Staten Island Ferry
A free commuter ferry that glides right past the Statue of Liberty and the harbour skyline.
The call
Worth it if you are watching the budget and you are traveling with kids.
Why
- 01
Twenty-five free minutes with the Statue off the starboard rail and Lower Manhattan shrinking behind you.
Our read - 02
No crown, no museum — just the view, the wind, and a turnaround at the other end.
Our read - 03
It's a free, 24/7 commuter ferry that glides within camera range of the Statue of Liberty and the Lower Manhattan skyline — one of the city's greatest no-cost experiences.
freetoursbyfoot.com - 04
The 25-minute, 5.2-mile crossing between Whitehall and St. George doubles as a slow-motion postcard of the harbor most tourists pay a cruise company to see.
freetoursbyfoot.com
Is it a fit?
Go if
This is your first trip to New York
A painless first taste of the harbor: no ticket, no booking, just show up at Whitehall and board. Manage expectations on how close you'll get to the Statue.
You are watching the budget
On a budget, Staten Island Ferry still earns its price.
You are traveling with kids
With kids, Staten Island Ferry works.
You are traveling as a couple
As a couple, Staten Island Ferry works.
Think twice if
You only have one day
Staten Island Ferry is a real time commitment — fit it in only if it's a priority.
You prefer local life to spectacle
For local authenticity, Staten Island Ferry is hit or miss.
You want time outdoors
For nature & scenery, Staten Island Ferry is hit or miss.
You are planning for two
For romance, Staten Island Ferry is hit or miss.
Plan it well
- Cost
- Free
- Timing
- 9:30–11:30 a.m. or after 7 p.m. for fewer crowds; midday 12–3 p.m. (especially Wednesday) is busiest.
- Booking
- No ticket or reservation — free walk-on. Sit/stand on the right going out for Statue views.
- Allow
- 1 hr round-trip
- Getting there
- Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan (1 to South Ferry; R/W to Whitehall St). Returns from St. George Terminal, Staten Island.