Staten Island Ferry

The only non-vehicular mode of transportation between Staten Island and Manhattan is the Staten Island Ferry, one of the last operating ferry systems in New York. It was being used by people long before the bridges were constructed and is maintained by the NYC Department of Transportation. The department is responsible for maintaining the fleet along with St. George and Whitehall Terminals. 

 

It offers a direct route between Manhattan and Staten Island, and the ferry service is used by locals and tourists alike. Take the ferry from one of the ferry terminals at South Street in Manhattan or St. George in Staten Island and enjoy stunning views of the Southern tip of Manhattan. Whether it’s 30 days or 365 days, the ferry runs every day, all year long. 

 

Almost 22 million use this ferry service every year, with 70,000 passengers aboard each day. Whenever you’re visiting New York, don’t forget to check out this free service. You can also save money on the Liberty tour because the ferry provides spectacular views of the Statue of Liberty. 

 

 

What to Know

One of the fare-free ferry systems run by the New York City Department of Transportation—it is operated 24/7, days a week, all year long. The ferry connects Manhattan to Staten Island in a unique way. It is absolutely free of charge, so don’t be fooled by someone claiming that you need a ticket for the ferry. On busy days, it runs every 15 minutes, and on normal days, every other 30 minutes. It’s got plenty of seating, features three decks, and a bar. Once you reach Staten Island, you’ll need to get off the ferry and then ride another one to get back. Because once it reaches Staten Island, you can’t stay on it and will have to ride another one.

 

The origin of the ferry dates back to 1817 and the owner of the original company was Cornelius Vanderbilt. Back in the day, there was fairly cheap ferry fare but after 1997, it became absolutely free for everyone. There are a total of 10 boats with a crew of 15 people. And each of them can carry around 5,000 passengers. It features two departure points namely St. George Ferry Terminal at Bay Street, Richard Terrace in Staten Island, and Whitehall Terminal at Whitehall Street at South Street in lower Manhattan. Nearly 22 million people ride this ferry annually and it is also one of the busiest ferry routes in the U.S. 

 

Along the way, you’ll get some gorgeous views of the New York coastline, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Governor’s Island. With that, it also offers a panoramic view of the Verrazano-Narrows bridge and more. Since you’re enjoying the views anyway, you don’t really need to pay the extra cost for the liberty tour. Also, you don’t need much time to fit this into your schedule because the round trip takes around an hour.

 

The ferries run all night long and you can also enjoy night views from Brooklyn Bridge to Hoboken in New Jersey. The staff is really nice and professional, the ferry is spacious and clean. And best of all, it is free and safe because of the Port Authority Police stationed at the terminals. You might be subjected to random screening at times, but it is very rare. You can also sometimes find the police aboard the ferry.

 

Although the ferry can hold over 5,000 people, most of the time, there aren’t a lot of passengers, and it’s almost empty. It all depends on what time and day you’re riding the ferry. So, you’ve got plenty of room for yourself to enjoy the views. There is a bar on the ferry and plenty of restrooms. You’ll also find restrooms at the terminals. On your return, you can enjoy the spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline, the World Trade Center, etc. For a more immersive experience, visit it on a day that is sunny and bright. 

 

The Staten Island Ferry is also a great photo opportunity for someone who loves taking photographs. When riding on the ferry, you can take photos of the Statue of Liberty, the Manhattan skyline, or just the ocean water—because why not?

 

Also, if you’re in the mood for shopping then you will really enjoy different shops just adjacent to the ferry terminal. There are also other amenities that you might like. If you have to wait for 30 minutes for the next ferry to get you back, then grab a bite at any of the food places. The ferry offers a unique experience to literally ride the city of New York. On some days, you can also enjoy stunning views of the mast sailboat on the Harbor. 

