Staten Island Ferry: the harbour for free
The Staten Island Ferry is public transport, not a tour. It also happens to be the best free ride in New York: twenty-five minutes across the harbour each way, past the Statue of Liberty.
- What it is
- On the water
- Time to allow
- 1 to 1.3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Best time
- At sunset, coming back towards Manhattan
New York this week
Why the Staten Island Ferry is worth it
The ferry is run by the city and carries the people of Staten Island to work in Manhattan and home again. The crossing is 8.4 kilometres and takes about twenty-five minutes. Boats leave every fifteen to twenty minutes at the busy hours and every half hour otherwise, all day and all night, every day of the year. There has been no fare since 1997.
On the way out the boat passes within sight of Governors Island, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, which stands off to the right across the water. Ahead is the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, and beyond it the open sea.
On the way back the towers of Lower Manhattan rise straight out of the water in front of you, growing as you come in. It is the approach that every ship made for three hundred years, and the reason to time the trip for the end of the day.
What to see
The Statue of Liberty
Stand on the right-hand side of the boat going out, the left coming back. The outside decks at either end are best. The statue is distant: this is a view of it, not a visit.
The skyline
On the return, go to the front. One World Trade Center stands above everything, and the Brooklyn Bridge shows to the right as you turn in.
The Whitehall Terminal
The glass hall on the Manhattan side where you wait. The doors open a few minutes before sailing and everyone walks on together.
The harbour at work
Container ships at anchor, tugs, the other ferries, and the orange boats of the same line passing in the opposite direction.
How to do it well
- It is free. There are no tickets, and anyone who tries to sell you one outside the terminal is cheating you.
- Everyone must get off at Staten Island. Walk round through the terminal and board the next boat back: it usually leaves within a few minutes.
- Avoid the commuter hours, eight to nine in the morning and five to seven in the evening, when the boats are full of people who have seen the view.
- It is cold on deck even in summer, once the boat is moving.
- This is not the way to land at the statue. For that you need the ferry of Statue City Cruises, from the other end of the Battery.
Where it is
Address
Whitehall Terminal, 4 South Street, at the southern tip of Manhattan
Nearest station
South Ferry (1) or Whitehall Street (R, W), at the door. Bowling Green (4, 5) is five minutes away
Museums and sights nearby
- Brooklyn Bridge1.5 km
- Statue of Liberty3.0 km
Distances are in a straight line.
Tickets and tours: Staten Island Ferry
Staten Island Ferry: common questions
- Is the Staten Island Ferry really free?
- Yes. The city has charged no fare since 1997. You walk into the terminal and onto the boat. No ticket is needed in either direction.
- Can you see the Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry?
- Yes, across the water, on the right-hand side going out from Manhattan. The ferry does not stop at the statue. To land on Liberty Island you need the ferry of Statue City Cruises.
- How long is the Staten Island Ferry ride?
- About twenty-five minutes each way. With the change of boats at Staten Island, allow an hour to an hour and a quarter for the round trip.
- How much time do you need for the Staten Island Ferry?
- Allow 1 to 1.3 hours. That is this site's estimate for an unhurried visit.
What visitors say about the Staten Island Ferry
Rating from Google
Things to do near the Staten Island Ferry
The nearest of this site's best things to do in the city. Distances are in a straight line.
- 5Visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum1.2 km awayMuseum, 2 to 3 hours, memorial free, ticket for the museum
- 14Look down on the harbour from One World Observatory1.3 km awayMonument, 1 to 1.5 hours, ticket
- 7Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge1.5 km awayWalk, 1 to 2 hours, free
- 19Eat your way through Chinatown and Little Italy2.1 km awayWalk, 2 to 3 hours, free
Artists to see near the Staten Island Ferry
The museums nearest to here, and the most famous artists on show in each.
Whitney Museum of American Art, 4.3 km away
The Museum of Modern Art, 7.3 km away
Where to eat near the Staten Island Ferry
The nearest of the famous tables this site lists in New York. Distances are in a straight line.
- Fraunces Tavern4.5Tavern and museum, Financial District300 m away
- Delmonico's4.5Grand restaurant, Financial District500 m away
- Nom Wah Tea Parlor4.2Dim sum parlour, Chinatown1.9 km away
- Ferrara Bakery & Cafe4.4Pastry shop and café, Little Italy2.4 km away
Hotels near the Staten Island Ferry
The five-star hotels closest to it, of those this site lists in New York. Distances are in a straight line.
- The Wall Street Hotel4.8Five-star hotel, Wall Street700 m away
- Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown4.7Five-star hotel, Tribeca, by the World Trade Center1.3 km away
- The Greenwich Hotel4.7Five-star hotel, Tribeca2.1 km away
- Crosby Street Hotel4.6Five-star hotel, SoHo2.8 km away