A free 25-minute ride across New York Harbor between Lower Manhattan and Staten Island, with views of the Statue of Liberty and skyline.
Operated by the NYC Department of Transportation, the Staten Island Ferry runs year-round between Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan and St. George Terminal on Staten Island — a roughly 25-minute crossing of New York Harbor. It has been free since 1997.
Ferries run around the clock, with frequent rush-hour service and roughly 15-to-30-minute intervals at other times; holidays follow a reduced schedule. Cars aren't allowed, but bicycles are.
Riders get sweeping views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the Lower Manhattan skyline. A round trip takes about an hour.
**Tickets & prices:** Free, no ticket needed — schedules at [nyc.gov](https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/ferrybus/siferryschedule.shtml).
*Photo: Norbert Nagel, [CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) via [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:New_York_City_Staten_Island_Ferry.jpg).*
The story behind Staten Island Ferry.
The city has run the Staten Island Ferry since 1905, and it remains the only non-road transit link between Staten Island and Manhattan.
Locals and visitors alike treat it as a free harbor cruise, skipping the cost and lines of commercial sightseeing boats.
There's no better sightseeing value in NYC: a free harbor crossing with postcard views of Lady Liberty, running every day of the year.
— The 7Days7Nights editors
Don't miss these.
- 1Completely free, no ticket required
- 225-minute harbor crossing with Statue of Liberty views
- 3Runs 24/7, year-round
- 4Bicycles welcome
- 5Connects to subway at Whitehall/South Ferry and the Staten Island Railway at St. George
Plan your visit.
Reservations
Online timed tickets save time — sunset slots sell out first.
Best time to visit
Sunset for skyline views; avoid weekday rush hours
Nearest subway
South Ferry (1) / Whitehall St (R, W)
Hours
Runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; departures roughly every 15–30 minutes (less frequent overnight). Reduced schedule on major holidays.
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 Free pricing. No ticket required.
Who this is for.
On the map.
Subway: South Ferry (1) / Whitehall St (R, W)
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