Staten Island Ferry

The basics

The Staten Island Ferry is first and foremost a commuter vessel for Staten Island residents, so there are no official Staten Island Ferry tours or on-board commentary. For extra insight, context, and information about the surrounding sights, join a guided tour of NYC or Lower Manhattan that includes a visit to Staten Island, or at least views of it. For example, on the Easy Access Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge Discovery Tour you’ll travel with your guide on the Staten Island Ferry.

To maximize your experience, take the trip out to Staten Island during the day and return after dark to see the NYC skyline all lit up. The ferry ride to Staten Island takes around 25 minutes each way. Boats depart at least every 30 minutes, with more frequent departures during commuter rush hours.

Things to know before you go

• For the best views of Lady Liberty, sit on the right side of a Staten Island–bound ferry.

• Some, though not all, ferries in the fleet have large outdoor side decks, which afford the best views.

• The ferry is accessible to wheelchair users.

• Refreshments, including beer and hot dogs, are available on board.

• All passengers must disembark at St. George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island.

• The Staten Island Ferry operates on its weekend schedule on major holidays including New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

How to get there

The Staten Island Ferry runs between Whitehall, near Battery Park in Manhattan, and St. George on Staten Island. To get to the Whitehall Terminal, take the subway (1 train) to South Ferry. Other nearby subway stations include Bowling Green (4 and 5), Broad Street (J and Z), and Whitehall Street (1, R, and W).

When to get there

Ferry service operates year-round, rain or shine. The best time of year to ride the ferry is during summer, or on warm spring or fall days when you can comfortably soak up the view from the open-air decks. If you don’t like crowds, avoid rush hours (6–9am for boats departing from Staten Island, and 4–7pm for boats departing from Manhattan). Many of the boats in the Staten Island Ferry fleet carry upwards of 4,000 passengers with the largest boat, the Samuel I. Newhouse capable of carrying 5,200 passengers.

Exploring one of New York’s lesser-known boroughs

Most visitors to NYC never venture outside Manhattan and Brooklyn, though Staten Island—New York’s least-populated borough—has several fascinating sites. It’s accessible via the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge if you’re traveling by car, or the Staten Island Ferry if you prefer to travel by boat. Passengers coming by ferry arrive at the St. George Terminal which services the ferries as well as the Staten Island Railway.

Within easy reach of St. George Terminal are the National Lighthouse Museum, St George’s Historical District, and the waterfront Richmond County Bank Ballpark, where the minor league Staten Island Yankees (not to be confused with the major league New York Yankees) play. Also of note is the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, home to the Noble Maritime Collection and Staten Island Children's Museum.

Ways to explore

The Staten Island Ferry takes around 25 minutes each way and departs at least every 30 minutes, with more frequent departures during commuter rush hours. Many visitors ride the ferry to Staten Island, then hop on the next return ferry. It’s worth lingering in the borough for a slice of pizza or exploring one of Staten Island’s parks via bus.

As it is a commuter vessel for Staten Island residents, there are no official tours or onboard commentary. Nevertheless, a round-trip ferry journey is a crowd-pleasing highlight of tours that see city highlights on foot and by public transit.

Accessibility

The Staten Island Ferry is wheelchair accessible.

Age limits

None

What to pack

Camera

What to wear

Wear a warm layer if you want to stand on the outside upper deck; it’s always colder on the water than on land.

Not allowed

Smoking is prohibited on the ferry and in most parts of the terminals.

Amenities

Restrooms, food concessions

Address

On the Manhattan side, the Whitehall Ferry Terminal is located on South Street in Lower Manhattan. On the Staten Island side, St. George Ferry Terminal is on Bay Street.

Driving

Vehicles are not permitted on the Staten Island Ferry, and parking is expensive, so it’s better to hail a cab or book a rideshare service.

Public transportation

To reach the Whitehall Terminal in Manhattan, take the 1 to South Ferry, the R or W to Whitehall Street, or the 4 or 5 to Bowling Green. Each station is a short walk from the terminal building. The St. George Ferry Terminal is served by MTA Buses and the Staten Island Railway (SIR).

Best times to visit

Take the trip to Staten Island in the day for Statue of Liberty views, and return after dark to see the NYC skyline lit up.

Best days to visit

Weekends when commuters don’t pack the ferry

Best months to visit

Spring and fall (March to May and September to November) for pleasant weather without the summer crowds