever you decide to do, enjoy your ride!
