This post is a guide to taking the Staten Island Ferry, a free ferry.
We share insider tips such as the best time to take the ferry and where to stand for the best views of the Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan.
- How to Get Here
- Best Times to Ride
- What You Will See
- Other Things to Do Near the Ferry
- Statue of Liberty Ferry
- Other NYC Boat Tours
This is by far the best bargain in New York City and one of the most memorable things you could do during your trip.
For more travel ideas, check out our definitive guide "Things to Do in NYC".
The ferry is a commuter ferry that shuttles back and forth from The Whitehall Terminal at the tip of Manhattan to the St. George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island.
You can even ride the ferry at night since it runs 24 hours a day!
Audio Tour
We have created a GPS-led audio tour to accompany you on your ride to Staten Island and back.
Have one of our tour guides show you what you are seeing from the ferry.
Here's a sample of what you will hear.
Download it now. $2.99
HOW TO GET TO THE FERRY TERMINAL
The Staten Island Ferry leaves from the Whitehall Ferry Terminal, which stands on the southern tip of Lower Manhattan.
It's best to start off by just using this Google Maps link for directions to the Staten Island Ferry, by subway, bus, car, or on foot.
Most people will come by subway, and there are numerous train lines that are within a reasonable walking distance, so you most likely won't have to change trains to get here.
If you are new to the subway system, check out our posts on which subway pass to buy and navigating the New York subway. Also, see our post on free subway apps.
Directions by subway
- 1 train to South Ferry - right next to the terminal
- R train to Whitehall Street - a short two-block walk to the terminal
- 4 or 5 trains to Bowling Green - approximately a 7-minute walk to the terminal
- If the above lines are not convenient for you, you can use these stations, but will require you to walk about 15 minutes to reach the terminal:
- J and Z trains to Broad Street
- 2 and 3 trains to Wall Street
If you are considering purchasing a hop-on-hop-off bus ticket to get you around or to give you an overview of NYC, then note that all companies have a stop near the Staten Island Ferry.
Podcast Episode: Listen to tour guides Lori and Katherine discuss taking the free Staten Island Ferry on an episode of our NYC Travel Tips podcast.
This podcast offers bite-sized audio clips with tips on how to plan your trip to NYC.
You can get our podcasts on Apple, Google, or wherever you get your podcasts.
How Long is the Staten Island Ferry Round Trip?
You should plan for at least 60 - 90 minutes for your journey once you arrive at Whitehall Ferry Terminal in Lower Manhattan.
The ferry rides each way are approximately 25-30 minutes.
You must get off at the Staten Island side and you can join the queue to take the same ferry back to Manhattan, so it is possible to spend an hour on the ride back and forth.
However, depending on the size of the crowd that is waiting to go to Manhattan, you may need to take the next ferry for the return trip to Manhattan.
NOTE: You can't get off of the ferry at the Statue of Liberty. We have a detailed post on how to get to the Statue of Liberty.
Is the Staten Island Ferry Free?
The Staten Island Ferry is free! That means the price is zero. There is no ticket or MetroCard needed to ride the ferry in either direction.
Beware of scammers trying to sell you a ticket for the Staten Island Ferry.
What is the Ferry's Schedule?
The Staten Island ferry runs 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. You can ride it day and night. Night rides are quite beautiful.
The ferry schedule is easy to understand. The ferries run every 30 minutes, on the hour and on the half-hour (so, 12:00, 12:30, 1:00, 1:30).
There is one exception. During weekday rush hours, the ferries run every 15 minutes.
Rush hours are 6:00 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. in the morning and 3:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. in the late afternoon and evening.
We recommend that you check the schedule and their website for any changes and updates.
TIP: If you take a night ride, you might consider combining it with our 9/11 Memorial and Brooklyn Bridge Tour offered at 8 p.m. on several days each week from March through October.
When is the Best Time to Take the Staten Island Ferry?
Assuming you are starting your voyage from Manhattan, the best time to take a ride is to avoid rush hours, particularly the afternoon rush hour.
According to the ferry's Facebook page, the most popular weekday off-peak times are from 12 p.m. - 3 p.m., with Wednesdays being the busiest day of the week.
If you want a less crowded ferry, we suggest that you take the ferry any weekday between 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. or after 7 p.m.
If you think 7 pm is too late, remember in the summer months, the sun sets much later.
And evening rides on the ferry are beautiful.
In fact, riding the Staten Island Ferry at this time is 1 of our top 10 things to do at night in NYC.
Keep in mind that these ferries are huge. They can carry over 6000 passengers.
You shouldn't have any issues taking photos of the Statue of Liberty or other sights along the way.
Bottom line: Take the ferry when it works best for your schedule. If you have flexibility, use our recommendations above. No matter what time, the ride will be amazing.
What else should you know?
- You must disembark the ferry at the Staten Island Terminal and then re-board to head back to Manhattan.
- Free Wi-Fi service is available in each terminal and also on the ferries.
- Bikes are permitted aboard the ferry.
