For locals, the New York Ferry or NYC Ferry is one of the most important means of transportation when it comes to reliability and speed. The ferries offer a scenic, convenient, and affordable way to navigate the city’s waterways.
Whether commuting, sightseeing, or simply enjoying a ride, ferries provide breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline, Statue of Liberty, and Brooklyn Bridge. Since the New York Ferry is popular with both locals and tourists, I want to provide you with an overview of the different possibilities as a tourist about using ferries in NYC.
The public NYC Ferry or New York Ferry used to be called the East River Ferry. It travels on the East River, which takes you to and from Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx (and back).
The ferry is especially popular with New Yorkers to get to work. It’s super-efficient, because it’s guaranteed to avoid any traffic jams. If you get thirsty or hungry, you can even buy small snacks and drinks on the ferries.
The best part about this is the ride is super-relaxing, it doesn’t put a dent in your wallet because it costs only $4.50 per ride. Also, just like other ferries, you get to see amazing views.
Ferry tickets are relatively cheap. A one-way ticket runs for $4.50, a 10-trip pass costs $29. Kids are permitted to ride the NYC Ferry for free as long as they are no taller than 44 inches.
There are three different ways to buy New York ferry tickets.
In total there are 7 routes. Depending on the particular route, the ferries start every 20-30 minutes on weekdays and every 45-60 minutes on weekends (you can see that they are very popular with commuters).
You can find the full NYC Ferry map with all the stops on the official NYC Ferry website.
The NY Waterway Ferry connects New Jersey with Manhattan. It’s also known as the Hudson River Ferry. Many locals have moved to the neighboring state New Jersey, particularly Jersey City and Hoboken. In addition to the PATH and buses, the NY Waterway Ferry is also a reliable option.
The Ferry Terminal locations are in Midtown on W38th Street, Brookfield Place/Battery Park City in Lower Manhattan, and Pier 11 Wall Street.
While the South, such as Jersey City, Paulus Hook, and Hoboken, have good access to the PATH, areas like Weehawken and Edgewater rely on the NJ Transit Bus. So it often makes sense to take the ferry at certain times of the day, especially if you need to be somewhere.
In terms of price, the cost of the NY Waterway is higher than the NYC Ferry. A drive from Port Imperial in NJ can cost $14 per person to Lower Manhattan. Children from 6-11 years pay $8.50.
Ticket prices depend on your starting and destination point. A ticket can cost up to $18. There are monthly and weekly tickets which are worthwhile if you ONLY use the ferry
For the complete price list, check the NY Waterway website.
One of the most popular ferries is the Staten Island Ferry which connects Manhattan to Staten Island. The orange-colored ferries are a part of New York City’s vibe just as much as the yellow cabs.
The best part is the Staten Island Ferry is FREE! During the 20-25 minute crossing, you’ll enjoy the photogenic skyline of Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty.
During rush hour, the ferries leave every 15 minutes. Otherwise, it’s every 30 minutes.
The ferry starts in Battery Park in Manhattan. The nearest subway stations are Whitehall St., which you can reach by taking the lines and South Ferry Station, which is line .
The St. George Terminal is your destination on Staten Island. You can either take the next ferry back to Manhattan or take some time off at the North Shore Waterfront Esplanade Park.
You can see the schedule here.
This is one of the most popular tours in New York. This New York ferry connects New York’s Battery Park with Liberty Island (where the Statue of Liberty is located) and Ellis Island. If you only want to go to Liberty Island without going into the Statue of Liberty itself, then the price for the crossing is already included in all sightseeing passes.
There are several tickets for the Statue of Liberty:
1. Ferry ticket and visit to Liberty Island and Ellis Island
2. Tickets for the first pedestal of the Statue of Liberty
3. Tickets to the crown of the Statue of Liberty (of which there are only 365 per day, you have to book long in advance)
More about the Statue of Liberty can be found in this article.
Every day, the ferries leave their ports in Battery Park at 8:30 am and run pretty much every 20 minutes. It takes about 15-20 minutes to get to Liberty Island. From there, the ferries leave for Ellis Island which is about a 10-minute ride and then the ferries head back to Manhattan.
This relatively large, very comfortable ferry in New York is both a ferry for commuters and for those looking for a weekend getaway. Seastreak has numerous destinations. We recommend taking weekend trips to beautiful Newport or to Martha’s Vineyard.
Obviously, only do something like this if you plan on staying in New York for a long time and want to plan an extra weekend outside of the city.
The IKEA Ferry is also called the Ikea Water Taxi or IKEA Express Ferry and is part of the New York Water Taxi. It commutes between Manhattan and Red Hook, Brooklyn. The ferry stops right in front of IKEA in Brooklyn. Yes, New Yorkers take the ferry to Ikea and then have the furniture delivered to their home. It’s pretty convenient.
The ride itself is relaxing. You can look at the wonderful skyline of Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge. The IKEA ferry goes right past Governors Island as well. The ferry starts at Pier 11 in Wall Street.
On weekdays, the ferries start every 45 minutes from 2PM. On weekends, they start every 50 minutes from 11:30AM. The price for a ride is $5, but you can redeem it when you shop at IKEA!
You can buy tickets at the ticket counter at Pier 11. For the trip back to Manhattan, we bought them at the ticket kiosk at the pier in Brooklyn.
Der Beitrag New York Ferry – The Complete Guide erschien zuerst auf Loving New York.
