Staten Island Ferry
Terminal at the foot of
Whitehall Street (next to Battery Park)
Ferry runs from Manhattan to Staten
Island
Call 311 for additional informationSummary:
You've heard it before, but it really is
true: the ride on the Staten Island Ferry
remains one of the best deals in town.
The ride takes about an hour and provides
unbeatable views of the Statue of Liberty
and the Manhattan skyline.
click for full-size (21K)
Hundreds of people at a time
line up for the ferries that go from the
southern tip of Manhattan to St. George
on Staten Island. The Staten Island
Ferry's primary purpose is to serve the
commuters who live on Staten Island and
trek to work in Manhattan each day, but
the free fare and fabulous scenery has
made riding the ferry a top activity for
visitors to New York as well. It is not
unusual for 70,000 people per day to make
the trip back and forth.
If you are like us, your
first ferry ride will leave from
Manhattan, not Staten Island. Don't worry
about having your quarters ready: the
ride over is now completely free (it used
to be 50 cents). The ferry shuttles back
and forth quite regularly, so as long as
you are not taking the ferry in the wee
hours of the morning, you should not have
to wait very long for the next boat to
come in.
Manhattan To Staten
Island
On the ride out of Manhattan, we suggest
that you go to the third (top) deck to
take in the view. The reason for this is
that you will not be able to see very
much at first if you are on the bottom
deck -- you will be surrounded by the
dock. From the top on the left you will
have a nice view of the Brooklyn
Bridge.
On the way over to Staten
Island the main attractions are the Statue
of Liberty
and Ellis
Island. We recommend that
you move around the boat so that you can
also see the coast line of Brooklyn;
Governors Island (which used to be home
to the Coast Guard); and the mouth of the
Hudson River. You may also want to go
down to one of the lower levels and stand
at the front of the ferry to watch the
approach to Staten Island, which has
considerably more green than lower
Manhattan.
Don't rush to take a million
photos, especially if you will be taking
the ferry back. Or at the very least, be
judicious with the use of your camera.
Too many people eagerly take pictures
when they first sense a photo
opportunity, only to find that the ferry
moves even closer or provides a better
angle to the object in question. Just sit
back and enjoy the 6.2 mile ride, which
will take about twenty-five minutes
either way. If you must bring out your
camera, wait until you know you can't
possibly get a better shot and then take
your picture.
Back To Manhattan
Of course, most people do
not travel to Staten Island to see the
coast of Staten Island. The best views
are during the trip back to Manhattan,
when the skyline in all its glory is
right in front of you. This time, go down
to the front of the boat on the level
where all of the cars are parked and
watch as you get closer and closer to the
Twin Towers and Battery Park. This is
where and when you want to have your
camera ready. Besides, being so close to
the water provides a different
perspective for your trip back, making
the ride that much more enjoyable.
A Few Important Tips
We suggest that you keep a few things in
mind:
First, you should budget at
least an hour and forty-five minutes for
the roundtrip ride. The ferry crossing
itself takes only about fifty minutes,
but once you get to Staten Island you
will have to get off the ferry and wait
again for the next one.
Second, while the sights are
great, be realistic about how long
looking at the Statue of Liberty and
Manhattan will interest you. Will the
views hold your attention for an hour?
Probably not. So bring a friend so you
have someone to talk to, or bring reading
material if you are by yourself. You will
have no problem reading on the benches
inside the ferry.
Third, although you are, for
all intents and purposes, in ocean water,
don't expect to get a great view of the
open sea. In fact, the only time you will
get a glimpse of the Atlantic is when you
are nearing Staten Island and looking
past the Verazzano Bridge, and even there
you will be very far away.
What To Do With Your
Car...
If you have a car and want to take it to
Staten Island, the ferry is your best
bet. Your only other alternative is the
Verazzano Bridge, but quite frankly, if
you are in lower Manhattan, taking the
bridge will involve a long trip through
Brooklyn. You do not need to make
reservations to take your car on the
ferry, and the trip is only $3.50 for you
and your car, which is cheaper than the
Verazzano anyway.
Hours
The Staten Island Ferry runs 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week. Ferries leave roughly
every half hour during the day, and every
hour late at night. The car boat schedule
is not as regular and may vary from day
to day. Call 311 for up-to-date
information, especially if you plan to
bring your car on the ferry.
To Get There
By subway, take either the #1, the #9 or
the #5 to the end of the line. You can
also take the N or R to Whitehall Street.
The #1 and the #9 bring you closest to
the terminal and will almost deliver you
right into the waiting area.
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