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Staten Island Ferry

4.6 (155 reviews)

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Statue of Liberty
HoyMay P.

One of the best free things to do in New York is ride the Staten Island ferry. See beautiful cityscapes of Brooklyn, New York, and New Jersey. It's about a 20 minute ride to Staten Island. You must exit the ferry to return to New York. Sit inside or outside.

Thaovi T.

Honestly, I still can't believe this is completely free-and that you can just ride it back and forth as much as you want! Taking the ferry around sunset is an absolute must. You get the most incredible, unobstructed views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the lower Manhattan skyline as the sun goes down and all the city lights start turning on. It's super spacious, easy to board, and easily one of the best budget-friendly experiences in all of NYC.

Alaleh P.

The Whitehall terminal is modern, spacious, and open 24 hours a day, with large windows offering beautiful views of New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty. It's more than just a transportation hub and feels like a landmark of its own. What makes it especially useful is that the Staten Island Ferry Whitehall Terminal provides access to the free Staten Island Ferry, one of the best ways to see the Statue of Liberty and the New York skyline without buying a tour ticket. The ferry runs 24/7, the ride takes about 25 minutes each way, and the terminal is connected to several subway lines, making it very convenient for tourists.

Can't beat the view.
Stephanie G.

I don't usually review public transportation options, but if you want to see the Statue of Liberty for free, this gets you a pretty good view. It's also handy if you're just looking to get from Manhattan to and from Staten Island, but you can just ride each way. You do have to get off and on again, and there's about 5 minutes between disembarking to circle through the exit back to the entrance. There was a big crowd waiting to get on, but it's still a huge boat. Plenty of good seats for a view on both levels and lots more seats to just sit and chill if you're commuting. Just check the schedule since it's like once a half hour, but it's quiet, quick, and fun to just take a boat ride past the Statue if you don't want to do a whole day on Ellis Island. Just make sure you hustle if you're taking a round trip. That boat doesn't wait around.

Statue of Liberty
Natalie R.

Free?! Yes the ferry is free and what a convenient way to get epic views of the city and the Statue of Liberty. After a long day of walking, my dawgs appreciated the break while sitting down. After walking from the Charging Bull, we got to the ferry terminal quickly even in the rain. Pretty easy to figure out, I googled and found ferry runs about every 30 mins so we got some food while we were waiting. Go during golden hour aka sunset!!!! We boarded on around 7pm and enjoyed the city views. You have to deboard and then can get back on. We immediately boarded and I noticed the beautiful sunset in the horizon. I'd reccomended getting seats so you can get a nice view of the Statue of Liberty on the way back. Simply gorgeous with the sunset.

Views from the ferry trip
Sarah W.

We took the Staten Island Ferry for a quick round trip on our final day of our NY visit. The trip was great in spite of the drizzly April weather and we were able to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island on our way to Staten Island and then quite a bit of the NY skyline as we made our return commute to Manhattan. The terminals were well organized for loading and unloading passengers with clear signage and announced direction via the overhead speakers. The lines always seemed to move quickly with minimal waiting. Plenty of comfortable seating on the ferry indoors or outside with multiple levels.

Alex C.

Offering one of the best views of the Statue of Liberty without an actual trip to Lady Liberty herself, the Staten Island Ferry offers free ferry service between Lower Manhattan and Staten Island. Running every 15 to 20 minutes during peak hours and every 30 minutes at other times, the ferry operates 24hrs a day, 7 days a week. The ferry boats are huge and has a very large occupancy rate with indoor seating on both levels, as well as outside seating on the 2nd level. If you want the best shot of the Statue of Liberty, make sure to snag a spot outside on the 2nd level near the railings. As it gets very crowded up there as the ferry passes by the statue. The Whitehall terminal in Lower Manhattan is very large, with a multitude of different vendors selling food and souvenirs as you wait for the next ferry to arrive. The lines are long, so I recommend getting in line 10mins before the arrival of the next ferry so you can be near the front.

Statue of Liberty view
Isabel M.

The Staten Island Ferry is the perfect hidden gem to see a great view of the Statue of Liberty, and for free! It is not so hidden to many locals, so there will be a long line to join. However, the ferry can fit many people, so you should be able to board when you want to! It is a relaxing, quick ride where you can just hop back on the Ferry to head back after your view!

Monique W.