- Snacks and food are sold on the ferry, including beer. They are a bit pricey though.
- There are bathrooms on the ferry, though not as clean as the bathrooms in the terminals.
- No smoking is allowed.
(Pictured above: Ferry Terminal entrance in Manhattan, inside the terminal,
the escalators to the ferry boarding area and people boarding the ferry.)
VIEWS FROM THE STATEN ISLAND FERRY
The ferry's route offers stunning views of Lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and Governors Island. +
You can also see the hilly terrain of Brooklyn and in particular, Brooklyn Heights.
You will have a slightly distant view of both the Brooklyn Bridge and the Verazzano-Narrows Bridge.
Be sure to take our free guided audio tour to accompany you on your ride on the Staten Island Ferry.
And check out our post on the 28 best spots for views of New York City.
WHERE TO STAND TO GET THE BEST VIEWS
Since the ferries ride back and forth the same route every day, you will have a view of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island on both legs of the round-trip.
Most people want to see Lady Liberty right away, so when you board in Manhattan, head to the right side (starboard side) of the ferry and make your way upstairs to the outdoor deck.
Stake a spot along the railing and as far to the back of the vessel as you can.
This ensures that you will have the best view possible to see the Statue of Liberty on your ride out to Staten Island.
Not all ferries are identical, but the image below is of a typical vessel.
On your return trip, you might like to see the other view, so again, when you board to return to Manhattan, go to the right side (starboard side) upstairs deck of the ferry.
Although, it should be a bit less crowded on the Statue of Liberty side on the return trip.
For the best Lower Manhattan views and photo-ops, you must be at the back of the ferry when departing Manhattan and the front of the ferry when departing Staten Island.
One more point, you can still get good views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and other points of interest in New York Harbor from the lower decks.
These decks usually don't have outside seating, but there are windows and you can get good photos.
THINGS TO DO IN LOWER MANHATTAN BEFORE OR AFTER YOUR FERRY RIDE
The Staten Island Ferry is one of the best free attractions in NYC and its Lower Manhattan location means there are lots to do before or after your ride.
Be sure to schedule your ride on the Staten Island Ferry so that you return to take our guided Lower Manhattan Tour.
If it's not scheduled when you are there, use our self-guided tour of Things to Do in Lower Manhattan and our Lower Manhattan Audio Tour.
Click here to get information on downloading our audio tours on iOS or Android.
We also offer a self-guided tour of the area around the Staten Island landing.
Whether on a guided tour or just roaming downtown, there are so many things to do, you could easily spend an entire day exploring Manhattan below Chambers Street from river to river!
Here are our recommendations:
- Head over to Wall Street and take a Wall Street tour or explore it on your own with our Self-Guided Walking Tour of Wall Street.
- Plan in advance for a tour of the Federal Reserve where a whole lot of gold is kept!
- While you are there, see the outside of the New York Stock Exchange, and though you cannot go in, this virtual tour will show you what is going on inside this historical institution.
- Directly across from the Stock Exchange is the free Federal Hall monument. Climb the stairs and have your picture taken with a larger than life George Washington. Take a look inside. (FYI: there are public restrooms inside!)
- Visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. and soar to the sky at the top of One World Observatory (Freedom Tower). Head northeast to new, revitalized South Street Seaport with stunning waterfront views, shopping, and historic buildings and tall ships.
- Take advantage of being downtown and get discount Broadway tickets for that night! The ferry terminal is within walking distance of one of the TKTS booths. To see how to get discount Broadway tickets, see our post, TKTS and Discount Broadway Tickets.
- Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge! Our Brooklyn Bridge Visitor Guide helps you make the most of this unforgettable experience.
- Walk northwest and stroll around the relaxing neighborhood of TriBeCa with our Self-Guided Walking Tour.
- Visit historic and beautiful Trinity Church with its magnificent stained-glass windows.
- See Native American art and artifacts at the free Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian. It is housed in one of the most beautiful buildings in New York City, the old U.S. Customs House.
- Visit Fraunces Tavern, the pub where George Washington did when he said farewell to his troops as he left the military to become the first President of the United States.
- Take your picture with the iconic Charging Bull of Wall Street
STATEN ISLAND TOUR
This borough is often overlooked by tourists, but Staten Island has quite a bit to offer.
As shown in the video above, there are several attractions near the ferry terminal.
TIP: One secret tourists don't know about New York City is that Staten Island is home to some of the best pizza in the city!
To find out where you can grab an incredible slice or whole pie, see our post The Best Pizza in New York City.
Self-Guided Tour of St. George in Staten Island
Click on the interactive map to make it larger
(1) Staten Island Ferry Terminal 1 Bay Street
(2) Staten Island Yankees - 75 Richmond Terrace
Summer months only! The “Baby Bombers” are a single A, minor league baseball team affiliated with the major league New York Yankees.
They play in a 7,000-seat stadium that overlooks New York Harbor, so every seat is close to the action!
If you want to enjoy a baseball game at a fraction of major league prices, this is for you!!
