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Staten Island Ferry Visitor Guide

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Staten Island Ferry

Staten Island Ferry

The Staten Island Ferry in Brief:
Want to see the New York Harbor up close? The Staten Island Ferry serves commuters traveling between Staten Island and Lower Manhattan, but visitors looking to see New York City's working waterfront (& the Statue of Liberty) will enjoy the free ride across the New York Harbor.
Staten Island Ferry Essentials:
  • Staten Island Ferry Addresses
    • Manhattan: Whitehall and Water St
      New York, NY 10006 (Map)
    • Staten Island: 1 Bay St.
      Staten Island, NY 10301
  • Staten Island Ferry Phone: 718-815-BOAT
  • Staten Island Ferry Cross Streets In Manhattan, Whitehall and Water Streets, at the water's edge.
Nearest Subways to Staten Island Ferry:
In Manhattan, J or Z to Broad Street; 1 or 9 to South Ferry; 4 or 5 to Bowling Green. In Staten Island, Staten Island Railway to St. George.
Staten Island Ferry Price:
Free. Yes, really: free.
Staten Island Ferry Hours:
The ferry operates 24 hours a day every day of the week. Through most of the day (the only exception being the hours of midnight to 6am), you will not have to wait more than half an hour for the next departure, and it will be more frequent-and crowded-during weekday rush hours. Weekdays and weekends, boats leave and arrive on the half hour.

Each leg of the ferry takes half an hour.

Staten Island Ferry Official Website:
Staten Island Ferry Pictures:
About the Staten Island Ferry:
The Staten Island Ferry is an attraction fit for young and old, New York first-timers and those who have lived here for years.

But it's a real treat for those on a budget.

The ferry, which runs frequently enough that if you just show up, one is probably not far off, offers a wonderful view of the harbor and all it has to offer. Among the sights to take in from either side of the vessel, are Governors Island, the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, lower Manhattan and Wall Street's skyscrapers, Ellis Island, and the Verrazano Narrows Bridge connecting Staten Island to Brooklyn.

Hop aboard. Or rather, push on board through the cattle-car feeling entrance way, and take a seat. If you want one of the seats on the benches on the borders of the boat, to overlook the harbor, grab one fast because they fill up quickly. Take the ride back and forth if you wish. Each leg is half an hour. Switch sides so you can take in all views. And as it pulls in to Manhattan, take a walk up to the front of the boat and bring your camera-it's a great view you won't want to miss.

  • No cars are allowed on the ferry.
  • Even on a warm day, a jacket is recommended. It is windy on the ride, and even when not sitting outside taking in the view, the interior of the ferry is breezy and cool.
  • You'll need to get off the ferry and re-board once it's reached its destination if you would like to make the loop.
  • The Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George, home of the minor league Staten Island Yankees, is within walking distance of the Staten Island port of the ferry.
  • If you're waiting in Manhattan, next door is Battery Park, complete with a distant view of Ms. Liberty, a nice place to wait if you have time before your ferry arrives-which you can see coming from a distance and have plenty of time to walk to from the park.

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