While exploring The Battery, one of the features was the Staten Island Ferry! The Staten Island ferry connects to Lower Manhattan across the New York Harbor. The ferry provides a free 25 minute ride! If you're visiting New York City for the first time, it is a very scenic route between the boroughs! On the Ferry, you can see views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Manhattan! The ferry does run 24 hours a day, seven days a week! What's best about this is that it's free! There were some services that you can pay for, but you can just hop on the Staten Island Ferry for free! There are two terminal facilities. Whitehall in Manhattan and St. George on Staten Island. Both areas have food venues, waiting areas, as well as access to other transit options! If you haven't had a chance to ride the Staten Island ferry yet, I'd highly recommend it!

entrance
Shwe N.

fa freee??? my dad was in shock this was free hahah but the ferry comes about every hour -- there's a schedule posted too, and ya girl did not get seasick! great views of the city skyline

View of the Statue of Liberty from the ferry!
Shelby W.

My husband and I were looking for the best way to cross off seeing the Statue of Liberty without actually having to do a whole tour, so after looking up recommendations online, the Staten Island Ferry seemed to be the clear answer. First off, it's FREE! Don't let the hundreds of scammers outside pressuring you to buy a ticket fool you. It was actually super easy: just wait in the terminal and walk right on. The ferry leaves every 30 minutes and can hold a lot of people, so we had no issue going to and from. We very much appreciated the indoor areas of this ferry during the crippling February weather... But, there's also a rooftop and some outdoor spots to hang around too. I felt like everything was very spaced out, so you do not feel like you are on top of everybody or fighting for a place to sit. In terms of seeing the statue, it gets a fairly close distance! It's great for snapping some selfies and goes slow enough to where you've got plenty of time to soak in the views. Even just the ride itself is pretty fun and relaxing.

O'Zandra F.

Cool, inexpensive way to see the Statue of Liberty and Staten Island. I enjoyed the ride! There is a line to board the ferry. Be patient. The ferry is huge.

View
Troy L.

Staten Island ferry is always packed at the Whitehall terminal and St. George terminal in Staten Island because there are Staten Island commuters, tourists and it is free plus it is the best way to see the Statue of Liberty. The ferry runs every 15 minutes on weekdays and 30 minutes on weekends. When you get on the ferry you can go upstairs, go outside or stay inside. There is also a small cafe where you can buy donuts and coffee. Overall, a great experience and worth the ride if you are a tourist and experience if you are new to New York. Plus it is free.

The Staten Island Ferry terminal in Manhattan is now really nice, with a large waiting hall, and, here, embarkation has begun

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Staten Island Ferry Reviews in Other Languages

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Every half hour in both directions 7 days per week 24 hours per day plus extra trips during rush hours.

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Review Highlights - Staten Island Ferry

“Yes the ferry is free and what a convenient way to get epic views of the city and the Statue of Liberty.”

Mentioned in 92 reviews

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Staten Island Ferry Whitehall Terminal - Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.
        -- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Staten Island Ferry Whitehall Terminal

4.4(365 reviews)
0.2 mi•Financial District

Easy to navigate, don't panic when you there are insanely number of folks/super packed without much…read moreorder crowd waiting to get in the boat. Do not get distracted by people who look like they work for the terminal authority they are just trying to lock you in on a paid tour to Statue of Liberty. So just stay focus, and get in line for the free ride to Staten Island. Also don't panic these ferry boats are insanely big so you will find a spot to get the views you want. If you leave from NYC stick to the right side and go upstairs for the best photos. Once you've made it to Staten Island without any wait, you get off and roll back into another boat (SI To Manhattan) and do it all over again. If you still want to see the Liberty statue leaving from Staten Island, stick to the left. From Manhattan to SI stick to the right and try to get on the second floor. If you want to explore what's around the area a short walk will take you to Wall Street, you'll see the bull and Trinity Church (where Hamilton and Eliza and Philip are buried). Also with going inside the church even with their very strict security check -- we had to even take Apple Watches which was a first but I'm all about safety so whatever they ask, I'll gladly do it. So if near Wall Street make Trinity Church a stop just like that silly snatching bull! ;)

With a little over four weeks to go before the NYC Marathon myself and thousands of others will be…read morepacking into the terminal to take the Staten Island Ferry over to the starting line to begin our run of 26.2 miles. I've taken this trip many times other than on marathon day. Its one of the few free things you can do in the city whether commuting for work or just for enjoyment. Ferries run constantly throughout the day. Overall, its a well maintained and clean modern facility. It has clean bathrooms and concessions for food and drinks such as Wendy's, Dunkin Donuts, Subway, Auntie Anne's, Pizza, and a bar. Also a market for snacks and souvenirs.

