As a native New Yorker who has ridden the subway for decades, I (and hundreds of thousands of other New Yorkers) was thrilled when the NYC Ferry began running in 2017.
Like my fellow tour guides, I’ve used the ferry as a commuter, but I’ve also taken the ferry with out-of-town guests to show them the city.
You too can use the ferry as transportation when sightseeing, as you go from neighborhood to neighborhood - sort of like a hop-on, hop-off bus.
Below is a self-guided tour of several neighborhoods using the ferry from E. 34th Street to Wall Street.
I'll go over what to see at each stop, where and how to board the ferries, ticket costs and other practical information.
Now let’s hop on the ferry!
TICKETS
Before you decide to use the ferry to get around between sightseeing destinations, there is an important consideration.
If you get off the ferry to explore a neighborhood and return afterward to get back on a ferry to continue on this self-guided tour, you must buy a new ticket.
For detailed information on using the ferry, see our post Guide to the NYC Ferry with Schedule, Map, and Routes.
Buying your tickets
You have three options. Purchase your tickets:
- at the ferry landing ticket machines using a credit card, debit card, or cash
- through the website
- the NYC Ferry app
If you buy through the website or app, you will show your phone to the ferry staff when boarding.
Our guide to the NYC Ferry explains in detail how to use the app.
2025 ticket prices to be updated. Last year's prices:
- Adult One-way Pass $4.50
- Senior Citizens (65+), Persons with disabilities, $1.35
- Children: up to 2 children under 44" tall ride free when accompanied by an adult.
- 10-trip Pass $29
- Free transfer to another ferry route within 120 minutes of starting your trip.
With tickets at $4.50 per person per ride, using the ferry for this self-guided tour can be expensive.
Below, you'll find a money-saving tip I tell my tour guests about if they plan to use this self-guided ferry tour.
Boarding the Ferry
Getting onto the ferry is easy.
But getting onto the wrong ferry is also easy if you don't know the boarding process.
This tour uses the East River route of the NYC Ferry. This is just one of several routes offered by the service.
Some landings service additional routes so you need to pay attention to which ferry you board.
At each landing, lines will form to board ferries. There are usually ropes separating the lines for different ferry routes.
Look for signs on the dock for the EAST RIVER ROUTE and join that line.
If you aren't sure if you are in the right line, ask someone next to you.
You can look for ferry staff, but there aren't many of them at the landings.
When you board, you will show your phone to the ticket taker if you bought your ticket via the website or app or hand them your paper ticket.
Don't worry -- you got this!
Take a look at our guide to the NYC Ferry to become familiar with the service and see what other routes there are.
SELF-GUIDED TOUR
Below are the stops on this self-guided ferry tour, along with things to do at each stop.
Here's a map of the six stops.
Click on the map to enlarge.
1. Starting Point - East 34th Street Stop
The ferry landing is on the east side of Midtown Manhattan at FDR Drive between E.35th Street and E. 36th Street (map).
It’s pretty easy to get to the ferry landing.
If you are in Midtown Manhattan, you can take a crosstown bus along 34th Street.
If you are coming from another location, you can use a combination of the subway and a crosstown bus.
Buses along 34th Street
- M34A - SBS
- M34 - SBS
- SBS stands for Select Bus Service, a fast bus with priority lanes.
Subway stops
- A/C/E and 1/2/3 to 34th Street-Penn Station
- B/D/F/M and N/Q/R/W to 34th Street- Herald Square
- 6 to 33rd Street
Another option is to walk to the ferry landing, but crosstown blocks are longer than uptown-downtown blocks, so it will take more time and be more of a workout!
An important note: two ferry services use this landing, the NYC Ferry (that's what you want) and the Seastreak ferries.
Look for the blue sign and ticket vending machine on the right for the correct part of the landing to wait.
What to do near the E. 34th Street ferry landing
This ferry stop is in the heart of Midtown Manhattan and close to some of the best sights in NYC.
There are two observation decks, the Empire State Building at 34th Street and Summit One Vanderbilt at 42nd Street.
Also on 42nd Street at Lexington Avenue is the splendid Grand Central Station, which I consider a must-see in NYC.
Times Square is at 42nd Street and Broadway and Rockefeller Center is at 49th Street and 5th Avenue.
As you pull away from the ferry dock, look back for this unbelievable view!
