The Staten Island Ferry is a free passenger ferry service that operates between Manhattan and Staten Island. The ferry ride offers spectacular views of the Statue of Liberty, and it’s one of my favorite free things to do in New York City.
The ferry runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with regular departures every 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the time of day. No planning or bookings needed, you just show up at the ferry terminal.
The Staten Island Ferry has become very popular among tourists, and the outside deck is always crowded. You therefore have to move quickly if you want one of the spots near the rail, which is where you’ll be able to get the nicest view and the best photos.
From Manhattan, the Staten Island ferry departs from a big terminal just south west of Battery Park. If you take the subway to Bowling Green (4,5), Whitehall (N,R) or South Ferry Loop (1) you’re only a short walk from the terminal.
On the ride from Manhattan to Staten Island, you’ll want to be on the right side of the ferry (with your back to Manhattan), as that’s the side facing the Statue of Liberty. On the return trip, from Staten Island to Manhattan, the left side (with your back to Staten Island) offers the best views.
You don’t get in-your-face close to the Statue of Liberty, but you’re close enough to get some decent photos. The ride takes around 20 minutes, and you have to disembark the ferry, when you reach Staten Island, you cannot stay onboard.
There’s a boardwalk and a shopping mall near the ferry terminal at Staten Island, if you don’t want to head straight back to Manhattan.
Most people take the Staten Island Ferry Back to Manhattan, because it’s free, and because it offers the best view of the Statue of Liberty, but if you want a change of scenery on your way back, you could also take the NYC Ferry Service, which departs from a dock a little further down the boardwalk from the Staten Island Terminal. You pay $4 for the NYC Ferry Service ticket, and the ferry takes a slightly different route than the Staten Island Ferry with stops at Battery Park and Midtown West.
Visit the Staten Island Ferry website >>
My guide to free things to do in New York City
Staten Island Ferry – Whitehall Terminal, 4 Whitehall St, New York, NY 10004