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Staten Island Ferry Whitehall Terminal
Staten Island Ferry Whitehall Terminal
Staten Island Ferry Whitehall Terminal - Vendors everywhere.

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Vendors everywhere.

NYC Ferries- East 90th Street

NYC Ferries- East 90th Street

4.2(15 reviews)
6.4 mi•Yorkville, Upper East Side

What a great and affordable way to see Manhattan from the water. We boarded the ferry at Roosevelt…read moreIsland and road it down to Wall Street. It was a lovely afternoon, so we climbed the stairs to the top deck and sat outside. The view was lovely and it was really fun to point out the different buildings to my daughter who hasn't spent too much time in the city. Especially loved seeing Brooklyn and Dumbo from the water, and going under the bridges. I'd definitely recommend the NYC Ferries as an alternative to the subway, especially when the sun is shining!

I love public transportation in NYC, with extensive reach for a single fare. Since I moved from NY…read morethe city implemented a ferry system, which I tried -- and enjoyed -- on our recent visit. We boarded at 90th Street, walking through Carl Schurz Park. There are six different routes. Ours was the "Astoria Line" which culminates at Wall Street. Before getting off at 34th Street, the boat stopped in Astoria, Roosevelt Island and Long Island City. One can purchase tickets on the app, or through machines located at every depot. I was advised to activate our ticket right before boarding to maximize the free transfer, valid for 120 minutes (which we actually didn't need on this trip.) The one-way fare is $4.50 or $29 for a ten-trip pass. Seniors, and those with disabilities can apply for discounted fares. There's limited seating outside, with more down below. Also, a bar! Apparently, you can take your dog which my grandpup Hank, takes full advantage of.

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NYC Ferries- East 90th Street - View of Brooklyn

View of Brooklyn

NYC Ferries- East 90th Street
NYC Ferries- East 90th Street - View

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View

East 34th Street/Midtown NYC Ferry Terminal - My view

East 34th Street/Midtown NYC Ferry Terminal

3.8(23 reviews)
3.7 mi•Murray Hill, Midtown East, Stuyvesant Town

This weekend I took a ferry to Randall's Island Park from the E 34th Street Terminal. I was taking…read morethe ferry for a specific event (PokemonGo Fest), so I can't speak to pricing because it was set by the organizers for the weekend. However, I can speak to my experience getting there and the whole line situation from Manhattan to Randall's Island, and the return trip back. Coming from Jersey, I had walked crosstown from NY Penn Station to the terminal on 35th Street (easier to cross the intersection here). Because there was an event, there was clear signage for where to go and people at the line entrance waiting to scan QR codes. The rides are first-come, first-serve. So as each ferry comes in and passengers onboard disembark, the vessel is checked and then the line moves and people embark. The crew watch and assist when people walk onboard and count how many are getting on the ship. There were people who needed different accommodations - for wheelchairs, strollers, etc. The line on Randall's Island to get back to Manhattan was a little confusing. There wasn't obvious signage. You can see from the park paths where people are walking into the park from the Ferry, but it's not obvious where the line begins to get onto the ferry that's leaving. The entrance is further away. The ride on the water was smooth and I'd say it took about 10 minutes. Amazing views of Manhattan and Brooklyn. If you've never taken one of the ferries on the East River, I recommend taking a ferry at least once to see what it's like if you ever can.

Very frustrating experience on the 15:35 Astoria E90th ferry line on June 4th. I was alone with two…read moreyoung children, including a 5-month-old in a stroller. My lane has stairs, so I had to use the side ramp, and there were no clear instructions on where stroller or wheelchair users should board. When the gate opened, I tried to check in my ticket, but a lady working the line pointed with her chin toward the regular line and ask if I saw it in a very dismissive way, even though I clearly couldn't use the stairs. I was then made to wait until everyone else had boarded. If all boarding lanes are not accessible, there should be a clear and fair process for wheelchairs and strollers. People with no other option shouldn't be treated as if they're doing something wrong or made to wait last just because there is no clear accessible boarding system in place.

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East 34th Street/Midtown NYC Ferry Terminal
East 34th Street/Midtown NYC Ferry Terminal
East 34th Street/Midtown NYC Ferry Terminal

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Staten Island Ferry - ferries - Updated October 2026

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