Much of New York City’s beauty can be found in its skyline, parks, and diverse cultural communities. But some of the most gorgeous parts of the city stem from the fact that it’s surrounded by water. To enjoy the true beauty of NYC, take an awesome ferry ride, offering photo-ops of the Statue of Liberty, Manhattan Bridge, and more. These five ferries in NYC are sure to be a blast.
Staten Island Ferry
The Staten Island Ferry is totally free. This ferry runs 24 hours a day and transports people from the suburbs to Manhattan in 25 minutes. While still a commuter necessity, more and more sightseers are taking it to get off the streets and see the stunning panoramas of lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty.
Tips & What to Expect!
- This ferry is the world’s busiest passenger only route! We suggest avoiding the rush hours in the morning and evening to avoid the crowds
- You can board the Staten Island Ferry at the Whitehall Ferry Terminal near Battery Park! If you’re hungry this terminal has a few places for a quick snack.
- Once on board, go to one of the outer decks to check out the spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline during your ride
- If traveling towards Staten Island, look out the right side of the boat for a view of the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island
Once you reach Staten Island, you’ll have to exit the boat and re-board at the St. George Terminal to head back to Manhattan.
East River Ferry
This ferry ticket only costs $2.75, the same as the city’s subway fare. The East River Ferry connects lower and midtown Manhattan, and makes stops in Brooklyn and Queens. This tour gives you views of lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, Freedom Tower, Brooklyn Bridge and more.
This NYC ferry is an easy and practical way to get around and explore New York City. Some highlights include
Highlights of this Ferry
- Wall Street/ Pier 11 stop where you can take a tour of the 9/11 museum, walk around lower Manhattan, or go to the top of the One World Observatory
- North Williamsburg- if you love art, this stop is for you! Take the Williamsburg Street Art tour or take the bus to the Bushwick Street Art tour
- Hunters Point South- a great area for beer lovers! You can explore all the micro-breweries in this area
- East 34th Street- at this stop, there’s a free shuttle bus that can take you to all of New York’s most popular tourist attractions like
- The Empire State Building
- Grand Central
- Times Square
Water Taxi Ikea Ferry
This ferry service runs from the Wall Street Terminal to Red Hook, Brooklyn. Tickets are free on weekends and $5 on weekdays. If you make a minimum purchase of $10 at IKEA, your weekday ride is free. It’s a great way to get to Red Hook Brooklyn and back to the city without taking the subway.
This ferry ride takes 20 to 30 minutes and gives you great views of the city on the way there! This ferry service drops you off right at the IKEA store so you can do some shopping or explore Red Hook.
New York Harbor Hop On Hop Off Cruise
These cruise boats are hard to miss at the pier, as they look just like New York taxis: bright and yellow. At $37 a ticket, this cruise leaves New York Harbor daily, offering ferry riders views of the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings, the Brooklyn Bridge, Governor’s Island, Battery Park, and the Statue of Liberty. The entire loop can be done in 70 minutes, or you can hop on and off to explore the city and its great eats and attractions.
What to Expect
- 1 hour 30 minute cruise, with stops in Midtown and Downtown
- Hop-on and hop-off up to three times!
- Live tour guide with narration
- A full bar on board with concessions available
Hornblower Rock the Yacht New York Party Cruise
This 3-hour party cruise leaves the city’s pier and offers live DJ entertainment with an open bar and bar food. The cruise has photo-ops of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Brooklyn Bridge and beautiful views of the city skyline through the Hudson River. The tour starts in April and ends in October, Thursday through Saturday. Tickets range from $35 and up.
Summer is on the way, and good times wait for no one. Common members in New York can take advantage of any of these ferries and tour the city by way of water. Find our homes near these fun cruises, ferries, and other boats. Take a free tour today.