 

Upon your arrival to Staten Island, you can also visit the National Lighthouse Museum and the Empire Outlets Mall. These are right next to the terminal. The museum is around 10 minutes walk from the terminal and you can spend an hour here. It’s a little museum, so you don’t need to spend too much time here. The museum offers unique insights into the lighthouses throughout history and their uses. The staff is great here and very knowledgeable. And you can also find a cute little gift shop at the desk, which is very affordable. 

 

And the Empire Outlets is perfect for shopping as you can find many stores here. You can find Nike, Levi’s, H&M, and many other stores. Nike here has got some great deals for you. You can also find many food and drink shops here including Starbucks and Wetzel’s pretzels. If you don’t like crowds, then this place is perfect for you because it is really quiet. And the views of Lower Manhattan are a plus point!

 

Tip: If you’re visiting Manhattan, then you can park at the ferry terminal by paying $8 for 24 hours and then take the ferry. Also, after your arrival at the ferry terminals, you can grab a bite at any of the restaurants and use the restroom if needed. You can save some money by not parking in the city and also dealing with all the traffic during rush hours is no joke. Overall, this free service is perfect for you if you want to avoid the crazy traffic in the city of New York. 

 

How to Get There

The route between St. George, Staten Island, and Whitehall Street, Manhattan, is one of the busiest in NYC’s extensive public transit system. For many people, the ferry is an important part of their commute as it is easily accessible by New York City buses and subway connections in Manhattan. 

 

The location of St. George Ferry Terminal is at 1 Bay Street. You can easily reach there by Staten Island Railway (SIR) or by MTA buses. And you can find the Whitehall Ferry Terminal at 4 South Street. The terminal is accessible by Subway and the MTA buses. To purchase a Metrocard in St. George, get to the SIR station’s vending machines on the lower level. In Whitehall, the vending machines in the lower lobby, right of the escalators can be used. 

 

Please note that during weekdays, the boats are packed with commuters during rush hours. They are either going to work or returning home. So, it is best to avoid either rush hours or weekdays to truly enjoy NYC from the waters. The weekends are more relaxing for riding the ferry or enjoying the views. 

 

Best Time to Visit 

You can enjoy the Staten Island Ferry any time of the year—be it rain or sunshine, it’s always good to visit New York to hop aboard this Ferry. But it’s always a good idea to arrive early to avoid crowds. Between 9 am-4 pm is good and nighttime is perfect for beautiful night views of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. You can stand on the right side of the railings for the amazing views of the Statue of Liberty when you’re on the way to Staten Island and on your way back, stand on the left. 

 

Features and Highlights 

- The busiest ferry system across New York that is fare-free. 

- An integral part of the New York transportation system, it offers free rides between Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan and St. George Terminal in Staten Island.

- The iconic orange ferry sails right through the New York Harbor. 

- The boat can hold up to 5000 passengers at one time.

- There is a crew of 15 people on the boat and it features 3 decks and a bar with lots of restrooms available.

- The ferry offers a view of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. 

- Ride the Staten Island ferry for beautiful views of the Manhattan skyline, including the World Trade Center and the Brooklyn Bridge from a distance.

- The ferry operates 24 hours a day and is on the move every other 15-20 minutes.

- The ferry ride takes around 25 minutes each way with a round trip of 1 hour—and covers a distance of 8.4 kilometers between the two terminals.

- Wheelchair-accessible boarding ramps and elevators for people with disabilities or elderly who need assistance. 

- Uses hybrid-electric systems for propulsion to reduce the environmental impact.

- During warmer months, people can enjoy special events such as fireworks displays.

- A great low-cost alternative to the expensive Liberty tour and other Harbor tours.

- Originally, the boats had white color but in 1926, it was changed to reddish maroon and later to orange. So that it can be spotted easily during fog and snow. 

- Steam was used on the ferries up until the 1980s.

- The first steam ferry was Nautilus, and the cost to cross the harbor was 25 cents, and it was half for children. 

- The 5 cents fare was established at first, and then it was raised gradually and went up to 50 cents.

- In 1997, the fare was eliminated altogether and the ferry service became completely free of charge.