The minor league season is pretty short, so check out their calendar to see if there is a game while you are in town!
(3) The Staten Island September 11th Memorial
The Esplanade, located on the Northern Shore of Staten Island, has unparalleled views of Manhattan’s skyline.
If you walk along it from the Ferry Terminal you will come to the Postcards Memorial, completed in 2004.
This memorial was the first 9/11 memorial completed in New York City and is dedicated to the 275 Staten Islanders who lost their lives in the 9/11 attack.
Each victim has a plaque with their name, date of birth, and where they worked at the time of the attack.
The two fiberglass structures frame the location of the former towers across the river.
(4) Staten Island Borough Hall 10 Richmond Terrace
Admission is FREE. Staten Island’s Borough Hall is 100 years old and serves as the seat of the Borough government.
The building is in the French Renaissance style and has a beautiful clock tower.
The lobby is decorated with 13 murals, measuring 6.5’ by 13’. These murals depict Staten Island history and were part of a Depression-era WPA project.
They are the largest collection of WPA artwork anywhere in New York City. More information here.
(5) St. George Theatre 35 Hyatt Street
This magnificent 1800-seat theatre opened in 1929 as a vaudeville and movie house.
During the day the lobby is open to the public so that visitors can admire the ornate interior, with its large chandeliers and grand staircases.
The theatre presents a full schedule of performances at night, so check out the St. George Theatre website to see the full lineup!
(6) Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden
If you are willing to take a 10-minute bus ride, visit the historic and bucolic Snug Harbor Center.
Opened in 1883 as a home for retired sailors, Snug Harbor covers 83 acres and has 20 different gardens.
There is also a collection of five Greek Revival buildings, the largest group of this kind in the United States.
Today these buildings are museums and art galleries, and one is the second oldest concert hall in New York City.
The enchanting gardens include the Victorian-style White Garden and the Secret Garden, which has a hedge maze.
There is also the New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden, which is the only one of its kind in the country. It is designed to reflect a Ming Dynasty Garden of the 18th and 19th centuries.
- Directions: After landing in Staten Island take the S40 bus at Gate D to travel along Richmond Terrace, less than a 10-minute ride. You can use a regular MetroCard on the bus. Tell the bus driver that you are going to Snug Harbor. To download directions click here
- Admission to the grounds: FREE
- Admission to the Scholar’s Garden: $5 for adults, $4 for students and seniors and FREE for children 12 and under
- Admission to the Newhouse Gallery: $5 for adults, $4 for students and seniors and FREE for children 12 and under
(7) The Staten Island Museum 1000 Richmond Terrace, Building A
- Suggested Admission (give what you can): $8/adults, $5/students & seniors, children 2-12/$2. Free for children under 2.
- Hours: Wednesday - Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm. Summer late nights: Thurs til 9 pm. Visit their website for more information.
This museum opened in 1881 and is home to over two million artifacts. They have an extensive art collection, ranging from Ancient Egyptian to Modern art.
There is a Natural Sciences collection that includes a “Cabinet of Curiosities” and exhibits of native animals.
The collection of Native American artifacts is considered to be the most comprehensive exhibit about Native Americans in the New York area.
There are artifacts in the collection that date back 12,000 years.
You can also learn about the Staten Island Ferry's history before you return for your return trip!
Quick Facts About Staten Island
Staten Island is the least populous of the five boroughs, but the third-largest in terms of land size.
Staten Island claimed to have the world’s largest landfill, called the Fresh Kills Landfill.
It closed in 2001, reopened briefly to receive the debris cleared from the World Trade Center site, and is now being converted into NYC’s second-largest park.
Staten Island is the only borough not connected to the New York City Subway system.
Cornelius Vanderbilt, the railroad tycoon, and financier of Grand Central Station were born in Port Richmond, Staten Island, on May 27, 1794, of Dutch/English background.
At 16, Vanderbilt started his own ferry service and he was the conductor of the ferries -- until he became one of the richest Americans in the 1800s.
Some of the first humans passed through Staten Island about 15,000 years ago. The first permanent settlers were a Lenape tribe, about 5,000 years ago.
The first recorded European contact with the island was by Giovanni Verrazano in 1520. He was sailing on the French ship La Dauphine and they anchored for one night.
The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, which spans the waterway between Brooklyn and Staten Island, is named for him.
The next European on the island was Henry Hudson, sailing for the Dutch. The island was named Staaten Eylandt (translation: States Island) in honor of the Dutch Parliament.
Staten Island was occupied by British troops throughout the American Revolution.
Staten Island became a part of New York City in 1898 when the five boroughs consolidated.
However, it was called the Borough of Richmond at the time (Staten Island is in Richmond County). It did not begin to be commonly called Staten Island until 1975.
Staten Island is the only borough without an NYC Department of Corrections major detention center.
Sailor’s Snug Harbor opened in 1833, as the country’s first home for retired seamen. Today it is a public park.
There was a movement in the 1980s in Staten Island that favored secession from New York City.
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