2. Greenpoint Stop
The ferry landing is at 10 India Street, Brooklyn (map).
Greenpoint isn't a typical tourist destination, but if you want to mix with the locals, you'll find a mix of Polish-Americans and trendy young people who can't afford Williamsburg!
For me, Greenpoint is a destination only if I have specific plans, like meeting friends at Paulie Gee’s, one of the very best pizzerias in NYC.
One thing you might like to do in the area is to relax in Transmitter Park, right near the ferry landing, where you will have great views of Midtown Manhattan.
To be frank, I think it's reasonable to skip Greenpoint if all you want are great views because you can get plenty at the next stop!
If you want amazing kielbasa and pierogi, definitely hop off here.
3. North Williamsburg Stop
The ferry landing is at North 6th Street and Kent Ave. (map).
Right next to the ferry landing, you can get exceptional panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline.
Williamsburg is a neighborhood I think is worth exploring to get a taste of Brooklyn.
Like Greenpoint, it’s a mix of long-time residents and young "hipsters".
You can wander around and see awesome street art, shop at independent boutiques and vintage stores, and get a bite to eat.
Read about the many things to do in Williamsburg.
4. South Williamsburg Stop
The ferry landing here is at 40 Kent Ave. (map).
The vibe here is the same as in North Williamsburg, though it is somewhat less crowded.
For a simple experience, walk along Broadway (Brooklyn has one too!), stop at a cafe and hang out in Domino Park right next to the ferry landing for fantastic skyline views!
For visitors to NYC, perhaps the most famous thing about South Williamsburg is the famous and historic Peter Luger's Steak House. So good!
Again, see our post for things to do in Williamsburg.
5. DUMBO Stop
The ferry landing is at Old Fulton St & Furman St. (map).
DUMBO is a neighborhood nestled between the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge.
In the picture below, you can see a group of tour guests on a DUMBO tour next to the ferry landing.
As you can see, the views of the skyline are outstanding from DUMBO.
Dumbo's one of my favorite neighborhoods, with historic warehouses, turned into art spaces, off-beat stores and ample green space on the waterfront.
I say, get off the ferry here and get pizza at the famous Grimaldi's or Juliana’s (I think the better of the two, with shorter lines!)
See what other things you can do in DUMBO.
Many people combine a visit to DUMBO with a walk over the Brooklyn Bridge.
In fact, you might make this your last stop on the ferry and then walk back to Manhattan.
To go it alone, check out our guide on walking the Brooklyn Bridge, with tips to help you have a smooth journey.
TIP: If you are in Manhattan, we run a sunset tour called Across the Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO Tour you might like to join.
The tour comes with a ferry ticket back to Manhattan.
6. Wall Street/ Pier 11 Stop
This is the last stop on this self-guided tour.
The Wall Street/Pier 11 ferry landing is at the eastern end of Wall Street in Lower Manhattan (map).
As you approach the ferry landing, you will have this view!
Lower Manhattan is one of the oldest neighborhoods in NYC and played an enormous role in the birth of the United States.
I always bring my out-of-town guests from other countries for a long walk through Lower Manhattan to teach them about American history.
So many of my American tour guests have said they were surprised to see just how many locations we visited were so crucial to the Revolutionary War.
Some modern-day highlights of the area are the 9/11 Memorial and Museum and the One World Observatory (aka Freedom Tower).
There is also Wall Street and the South Street Seaport. Our post on Lower Manhattan has dozens of other things to see.
So this concludes your self-guided ferry tour.
I hope you saw a lot of terrific things and loved your journey on the water as well.
Money Saving Tip
Here’s a money-saving tip I tell my tour guests if they plan to use this self-guided ferry tour.
Consider buying the 10-trip pass instead of individual tickets.
See if this makes sense for you by doing the following:
- Count how many times you plan to get off the ferry and get back on after checking out the neighborhood.
- Multiply that number by the number of people in your group.
- This will be the total number of tickets you will need.
- If you need at least 10 tickets (example: 2 people x 5 stops), buy a 10-trip pass, then any remaining rides at the regular price.
Here’s an example of how it works:
Let’s say there are two of you and you want to get off at 3 stops. You will need your first ticket, then 3 others.
That’s a total of 4 tickets per person at $4.50 each, for a total of $36.
The 10-trip pass is $29. Even if you don't use all the rides, you've saved $7. That will get you two New York hot dogs!
Happy journey!
