A historic 83-acre waterfront campus on Staten Island, home to the serene New York Chinese Scholar's Garden.
Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden is an 83-acre campus of 19th-century Greek Revival buildings, gardens and art spaces on Staten Island's North Shore. The grounds are free and open daily from dawn to dusk.
Its standout is the New York Chinese Scholar's Garden, a walled garden of pavilions, koi ponds, bamboo and rock formations built with artisans from Suzhou, China. The garden has its own seasonal hours, posted on Snug Harbor's site.
Pair it with a free Staten Island Ferry ride — Snug Harbor is a short bus ride from St. George.
**Tickets & prices:** Grounds free; Chinese Scholar's Garden has separate admission — details at [snug-harbor.org](https://snug-harbor.org/).
*Photo: Igor Koyfman, public domain, via [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NewYorkChineseScholarGarden.jpg).*
The story behind Snug Harbor & the Chinese Scholar's Garden.
Snug Harbor began in 1833 as Sailors' Snug Harbor, a home for retired merchant seamen, and its landmark buildings are among the finest Greek Revival architecture in the U.S.
The Chinese Scholar's Garden opened in 1999 and is one of only a few authentic classical Chinese gardens in the country.
It feels like a secret: a tranquil classical garden and historic campus most New Yorkers have never visited, just a ferry ride away.
— The 7Days7Nights editors
Don't miss these.
- 1New York Chinese Scholar's Garden
- 283-acre historic waterfront campus
- 3Free grounds open daily
- 4Greek Revival landmark buildings
- 5Easy pairing with the Staten Island Ferry
Plan your visit.
Reservations
Walk-ins are typically welcome — check the website or Instagram for the latest hours.
Best time to visit
Fall weekend afternoons when the Scholar's Garden is open
Nearest subway
Staten Island Ferry to St. George, then the S40 bus to Snug Harbor Road
Hours
Campus grounds open daily, dawn to dusk (shorter hours Oct–Mar). Chinese Scholar's Garden has separate hours — check the official site.
Seasonal note
Great year-round, with a different feel each season.
Insider tip
Go on a weekday afternoon to skip the lines and get the best photos.
Price range
Expect $ pricing. Budget accordingly and check the website for the latest.
Who this is for.
On the map.
Subway: Staten Island Ferry to St. George, then the S40 bus to Snug Harbor Road
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